The Eyepiece

Published by the Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society Volume 11 Issue 02, February 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS
New Member Welcome Mat: Page 1
My Last Issue: Page 1
A Look at Our Past: Page 2
Down The Road: Page 3

FEBRUARY AT A GLANCE
10th: Monthly Meeting-Deep Sky '99 Software
17th: Newstar Monthly Meeting
24th: Board Meeting-Don & Katrina's House

FEBRUARY IN DETAIL

MONTHLY MEETING
Our February monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, February 10th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Neville Public Museum. This months talk will be given by guest speaker Steve Tuma, and the topic is "Deep Sky '99 Software". We hope to see you all there!

NEWSTAR MONTHLY MEETING
The monthly NEWSTAR meeting will be on Wednesday, February 17th. Call Don DeWitt at 920-405-8534 if you are interested in going.

BOARD MEETING
We will be having a board meeting on Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00 pm. This time we will meet at Don & Katrina DeWitt's house. All club members are welcome to attend. For more information, please call Katrina DeWitt at 405-8534

NEW MEMBER WELCOME MAT
We had two new people join last month. First, John R Hanitz, 201 Condo A Huth St,

Green Bay, WI 54302
Next we had Paul Krueger, 6592 County Road R, Denmark, WI 54208.
Welcome to the club John and Paul!

MY FINAL ISSUE
     As some of you already know, this will be my last issue as the editor of The Eyepiece. I have decided to resign the position after serving for four years.
     I would first like to thank Wayne Kuhn. Wayne has agreed to take over as editor. Please help Wayne by sending him your articles. Anything you think of will help.
     Next I would like to thank Katrina DeWitt. Her monthly presidential ramblings have made newsletter life a lot easier.
     I would also like to thank George McCourt for all the copies he has made over the years. He has saved the club a lot of money with the "free copies".
     I will continue to do the online version of the newsletter. Wayne will send me the files so I can post it on the internet. The online people may see design changes in a month or two depending on how things work out.
     I have truly enjoyed my time as newsletter editor, but it is time, however, to pass the torch and get some new blood working with it.

A LOOK AT OUR PAST

CAMP U-NAH-LI-YA WEEKEND
   Friday, January 22nd had arrived and I was ready. I had the day off of work so I was able to sleep in a little and get up with four month old Jacob Thomas, a joy unfortunately limited to weekends.
     We spent the morning getting ready and then brought him to the baby sitter. Crossing our fingers as we drove away, Katrina and I hoped he would adjust to his strange new surroundings, while we retreated to the familiar surroundings of Camp U-nie.
     First, we had to pick up a straggler along the way, Tammy Wicker hitched a ride up to camp with us. The roads were not too bad considering the weather of the day: freezing rain turning to snow.
     We arrived at camp just behind George and Kathy McCourt and proceeded to settle into the cabins. About twenty minutes later, Ray Nancoz was the next to arrive, followed by Bill and Becka La Plant. Next to pull up was Jeff Hermans, followed by Steve Mofle.
     The stage was now set for dinner as we ventured out to the Doze Inn just down the trail. We all had something different for dinner and everybody seemed to enjoy their meals.
     Returning to the cabin, we stoked up the fireplace and proceeded to enjoy a good fire and good conversation. Next to show up was Jon Makenzie from NEWSTAR and shortly after him, Steve Wagner, his wife Christina and three nephews.
     After a while, it was time to head for the sauna to burn away the cold winter aches and pains. We experienced something new this year with the mild temps. The Sauna was almost unbearably hot. Jeff Hermans received the "Crazy Sauna Guy" award as he was the only one that jumped into the hole in the lake.
      Saturday was soon here and with it came breakfast. Pancakes and sausages were the menu items for the day. After breakfast, several people decided to go cross country skiing. Others went back to the cabin and took

on the task of blowing up the snow tubes for sledding after lunch. Before we knew it, lunch time had came and went and we were on our way to the sled hill. It hadn't been used since the last snowfall so we had to cut paths down the hill. Enter Ray Nancoz and soon the hill was as good as new.
     I am happy to report that there were no broken bones or sprained ankles. The only non survivor was Ray's tube.
     After the snow hill, we retreated to the cabin. Some played games while others read. Still others decided to take a nap.
     Saturday evening was filled with more of the same, hanging around the fireplace, playing games etc.
     Before we knew it, Sunday was here and it was time to pack up and head home. Another relaxing, successful Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya had come to an end.

BOARD MEETING REVIEW
     On January 27th, the board got together at Wayne Kuhn's house to begin planning the 2001 Regional Convention and also start the ground work for Astronomy Day in May of this year.
     As of this writing, we are still waiting for hotel information from a few places before coming to a decision on where to hold the convention.
     We also set a tentative date for the convention of May 4-5, 2001. Being that it is the weekend after Astronomy Day that year, the group unanimously decided to forgo Astronomy Day activities for that weekend. Two major activities back to back deemed to much, too soon.
     We are still looking for a theme for our convention. General consensus is that it deal with the new millennium in some way. The theme is high up on our priority list, as we would like to start soliciting speakers. It would be better if we could gear the talks to our theme.
     It was also decided that we would not plan an organized trip to the Barlow Planetarium. Rather, we furnish a flyer with show times and directions and let the guests go on their own if they wish.

(Continued from page 2)
     Trips to Parmentier Observatory will be on Friday night. Talk was centered around a sign-up on the registration form and discussing carpools. No further decisions were made on the subject.
     We did not set another convention planning meeting date as of this writing
     Regarding Astronomy Day, the date is Saturday, May 22nd. The daytime activities are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with observing from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Set up will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday the 21st.
     As for publicity, Wayne Kuhn will do the posters/flyers for the event. Public Service Announcements are left opened as of this time. If interested, call Katrina or Don at 405-8534.
     The board also decided to spend up to $30.00 of club money for door prizes. Several were going to try to solicit prizes from other sources first. One person will be in charge of buying all prizes to keep tabs on the prizes and stay within the given budget.
     The big area of change is concerning our displays. Several of them are being discontinued because we've done them three years in a row. Others need to be enhanced and we need to add new ones.
     Some ideas for new displays include an observing night set-up, light pollution display, CCD imaging, and scheduled slide show presentations.
     Due to the responses from last year, we need to incorporate more Solar System displays and come up with all new kids activities.
     We also decided to contact several hobby shops to see if they would be interested in setting up a display as well as the National Weather Service here in Green Bay.
     However, a lot of work and ideas need to be put forth and done. If anyone is interested in helping, let me know or come to the next scheduled meeting on Wednesday February 24th at 7:00 pm, at the DeWitt residence.

DOWN THE ROAD

MESSIER MARATHON
     March 20th and the 11th Annual Messier Marathon are fast approaching. If you haven't done so already, mark your calendars and start dusting off your eyepieces.
     The Messier Marathon is our first scheduled group observing session of the year and we hope that everyone can make it out.
     I suppose I should back up just a bit for our new members. The Messier Marathon is a dusk to dawn observing party in which it is possible to see all 109 Messier objects-which consist of galaxies, nebula and clusters.
     All members of the NPMAS, NEWSTAR and Sheboygan Astronomical Society are invited. It is a “potluck” party and everyone is encouraged to bring something to eat.
     You don't need to own a telescope and you do not have to stay all night to come to the Messier Marathon. In fact, new people are encouraged to come out and check out the variety of telescopes and eyepieces that will be there. We will even have the club's 10-Inch dobsonian out there for you to try out.
    Something new this year, we will not be able to get into the building until 4:30 pm. So please plan accordingly. If you are going to observe in a marathon fashion, you should be there, set up and ready to observe by 6:15 to 6:30 p.m. The NPMAS will provide an observing form for your use.
    Stay tuned to next month's newsletter for another reminder as well as rules if you are competing in a marathon style. Also next month we will have a map to Neshota park.
    Remember, this is a party so come on out even if it is cloudy. The date once again is Saturday, March 20th. The place is Neshota Park. Be there or be square!