NEXT DAS MEETING: TUESDAY, MARCH 16

Vol. 50 No. 3

March, 2005

FROM THE EDITOR – Lee Kaser

Last month we tried something new with the FOCUS. As some of you know, the February issue was posted on the DAS Web Site www.delastro.org, and we’ve had several favorable comments since then. By using the web site, we can post color photographs, which we can’t do in the printed FOCUS, and we may sometimes add material we don’t have room for in the printed version. I invite all members to look at our web site. Also, please send me your ideas, thoughts and recommendations. The Board and I want this publication to be as useful and interesting to you as we can make it. In that vein, I hope you’ll send me your observing reports, pictures, stories, anecdotes, gems of wisdom, and also non-commercial member advertisements. I’ll use all I can.

Would you like to know when the FOCUS is put on the web site? I will establish a distribution list and send a note to any member who is interested in looking at it on the web, right after it is posted. If you want to be included, send an e-mail request to me (kaserlo@msn.com) and I’ll put you on the list.

If you haven’t already done it, please put the May dinner meeting on your calendar. We will have a speaker, Rebecca Elliott, from NASA to show us “The Best from Hubble”, which is a matter near and dear to many amateur and professional astronomers. We have a new site for the dinner, Lamberti’s Cucina at Price’s Corner, which has received very good recommendations. At the end of this FOCUS you will find a form with which you can make reservations and select your favorite menu. I’m sure you will enjoy the program and dinner and I look forward to seeing you there. Bring the family and friends for a special treat.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Billie Westergard

The February meeting was well attended (another full house). The talks were very well presented and the meeting ended about ten minutes ahead of schedule. “Thank you” to Dr. Judy Provencal, Greg Lee, and James Morgan, for an enjoyable program, and thank you too, Jim Buckley for the ‘Jersey’ donuts.

The March meeting will feature a presentation by Don Surles and his Delmarva Sky Gazers (DSG). As you know, the DSG is our “sister” astronomy club located just south of us in Smyrna, DE. A few members from the DAS and the DSG are working together on a Dark Sky Observatory Project. The DSG is a very good astronomy club devoted to hands on stargazing and telescope making. Many DAS members attend DSG star parties and telescope making get-togethers. The Constellation Leo will be the topic of Greg Lee’s talk and Lynn King will give our Mini Talk entitled ‘Center Folds’. I can’t wait to see the pictures! Refreshments will be served at 9:30, so enjoy the program, have fun, and get to know each other after the meeting.

The Astronomer Of The Year Award will be presented at our May Dinner Meeting. We welcome and request nominations from DAS members for this award, which honors a DAS member who has contributed to the Society in a noteworthy way. I’m sure many of us have seen examples of this, so please give your nomination to one of the following members of the Award Committee:

Glenn Bentley, 163 E. Avondale-New London Rd., West Grove, PA 19390

Phone 610-869-0706

Robert Karcha, 4420 Sharon Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808-5619

Phone 302-999-9509

Carolyn Stankiewicz, 1001 Woodstream Dr., Wilmington, DE 19810

Phone 302-475-2484

All nominees must be DAS Members.

The Annual DAS Dinner Meeting will be held on May 17th this year at Lamberti’s Cucina, which is located at 1300 Centerville Rd. (adjacent to the Acme Supermarket behind the Prices Corner Shopping Center). Our Banquet Room will be available from 6 to 10:30 P.M. Dinner will be served at 7:00 P.M. and the presentation by our guest speaker, Rebecca Elliott, from NASA-Goddard, will begin about 8:30 P.M. We will announce the winner of the Luther Porter Award and the Astronomer of the Year Award after dinner. I think all of you will like Lamberti’s menu, pricing, and facilities very much. Please select from the menu and fill out the Dinner Reservation Form (at the end of this FOCUS) and return it to Bob Mentzer. This will be a very good dinner meeting and I look forward to a full house in May.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

April 19, 2005:

Beauty of Auroras - Sarah Baird

Constellation – Virgo – Greg Lee.

Mini talk – Traveling with your telescope -- Tom Sidowski.

May 17, 2005: Annual Dinner – “The Best From Hubble” by Rebecca Elliott of NASA-Goddard Space Center;

Luther Porter Award;

Amateur Astronomer Of The Year Award;

--- Meeting at Lamberti’s Cucina – make reservations on the form on page 5.

June 21, 2005 Space Probe Spectrographs – Jerry Truitt;

Constellation – Scorpius – Greg Lee;

Mini talk-The Messier Catalog - Robert Karcha.

June 25, 2005 -- Picnic at MCAO with a cookout and other activities.

DAS STAR PARTIES -- Tom Sidowski

Winter is still here, and so are the awesome sights of the winter heavens. Clusters, nebula, double stars and galaxies to name a few, and don't forget Saturn and Jupiter too,

and maybe even a comet. Your chance to catch some of these sights is a DAS star

party at Mount Cuba:

Friday March 18th 7:30pm
Saturday April 9th 8:00pm

Library News and Views -- Glenn Bentley

I don’t have a book review for you this month, but as always, our lending library is available to you at MCAO, and we invite you to go through our collection and check out a book or two. The selections range from Stephen Hawking’s classics to many special books on astronomy. You can get answers to a lot of questions you may have. Stop and look after the meeting.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

Preston LeSage , Bear, De

Jacquelyn LeSage, Bear. DE

AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKERS SPECIAL

INTEREST GROUP – Bill Hanagan

The ATM SIG generally meets on weekends to discuss and work on many aspects of telescope making. If you are interested in joining this group, please e-mail your name, address, and phone number to me at: HanaganW@attglobal.net using your preferred e-mail account to send the requested information.

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP – Bill Hanagan

This group meets monthly at MCAO and other times on 1-2 day notice for photo shoots when weather is favorable. If you are interested in and skilled in this topic, or want to be, and especially if you’re thinking of spending money for equipment, you are invited to join and gain and share knowledge and experience. Please send your information to Bill as above (ATM SIG) to be informed of meeting times and dates.

MCAO PUBLIC NIGHTS

The Mt. Cuba Observatory Public Nights continue with interesting programs. You can pick up a schedule when you next come to a meeting - or get the latest updated version off the website at:

www.physics.udel.edu/mcao/public_nights.htm.

2005 BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK SCHEDULE – Lynn King

March 12, 2005– 7:30 p.m. - Scavenger Hunt

USE OUR SAWIN OBSERVATORY!

-- Emil Volcheck

The weather is going to get more inviting and comfortable before long, and we invite you to use the observing capabilities we offer. If you, as a DAS member, are interested in becoming a user of the Sawin Observatory (recently spruced up) and/or the Big Red DOB, please contact Tom Sidowski (239-1844) to arrange for some hands-on training in using the facility.

DAS E-MAIL ON YAHOO --Don Shedrick

This is a restricted e-mail service for use by DAS members for DAS purposes. To use this site, go to http://groups.yahoo.com; search for delawareastronomicalsociety; and click on the link that comes up. To join, you must have a Yahoo ID and password; if you don’t, you can register at this time by following Yahoo’s instructions. You will then be allowed to “Join the group” upon clicking in that box. You must then register for the DAS group and add your profile by clicking on “add new profile” and completing the form. When adding or editing your profile, you will need to enter your actual name in the "Real Name" box so you can be identified as a DAS member so Don Shedrick can approve your application to join the DAS group, and everyone will know to whom they are communicating. Finally, specify your desired e-mail address for delivery of messages. Note you may choose to not have your name and email address displayed to anyone other than DAS members who are members of the Yahoo DAS email group. For more detailed instructions, go to the DAS web site under DAS Resource Links.

LOANER TELESCOPES -- Emil Volcheck

If you want to try your hand with a scope and don’t have one available, here is a possible solution: You can borrow one of the club’s: 1) a Celestron 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) or 2) an Orion 6" Dobsonian reflector. The loan is for at least a month (depends on how long the waiting list is). To get on that list, contact me at 610-388-1581.

LUTHER PORTER AWARD -- Warren Jacobs

Billie Westergard has asked me to Chair the committee, and I need others to help select the awardee and help plan the program. If you would like to become more involved with DAS, this is a good opportunity to help us. Please call me at 610-255-5247.

SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS – Hank Bouchelle

Teachers who are interested in furthering their education in science and astronomy, and having a great Maine vacation, may be interested in some of the programs available

at this link. They are aimed at K-12 teachers and cover a wide range of scientific fields. http://www.coa.edu/summer/sumworkshops/index.html

MEMBERSHIP EXPIRATION NOTICES: If the mailing label on the envelope containing your FOCUS is marked with Red Marker, your membership is expiring or has expired. To continue to receive the Focus, Sky and Telescope, and Reflector, send the renewal form on the back of this page with your check to:

DAS, c/o Robert Mentzer

605 River Road

Wilmington, DE 19809

Feel free to call any of us with your suggestions and questions.

DAS CONTACTS

Membership: Any of the following:

President: Billie Westergard -------------- 302-622-7253

Home --- 302-366-0938

Vice President: John Case ----------------- 302-836-4888

Secretary: Lynn King ------------------------- 302-764-8816

Treasurer: Bob Mentzer---------------------- 302-764-1926

Chairman, Observatory Committee and Manager,

Mt. Cuba Observatory: Emil Volcheck-- 610-388-1581

Messier Club: Lynn King -------------------- 302-764-8816

Observing: Greg Lee --------------------- --- 302-762-5358

Archivist: Rene Van Caneghem ---------- 410-392-3718

By-Laws: Henry Bouchelle ----------------- 302-655-3230

Board Members at-large:

Carolyn Stankiewicz ------------------------- 302-475-2484

ATM and AP SIGs: Bill Hanagan --------- 302-239-0949

Friday Night Star Parties:Tom Sidowski 302-239-1844

Light Pollution Strategist; Greg Weaver 302-239-1338

Library Chair: Glenn Bentley -------------- 610-869-0706

Ad Hoc Star Parties: Sheila Vincent - --- 302-322-4739

Porter Award Chrman: Warren Jacobs- 610-255-5247

MCAO Web Page: www.physics.udel.edu/MCAO

DAS Web Page: http://:delastro.org/

Focus Editor: Lee Kaser, Phone 302-995-6251

E-mail:kaserlo@msn.com

Do you have a telescope?______ If yes, please describe briefly.___________________________

Any Comments or Requests? _______________________________________________________

MAY DINNER MEETING RESERVATION FORM AND MENU

6:30 P.M., May 17, 2005

Lamberti’s Cucina, 1300 Centerville Rd., Price’s Corner

(Adjacent to the ACME Supermarket behind Price’s Corner Shopping Center)

DINNER MENU

ALL ENTREES INCLUDE:

-- Homemade Italian Bread, Red & White Focaccia, Garden Salad, Soda, Iced Tea, Coffee, and Hot Tea.

-- Your choice of (3) Appetizers, served Family Style.

-- Your choice from an Assorted Dessert Tray, or Sheet Cake.

Please Select One of The Following Entrées For Each Person In Your Party:

#1) Ravioli Siciliano – Sliced eggplant sautéed in a garlic white wine sauce with a touch of marinara and chopped tomatoes -- $28.00

#2) Chicken Marsala – Sauteéd in imported marsala wine and topped with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes --$28.00

#3) Salmon Scampi – Sauteed in garlic and olive oil in a white wine blush sauce -- $28.00

#4) Elaborate Chef’s Salad -- $19.00

Your Name: _____________________________________________________

Number Of People In Your Party: ___________________________________

Entrée Selections for your party: #1)--_____; #2)--_____; #3)--_____; #4)--_____

Entées 1, 2, or 3 @ $28.00 ea.; Entrée 4 @ $19.00 ea.: Amount Enclosed: $____________

Prices include an 18% gratuity plus $1.00 to cover two guest dinners. Mail this form with your check, payable to DAS, to Bob Mentzer, Treasurer, 605 River Rd., Wilmington, DE 19809.

NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY, March 15, 2005

Vol. 50 No. 3