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----- Original Message ----- From: John & Genevieve Goss To: traub@... ; John and Genevieve Goss ; Sandy Sanders ; case@... ; stargzer@... ; bob.dutilly@... ; wmchal1@... ; cjones6@... ; reed007@... ; BEney14574@... ; tanichols@... ; evondra@... ; ljsbach@... ; Apharamond@... ; jxb234@... ; MATurco@... ; marilyn@... ; rbukovsky@... ; tspuck@... ; webloom@... ; HSTINST@... ; gymbarber@... ; dmdewey@... ; stargaz@... ; Jim@... ; m51john@... ; sanich@... ; howellgl@... ; jimvb@... ; caffreyp@... ; shenastro@... ; jmkaraffa@... ; strongro@... ; hi-king@... ; jeffball@... Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 12:58 PM To all MERAL club presidents, The Astronomical League is looking for ways at making its regions more effective and more responsive to the individual clubs' needs. Below is a recent letter from Regional Structure Study Chair Jerry Sherlin describing the situation. Your comments, ideas and suggestions are welcome. John Jardine Goss MERAL Chair Ladies & Gentlemen: 2/14/2003 Let me briefly introduce myself to those who don't know me.....my name is Jerry Sherlin and I am a past president the Astronomical League (as well as a past vice-president and executive secretary). Currently I am the MARS region's representative. At last year's ALCon in Salt Lake City, League President Bob Gent asked John Goss, Pat Carr, and me to take on the task of investigating the League's regional structure. From the current Reflector I've gathered your names as regional reps. or chairpersons plus I know several of you are no longer regional officer.....but as no matter whether you are a current or past officer we solicit your comments and ideas. I agreed to chair this committee because I, like the League President, see a need for examining the League's regional infrastructure. To begin with, you should know that this regional structure has remained unchanged, except for the addition of new regions, since the League was formed in 1947. I believe the regional system was needed (at that time) because travel and "getting together" was quite different (in 1947) than it is now. By having regions within the League, with regional meetings, it was easier for League members to come together. There were also, at that time, far fewer "star parties" than there are now so, again, the regional convention acted as a meeting place for members within a more compact 5 or 6 state contiguous region. The question now arises, is this system outdated, in need of overhaul, left alone.....or just what? In some capacity I've been working for the League for over 40 years, both as a regional and national officer, and I've seen, oh how I've seen, the fortunes of regions change. Some regions have consistently, year after year, been strong and active while others have floundered or, at best, swung between periods of activity and dormancy. The key of course is competent and dedicated leadership but I have seen, and even participated in "shang haiing" people into regional office. When Dr. Bob Stencel and I resuscitated the MARS region (about 7 years ago) the two men listed as regional officers had disappeared so long ago that nobody remembered them; I doubt seriously that this is an isolated example. With a system that relies completely on volunteer labor, regions sometime just cannot find leadership or regional leadership becomes enmeshed in political squabbles. Another problem that has come up, from time to time, is the rigidity of the regional boundary system. Some clubs have felt tied to a particular region while the League's system of drawing political boundaries has placed them into another region. One final point is the matter of money.....some regional treasuries are reasonably well off while others are bankrupt and have great difficulty in building and sustaining a regional treasury. It's these kinds of problems that beg the question of whether it is time to change this system. The world has changed a lot, and certainly the Astronomical League has grown and changed a lot since 1947. Because of this, I am asking for your opinions, ideas, and suggestions. You are all involved, or have been involved, with regional politics and programs and you've encounter these, and other, problems. What is the solution? I think it is possible for us to build a consensus from the collective wisdom and experience of all of you. Our committee solicits your input so we can prepare a report to President Bob Gent by the time of the ALCON 2003 in Nashville. Your support will be appreciated. Most sincerely, Jerry M. Sherlin MARS Regional Representative

This site has some SOHO LASCO images of comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT). It should be visible through 2/20/03 http://soho.estec.esa.nl/data/realtime/realtime-c3.html

Just a reminder to all BBAA-ers that North Landing Elementary School is having their "Discovery Night" Tuesday night at 7:00 until 8:30. Now, if this event is anything like last week's Science Expo, it's going to be great, not only for the kids who show up, but also for the parents and teachers as well! Actually, I think some of the older folks were as excited at seeing Saturn, the weather bands on Jupiter, and the craters on the moon, as much as the kids were! Just remember:you don't have to be an astronomy expert to help out! If that was the case, I wouldn't be able to go! Dick Moncure, Ted Forte, George Reynolds, and I had four scopes set up last week. We seemed to have a non-stop line (of kids and adults) by each scope until time to go. It was really a fun evening! Tomorrow's event is supposed to be even bigger! I know we can use more scopes for this event (six would be nice!)and some folks to remain inside to talk and pass out materials, as well. It seemed as though all of us who went last week had a great time. I know we all left in great moods. The smiles on the kids faces as they looked up from my eyepiece, things they said like: "Awesome!" and "Cool!" made the trip out to Chesapeake more than worth it. It was a thrill to know that some of these kids were discovering these celestial objects for the first time in their lives. I thought to myself, Who knows...maybe there's a Ken Broun in the crowd? Mr. Broun got his start in astronomy by viewing Saturn for the first time through a friend's telescope...did you know that? The address is: North Landing Elementary School, 2929 North Landing Road in Virginia Beach (behind the VoTech School). 427-6600 Our Point of contact is Ms. Tracy Coffin. 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come on out, if you can make it! Rick Bish

I was planning to attend tonight but forgot I'm alergic to children. Have a great event. Kent Blackwell (who else...or is it whom else?)

Today is Lelane Arneson's Birthday! (Known to some as Leland Aresonal!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY LELANE! georgie

I've uploaded just a few of the pictures taken at North Landing Elementary School last night. Go to the Yahoo group homepage http://groups.yahoo.com/group/backbayastro and open the NorthLanding album. It was a great turnout. Ted

Dale Carey's report on the Winter Star Party has been uploaded to the BBAA website http://groups.hamptonroads.com/bbaa ... click on Observing Reports. Ted

A new product: Red-Dot Finders to be attached to binoculars to aid in astronomical observing. > > http://www.BinoSight.com

Hi all I was playing around with Starry Night checking out Mars. On the 19th of June around 3am in the SE, it looks like Mars will be just above the Moon and should make a really nice view. Using the 8x20 Binoculars field of view guide over haft of the Moon and all of Mars will fit nicely in it. As I am new and don't have my scope yet I am not sure if this will be a good photo op or not, because I don't know the comparisons yet between binoculars field of view and a 8" scope. But weather permitting I will be watching. Mat

Just got off the phone with Northwest River Park, they were inspecting the equestrian area as I was talking with them. The entire parking area is underwater. Skywatch is cancelled (Park insists we cancel). Sorry, but it didn't look promising anyway. Ted

We were discussing the close approach of Mars, and how near in apparent distance in the sky it will be to the moon on June 18/19 at 4:36am; only 2.4-degrees. But quess what, on July 16/17 it'll be...this is amazing...only 18' seperation. That will be visible in the same field of view with any telescope. It's the closest I've ever seen it! Now, since the moon will be 85% illuminated I leave it up to all you astrophotgraphers out there to capture them both! Yea, right. I know Bob Jones can do it. Isn't it a darn shame photographic film (sorry digital folk out there) doesn't have the wonderful latitude our human eyes have? If anyone is "into" close apparitions the moon and Jupiter will be only 3.6-degrees appart next month on March 14. If you miss that it'll be the exact same apparent distance on July 2. Kent Blackwell

Hey folks, Just wanted to let you know, the 2003 ALCON is going to be hosted by the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society in Nashville, TN this year on July 9-12th. If you'd like more information, please check out the Astronomical League Website at: http://www.astroleague.org Also, we have so many new members now that may be interested in earning a certificate thru the Astronomical League (AL). A few of the certificates you can earn are: The Lunar Club, The Messier Club, The Urban Club, and The Sunspotters Club. There are others that may interest you also so check out the website to get all the details and requirements to earn the certificates. Once completed with all of the requirements, you can turn your observation log over to me and I'll order your certificate and pin. (same website as listed above. Look on the left hand side under Astro-Info and click Observing Clubs.) If you have any questions or need additional information regarding the Astronomical League or any of it's Observing Clubs, please let me know. Georgie June, Astronomical League Correspondant doublestarjune@... http://www.astroleague.org

I'll bet that caught your eye. No, the 25" is not up for sale (yet). I do have the following. The mirror has a fine figure, and the scope is in very good condition. It's about 5 years old. I've included current prices as a reference. The package price is $375. 8" f/6 Dobsonian (white tube) ($449 for the current model, plus $50 shipping) 7.5mm & 26mm eyepieces 6x30 Orion finder on twin ring mount. This is far better than on the new Orion 8" Dobs. Those finders are single ring-mounts which often get out of alignment. Orion Reflex Finder (currently sells for $35) Orion Collimating Eyepiece (currently sells for $35) Cover (currently sell for $40) Kent Blackwell

Orions 5" Mak-Cass 1540mmFL F12.1 14.5" long standard equipment - 6 x 26 finder 25mm plossl 45* correct angle diagonal and fully padded case with acc. pockets. I'm including a Badder solar filter and case that I made. New from Orion $349.00 + ship not incl. filter This one is $295.00 or will take a Pentax 10.5 eyepiece + 100 or 120/127mm F5 refractor OTA Need faster lens for photography This is a great scope. Looks brand new.

I don't know how many observed on Wednesday evening but the seeing was just stunning. I rolled the 25" out to do some tweeks. After tweeking the alignments of the mirrors a bit I pointed the telescope towards Saturn. Wow, it was the best I've ever seen it. Seriously, I could easily see Cassini and Crepe Divisions. Encke was a challenge but visilbe.I could also see the shading in Ring-B. For a split second I saw spokes in Ring-B. This is only the second time I've ever seen these spokes. I've always been an advocate of planet observing in the city. The pollution certainly helps steady the atmosphere. All you have to do on this evening is step outside. You can "feel" the stagnant air, and smell the coal buring fireplaces. A great time to look at Jupe & Saturn. Kent Blackwell

Because trees obscured my western view I didn't get to see it when it brightened higher than 6th magnitude. If you didn't see it either don't despair, there are several nice comets to view this month. Here are their position this Friday evening, which is BBAA's Skywatch night. I shall list them in order of RA: 154P/Brewington Psc 00h 19m +12 34', 11.9 magnitude C/2001 HT 50 Monoceros 06h 41m +02 18, 11.5 magnitude C/2001 RX 14 (LINEAR) UMa 11h 50m +41 06, 10.7 magnitude C2002 Y1 Draco 19h 36 + +60 56' 8.1 mangnitude Good luck. At least one of these should be visible with moderate binoculars. Kent Blackwell

Welcome to the group, Joe! Thank you everyone for your help with right ascension and declination. You guys are so helpful and knowledgeable and I really enjoy being a BBAA member. Oh....yes an announcement: Now that the skies are opaque with cloud coverage, the storage facility and D.A.V., behind my house, have shut all their flood lights off. My backyard has never been so dark! Rick Bish

BBAA all, According to predictions on the Tidewater and Chippokes Sky clocks, this may be our best viewing night for a while. Joe

What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh! Joe