A GLANCE INSIDE 
From the New Editor   Page 1  
Vote on the New Club Logo  Page 1  
What’s up in March   Page 2  
New Member Welcome Mat  Page 2  
A Look Back at February   Page 2  
The Local Market Place  Page 3  
Further on the Horizon  Page 4 

FROM THE NEW EDITOR 
     March not only heralds the arrival of Spring but also a new observing season for Amateur Astronomers. It is a month of change.  
     It just so happens that THE EYEPIECE is also undergoing a change. Hi!  My name is Wayne Kuhn and I am your new editor.  After four years of service Don Dewitt has decided to step out of the editors chair and let someone else have a try.  He will remain as the club’s Secretary/Treasurer.  We all owe him our gratitude for the wonderful job he has done. Thanks, Don! 
     With the change of editors you will also notice a change in the format of the newsletter. I like to tinker a lot so let me know what you like and what you don’t like.  After all, this is your newsletter.  Without you there are no members.  No members means no club and thus, no newsletter. 
     This would be a good place to ask for your help in putting THE EYEPIECE together by submitting articles, but I will make that plea latter.  For now I would just like you to vote on a very important matter: our club logo.  To my understanding, this issue has been a topic of debate long before I became a member.  Now we have a chance to settle it and have something tangible to represent the Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society on letterheads, posters, flyers, and the ever-important T-shirt.

 VOTE ON THE CLUB LOGO 
     I have been seriously working on a club logo for about two months now. I started from scratch and employed the input of my fellow board members as well as the general membership at the club meetings.  At the February meeting, seven different designs were laid out on a table and the attendees voted on which one they liked the best.  Two of logos came to the forefront and this is where you get in.  We would like you to vote between these two and pick our new NPMAS logo. 
 Here are your choices: 
 
     On the outside there doesn’t appear to be a lot of difference between them. But once you think about it, the logos convey different messages. 
 
     The first one, #16, has a more traditional and serious look to it.  There may be some people outside of the hobby that may not recognize a Newtonian scope, but is the logo for them or for us Amateur Astronomers. 
     The second, #18, is probably recognizable by everybody and has a light-hearted, cartoonish look to it.  Some people may prefer to break with traditional models and be a little more unique. 
     There you have them.  Think it over and let me know.  Here is how you can contact me: 
  
Wayne Kuhn 
2142 Spring Creek Circle 
Green Bay, WI 54311 
920-468-0765 
e-mail waylin98@gbonline 

     Send me a letter, give me a call, or drop me an email.  Even if you voted earlier, give me your vote again.  I will tally them up and you will see the winner at the top of the next EYEPIECE! 

WHATS UP IN MARCH 

MONTHLY MEETING 
     Our March monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, March 10th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Neville Public Museum.  This months talk will be on telescope building, given by George McCourt and Steve Wicker.  George is an engineer by trade and has assisted in the construction of several telescopes.  Steve is currently building his own 12.5” Dobsonian telescope and will share his experiences.  
     Last month we had 34 people attend!  Hope you can join us this month! 

NEWSTAR MONTHLY MEETING 
     The monthly NEWSTAR meeting will be on Wednesday, March 17th at the UW Fox Valley Center. The topic is “Messier Marathon”.  Call Don Dewitt at 405-8534 if you are interested in going. 

MESSIER MARATHON 
     Our 11th annual Messier Marathon is on  

 Saturday, March 20th. Please see the detailed description of the Marathon by Don Dewitt on page 4 and a map to get there on page 5 of this issue. 

ASTRONOMY DAY PLANNING MEETING 
     We will be having an Astronomy Day planning meeting on Wednesday, March 24th at 7:00 PM.  It will be at Wayne Kuhn’s house, 2142 Spring Creek Circle.  Call Wayne at 920-468-0765 for more information or directions. 
     Everyone is encouraged to attend. Astronomy Day is our biggest public event of the year and the more members participating the better it will be.  If you haven’t been a part of it in the past, now is your chance to support the club and have a lot of fun! 

NEW MEMBER WELCOME MAT 
     We had one person join the club this past month. His name is James E. Vareka, 10032 Westview Road, Newton, WI 53063.  Phone 920-726-4822. 
     James, 45, is an architect by trade and has had an interest in astronomy for the past five years.  He found our club by visiting the Neville Public Museum and picking up one of our flyers.  After attending a few of our meetings he decided to join NPMAS and the Sheboygan club as well.  He does not own a telescope but is interested in building one.  Welcome to the club James! 

A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 

FEBRUARY MEETING 
     Our monthly meeting had a very good turnout with 34 people attending.  Our guest speaker, Steve Tuma, started things off with a demonstration of his Deepsky 99 software for Windows 95/98/NT.  
     Deepsky 99 is designed to be an all-around tool for observing and includes 400,000 deepsky objects, an observing planner, an 
 
     observer’s logbook, a star chart creator using the 18 million stars in the Hubble Guide Star Catalogue, basic image processing, LX200 support, and a unique slide show feature.  You can look it over in detail at his web site:   http://www.deepsky2000.com/ 
     Normally the software is sold at the inexpensive price of $34.99.  At the meeting Steve gave out coupons that offered the CD version for only $19.99!  We still have several of the coupons available for those who did not make the meeting.  Give Don or Katrina Dewitt a call at 920-405-8534 to get one.  Call soon because they have an expiration date of April 1, 1999. 

ASTRONOMY DAY MEETING 
     The Dewitt residence was the site of the latest Astronomy Day planning meeting on February 24th.  Those in attendance included George McCourt, Steve & Sue Wicker, Ron Parmentier, Ted Kordes, Janice and Karri Francini, Wayne Kuhn, Tom Cashman, and of course, Don and Katrina DeWitt. 
     Several items that were part of last year’s activities were dropped.  Proposed new activities include: 

CCD Imaging 
Light Pollution Display 
Solar System Scale – interactive 
30th Anniversary Moon Landing 
Mars: Then and Now (76-96) 
Time Line of Space Flight 
20 minute Workshops 
- Star Charts and Constellations 
- Solar System 
Games 

     More ideas are welcome as well as your assistance with these or any of the regular exhibits.  Contact any of the board members for further information.  We do need your help to make Astronomy Day a success! 

THE LOCAL MARKET PLACE 
FOR SALE:  

      8" f/8 Orion Deep Space Explorer Reflector on Dobsonian Mount.  Tube and all mirrors in excellent condition. Includes: 

1.25" Helical Focuser 
1.25" Meade 26mm Series 4000 Super Plossl eyepiece 
6x30 Finder Scope 
4 vane spider secondary mirror holder 
Laser Collimator 
Collimating eyepiece 
Telrad Base 
Counter weight 

I just bought a 12" LX-200 and am looking to sell this package to help pay for the new scope. I paid over $900.00 for the entire package new. Asking Price for entire package: $500.00 
Both the main and secondary mirrors are set for the laser collimator.  I have used the collimating eyepiece occasionally to confirm correct collimation.  This is an excellent scope for both planetary and deep sky viewing. I have taken several unguided pictures of the moon by eyepiece projection.  When using my solar filter, I have taken several photos of the sun with it also.  Scope and accessories come with all receipts and instruction books so you know exact prices. 
If interested in seeing the scope, call Shaun Stamnes at 432-3319 or 
e-mail me at: sstamnes@itol.com 

MESSIER MARATHON UPDATE 
By Don Dewitt 
     March 20 and the Messier Marathon are fast approaching.  If you have not already done so, mark your calendars, then come to Neshota Park.  There was a complete write up in last month's newsletter so I will just go over the basics. 
You are encouraged to bring along your favorite desert or any other dish you can think of to help make this a “potluck” party.  We want several people to volunteer to make chili 
 
this year instead of one person being burdened with it so if you would like to make up a batch, please contact Katrina or Don DeWitt at 405-8534.   
     Remember, you don’t have to own a telescope to come out.  It’s a great opportunity for you to look through many different scopes if you happen to be in the market.  We will also have the club’s 10 inch Dobsonian there for you to use. 
     The park shelter will not be unlocked until 4:30 p.m.  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.  There will be observing forms provided for all. This is a party so come out even if it is cloudy.  Once again members of NEWSTAR and the Sheboygan Astronomical Society are invited to come out also.  A map to Neshota Park appears on page 5 of this newsletter. We are planning for a big turn out and we hope to see you there. 

MESSIER MARATHON RULES 
1) A special certificate will be given to everyone who observes 5 or more Messier Objects.   
2) Gold stars will be placed on the certificate for every 10 objects observed after the initial 10 objects. 
3) All objects must be located by the star hopping method to be eligible for the certificate.  You may use setting circles but will not receive a certificate. 
4) The NPMAS will provide you with a list containing a suggested observing sequence.  You can also make you own list if you prefer. 
5) You will be required to write down the time you observe each object.    
6) All observations must be made in either a telescope or binoculars to be eligible for a certificate. 
     Please note that these rules are for the people that want to observe in a marathon style.  You are not required to observe in a marathon style, nor are you required to stay all night.  This is meant to be a fun event so good luck to everyone and above all else, HAVE A GOOD TIME!!! 

 ON THE HORIZON 

NCRAL CONVENTION 
     The 1999 North Central Region Astronomical League Convention will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on April 30 and May 1.  A meeting hall has been procured at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel and the Cedar Amateur Astronomers are delighted to be your hosts. 
     Activities include a tour of either the North Liberty VLBA radio telescope or the Iowa City telescope manufacturing facility known as Torus Optical and a barbecue and observing session at the Palisades Dows observatory on Friday.  Saturday offers vender booths, astronomy flea market, paper presentations and various speakers. 
     Registration fees before April 15th are $38 for adults and $15 for kids 16 and younger.  After April 15th they go up by $10 each. 
      Registration forms and information are available from Jeff Finley at 319-390-1037 (evenings) or locally from our own Don Dewitt. A web site has been prepared which will be constantly updated as additional speakers are selected and additional information becomes available.  You can download the registration form there as well. The site is located at: 
http://www.irelandtech.com/nova/ncral99 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

March 
10 Monthly Meeting-Telescope Building 
20 11th Annual Messier Marathon 
April 
14 Monthly Meeting-Planetary Exploration 
16-17 Parmentier Observing Weekend 
23-24 Spring Public Observing Weekend 
30-1st NCRAL Convention-Cedar Rapids 
May 
09-16 Texas Star Party 
12 Monthly Meeting-The Sun 
14-15 Parmentier Observing Weekend 
22 Astronomy Day-Public Observing 

 
 

June
09 Monthly Meeting-CCD Imaging
11-13 Wisconsin Observers Weekend
25-26 Come to the Moon Observing Party
July
09-10 Parmentier Weekend with NEWSTAR
13-18 A.L.CON ’99 Convention-Spokane, WA
14 Monthly Meeting-Guest Speaker
August
11 Monthly Meeting-Using Binoculars
13-15 Northwoods Starfest-Fall Creek, WI
21 16th Annual Club Picnic
September
08 Monthly Meeting-Eyepieces 
10-11 Parmentier Observing Weekend
17-19 Astrofest XX-Kankakee , IL
October
08-10 Crivitz Observing Weekend
13 Monthly Meeting-Optical Phenomena
15-16 Fall Public Observing Weekend

Follow this link to the map to Neshota Park