At the June Meeting...
Don Surles brought the meeting to order at 7:15 with 17 members and
guests attending.
New Members: Len Cohen, Chestertown, MD
Erratum: The June moon phases on page 7 of the June newsletter
hardcopy, was actually the April 2002 configuration. The downloadable PDF
version is correct.
Astrostuff :
Don Surles noted the spaceweather.com was showing a high level
of solar activity with the formation of huge sunspots. Concerning
starparties, he reminded those interested that the Mason Dixon Star Party
would start this Friday, June 7th and that the Stellafane Star Party would
be in August.
Second Astronomy Breakfast Session
Ron Zink is to be commended for the excellent food at the 2nd
Saturday Astronomy Breakfast held on May 25th. Fifteen people attended.
The featured speaker and instructor was Tom Brennan.
Smithsonian Trip
Five of our Stargazers made a trip to the Smithsonian Air & Space
Museum on May 29th. This featured the 3D IMax movie on the International
Space Station. Attending were Joe Morris, Keith Lohmeyer, Steve
Long, Vaughn Nickerson and Tom Pomponio
August Open Date
Since there will be no Tuesday meeting at the church on August 6th,
the date is open to any proposed club activity. One suggestion is
a trip to Blackwater Falls in West Virginia with a side trip to the National
Radio Astronomy Observatory at Greenbank. Stay tuned.
Constellation of the Month: Ophiuchus
James T. Morgan, presented the constellation Ophiucus, noting
that it is pronounced oh-fee-U-cuss. This was presented in conjunction
with his Observing Session presentation,that followed it.
Mythology- Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer is identified
with Aesculapius, a physician later made a god. He learned the healing
powers with an herb that the snake had. He became very successful at healing
and could even bring the dead back to life. Pluto who had domain over the
land of the dead, became fearful that his domain would vanish and he had
Zeus strike Aesculapius with a thunderbolt, who was then placed in the
sky with a snake.(notice that James uses the Latin spelling of Asclepius)
Astronomy- For the Astronomy portion, James Morgan used one
of the magnificent photographic charts, from Till Credner’s
All Sky site in Germany. The charts which are in full color come marked
with deep space objects (above) or unmarked.
These charts and others can be seen on Till Credner’s web
site at: www.allthesky.com/constellations/const.html
E-mail Til Credner for permission to use the images.
Planning an Observing Session
For his Observing Session presentation, James came armed with all kinds
of handouts and data including a list of constellation pronunciations.
Much of the material was culled from the Internet and James provided
lists of the URLs of the more interesting sites.
James has taught many young beginners and finds that one of the problems
is getting them to observe attentively. His own enthusiasm in pure
observing makes a Messier Marathon seem more like a pie eating
contest, when compared to a more contemplative observing session. Regarding
observing Messier objects, James feels 5 is enough for an evening session
and this gives you time to become familiar with surrounding objects.
Among his more interesting observing aids were the Messier charts
prepared by the Astronomical League’s Messier club. The Chart shown below
shows the Messier objects based on ease or difficulty in finding.
James had other sets of Messier charts based on seasonal observing.
Another interesting Internet site was Skymaps.www.skymaps.com/index.html
Not only does it give a monthly Skymap but gives separate lists of
objects for the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes.
James Morgan’s own list of Observing aids evolved as the need
arose. His telescope is a 10 inch Dobsonian. Below are of some
of his Observing aids:
(1) Planisphere to find constellations
(2) Telrad to find an object
(3) Denver type Observing Chair to see through Telrad
(4)Dew proof clipboard
(5) Red Light (not too bright)
(6) Dew proof observing charts
Denver Observing Chair
From the President’s Desk...June 14, 2002
Delmarva Star Gazer’s ninth year is history and now we have begun our
tenth year of the remarkable journey called Delmarva Star Gazers.
This year will be our best. We are gaining momentum with the completion
of every successful activity. Our resources, in the forms of people,
equipment, knowledge, and perseverance, ensure each of our project’s success.
Lets continue the journey for another ten years!
At this time I believe it is appropriate for us to reflect on our past
so that we can understand our progress. Here are some historical
facts about our organization. We began as a very small group of stargazers
looking for observing companions. Our first formal organizational
efforts occurred in the spring of 1993. I believe there were less
than ten people present the night we accepted the charter for Delmarva
Star Gazers. By early 1994 we were approximately thirty strong in
membership and decided to sponsor the First Annual Delmarva Stargaze at
Killen’s Pond State Park. Stargaze I was very successful – approximately
150 people attended. Gorgeous weather the Park was dressed in springtime
flowers, the food was excellent, and our membership doubled.
Dues were $5 per year! Since that time we have sponsored a total
of 14 regional star parties (8 Delmarva Stargazes and 6 No Frills).
The No Frills began as a fill-in between August’s Stellafane and October’s
Stella Della parties. Lyle Jones and I arranged for use of
the Youth Camping Area at Tuckahoe for a Friday and Saturday observing
session and invited others to come and do the same. There were no
speakers, food, door prizes, etc and the fee was a whopping $10.
We had some money left after paying for the Camping Area so we decided
to buy some corn and watermelons – and we enjoyed our first corn boil.
Favorable comments about the party format and the Park’s facilities persuaded
us to move our monthly observing and regional star parties to Tuckahoe
permanently. Other traditions: Fourth of July picnics at Tuckahoe,
a Christmas party
every year, and a ‘get-together’ after Christmas for some special potluck
food and games – a let’s get out of this winter-time house activity.
We have shared our time, knowledge, equipment, ie, our hobby, with many
groups of children and adults over the years. Each one of us cherishes
the “Wow” when a person sees Saturn or the Orion Nebula or the moon for
the first time through a real telescope. For the past two years we
have sponsored the Mid Atlantic Mirror Maker’s Workshop. Again, because
of the talent and dedication of our Star Gazers, these events have been
huge successes and personally very satisfying. We have made many
new friends. There is now a mirror making program in the DC area
that is a direct result of our Workshop. Also, the prominence scope
building rogram at last year’s MAMM demonstrated how the talents of one
Star Gazer can be effectively shared by our community so that we all benefit
and our hobby is improved. Delmarva Star Gazers is an “easy”
organization. We like to enjoy our time together, our skies, our
equipment, and we like the company of each other. There is a definite
lack of the stuffy rules and regulations that burden some organizations.
This is no accident. We have superb people – our superb people make
our organization very special. Lets continue the tradition so that
Delmarva Star Gazers
becomes a valued resource for the mid Atlantic region.
Continuing the tradition…how do we do that? Well, we need a plan
so that we have some indication of where we desire to go, how to get there,
and how to react to any forces that might hinder our progress. Developing
that plan is something your newly elected officers will undertake this
summer. We will present our plan to the organization at the September
meeting and asked for discussion, improvements, and approval to implement.
Our next ‘get-together’ is July 6 at Tuckahoe for the Fourth of July Picnic.
The Fourth of July is a time for reflecting…this past year has been packed
with some heart-breaking, very challenging
events for our country and the western world. Our leaders remind
us there is a possibility these types of events will be repeated.
Stay alert, God bless the USA.
See you at Tuckahoe, July 6. We will have hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob,
sweet tea, maybe some dark skies, and each other’s company. We are
Delmarva Star Gazers! ‘Til next time, Don…
The Editor’s Quadrant....
The Planets in July
July 2002 will not be a very good month for planets.
Mercury as a morningstar remains in conjunction with Saturn
through July 2 when the planets are only separated by 0.2o As
the month progresses, Mercury goes into conjunction with the Sun.
Venus remains an evening star throughout July but sets earlier as the
month progresses. Forget both Mars and Jupiter for
July, as both planets set within minutes after the Sun sets.
As for the remaining planets in July, Uranus is in Aquarius and
Neptune
is in Capricornus and Pluto remains in the
southern part of Ophiuchus.
Clear Skies! Frank Sheldon f.a.sheldon@att.net
www.delmarvastargazers.org
Club Activities...
Club Meetings- We meet in the First Presbyterian Church in Smyrna,
DE (653-8000) on the first Tuesday of each month from 7-9 PM. From
US 13, turn west at Wendy's and go one stoplight on Commerce Street; the
church is on the right directly across from the Fire Hall.
Future Meetings...The remaining meeting dates for 2002
will be: July 06 Picnic at Tuckahoe, August 06 to be announced,
September 03, October 08, November 05, December 03
The regular meeting format includes discussion of club activities,
observing highlights and an advertised presentation. We solicit suggestions
for topics and presenters.
Club Observing... Observing is (usually) scheduled for the Friday
nearest the New Moon to maximize the hours of deepnight
without the moon in the sky. Unless otherwise stated,
the monthly observing site will be at the baseball field in the camping
area at Tuckahoe State Park.
The monthly observing days left for the year 2002 will be:
July 12, August 9, September 9, No-Frills VII October 2-6, November 1,
and December 6.
The cloud or rain date for the monthly Friday observing will be the
following Saturday, but don't trust the weather man! Go outside and
look for yourself or check the weather links on our web page.
If you still can't decide, Call Don Surles (302) 653-9445 or Lyle
Jones (302) 736-9842
Delmarva Star Gazers Officers for 2002-2003
President...................Don Surles 302 653 9445
Vice President............Lyle Jones 302 736 9842
Secretary...........Keith Lohmeyer 410 482 6077
Treasurer.............Kathy Sheldon 302 422 4695
Sun and Moon Data for July 2002 Tuckahoe Park, MD
38.59°N 75.56°W 4.5hrW Daylight Time Astronomical Twilight
Sun Moon|
Date Twi. Rise Transit Set Twi. Rise Transit Set %
07/01/2002 4:14a 6:11a 1:36p 9:01p 10:57p 1:02a 6:46a 12:38p 60
07/02/2002 4:15a 6:12a 1:36p 9:00p 10:57p 1:26a 7:26a 1:35p 51
07/03/2002 4:16a 6:12a 1:36p 9:00p 10:57p 1:49a 8:07a 2:32p 41
07/04/2002 4:17a 6:13a 1:37p 9:00p 10:56p 2:13a 8:48a 3:31p 32
07/05/2002 4:17a 6:14a 1:37p 9:00p 10:56p 2:39a 9:31a 4:31p 23
07/06/2002 4:18a 6:14a 1:37p 9:00p 10:55p 3:09a 10:16a 5:33p 15
07/07/2002 4:19a 6:15a 1:37p 8:59p 10:55p 3:43a 11:06a 6:37p 9
07/08/2002 4:20a 6:15a 1:37p 8:59p 10:54p 4:24a 12:00p 7:41p 4
07/09/2002 4:21a 6:16a 1:37p 8:59p 10:53p 5:13a 12:57p 8:42p 1
07/10/2002 4:22a 6:17a 1:38p 8:58p 10:53p 6:11a 1:56p 9:37p 0
07/11/2002 4:23a 6:17a 1:38p 8:58p 10:52p 7:17a 2:55p 10:24p 2
07/12/2002 4:24a 6:18a 1:38p 8:58p 10:51p 8:28a 3:52p 11:05p 6
07/13/2002 4:25a 6:19a 1:38p 8:57p 10:50p 9:41a 4:46p 11:40p 13
07/14/2002 4:26a 6:19a 1:38p 8:57p 10:49p 10:53a 5:38p ***** 22
07/15/2002 4:27a 6:20a 1:38p 8:56p 10:48p 12:05p 6:28p 12:12a 32
07/16/2002 4:28a 6:21a 1:38p 8:56p 10:47p 1:15p 7:18p 12:42a 44
07/17/2002 4:30a 6:21a 1:38p 8:55p 10:46p 2:25p 8:07p 1:11a 55
07/18/2002 4:31a 6:22a 1:38p 8:54p 10:45p 3:35p 8:58p 1:41a 66
07/19/2002 4:32a 6:23a 1:39p 8:54p 10:44p 4:45p 9:51p 2:14a 76
07/20/2002 4:33a 6:24a 1:39p 8:53p 10:43p 5:53p 10:46p 2:52a 85
07/21/2002 4:34a 6:25a 1:39p 8:52p 10:42p 6:58p 11:43p 3:35a 92
07/22/2002 4:36a 6:25a 1:39p 8:52p 10:41p 7:57p ***** 4:26a 97
07/23/2002 4:37a 6:26a 1:39p 8:51p 10:40p 8:47p 12:39a 5:22a 99
07/24/2002 4:38a 6:27a 1:39p 8:50p 10:38p 9:30p 1:33a 6:23a 100
07/25/2002 4:39a 6:28a 1:39p 8:49p 10:37p 10:06p 2:25a 7:25a 98
07/26/2002 4:41a 6:29a 1:39p 8:48p 10:36p 10:37p 3:14a 8:27a 95
07/27/2002 4:42a 6:29a 1:39p 8:48p 10:34p 11:04p 3:59a 9:28a 90
07/28/2002 4:43a 6:30a 1:39p 8:47p 10:33p 11:28p 4:41a 10:27a 83
07/29/2002 4:45a 6:31a 1:39p 8:46p 10:32p 11:51p 5:22a 11:25a 75
07/30/2002 4:46a 6:32a 1:39p 8:45p 10:30p ***** 6:02a 12:22p 67
07/31/2002 4:47a 6:33a 1:39p 8:44p 10:29p 12:15a 6:43a 1:19p 57
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