October 2007 Minutes |
| ATTENDANCE |
R. Armstrong; M. Arsenault; A. Bordage; C. Clayton; A. Davis; D. Driscoll;
J. Dunlop; M. Giberson; P. Jensen; G. Jones; T. Jones; E. Kaine; K. Keith;
L. Larkin; J. MacDonald; B. MacNutt; S. McHatten;K. Melville; Curt Nason;
E. O'Reilly; M. Powell; E. Silva; W. Slaney; B. Spragg; C. Trott
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| WHAT'S UP |
Curt Nason. Reviewed the "Water Constellations" of autumn. Hunters' Moon
on Oct.25 is largest full of year, moon is at perigee on Oct.26, moon
will be near M45 on Oct.27. Planets: Mercury at inferior conjunction on
Oct.23, and at greatest western elongation on Nov.08. Venus and Saturn
near Regulus on Oct.07-09 with crescent moon nearby. Mars near M35 on
Oct.05. Jupiter still visible low in southwest after sunset, not well
placed for viewing, look for double shadow transit at 18:39 on Oct.21.
Neptune in Capricornus. Uranus in Aquarius. Comet C/2007 F1 LONEOS in
Bootes, approx magnitude of 8, comet will be near M3 and M64 Oct.11-16.
Comet may brighten to mag. 3 - 4. Orionid shower peaks on Oct.21.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
NBCC Astronomy course begins Oct.16. RASC NB meeting Oct.20, UNB Fredericton.
SJAC meeting November 03. RASC NB AGM (Astronomy Rendezvous) Nov.17, U de Moncton.
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| OBSERVING |
George Jones; M13, M31, double cluster in Perseus, and M15. Adrien Bordage;
found several more objects for RASC EU list: full moon, last quarter moon,
a couple constellations, double stars, Messier objects, helped Curt with
observing for group of St. Malachy's students at New River Beach. Curt Nason;
observed Mercury near crescent Moon. Kathy Keith; went to Griffith Observatory
in Los Angeles. Chris Clayton; M31 with binos. Peter Jensen observed about
25 EU objects.
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| TALK |
Telescopes and Exit Pupils -
Adrien Bordage covered the importance of matching telescope (F ratio) and
eyepieces to your eyes. The size of the cone of light coming from your
equipment (exit pupil) should ideally match the size of your pupil. Adrien
gave out test cards to determine pupil size.
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| SHOW AND TELL |
Mike Powell; Bushnell 4 inch F/4 portable scope (similar to Astroscan).
Curt Nason;books: "Celestial Sampler" by Sue French, "Patterns in The Sky"
by Ken-Hewitt-White, "The Grand Tour" by Ron Miller and William Hartmann,
and "Mars, The Mysterious Landscapes Of The Red Planet" by William Hartmann.
These are available at The Little Shop of Science in Brunswick Square.
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| CLUB BUSINESS |
- Elections results: President: June MacDonald, Vice President: Len Larkin, Secretary: Curt Nason, Treasurer: Angela Davis
- Curt has cheque for club for $50 donated by St. Malachy's group for astronomy presentation at New River Beach.
- Ed Kaine has club scope for October; Mike Powell has the PST; NightWatch still with Haylie Wanamaker; Backyard Observer's Guide with Ed Kaine.
- Christmas party December 1 - Cost will be approximately $22 per person.
- Sky & Telescope group subscription renewals are due, contact June MacDonald or Angela Davis if interested.
- Edwin Silva suggested sending out meeting minutes sooner.
- Interest was polled for an e-mail group for the club to announce observing opportunities. All were interested, Curt to inform Tim Smith.
- Adrien will have the 16" telescope set up for observing, if clear, on Sunday Oct.7 at Irving Nature Park after sunset for observing for anyone interested.
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| ALL SKY CAMERA |
Peter Jensen. Many promising captures (appear to be streaks of light) by camera.
Peter has sent some of the captures to James Whitehead at STU for analysis.
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