The Eyepiece

Published by the Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society Volume 10 Issue 07, July 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS
July in Detail: Page 1
Down the Road: Page 2
Eyepiece Features: Page 3

JULY AT A GLANCE
08th Monthly Meeting-Asteroids
15th NEWSTAR Monthly Meeting
17-18 Parmentier Observing Weekend
17-18 Crivitz Observing Weekend
18-25 Nebraska Star Party
21-25 A.L. Convention-French Lick, Indiana

JULY IN DETAIL

MONTHLY MEETING
Our July monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, July 8th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Neville Public Museum. This month our topic is Asteroids and the speaker is our own Jim Sentowski. Hope to see you there!

MOVIE OUTING
Want to see the movie Armageddon? Why not join us on Saturday, July 11th at the Bay Park Cinema? Please see page 4 for details.

NEWSTAR MONTHLY MEETING
The NEWSTAR monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, July 15th, 7:00 PM at the University of Wisconsin, Menasha Center. Call Don DeWitt if you are interested in going.

PARMENTIER OBSERVATORY WEEKEND
July 17-18 is scheduled for another Parmentier Observatory Weekend. All club members are welcome to come out.

For more information you can contact Ron Parmentier at 336-5878 or at the observatory at 845-5626.

CRIVITZ SITE WEEKEND
Of course you may also choose to go to our site in Crivitz on the weekend of July 17-18. If interested all you have to do is call Dave Jorgenson at 715-757-3296 and let him know you are on your way.

NEBRASKA STAR PARTY
Steve Mofle and the Steve Wicker clan are heading to the Nebraska Star party this year. The dates are July 18-25. We anxiously look forward to hearing what it was like.

A.L. CONVENTION
July 21-25 are the dates for this year's Astronomical League Convention. French Lick, Indiana will host this year's convention. Call Don DeWitt if you want a registration from.

DOWN THE ROAD

PARMENTIER OBSERVATORY WEEKEND WITH NEWSTAR AND SHEBOYGAN
     While anyone is welcome at the Parmentier Observatory any time Ron is out there, the club has set aside certain dates each year for group observing. We try to schedule these dates as close to new moon as possible so you can bring your telescope out away from the city lights and get in as many hours of observing as possible.
     We also pick one of these weekends and invite the members of the Sheboygan Astronomical Society and the Northeast Wisconsin Stargazers (NEWSTAR) out to observe with us. This year's weekend is Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th.
     Everybody from all three clubs are encouraged to come on out and bring your telescopes and binoculars with. Of course, one of the main reasons we will be out there is to see the wonders of the sky through Ron Parmentier's main 30 inch telescope and 6 inch refractor. A map to Parmentier Observatory is included with this newsletter. Mark your calendars for August 14-15 and hope to see you there!

NORTHWOODS STARFEST '98
by Greg Furtman
Sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society

     Join us at the 10th annual Northwoods Starfest, August 21-23, 1998, at Hobbs Observatory near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Hobbs Observatory is part of the Beaver Creek Reserve (BCR).
     Recreational possibilities include the Eau Claire County Youth Camp, the Wise Nature Center, hiking trails, and bicycling.
     Hobbs Observatory has two domes, one with a 24-inch f/5 reflector and the other with a
14-inch Celestron.

There is a large meeting area where talks and presentations take place. There is a large field in front of the observatory to set up for observing. The skies are nice and dark.
CVAS has reserved the Youth Camp for Starfest use. The camp has five cabins and the
Cedar Lodge. The cabins sleep 20; the lodge, up to 40. Cabins have bunk-style beds and
mattresses. You will need to bring sleeping bags and pillows. Showers are available for all Guests, but bring your own towels. Tenting and camper spaces are also available. If you want a swap fest, bring whatever astronomical goodies you want to get rid of. Also, if you have slides, a talk, or a video that you would like to show, bring them with.
Look at the CVAS web page for more information about the CVAS and Hobbs
Observatory. The url is: http://www.phys.uwec.edu/cvas/

Agenda
     Friday, August 21
5 pm -- Registration
8 pm -- Speaker: Bert Moritz, "Deep Sky Eye"
9 pm -- Observing Session
Midnight -- Snack
     Saturday, August 22
11 am -- Brunch, Registration
1 pm -- Paper Session
4 pm -- Swap Fest
6 pm -- Dinner
8 pm -- Speaker: Aaron Steffen "Supernovae"
9 pm -- Observing Session
Midnight -- Snack
     Sunday, August 23
8 am -- Breakfast
Noon -- Checkout

Paper Session
An informal paper session is planned for Saturday afternoon. If you have something to share: slides, a video tape, a unique telescope, or anything else that people might enjoy, we encourage you to sign up. We have the

(CONTINUED from page 2) following sessions lined up so far:
Jim Elbert & George Stecher - Upgrades to the Hobbs 24" Telescope
Joe Benevides & Bill Childs - A Trip to Riverside
Greg Furtman - An Aruban Eclipse

We will also have a mirror grinding and mirror testing demo. If you have something you'd like to share, please do so.

Registration
     The registration fee is $30 per person until August 15th. It is $40 after that. The fee includes registration, meals and snacks, lodging or camping fees, and speakers' fees.
     If you plan to bring a camper, park in the field adjacent to the observatory. There are a few electrical outlets available outside the observatory for your use.
     Please let us know if you have any other special needs before Starfest and we'll do our best to meet them. For hotel/motel information for the area call the Eau Claire Visitors Bureau at (715) 831-2345.
     For more information, contact Hobbs Observatory at (715) 877-2787, Bert Moritz at (715) 835-4034, or Ray Forsgren at (715) 723-8489. Please let us know in advance if you are coming to help us with meal planning. Thank you!

EYEPIECE FEATURES

RAMBLINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT
     by Katrina DeWitt
     Getting young people involved with the hobby of astronomy is a difficult task. This is evident when you look around at the various conventions and star parties and even the numerous clubs and societies across the country. There just seem to be a short supply of young people attending or participating.
      Have you taken a look at our membership recently? Several of our members are these

young, aspiring astronomers. These individuals are not the passive ones either. You will find several attending our meetings on a regular basis, going to club functions and even giving their time to help with major club activities and events.
      Despite this extraordinary achievement that seems to be out of the norm, what are we, as a club, doing to help nurture these young astronomers to keep them as active and contributing members? Are we utilizing our potential and our resources to continuously encourage them to stay in the hobby of astronomy? If not, what can we do to make a difference?
      I got to thinking about this subject after I read the Focal Point article in the July 1998 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. It was written by Jeff Medkeff about his experiences in the local astronomy club he joined when he was young. He talked about the difference that club made not only in his interest in astronomy but his life as well.
      He went on to explain what great things the club members did for him. They took the time to nurture his interest by respecting him as an equal; not some geeky-faced kid, drove him to club events when he wasn't old enough to drive, and just made him feel welcomed and wanted all the time.
      When I first joined our club five years ago, I had many of the same experiences as Jeff. The NPMAS was ready to extend a welcoming hand and willing to go out of their way to help me pursue my interest in astronomy. Even if it meant coming to my house on a cold February night to teach me how to use my new telescope.
      But what about today? I see several members take the time to say "Hi" to our new members and guests during the meeting but what are we doing for them after the meeting is over? Are we encouraging them to come back next month and the following? Can we say that after they leave we know their name and what got them interested in astronomy?

(CONTINUED from page 3) There are several things we as members can do to keep our young astronomers involved. Probably the most important, making them feel welcome and valued as members so they will want to stay in the club and participate in our activities. Then there's the regularly scheduled club events and activities that we can encourage them to attend and get involved with. There are several League observing programs we can help them get started with, there's the National Young Astronomer Award that is given out to those under the age of 18.
I encourage all of our members to take the time and effort to nurture our young astronomers. After all, what they see and experience with us, no matter how brief, will leave a lasting impression not only of our club but the hobby of astronomy itself. Wouldn't it be nice to know that we left them a great experience they'll want to remember than a bad one they'll soon want to forget?

JUNE MEETING RECAP
     by Katrina DeWitt
     Attendance: 19 members 1 guest.
     Business highlights: general membership voted 19 to 0 in favor of ratifying the board's decision to host the 2001 NCRAL convention. Organizational meetings to be held at a later date.
     Talk of the month: Gary Baier gave a talk on tracking satellites and the several different computer programs available to aid in the process.

ASTRONOMY DAY AWARD
     by Katrina DeWitt
     We have been doing Astronomy Day now for three years. This is the first year that we have entered the Sky & Telescope Astronomy Day Award Competition.
     The results were published this last week and although we didn't take the coveted first place award, we did receive an honorable mention! First place this year went to the

Sheboygan Astronomical Society.
Everyone should be proud of themselves with this fine accomplishment. As far as I know, this is the first award our club has ever received. We will be receiving a certificate that will be presented at this year's Astronomical League National Convention in French Lick, Indiana. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this award possible!

WANT TO SEE A MOVIE?
by Katrina DeWitt
In the spirit of this month's talk about asteroids, we are organizing a trip to the movies. This coming weekend Saturday, July 11th we will see the movie Armageddon. As in past outings, we will go to the Bay Park Square Cinema on Green Bay's west side for one of the afternoon matinee's. A sign-up form will be passed around at the club meeting on Wednesday so if you can't make it to the meeting call either myself or Don at 405-8534 and we will add you to the list to give you a call with the exact times.

TENTATIVE BOARD MEETING
by Katrina DeWitt
To all board members and any interested club members, please check your calendars for Wednesday, September 23rd and Wednesday, October 28th. We would like to schedule a board meeting for either of these dates to finalize the 1999 schedule and to also start discussing the 2001 NCRAL convention.

CLUB PICNIC
by Don DeWitt
Our club picnic will be held on Saturday, August 15th. This year we are moving to Perkins Park located on Green Bay's west side. A map and complete article will appear in next month's newsletter.