From mojo at whiteoaks.com Wed Sep 4 01:30:20 2002 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] September Ephemeris online Message-ID: The September issue of the SJAA Ephemeris is available online: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From bhavner at earthlink.net Fri Sep 13 16:23:07 2002 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Star Party Almaden Lake regional Park Saturday 9/14 Message-ID: I am posting this to the announce list as I do not have Jims regular SSP list. School star party at Almaden Lake regional Park Saturday 9/14/02. Jim can't be there as he is on vacation. All are welcome to attend. 2002 Sep.14 -- Almaden Lake regional Park Sset 7:17, start 7:30 Sat'day 6099 Winfield Blvd., S.J. 65% moon sets 0:57 am Contact: Ranger Roger Abe (abbey) We'll start early so as to show Venus and the moon. Then by 8:15 we can start looking for deep-sky objects. From Hwy.85, exit at Almaden Blvd. Go south. S ~0.9 mi. to Coleman Avenue. Light. Left. E 0.3 mi. to Winfield Blvd. Right. Light. You will be passing the park, on your right. S 0.25 mi to the park gate. Right. OLD SITE: Enter the park, make an immediate sharp right turn, then a left, through the old rope fence, to the setup area. This is next to the amphitheater and boat ramp. NEW SITE: Enter gate, turn left into the parking lot. The lot is split into two parallel parts. We set up in the part that is nearer the lake, at the northern end. This gets away from all but one of the streetlights. Bob Havner San Jose Astronomical Association bhavner@earthlink.net From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Sep 13 16:39:42 2002 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astronomical Events this Weekend! Message-ID: A) Houge Park Star Party Tonight (Friday, Sept. 13th) 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM B) Amateur Telescope Making Class Tomorrow (Saturday, Sept 14) C) Public Star Party at Almaden Lake Regional Park Tomorrow (Sat, Sept 14) D) The Lost Spacecraft Exhibit at Chabot Science Center Closes Sept 15 *********************************** A) Houge Park Star Party Tonight (Friday, Sept. 13th) 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM The skies are clear and it looks like it will be a great night for astronomy tonight! See < http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html> Families welcome. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. We are expecting a local class of about 25 people so we could use a few more scopes. Some objects to look for tonight: 1) The 1st Quarter Moon! 2) Albireo: Double star, mag. 3.1 and 5.1, 34" apart. 385 LY away, stars are 400 AU apart. 3) M 13: Globular Cluster, 23,000 LY, > 300,000 stars, 140 LY across. 4) M 57: Ring Nebula. 1200 LY, 0.5 LY across. Caused by a supernova about 20,000 years ago. 5) M 27: A nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula.. About 900 LY away and 1.5 LY across. 6) M 11: Wild Duck Cluster. 6,000 LY away and 21 LY across. At least 600 stars 7) M 22: Globular cluster. About 10,000 LY away, with > 75,000 stars 8) Uranus: The 7th planet from the sun, 1.76 billion miles away. Green in color. Discovered in 1781. 9) Andromeda Galaxy: About 2.3 million LY away, 130,000 LY across. Contains 300 billion stars. 10) Double Cluster: 7200 LY away, 200 stars each. 11) Garnet Star: In Cephus. A red star. 12) M15: Globular Cluster 33, 600 LY away. densest of all star clusters in the Milky Way Come on out and enjoy the fun. Sunset: 7:19 PM Civil Twilight: 7:45 PM Nautical Twilight: 8:15 PM Astronomical Twilight: 8:47 PM Moonset: 12:03 AM Sat ************************************************ B) Amateur Telescope Making Class Continues Tomorrow (Saturday, Sept 14) Under the instruction of Tom Whittemore of Evergreen Valley College, the SJAA continues to host a mirror making class in the hall at Houge Park. The class format is casual, with the Tom and other mirror makers offering advice on grinding and polishing a mirror as you work on it in the class. A Foucault tester will be available to help determine the figure of your mirror along with some advice on how to correct it. You can start a mirror at any class session. We have mirror-making kits available at each class at a cost of $75 for a 6" mirror, $145 for a 8" mirror, and $200 for a 10" mirror. The club also is working (slowly) on a 10-inch "Community Mirror" for everyone to contribute grinding on. We are at 500 Grit tonight! The class will meet twice monthly based on the Houge Park star party schedule. The class meets at 7:30 p.m., either on Saturday after a first quarter star party (except when a general meeting is scheduled!) or Thursday before a third quarter star party. Feel free to attend any of the classes that you can. Next ATM classes for the remainder of 2002: Saturday Classes: Sept 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, and Dec 21 Thursday Classes: Sept 26, Oct 24, Nov 21, and Dec 5 *********************************** C) Public Star Party at Almaden Lake Regional Park Saturday, Sept 14 Our school star party team has been hosting star parties at Almaden Lake for the last few months. We could always use a few more scopes in support of this. See Jim Van Nuland's website for an introduction on our school star parties. http://www.svpal.org/~jvn/index.htm From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sat Sep 14 16:23:29 2002 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] last minute call for articles Message-ID: This is a last minute call for anyone who might have an article for the October Ephemeris. If you can get us an article today, it can make the issue! Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Sep 20 20:06:46 2002 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Slide and Equipment Night Saturday, Sept 21st Message-ID: SJAA General Meeting-Slide and Equipment Night Saturday, Sept 21st, 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: Tom Whittemore's Rebuilt 10" Truss Scope Michael Dajewski will show the upgrades he made to Loaner Scope #28 (Coulter Odyssey 1) Leonid MAC 2001 Airborne video footage and meteor counting gear All are welcome to attend and present! Websites with past S&E Nites: http://www.sjaa.net/eph/9810g.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/9911/g.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0011/i.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0110/i.html Clear Skies, Mike Koop President, SJAA From bhavner at earthlink.net Sat Sep 21 14:33:06 2002 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] FW: pix tonight Message-ID: Jane asked if I could get some pics of Slide and Equipment night. Unfortunately I have to leave after the board meeting. Can someone else bring a camera to get some pics for the Ephemeris. -----Original Message----- From: Jane Houston Jones [mailto:jane@whiteoaks.com] Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 1:56 PM To: bhavner@earthlink.net Subject: pix tonight MOjo and I have a wedding this afternoon and so we can't make the meeting. If you or someone else could take some pictures (with the names of the exhbitors) that would be great! We like to put Slide and Equip pix in the Ephemeris, but just can't be there tonight. Jane -- Jane Houston Jones San Rafael, CA jane@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Sep 27 16:48:04 2002 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astronomical Events Tonight! Message-ID: A) Houge Park Star Party Tonight (Friday, Sept. 27th) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM B) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Freeman on "Cosmic Bird Watching" C) CalStar Next Week, Oct 3rd - Oct 6th *********************************** A) Houge Park Star Party Tonight (Friday, Sept. 13th) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Well, it does not look too good for tonight. The Clear Sky Clocks show us fogged in. See < http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html> However, yesterday had about the same conditions where the fog did not burn off till late in the day and the skies over Houge stayed clear to 10:30 PM when the Mirror making class broke up. There will be a class of 5th graders there tonight. Come on out and enjoy the fun. Some objects we hope to see tonight: 1) M 8: Lagoon Nebula, 5200 LY away. 2) Albireo: Double star, mag. 3.1 and 5.1, 34" apart. 385 LY away, stars are 400 AU apart. 3) M 13: Globular Cluster, 23,000 LY, > 300,000 stars, 140 LY across. 4) M 57: Ring Nebula. 1200 LY, 0.5 LY across. Caused by a supernova about 20,000 years ago. 5) M 27: A nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula.. About 900 LY away and 1.5 LY across. 6) M 11: Wild Duck Cluster. 6,000 LY away and 21 LY across. At least 600 stars 7) M 22: Globular cluster. About 10,000 LY away, with > 75,000 stars 8) Uranus: The 7th planet from the sun, 1.76 billion miles away. Green in color. Discovered in 1781. 9) Andromeda Galaxy: About 2.3 million LY away, 130,000 LY across. Contains 300 billion stars. 10) Double Cluster: 7200 LY away, 200 stars each. 11) Garnet Star: In Cephus. A red star. 12) M15: Globular Cluster 33, 600 LY away. densest of all star clusters in the Milky Way Sunset: 6:57 PM Civil Twilight: 7:23 PM Nautical Twilight: 7:53 PM Astronomical Twilight: 8:24 PM Moonrise: 10:30 PM ************************************************ B) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Freeman on "Cosmic Bird Watching" In the Hall at Houge Park, Sept 27th starting at 7:30 PM. Regardless of the weather, the Beginning Astronomy Class will happen. Just don't know how to get started in Amateur Astronomy? The San Jose Astronomical Association Observational Astronomy Class is here to help you! This informal monthly series will teach basic astronomy, the constellations, the movement of the sky, and the use of the telescope. It occurs every third quarter moon Houge Park Star Party Night until November. No Reservations needed and you can join the class at any time. The class is a free public service provided by the SJAA. After a brief Sky Tour by President Mike Koop, we will get to hear the wisdom of Master Observer Jay Reynolds Freeman. This talk is Jay's take on the hobby of Amateur Astronomy, which he refers to as "Cosmic Bird Watching". Hear Jay's option on astronomical equipment and learn techniques to get the most out of your scope. *********************************** C) CalStar Next Week, Oct 3rd - Oct 6th The SJAA hosts the third annual California Star Party. Join us next week for the dark skies at San Antonio Lake County Park, near Paso Robles in Monterey County. Calstar is your basic end of season dark sky star party. No vendors, no food concessions (except for Sat. Nite! See Below), no speakers, no prizes. Bring water, bring shade and bring sunscreen. And don't forget to bring your telescope! Camping costs are $32.00 for the three nights, or $16.00 per night. Maps, registration, and pictures from last years star party are here: http://www.sjaa.net/calstar2002.html We a pleased to announce that a caterer has been found to serve dinner on Saturday Evening. For $13.50 you can get a BBQ meal consisting of Tri-tip or chicken breast, baked beans, Salad, Fruit, Garlic bread. If you are interested in joining us for dinner, please email Mark Wagner at mgw@resource-intl.com and make a reservation. *********************************** Directions to Houge Park: Houge Park is in San Jose, near Campbell and Los Gatos. >From Hwy.17, take the Camden Avenue exit. Go east 4/10 mile, and turn right at the light, onto Bascom Avenue. At the next light, turn left onto Woodard Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Twilight Drive. Go three blocks, cross Sunrise Drive, then turn left into the park. >From Hwy.85, take the Bascom Avenue exit. Go north 0.2 miles, and turn right at the first traffic light, onto White Oaks Road. Run another 0.2 miles to the first stop sign, then turn left onto Twilight Drive. You will now be passing the park. Turn right at the first driveway, into the parking lot. See Map at http://www.sjaa.net/img/houge.jpg *********************************** Clear Skies, Mike Koop President, SJAA Email any comments, questions or flames to Koopm@best.com