DAVID'S ASTRO CORNER
By David Stine

We are just a few days away from the Mid States Regional Astronomical League Convention June 20-22. I hope everyone plans to attend as we have some of the best speakers around lecturing on all aspects of the astronomical field. During the convention there will be two nights of observing at the clubs observatory. I have put together a MSRAL Convention Observing List that I think will be fun for everyone attending. We might even put together a certificate for those that achieve observing all objects on the list. I tried putting together a list that will be different from other observing lists, but achievable and interesting. So here goes. I will also have the list at the convention. Rules for observing and logging each are included by each. There are 25, which I felt were adequate and challenging for two nights of observing, as we don't want to stay up to late and miss the next day's speakers. I will give you hints where each or but you will have to do some research on your own. No GO-TO's or GPS Guiding systems are allowed, just your viewfinders, star hopping, circles, and charts.

1. IC 4756 and NGC 6633 - This is the double star cluster of Serpens-Ophiuchus.

2. NGC 5139 - Omega Centauri Globular Cluster

3. Center of the Milky Way Galaxy

4. M22- Beautiful Globular Cluster Rivals M13

5. Scorpius Jewel Box - Several overlapping star clusters, NGC 6231, Stars Zeta Scorpius 1 and 2.

6. Nu Scorpius - Double Double of Scorpius. Must split each double.

7. Galactic Dark Horse - Dark nebula between Sagittarius and Scorpius.

8. NGC 6960 and 6992 - Veil nebula in Cygnus

9. NGC 6826 - Blinking Planetary Nebula in Cygnus

10. Comets - This is a tough one. You have to find and observe at least one comet - 116P/Wild 4 is in Libra, K4 Linear is in Cygnus and there are others that I will list, but all are dim. No fair getting help from our speakers Dr. Clay Sherrod and Dr. Lien.

11. Satellites - ISS or HST or any other satellite, but must identify. Will have a list of pass for both nights at the convention.

12. Coathanger Star Cluster

13. Meteors - Must see at least one and identify or at least give constellation location it seemed to come from.

14. Duo Object M13/NGC 6207 - Awesome star Cluster with nearby galaxy. Must see both

15. IZAR Epsilon Bootes - Beautiful Double star of orange and blue.

16. NGC 6210 - Blue Green Planetary Nebula in Hercules

17. NGC 2903 - Galaxy in Leo, west of the sickle.

18. M11 - Wild Duck Cluster.

19. NGC 4565 - Edge on Spiral Galaxy in Coma Bernices

20. Gamma Delphinius - Golden White double star, and in same view Struve 2725 a dim double- Must see both doubles.

21. Planets - Must see at least 3 and log appearance, any moons, belts, dust, etc.

22. NGC 6543 - Planetary in Draco

23. UX Draconis - Carbon star and one of the reddest stars in the sky

24. Kembles Cascade - A chain of stars that cascade down in a straight line to a small cluster near Cassiopeia.

25. Rho Cassiopeiae - Hypergiant yellow white star ready to go Super Nova anytime. Estimate Mg. Hint: look at Julys Sky and Telescope for location.

Rules are, locate the object, write down your observation, time you observed it, and at least one witness that you showed the object to. After each night we will see how everyone did and present MSRAL Observing Certificates at the meeting. It will be fun and a chance to see some different deep sky objects you probably haven't taken the time to look for.

That's it from my astro corner this month. Hope to see everyone at the MSRAL Convention.

All of these should be logged the standard information; one more point: Wayne wanted information on how you went about finding it. All of the objects are brighter or at 13 magnitude.

Ashen Light on Venus

Eight Moons

Zodiacal Light

Gegenschein

Sun dogs 22 degrees

Planets by Daylight,

Conjunctions of Two Planets

Occultation of Planet or Star by Moon

Moon/Shadow Transit of Jupiter

Sunspots or Solar Rotation Rate

Green Flash

Aurora

One of: Ceres, Vesta, Pallas

Barnard's Star

Four Double Stars, At least two of: RR Lyraes,

Beta Persei, R Scuti, Eta Aquilae

Omnicron Ceti

Delta Cephei

HDE 226868/Cygnus X1,

Six Members of the Local Group

NGC 206, Stephen's Quintet

3C 273.

By Wayne Wyrick

INSTRUCTIONS

Select the letter of the correct astronomical entity next to the number of its identifying description.

Friday June 20 and Saturday June 21

Our Astronomy Club of Tulsa is hosting the MidStates Regional Astronomical League Convention this year at TU. The sessions will be held upstairs in the Allen Chapman Activity Center just west of our regular meeting building.

Turn West off Harvard on 5th place and follow the YELLOW SIGNS to the south parking lot.

Friday registration check in runs from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM and starts again at 7:45 AM Sat

A schedule of events is attached below. A registration page and convention information is available at http://www.astrotulsa.com/msral2003/2003MSRAL.htm

NOTE: Do NOT MAIL in the registration page! Notify us by email or phone ASAP and bring your money and a printed page to the convention. < John Land e-mail >

VENDORS of Telescopes and Astronomical accessories will be present so you may want to bring extra spending money for "new toys" ( Wives - You may want to hide the credit cards. )

QUESTION ? Can I just drop in to see what's going on without paying?

ANSWER: ALL persons attending must pay a registration fee. Our club has been planning for this event for two years and it has been in your newsletters since February. There is a considerable amount of expense related to renting space at TU, meals, printing, publicity, mailings and contacting guest speakers and vendors. We have an excellent set of speakers and the cost is not out of line with other conventions. At the door registration is Adult $45 and Student Rate is $35. You may bring a family guest with you for the $7.50 guest rate but not load up a car load of friends at guest rate. Children may attend with a parent at the $7.50 rate and children under 7 are free.

You may attend the Saturday Keynote Speaker Banquet separately for a fee of $ 18 which includes the $12 meal and evening registration. NOTE: YOU MUST CONTACT JOHN LAND directly by Tuesday night June 17 if you chose this option. < John Land e-mail > The meals are catered and we must turn in firm numbers in advance.

QUESTION ? Can I attend the convention Star Parties and not register?

ANSWER: The Star Parties on Friday and Saturday night are primarily to show off our observatory to our convention guests. We expect a large group and parking will be limited. Our Regular Free NEW MOON - CLUB STAR PARTY is Friday June 27 which is open to all members and their guests and members of the public. As a Tulsa Astronomy Club member you are not excluded from the convention star parties but we ask you to NOT bring non-member guests. Invite them to the June 27 session. A donation to the observatory upkeep would be appreciated for all the efforts put into cleaning up the place for this special event.

PARKING at the Convention Star Parties is limited. If you DO NOT HAVE a TELESCOPE and EQUIPMENT to set up PLEASE PARK in the AT&T LOT next door and walk over.

http://www.astrotulsa.com/msral2003/2003MSRAL.htm You can also reach the MSRAL web page from our club page.

www.AstroTulsa.com

Volunteers needed: Well over 300 man hours have already gone into having a successful convention but the real work starts when our guest begin to arrive. Call or email John Land < John Land e-mail > Phone