ASTRONOMY CLUB OF TULSAOBSERVER October 2003 ACT, Inc. has been meeting continuously since 1937 and was incorporated in 1986. It is a nonprofit; tax deductible organization dedicated to promoting, to the public, the art of viewing and the scientific aspect of astronomy. WhatThe Astronomy Club of Tulsa Club WhenFriday, 10 October, 2003 at 7:30 PM WhereRoom M1 inside Keplinger Hall, the Science & Engineering Building at TU. Enter the parking lot on the East Side of Keplinger Hall from Harvard and 5th Street. This will take you directly toward the staircase to enter the building. Room M1 is the first room on the left.
President’s MessageDenny Mishler
Our next club meeting on October 10th will feature club sponsor, Mr. Shawn Jackson from the University of Tulsa. Shawn teaches Physics and Astronomy at T.U. He did his undergraduate studies in Physics at the University of Oklahoma and followed that with graduate degree studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Shawn's research specialty is Granular Physics. He has been Faculty Advisor for a group of T. U. students including club members Aaron Coyner and Ian Zedalis whose research experiment known as GrAINS (more commonly known as Space Balls), was carried out on NASA zero gravity flights via the retrofitted cargo airplane known as the "Vomit Comet". Someday the experiment or its likeness may be flown on a space shuttle mission. The Stellar Evolution of a 1 solar mass star and of a 25 solar mass star will be explained and compared by Mr. Jackson. Like so many of the areas of Astronomy, Stellar Evolution is undergoing refinement and changes. In fact, one of the great mysteries of physics is why are the quantities of detected neutrinos emitted by stars much lower than predicted by theory. Mr. Jackson will give us the recently discovered answer. In February 2001 Shawn gave us a presentation on "The Physics of Black Holes". I well remember Shawn's exciting and understandable talk on Black Holes and therefore, I'm looking forward to his presentation on Stellar Evolution and the latest breakthroughs. Join us afterwards for socializing and refreshments. Our November 6th Meeting will be held at Bishops restaurant (formerly Furr's Family Restaurant). This will be a Thursday night dinner meeting with the annual election of club officers and board members. If you would like to be nominated for an officer position or become a board member please notify myself or another club officer or board member. Clear skies, Denny Mishler
TIME Once upon a time in England, a very mean witch was terrorizing the local population, who finally went to see a wizard to see what could be done about her. The wizard gave them a potion that would turn the witch into a statue. The townspeople managed to put the potion in the witch's food. When she found out about this, she turned green with rage, but it was too late and the potion worked as expected. The jubilant population had a big celebration and parade, and placed the petrified witch in a park as a public example. Pretty soon, people discovered that the witch had been frozen in a position that made her a perfect sundial, and started using her to tell the time of day. The custom grew and even today, people often refer to Mean Green Witch Time.
CLUB ASTRONOMY EVENTS Tentatively scheduled dates below are bracketed with question marks. The number of persons expected is in parenthesis. EVENTS AT RMCC OBSERVATORY: OCT 03 Fri 06:30 Home School (20) 04 Sat 06:30 Grace Fellowship (20) 05 Sun 06:30 Jenks Girl Scout Troops 265, 855 & 876 (25) 06 Mon 07:00 Webelos Pack 285 (15) 23 Thu 06:00 Sierra Club w/ George Brenner (30) 24 Fri 06:00 Club Star Party ?25 Sat 06:00 Back up for 10/24 ? 28 Tue 05:00 Home High School (20) 31 Fri 05:00 Owasso Home School (20) NOV 21 Fri 04:45 Club Star Party ?22 Sat 04:45 Back up for 11/21 ?
DEC 13 Sat 04:30 Boy Scout Troop (35) 19 Fri 04:45 Club Star Party ?20 Sat 04:45 Back up for 12/19 ?
EVENTS AWAY FROM OBSERVATORY OCT 02 Thu 07:00 Sperry Library (100) at the library 03 Fri 08:00 Tulsa University at Skelly Stadium (200) 10 Fri 07:30 Regular Meeting at TU Keplinger Hall NOV 06 Thu 06:000Dinner Meeting at Bishops Cafeteria (formerly Furrs) 08 Sat 06:00 Riverfield Country School (100) at school on W 61st St DEC 05 Fri 07:30 Regular Meeting at TU Keplinger Hall Gerry Andries
David's Astro Corner — "Mars Watch 2003" By David Stine They came from everywhere to get a glimpse of Mars and what they saw impressed most of them. I have never seen a turnout as large as we had for the two nights of Mars Watch. We were expecting maybe 1,000 people total for the two nights…Wrong…. how about somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 and that is probably a low estimate. We tried counting people but it became so hectic that it was impossible. Areas were set up to view the moon, deep sky objects and Mars, but when we got overwhelmed with people we had to have all the scopes go to Mars. Vince Moore and his scouts did an excellent job of parking cars and keeping the traffic flowing. Without them it would have been a disaster. At one time the cars were backed up almost to the front of Mohawk Park entrance. Lines of over 100 were at many of the telescopes. Teresa Kincannon kept the information flowing and asking for donations at the information desk and I think she probably collected over $450. People were amazed that you could actually see valleys and canyons on Mars and the polar cap was a big draw also. I can't remember when I have seen Mars better in my scope. Not only Mars was a draw but the moon was a big crowd pleaser also. We were lucky to show the crowd an iridium flare each evening also. The one on Saturday night brought cheers and clapping from the crowd. Donna Horton from the Oxley Nature Center was very impressed with the Astronomy Club of Tulsa and wants to do more activities like this with us in the future. I don't think we could have had a better partner. I want to think all of those that brought telescopes and helped out in this endeavor. As I said the scouts were tremendous, Teresa was great and did anything that was needed, Steve Chapman was an asset helping me to set up the viewing areas and signs, John Land was a great co-chairman putting out information to members and the press, and Donna and her staff went overboard to make the event a success answering phone calls from the public, talking to the press and making the site a much more presentable area for the public. I had many comments from the public that they would like for us to do more of these in the future. If I didn't mention your name thanks again for your help in presenting Mars Watch 2003.
Astroland Tidbits By John Land 2004 Royal Canadian Observers Handbooks - Prepaid $15.00 Each by Nov 7 We are taking prepaid orders for $15.00 between now and our Nov 7 meeting. To get this great rate we must receive 10 or more orders otherwise the price will be $16.50 each. The individual price is $26 plus shipping. The Canadian Observer's handbook has been the recognized source of astronomical events and tables since 1911. You find easy to read monthly charts detailing events for 2004 plus many pages for observing planets, comets and asteroids. For details see www.rasc.ca2004 Astronomy Calendars - Prepaid $7.00 each no later than Oct 10 ! We will be placing an order for the 2004 Astronomical Calendars from Astronomy magazine in October in order for you to get them here for Christmas gifts. If we order 15 or more we can get substantial discounts. The price this year is only $7.00 per calendar compared to $12.00 plus shipping if you order individually. However you must pay in advance no later than the Oct 10 meeting. Astronomy cautions us that many clubs are using these for fundraisers and they may sell out early. If you cannot attend the TU meetings mail your orders with check to Astronomy Club of Tulsa to the address below. Welcome to our new members who have joined this summer. Joseph Gagliardi, Kelly Caffey, John & Malia Castillo, Tim Davis, Gary Earle, Wayne Greer, Kevin Harris, Drusilla Healey, Dan Horwitz Jay Jegathesan MD, Joel Kimball, Tim & Noah Maddox, Kevan Matheson, Jimmy Minson ,Emma & Marina Pendleton, Dustin Summers Address corrections: Every month we get several newsletters returned due to faulty addresses. Check your address label to see if it needs changes and send us an address change if you move. Also on your address label you will see the month that your membership dues expire. Email Addresses - Sign UP to get the latest Astro Alerts from David Stine and other events that take place during the month. If you have not been receiving these we do not have a valid email address for you. If you would like to added to our email list send us your NAME - and Email address with subject - Astronomy Club email list to: membership e-mail Magazine Subscriptions: You can get substantial discounts for Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazine by ordering thorough the Astronomy Club. If your magazines are coming up for renewal, try to save the mailing label or renewal form you get in the mail. Do NOT mail renewals back to the magazine! To get the club discount you must go through the club group rate. Sky & Telescope is $33 / yr www.skyandtelescope.com Astronomy is $29 for 1 year or $55 for 2 years. www.astronomy.com Club Memberships and Renewals: If you see errors or make any changes in your address or E-mail please keep us informed. Contact John Land, or by mail to the address below You may make Renewals and changes at any club meeting or mail a check to Astronomy Club of Tulsa Note: Sending your check to the club mailbox may delay processing several weeks. Club memberships are $25 per year for adults and $15 per year for students. A membership form is available at our website http://astrotulsa.com/Club/membership.htm or you may pick one up at any of our club events. You may forward questions to the club by email < Information e-mail > or call our message line at 918-688-MARS ( 6277 ) Please leave a clear message with your name, phone number, your question - along with address or email. Please make email subject lines address your question.
RENEWALS: DON'T FORGET TO RENEW Club Memberships Astronomy Club of Tulsa Membership Application / Renewal Form Name: ________________________ Phone: ( ) ____ _______ Address: ___________________________________________________ City / State / Zip____________________/____________/_____________ ________________________________________________________ E-mail address - print clearly Check Lines below for YES ____ I would prefer to receive E-mail notification when club newsletter is posted to the web. ____ I choose to receive my newsletter by E-mail ONLY instead of postal mail. (Usually 3 or 4 days earlier * Must have web access ) ____ Notify me by E-mail of late breaking Astronomy Events Please check all that apply: ___ New Membership ($25) ___ Student Membership ($15) ___ Membership Renewal ($25) ___ Student Member Renewal ($15) ___ Sky & Telescope Subscription ($33) / year also includes 10% discount on most Sky & Tel products ___ Astronomy Subscription ($29) / year ($55) / two years * Magazine rates may change / prices available with membership only. Please bring this application along with a check for the total amount made out to the Astronomy Club of Tulsa to the next meeting or mail the payment and application to: Astronomy Club of Tulsa / 25209 E. 62nd St / Broken Arrow, OK 74014 For questions contact John Land How did you hear of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa? ___________________________________________________________ How long have you been interested or active in astronomy? ___________ Do you have a telescope? _______ Type __________________________ Have you been a member of other astronomy clubs? ____ Where / when ________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ What astronomy club activities would you like to participate in? ____________________________________________________________
Astronomy Club of Tulsa, 918.688.MARS President: Dennis Mishler Vice President: Craig Davis Treasurer: Nick Pottorf Assistant Treasurer: John Land Secretary: Jim Miller RMCC Observatory Manager: Gerry Andries Observing Chairman: David Stine Web Master: Tom McDonough New Membership: Craig Davis Newsletter: Richie Shroff |