ATTENDANCE:

Eighteen guests and members enjoyed the May 17, 2008 CE meeting.

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BUSINESS:

Election Results:

Director: Theo Ramakers

Observing Supervisor: Jonathan Wood

Recording Secretary: Ken Poshedly

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Many Thanks to the outgoing officers -Very Best wishes to the new officers!

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Special Notice:

Our astronomy part of the Charlie Elliott JAKES Day Festival at CE provided about 80 people with views of the Sun (through properly filtered telescopes), along with movies and topical conversation in our ‘planetarium atmosphere’ classroom in the Charlie Elliott Visitor Center. Our club’s participation was supported by Sally & Alan Bolton (some very timely help), Jim Honeycutt, Debbie (part of the day) & Clevis Jones, Larry Owens, Theo Ramakers, Stephen Ramsden, Jon Wood, and our Mascot Tiger Junior.

THANK YOU ALL!

And to our hosts, Linda May and Alesia Rast of Charlie Elliott, who provided the classroom facilities, food, beverages, and support – a great big, THANK YOU!

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Larry Owens, Steve Bieger, and Jon Wood gave brief updates on their club projects.

Larry gave an overview of upcoming CE Web-site improvements – watch the CE Yahoo group for his announcements – and also an overview of that evening’s “Field Lab on Astro Imaging”. Ray Major filled us in on the AAC elections, Ken Poshedly on the AAC By-laws change.

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2008 schedule for the CE Meeting is:

June. 7 (pot luck), Jul. 26, Aug. 30, Sep. 27, Oct. 25 (set CE meeting schedule for 2009), Nov. 29, Dec. 27.

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SUNSET ALERT was given.

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FEATURE PRESENTATION:

“My 4-Meter Backyard Telescope” by Patrick Durusau. Patrick gave us a review and an update to his early program “My 200-Inch Backyard Telescope” – note how the aperture has increased! Patrick’s program pulled a lot of discussion from the group including ideas for future presentations by Patrick about using his virtual observatory to ‘verify if you have found a previously unlisted object such as a double star, and how to use this virtual observatory to search for new discoveries, such as Super Nova Fossils. Exciting!

Thank You Patrick!

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WHAT’S UP TONIGHT:

Steve Bieger filled us in on upcoming celestial events, new target lists, featured science and featured scientists. He demonstrated some points from “AstroPlanner” and suggested downloading version 1.6.1 released in May 2008 – apparently the last free version. Here is the link to AstroPlanner:

http://www.ilangainc.com/astroplanner/download.shtml

Thanks Steve! Thanks for all the programs you have given!

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CURRENT EVENTS:

Clevis Jones introduced Microsoft’s new “WorldWide Telescope” a free program similar in function to Google Earth, but totally focused on the Universe which is available for download here: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/ , a pop quiz – Marie Lott scored 100, the near disaster return of TMA-11, Phoenix landing on Mars May 25^th (tune into NASA TV via cable or Internet at 6:30 p.m. EST for live coverage from JPL Operations Center), and the Launch of Discovery with STS-124 on May 31. “Keep Looking Up”

 

OBSERVING SESSION:

Slight obscured skies didn’t dampen about 20 folks enthusiasm. Larry Owens conducted his ‘Lab class” beginning with collimation techniques. Everyone shared views through their telescopes and binoculars, including the Boltons with their superb, new Stellarvue 102ED.

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MEETING DATES AND PROGRAMS:

JUNE 7, TIME – CHECK our Website for possible change in time:

Pot Luck!

Place:

Charlie Elliott Visitors’ Center.

http://www.atlantaastronomy.org/CEWMA/about.html

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For Meeting updates, Directions, Links, & Live broadcasts: PLEASE check the CEastronomy website for the most current information !

http://www.CEastronomy.org

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Submitted:

Clevis Jones, outgoing CE Recording Secretary

(Incoming Recording Secretary is Ken Poshedly)

Secretary@CEastronomy.org