Official Newsletter of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society Please

NOVA
Official Newsletter of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society
Volume 43 Number 3
May - June 2013
Please Welcome The Newest SLAS Members!
Beck, Brian
Butler, Michael
Crizer, Kathleen
Fagen, Patrick
Fisher, Mike
Jones, Joshua
Marion, Rusty
Mason, Lauren
Murdock, Jonathan
Prout, James
Seggar, Susie
Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) Meets the Moon
SLAS member Howard Jackman got this shot the evening of 12 March 2013 from the old Saltair road near
the Great Salt Lake using a Nikon D700 with a 70-300mm lens.
More SLAS member shots of C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)
Tyler Allred, 17 MAR 2013
Raeburn Kennard, 12 MAR 2013
Robert Prout, 12 MAR 2013
Rob Ratkowski from Haleakala, Hawaii.
Stacked image, comet/Moon 12 MAR 2013, foreground 13 MAR 2013
Dave Gary, 29 MAR 2013
Kurt Fisher, 22 MAR 2013
Dion Davidson, 29 MAR 2013
Congratulations!
The following have completed SPOC Bogdan Refractor training:
Allred, Matthew
Bradford, Pamela
Figuera, Marcelo
Pralle, Brett
Minutes of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society
Board Meeting, 13 March 2013
SLAS President Rodger Fry called the meeting to order in the Denny's restaurant located at
250 West 500 South in SLC at 6:02 p.m. Others in attendance were Vice President Joe Bauman,
Secretary/Treasurer Charlie Green & Board Members at Large Larry Holmes & Kevin Hays and
members Kenneth Porras, Patrick Wiggins, Ann House, Cory Bauman, Ray Druian & Deloy Pierce.
The 2013 recipients of the long term loaner scopes have been selected and will have the
scopes soon.
The 12" Dobson donated to the club some time ago has been little used and so was declared
surplus and for sale to the highest bidder. Patrick will post images of the scope on line
and Rodger will issue a SLAS Blast to the membership about the scope being for sale.
An eyepiece and power pack for the loaner scope refractor have been purchased.
The next Faulkes North Telescope (on Maui) imaging session has been set for the night of
22/23 March starting at 11:00 p.m. on the 22nd.
Ann is looking for volunteers to help with summer camps at the Natural History Museum of
Utah. Those interested in helping out should contact Ann at [email protected].
Solar parties at the Natural History Museum of Utah are being considered for the fall.
decision has yet been made.
No
The club has sufficient books and First Scope telescopes to give away at star parties. Only
a hundred or so planispheres remain but it was decided not to order more as they are rapidly
becoming obsolete technology.
Work continues on bringing in a high profile special speaker. Patrick has made inquiries
with his supervisors at NASA/JPL and learned that the head of the Mars Science Laboratory
mission is willing to come to Utah and that the U of U's department of Physics and Astronomy
is willing to help with arrangements and provide a venue and advertising. Rodger is going
to coordinate SLAS's involvement.
The board approved SLAS having at booth at this year's Utah Educators Association
conference. Rodger will check on costs.
SLAS has received a $600 donation from Harmons to cover the cost of the telescopes and
binoculars to be given away at one of their stores for Astronomy Day. Rodger has requested
a bid on the scopes and binoculars from the planetarium and will ask for one from OPT.
A SPOC cleanup day was set for Saturday, 13 April (later postponed). Maintenance items
include some painting, hedge trimming, installation of siding on part of the Refractor House
roof trolley and general tidying up.
Renewal of the SPOC Clear Sky Clock was approved.
Larry is working with a couple of members on a possible mentor program for those borrowing
SLAS loaner scopes.
Larry would also like to see the club's DayStar hydrogen alpha filter being used more often.
Patrick will contact the manufacturer to see what would be involved in making it possible to
use the filter on portable telescopes. Patrick will also look into the possibility of a
white-light solar filter for use on SPOC's Bogdan refractor.
Joe expressed concern about eye safety at SLAS Sun parties. Rodger will issue a SLAS Blast
encouraging everyone participating in Sun parties to make sure the equipment they bring is
safe.
SLAS has received no new news about the proposed observatory at Great Basin National Park.
Ray would like to see an additional in-SLC star party each month during the 2014 observing
season.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
General Meeting, 20 March 2013
SLAS President Rodger Fry called the meeting to order in room 105 of the University of
Utah's Engineering/Mines building at 7:02 p.m. Approximately 60 people attended.
Rodger introduced the members of the board and those persons who were attending a SLAS
meeting for the first time.
He then introduced the evening's guest speaker, Dr. Andrés Muñoz-Jaramillo from the
University of Utah who presented "The Solar Cycle".
Rodger reminded everyone that another Faulkes remote imaging session has been scheduled for
this coming Friday night and showed pictures of some of the potential targets being
considered for imaging.
It was announced that the wife of former SLAS member Guy Malmborg died recently.
The club's 12" f/6 Dobsonian telescope is being offered for sale to the highest bidder.
Bids should be emailed to a board member. The scope can be seen at SPOC.
Don Colton talked about 2013 star parties at Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
The SLAS financial records were displayed.
Ann House received a round of applause for her work getting grants for SLAS.
Siegfried Jachmann announced that Ann House is running for secretary of the Astronomical
League.
Joe Bauman displayed the new Sun party banner.
The meeting was adjourned to "Advanced Training" at Denny's at 250 W 500 S at 8:48 p.m.
Board Meeting, 10 April 2013
SLAS President Rodger Fry called the meeting to order in the Denny's restaurant located at
250 West 500 South in SLC at 6:45 p.m. Others in attendance were Vice President Joe Bauman,
Secretary/Treasurer Charlie Green & Board Members at Large Larry Holmes & Kevin Hays and
members Kenneth Porras, Patrick Wiggins, Cory Bauman, Nate Goodman, Deloy Pierce, Alpine
Stringham and Dave Hays.
All of the loaner scopes have been loaned out. One telescope remains unaccounted for and is
thought to be with former member Ted Cunningham. Anyone knowing how to reach Mr. Cunningham
is asked to contact a board member.
The club's new Meade LX-80 is not working. Meade customer service suspects there's a
problem with the hand controller. The controller has been sent to Meade for replacement.
Chuck Hards' bid of $201.00 on the club's 12" Dobsonian was the high bid.
picked up the scope.
Chuck has already
Ann House is seeking volunteers to help with summer camps to be held at the Natural History
Museum of Utah 2-7 June, 24-28 June and 5-9 August. Those wishing to help should contact
Ann at [email protected].
The club has an ample supply of books and telescopes to be given away at star parties.
Ann House has prepared and submitted SLAS's 2014 ZAP grant request (thanks Ann!).
Rodger hopes SLAS will have a booth at this year's Utah Education Association convention.
He will seek membership approval of the approximately $250.00 exhibitor fee at next week's
general membership meeting.
Rodger is designing a form that will be given out with telescopes given away at star
parties. The form will solicit feedback from the winners.
This year's Astronomy Day activities will include a star party at the Midvale Harmons the
evening of 19 April, a booth at the planetarium the morning of the 20th, a Sun party at the
Natural History Museum that afternoon from noon to 4:00 and a star party at SPOC that
evening. Members wishing to help with the planetarium booth and/or the Sun party should
contact Rodger Fry at [email protected].
A clean up day at SPOC will be scheduled soon but first Rodger needs to purchase the siding
that will be installed on parts of the Refractor House roof trolley.
Kevin suspects the Grim Scope computer has been infected. He is going to have it
professionally repaired and updated and have anti-virus software installed.
Patrick suggested the club purchase a VGA adapter for use by speakers at club meetings. The
board agreed and Rodger will pick one up as well as a wireless microphone, also for use at
club meetings.
Patrick said he'd received a voice mail from former member Scott Daniels offering to donate
a parcel of land in Hobble Creek Canyon to SLAS or sell it to a member for "$5.00" (that's
not a typo). The board was appreciative but decided to pass on the offer. Instead Patrick
will notify the membership of the offer in case any member(s) would like to follow up on
their own.
Larry suggested the club purchase an double stack solar filter for one of the club's
Coronado PSTs (Personal Solar Telescope). The board approved and Rodger will seek approval
of the approximately $500.00 expenditure at next week's general membership meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
General Meeting, 17 April 2013
SLAS President Rodger Fry called the meeting to order in room 105 of the University of
Utah's Engineering/Mines building at 7:00 p.m. Approximately 66 people attended.
Rodger introduced the members of the board and then those persons who were attending a SLAS
meeting for the first time.
He then introduced the evening's guest speaker Dr. Zheng Zheng from the University of Utah
Department of Physics and Astronomy who presented "The Dark Side of the Universe" a talk
about dark matter and dark energy.
Don Colton spoke about the recent star party at Capitol Reef saying one night was perfect
and the next partly cloudy. He said the next star party there would be on 10 and 11 May.
Rodger outlined the upcoming Astronomy Day activities. Friday afternoon we'll hold a Sun
party At the Natural History Museum of Utah followed by a star party that evening at the
Midvale Harmons. Saturday morning has us manning a booth at the planetarium, then another
Sun party at the museum in the afternoon and a star party that evening at SPOC.
SLAS will have a booth at this year's Scout-A-Rama.
A motion was made to purchase a double stack for the club's second PST (the other PST
already has one) with the cost coming out of ZAP funds. Approved.
Motion made for SLAS to absorb PayPal fees on club dues, SPOC fees and H-Alpha fees. A
reduced PayPal fee will remain in place on "material goods" like magazine subscriptions,
handbooks, calendars, t-shirts and the like.
The meeting was adjourned to "Advanced Training" at Denny's at 250 W 500 S at 8:39 p.m.
SLAS Member Information
The SLAS Member Information file is available at http://slas.us/slasbooks/NEWMEM.PDF.
Loaner Telescopes For SLAS Members
SLAS has several scopes available for loan to current SLAS members.
under "Membership Benefits" for details.
Check the SLAS website
2013 SLAS Board of Directors
President
Meetings
Vice President
Publicity, PR and Web Content
Secretary-Treasurer
Membership Dues & Renewals
Board Member at Large
School & Special Star Parties
Board Member at Large
SPOC Star Party Coordinator
Rodger Fry
801.288.0851 [email protected]
Joe Bauman
801.583 7935 [email protected]
Charlie Green
801.718.5349 [email protected]
Larry Holmes
801.467.7855 [email protected]
Kevin Hays
801.859.8511 [email protected]
Robert Taylor
Anderson, Mike
Hays, David
Ann Blanchard
Ann House
Patrick Wiggins
Rodger Fry
Roger Butz
Don Colton
Rodger Fry
Ken Warner
Ann House
801.599.3925
801.910.0997
801.859.8511
801.485.6629
801.671.8447
435.882.1209
801.288.0851
435.830.4684
801.571.9757
801.268.0851
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
801.288.0851
801.520.6981
801.842.1242
801.964.6199
801.277.0193
801.210.8427
435.882.1209
801.288.0851
801.288.0851
435.882.5237
435.830.4684
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
801.263.9264
801.842.1242
435.830.4684
801.288.0851
801.964.6199
435.882.1209
[email protected]
[email protected]
Appointed Positions
Astronomical League Contact
Equipment Manager
Equipment Manager, Assistant
Historian
NASA Night Sky Ambassador
Newsletter Editor
Observatory Director
Observatory Training Director
Private Star Party Coordinator
Solar Scope Manager
Webmasters
ZAP Grant Committee Chair
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
801.671.8447 [email protected]
Current SPOC Advisory Committee
Chair
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
through JAN 2014 and
through JAN 2015
through JAN 2015
through JAN 2014
through JAN 2015
through JAN 2015
through JAN 2016
through JAN 2014
while SLAS President
while Observatory Dir.
as Obser. Dir. Emeritus
while Training Dir.
while Harmons Rep.
Rodger Fry
Robyn Anderson
Mark Bloomenthal
Bill Kennedy
Nate Goodman
Ken Porras
Patrick Wiggins
Rodger Fry
Rodger Fry
Bruce Grim
Roger Butz
Keith Anderson
Current SPOC Telescope Instructors
Dave Bernson
Mark Bloomenthal
Roger Butz
Rodger Fry
Bill Kennedy
Patrick Wiggins
Refractor, Ealing, Grim
Grim
Grim
Refractor, Ealing, Grim
Refractor, Ealing
Refractor
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
NOVA is a publication of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, a non-profit organization. Nova contains
minutes of meetings, Board member names & contact info, activities, reports and special club events.
The editor of NOVA is appointed by the Board. Members are encouraged to contribute content. Current
NOVA editor is Patrick Wiggins, [email protected], 435.882.1209.
Events Calendar
May 2013
03 Public star party at SPOC.
04 Public star party at SPOC.
08 Board Meeting 6:30 pm at Denny's restaurant (250 W 500 S).
15 General Meeting 7:00 pm at U of U Engineering/Mines Classroom Building, Room 105.
17 Public star party at Brickyard Harmon’s (3270 S 1300 E).
18 Public star party at SPOC.
25 Public Sun party at Winchester Park (6400 S 1100 W).
31 Public star party at SPOC.
June 2013
01 Public star party at SPOC.
05-08 Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival.
12 Board Meeting 6:30 pm at Denny's restaurant (250 W 500 S).
14 Public star party at South Jordan Harmons (10507 South Redwood Rd).
15 Public star party at SPOC.
19 General Meeting 7:00 pm at U of U Engineering/Mines Classroom Building, Room 105.
22 Public Sun party at Winchester Park (6400 S 1100 W).
28 Public star party at SPOC.
29 Public star party at SPOC.
July 2013
05 Public star party at Jordanelle State Park.
10 Board Meeting 6:30 pm at Denny's restaurant (250 W 500 S).
12 Public star party at Bangerter Crossing Harmons (125 E 13800 S).
13 Public star party at SPOC.
17 General Meeting 7:00 pm at U of U Engineering/Mines Classroom Building, Room 105.
20 Public Sun party at Winchester Park (6400 S 1100 W).
26 Public star party at SPOC.
27 Public star party at SPOC.
Public Sun parties run from 9:00 to noon.
Public star parties run from sunset to 11:00.
Sun and star parties are held weather permitting.
View a list of all SLAS events online on the Events Calendar.