From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sat Sep 1 14:25:19 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] September SJAA Ephemeris online Message-ID: The September edition of the SJAA Ephemeris is now available online: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From jvn at svpal.org Mon Sep 3 14:25:37 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Slide & Equipment night References: <5.1.0.14.2.20010903120927.00a28370@mail201.pair.com> <3B93DA88.9350E5F3@ix.netcom.com> Message-ID: <3B93F551.13F2@svpal.org> > Mark Wagner wrote: > > I think I'll go to the SJAA slide and equipment night instead. Rob Moore wrote: > What's the SJAA slide and equipment night? It's the annual show and tell. For instance, I'll bring in my telescope battery and talk about how I made it safe and easy to use (compared to a naked battery and clips). I hope Mark will bring at least one of those *really* cool skeletal telescopes. Newly-acquired commercial scopes are welcome, too -- point out the features! If the sky is open we can set up afterward. Photographers are invited to show their stuff. We'll have a carousel projector (less tray), prints may be displayed on the tables, and someone can set up their computer to show results of e-imaging. I'll bring my laptop with Irfanview, so if you have images that fit on floppies, I'll probably be able to show them and spare you the need to haul a computer. (I don't have such tools as Photoshop, etc.) Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From koopm at best.com Fri Sep 7 20:06:10 2001 From: koopm at best.com (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astro Events this Weekend! Message-ID: <20010907195545.V13156-100000@shell13.ba.best.com> Events this weekend: A) SJAA General Meeting-Slide and Equipment Night Saturday, Sept 8, starting at 8PM B) Atlas Launch from Vandenberg, Saturday Morning 8:24 PDT C) Lunar occultation of Saturn early Monday Morning, 4:55 PDT D) Sky Photography Class offered through the SETI Institute ********************************************************************************** A) SJAA General Meeting-Slide and Equipment Night Saturday, Sept 8, starting at 8PM at Houge Park It's time for everyone's favorite meeting, Member show and tell! Have you purchased a new telescope or astro accessory? We love to see it, hear how you made your decision to purchase it, and how it has improved your observing skills! Are you in the process of building a scope or astro toy but have run into a problem you have not solved yet? Bring it on by and tell us about it! Many of our members have run into similar problems. The person with the solution could be sitting right next to you! A slide projector will be available to show some of your latest astrophotography efforts. Please feel free to bring any pictures, even the less successful ones, so that we can all understand the patience and persistence that is required to get the outstanding images we take for granted in the astronomy magazines. Some of our members have been doing astrophotography for over twenty-five years and may offer a pointer or two that may help make your next photographic session more successful. Some things to look forward to: Mark Wagner will be bringing his expandable 8" Exo-scope Ernie Piini has promised to show his solar eclipse setup I'll bring my automated solar eclipse camera which I used in Africa. All are welcome to attend and present! Directions to Houge Park: http://www.sjaa.net/houge.html ********************************************************************************** B) Atlas Launch from Vandenberg, Saturday Morning September 8th, around 8:24 PDT There will be a launch of a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS (AC-160) rocket with a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload from SLC-3E at Vandenberg AFB near Lompoc, California. The satellite will be going into polar orbit, which is a little more difficult to observe from San Jose since the peak altitude reaches only 20 degrees above the horizon. In addition, the launch will occur in daylight so consider it a challenge. The launch window is listed to be from 8:24 to 8:36 PDT. The details of the launch can be seen at http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac160/status.html Justin Ray also provides a real time countdown from this site, so refresh the page frequently to get the latest info on the countdown. If you have a C-band satellite dish, the launch can be monitored from Galaxy 3, Trans. 9. I would recommend determining the where to look before the launch using a compass. From San Jose we need to look to the south - southeast at 158 degrees (use a map to determine the look angle for a different location). Make sure to have visibility clear to the horizon to maximize your viewing time. I have to stand in the middle of the street looking between two of my neighbor's trees to see the polar launches. I usually monitor the launch on the Internet, and when the web page says launch, I run outside with my binoculars to the spot. Let me know if you have any luck. Jay Freeman caught the Titan 4 Launch from Menlo Park last August during the day: http://www.observers.org/tac.mailing.list/2000/August/0527.html ********************************************************************************** C) Lunar occultation of Saturn early Monday Morning, 4:55 PDT Early Monday morning, Saturn will disappear behind the moon. This is a not to be missed event if you have a telescope. Sky and Telescope has a good event description: http://www.skypub.com/sights/skyevents/0109skyevents.shtml For San Jose: Saturn Disappears: 4:55 AM, PDT Astronomical Twilight: 5:17 AM, PDT Nautical Twilight: 5:48 AM, PDT Saturn Reappears: 6:07 AM, PDT Civil Twilight: 6:19 AM, PDT Sunrise: 6:46 AM, PDT Steve Cooperman has provided these simulated views from Stary Night: http://home.earthlink.net/~skyeman1/skyimages/20010910-0450-eastern-sky.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~skyeman1/skyimages/20010910-0446-Saturn-close-up.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~skyeman1/skyimages/20010910-Saturn-occultation.mov ********************************************************************************** D) Sky Photography Class offered through the SETI Institute I received this email about a class that will be held at the SETI Institute in Mountain View and figure that there might be some interest from the group............ SKY PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS with Dennis Mammana, SkyScapes Being held in Mountain View CA Expose your camera to an entirely new universe in this lively and informative non-credit class. Noted sky photographer Dennis Mammana demonstrates how even the simplest of cameras can record stars, constellations, planets, satellites, meteors, comets, the sun, the moon, and more. Not only will you learn practical tips on capturing the cosmos on film but, more importantly, how to create magnificent and colorful portraits of the heavens with just a camera and tripod. To see samples of sky photos shot by former students, visit Mammana's website at: http://www.skyscapes.com and click on "Student Photo Gallery". Familiarity of general photographic and camera terminology is helpful. INCLUDES: ..Types of cameras, film and useful equipment ..Anticipating how the sky will perform ..Common photo "flubs" to avoid ..Special effects for stunning sky images ..Two outdoor sky photo sessions (weather permitting) ..Follow-up session to view and evaluate all photos taken COST: ..$60. per person IN-CLASS SESSION: Saturday, 13 October 2001; 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Bring your lunch) OUTDOOR PHOTO SESSION AT DARK SKY SITE (WEATHER PERMITTING) Saturday, 13 October 2001; 6:15 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. OUTDOOR PHOTO SESSION (WEATHER PERMITTING) Sunday, 14 October 2001; 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. IN-CLASS SESSION: Saturday, 20 October 2001; 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. If interested: Please contact Judith Marx Golub at 650-941-4027 or email: photoclass@softwaremanagement.com By September 15, 2001 Judith also reports that she just came back from Africa for the solar eclipse with Dennis and two of the SETI scientists. Judith's and Dennis's photos can be seen on http://www.melitatrips.com and Click on Pix Gallery ********************************************************************************** Send any question, comments, flames to Mike Koop President, San Jose Astronomical Association Email: koopm@best.com Wk (408)473-6315 Hm (408)446-0310 From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sun Sep 9 18:40:43 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Call for October Ephemeris articles Message-ID: The deadline is the 10th for submissions for the October edition of the Ephemeris. All submissions welcome, including "For Sale" items. Photos are welcome too. :) Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sun Sep 9 20:38:36 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Reminder, Submission address ... Message-ID: As a reminder, don't reply to this email to send an article to the Ephemeris -- that just sends it to the chat email list. :) Send Ephemeris submissions to: ephemeris@sjaa.net Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From mojo at whiteoaks.com Fri Sep 14 00:55:12 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Need names to go with photos Message-ID: -- SJAA members, I'm looking for names to go with photos in the SJAA Ephemeris for some of the people presenting interesting equipment at Slide and Equipment Night this past month. Who brought the "sunspotter" triangular sun telescope? And ... Who was that with the Fraunhofer refractor and tripod leg warmers? :) Please respond to mojo@whiteoaks.com, no need to reply to the chat list. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From jvn at svpal.org Fri Sep 21 01:25:39 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] [Fwd: Space Ambassador] Message-ID: <3BAAF983.71EF@svpal.org> Hi, All, SJAA member Michael Bennett the following URL for a NASA "Space Ambassador" public education program. SJAA already does regular public events, but if someone would like to pick up this program, you might piggyback on the already-scheduled Houge Park dates. > Check out the following web site: > http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/front.html -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From bhavner at earthlink.net Wed Sep 26 07:02:51 2001 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] September astro class Message-ID: <000e01c14693$f216c580$998ef5d1@havner> Astronomy class X, "Observing the Milky Way" In this class we will learn about the Milky Way, the constellations along the Milky Way, deep sky in the Milky Way, and how to how to observe the Milky Way. Sept. 28 7:30pm at Houge Park Meeting Hall Bob Havner Vice-President San Jose Astronomical Assn. bhavner@earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20010926/e9d50b36/attachment.html From jvn at svpal.org Thu Sep 27 21:15:25 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Lecture at UCSC, Oct.18 Message-ID: <3BB3F95D.3798@svpal.org> Hi, All, This was posted to the TAC list by Steve Sergeant. Presumably too late to be in the October issue of the Ephemeris. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page UCSC -- Public Lecture: Mars on Earth **** 10/18/2001 (Thursday, 20:00) < http://observers.org/calendar/event.cgi?eventNumber=112 > Sponsored by: UC Observatories/Lick Observatory and UCSC < mailto:stephens@cats.ucsc.edu > Pascal Lee, a planetary scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, will give a free public lecture on Thursday, October 18, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The lecture, "Mars on Earth: Polar Research and Human Missions to Mars," will take place at 8 p.m. in Classroom Unit 2 on the UCSC campus. Lee is based at the NASA Ames Research Center and is the principal investigator of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project, an international research program at the Haughton impact crater in the Canadian Arctic. Located on desolate Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth, the Haughton crater has environmental conditions and geologic features analogous to those that might be encountered on Mars. The Haughton-Mars team has used the crater's rocky polar desert setting to investigate the evolution of geologic features on Mars, the effects of meteorite impacts on Earth, and the possibilities of life in extreme environments. The team also conducts field studies of the technologies, strategies, human factors, and hardware designs relevant to the future exploration of Mars by robots and humans. Soon after Lee's lecture, on October 24, the NASA Mars Odyssey spacecraft is due to arrive at the red planet. The Odyssey will orbit Mars gathering data on its climate and geologic history, searching for evidence of liquid water, and setting the stage for future missions. Lee is a founding member of the Mars Society, an international nonprofit private organization in support of the human exploration of Mars. His interest in "Mars analog" studies has often taken him to Earth's polar regions and deserts, including several trips to Antarctica. He received his M.E. degree in engineering geology and geophysics from the University of Paris and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in astronomy and space sciences from Cornell University. Lee's lecture, presented by the UCSC Astronomy and Astrophysics Department and UC Observatories/Lick Observatory, is part of the Halliday Lecture Series, made possible through the generous support of John and Layne Halliday to promote public awareness and appreciation for astronomy and astrophysics. From jvn at svpal.org Sat Sep 29 22:34:32 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Auction Oct. 23 in Stockton, Mt.Diablo club Message-ID: <3BB6AEE8.495D@svpal.org> The following announcement came from Jane Houston Jones, president of AANC, with request to make it available to club members. Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page ANNOUNCEMENT: Mount Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) is having its annual astronomical equipment auction, which is open to anyone who would like to buy or sell things astronomical. This year MDAS is selling two telescopes at very good price, a 10 inch Dobson and an old Questar Field Model tube assembly. The 163 MDAS members usually have diverse items for sale; from telescopes to eyepieces and even cameras. There is also a bake sale if you aren't in need of any hardware. The seller sets a base price at which the auctioneer, Kevin Medlock starts. If an item doesn't sell, the seller can have him go in the opposite direction. MDAS accepts a 10% tax deductible donation up to $100 sales price and 5% above that, so a $150 item has a voluntary donation of $12.50. Everyone usually has a good time and simply watching Kevin in action is plenty of entertainment for anyone. The Auction starts at about 7:45 PM, but it's good to get there early. Directions courtesy of Jim Scala of MDAS: Meeting site address: Concord Police Association Facility 5060 Avila Rd, Concord >From Route 680 North in Walnut Creek. As you go past Walnut Creek start moving into the right hand lanes when you see signs to Route 242. Take Route 242 and stay in the left lanes as you will go to the end of 242. Stay on 242 until it ends and the signs say Stockton. This will take you up the ramp onto Route 4 going east. Stay in the right lane on Route 4 since you will take the first exit, Willow Pass Road. On the Willow Pass Rd. exit stay in the right lane and turn right onto Willow Pass Road getting into the left lane immediately, because you will take the first left hand turn (about 0.1 mile) onto Avila Rd. Beware of cars from the other direction in making this turn as they sometimes come up over the hill quite fast. Turn left on Avila and go to the top of the hill where you will turn right (first right hand turn) through a gate and chain link fence marking the Police Training center.