Rappahannock Astronomy Club
Minutes, March 12 2008 meeting
In attendance:
- Jim Ballier
- Barton Billard
- James Bingham
- Scott Busby
- Mark DeVito
- Joe Francis
- Tom Harmon
- Glenn Holliday
- Dan Lien
- Michael Masters
- Tim Plunkett
- Mark Rodman
The meeting was opened at approximately 7:00 pm by Scott Busby.
He announced a new recurring raffle for members. Attendees
introduced themselves.
Current Events
Scott Busby solicited event reports and news of upcoming events.
Significant items were:
- The club's March 1 star party and Messier Marathon, which
approximately 6 members and additional guests attended.
The greatest number of observations of Messier objects
during the event was 105, by Mike Masters.
- The next scheduled club events are our support for
the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation astronomy event
at Old Mill Park on March 15, and the club's monthly
star party at Caledon on March 29.
- Mike Masters has rescheduled the previously-postponed
star party for the Collegiate School for April 5.
- National Astronomy Day is May 10. The club will approach
Borders Books in Central Park about an event on that day.
Treasurer's Report
Treasurer Tim Plunkett presented the Treasurer's report.
Committee Reports
None were presented.
Old Business
Tim Plunkett will contact Mark Slade to get an update on the club's
Personal Solar Telescope.
New Business
Scott Busby solicited suggestions for program topics for
our monthly meetings through the remainder of 2008. Discussion
produced the following plan:
- April
- How to set up a German Equatorial Mount
- May
- How to collimate a Dobsonian telescope
- June
- Cleaning optics
- July
- Observing in the subArctic
- August
- Prime focus astrophotography
- September
- Radio astronomy
- October
- Nominations meeting, and advanced astrophotography
- November
- Elections meeting, and software to aid observing
- December
- Meteorites
The annual club picnic will be on August 30, and include a
workshop on using our equipment.
Program
Mike Masters led a program on our favorite accessories. A number of members
brought examples to present:
- James Bingham
- The Heavens Above Web site on a Blackberry
- Scott Busby
- An eyepiece case
- Barton Billard
- The PleiadAtlas program on a Palm Pilot
- Joe Francis
-
- The Orion EZ Finder
- A red LED headlamp, and red/white LED flashlight
- Glenn Holliday
- Binoculars
- Mike Masters
-
- A good chair
- A table for other accessories
- A red screen to cover a laptop
- Dark Adapted software to control laptop screen color
- Star atlases. Mike suggested
- Bright Star Atlas
- Sky Atlas 2000, with laminated pages
- Uranometria
- The Night Sky, an observing guide
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for
April 9 2008, 7:00 pm, at Headquarters Branch of
Central Rappahannock Regional Library.
Glenn Holliday,
Secretary