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Club Address:
65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy.
Kamuela, HI 96743


An electronic publication of The West Hawaii Astronomy Club -

Club Officers:

Co-Presidents:
   Craig Combes,
   Craig Nance,
   Doug Summers

Secretary:
       Laura Kinoshita

With Support From:
Canada-France Hawaii Telescope and
W. M. Keck Observatory

This website is currently maintained by
Doug Summers

Keck Uranus AO image

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E-mail: whacmail@yahoo.com

 


January 2006 Club Meeting Report


Agenda:
Welcome / Greetings Doug Summers/All10 mins
Christmas Gear Show & Tell? *Anyone*10 mins
The Sky This Month Craig Nance & Doug Summers25 mins
December Sky Party Report All10 mins
Club Dark Sky Site Doug Summers15 mins
Club Business All15 mins
Club Birthday Celebration & Socializing AllFinish by 9:00pm




The club meeting was held on January 10, 2006 at 7pm in the CFHT large conference room with Doug Summers facilitating.

For introductions, Doug asked that persons who have attended 2 or fewer meetings introduce themselves. Otherwise, all of the regular attendees state their name as a reminder of who we are. Prior to the meeting Doug showed a series of images and names of WHAC members at observing sessions. Persons are invited to submit their pictures to Doug for inclusion. We'll use this as a means to help shorten our introductions.

  • For the Gear Talk Show and Tell there were only two things shared. Craig Nance shared a book The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium. This is an undergraduate level textbook on astronomy. The book is very well written and highly illustrated. It is available through booksellers such as Amazon for ~$85.
    Carlton Lane mentioned that he got a new telescope. The Scribe did not get the details on the telescope.

  • Next, Craig Nance presented The Sky this Month and the Featured Object of the Month, the Pleiades. One item of interest is an upcoming pass of the International Space Station (ISS) the evening of January 18. The ISS will first appear in the northwest at 6:55pm. It will appear to rise off the horizon and pass directly overhead at 6:58pm. It will continue towards the southeast, disappearing into the horizon at 7:01pm. Craig noted that the ISS is so bright that if you just go out and look to the northwest at 6:55pm, soon you'll see it. It will be very bright and "you'll know it when you see it."

  • Doug Summers explained sidereal time and shared a collection of objects from his observing list (available on the web in Excel spreadsheet).

    The objects are:
    • NGC-1365, an exceptional barred spiral galaxy which is a challenge, if not impossible, from the mainland.
    • Fornax Galaxy Cluster, a collection of galaxies that are 60-million light-years away, equivalent in distance as the Virgo cluster of galaxies.
    • Perseus Galaxy Cluster including NGC-1275, which are at a distance of ~250-million light years away.
    • Double Cluster in Perseus
    • Horsehead Nebula, which Doug explained is best seen with a Hydrogen-Beta (Hß) filter. Even with that filter and a large telescope, expect to only see the "stump" (or "neck") of the Horsehead.
    • Flame Nebula, near the Horsehead is a prominent object, but overlooked due to the rich collection of other objects in Orion.
  • Carlton Lane shared some news about his recent trip to Tahiti to see the Magellanic Clouds. The Magellanic Clouds are the two satellite galaxies to the Milky Way. Each of the clouds are themselves separate, elliptical galaxies "full of nebulosity". Carlton reports that the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) filled the field of view of his 7x25 binoculars. Carlton said that he visited Bill Brevoorts place in Ocean View to try to glimpse the LMC from Hawaii. Carlton said that he is convinced that an observer can not see the LMC from Hawaii. He said that it may be possible to see some of the more northerly nebulosity that accompanies the LMC. There was some debate whether the Tarantula Nebula can be glimpsed from Hawaii. The matter is unresolved.

    Carlton highlighted a page that has images of the LMC and SMC which can be found here.

    Carlton reported that in binoculars the Tarantula Nebula appears as a "concave box" shaped cloud. The Tarantula Nebula itself is 1,000 light years across, as compared to the Orion Nebula which is a measly ~30 light-years across, and itself is only ~1,500 light years away.

  • Doug and Marc reported on observing on December 30 at the DLNR site. There is a full observing report here on the WHAC web site.

    The next star party is scheduled for January 28 at the DLNR site. Details are on the WHAC web site, and email reminders will be sent to those that have joined our Yahoo! group.

    Doug reports that he has made a breakthrough with the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in obtaining permission for use of the site. He mentioned that the quest for a safe, quality observing site predates the formation of WHAC. We have a permit from DLNR to use the site. Each of the three co-presidents has authority to get the key from DLNR for the site. Persons are asked to please NOT go out to the site on their own; it is imperative that we follow the guidelines set forth by DLNR. DLNR asks that we police/clean up the area to the best of our abilities, to include the removal of invasive species plants such as the "mullen" weed.

    There was some discussion about how the club will conduct star parties at the site. Although in concept the star parties may run until the early hours of the morning, persons are free to leave whenever they like. If you come to a star party and plan to leave earlier, simply park your vehicle so that you can drive out with minimal lighting disruption to those that are staying. We'll iron this out at the star parties. Doug committed to organizing these star parties on a monthly basis for the coming year.

  • In other club business, Doug discussed that the club co-presidents recently met with the club sponsors Keck and CFHT. The goal was to determine what the club is doing well, and what we can improve on. "Where have we been, and where are we going?"
    Several areas of improvement were identified along with strategies to improve:
    • Less time at the meetings spent on "introductions" - will instead ask only new persons to introduce themselves briefly.
    • De-emphasis on talks at the club meetings. May not have a talk every month.
    • Keck and CFHT have each agreed to facilitate a meeting. This spreads out the interval between each co-president having to organize and chair a meeting.
    • The WHAC vision statement was shortened a bit to emphasize the social aspect of the club.
    Several goals for the next year were identified:
    • To encourage more young people to be involved with the club.
    • We know that there are ~30 telescopes out there in the club. Why are these not at the star parties and other events?
    • Identify one or two projects for the year, such as participation in AstroDay.
    • To interact with DLNR so that WHAC has an excellent, convenient, observing site.

  • Craig Combes said that he was contacted by Gary Fujihara regarding AstroDay. Gary indicates there are three areas that AstroDay does: 1. Exhibits in Prince Kuhio Mall, 2. Star Party at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, and 3. Eco-tours.
    Gary has asked that WHAC participate by providing "supplemental" telescopes for the VIS the night of AstroDay. In the meeting several persons indicated a willingness to help. Craig Combes will contact Gary and inform him that WHAC will have several of us and our telescopes there.

  • Remy Cabanac shared information about an upcoming Star Party on Jan 25, 2006 at the Waimea Middle School Field. WHAC members are invited to bring their telescopes that evening to share the night sky. CFHT is taking the lead on the event, but would appreciate WHAC participation.

  • Doug reviewed the rest of the WHAC calendar from the WHAC web site. Reminder of the Filippenko lecture series every Tuesday, except for WHAC meeting nights. The lectures start at 7pm at the Keck meeting room, and go until about 9pm.

  • The Conrad's report they are moved into their place in Kohala Ranch and will be organizing an afternoon "come help assemble their new telescope" gathering, followed by an evening of observing. More details on the WHAC Yahoo group email site as they are available.

  • The formal part of the meeting ended at ~8:30pm to enjoy a WHAC birthday celebration. Wiley Knight had his telescope outside sharing views of Saturn, Mars, the Moon, and the Pleiades until ~10pm.

    Reminder that the next WHAC meeting will occur on Tuesday February 14, 2006 at 7pm at our usual meeting room at the Keck meeting room. At 6pm that evening many club members gather for the customary pre-meeting dinner at the Parker Ranch Food Court. If the weather appears clear, bring your telescope for some after-meeting observing. Check the Yahoo groups web site for updates on observing opportunities.


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