The website has been updated with the report on the outreach event at the Morgan County Middle School, the latest version of Stargazer and we also have added a link for the kids in the club on the home page, below the link to the night Sky network: The NASA Space Place for kids. Let me know what you think.

This week Mars will be a opposition on the 29th, and at the 30th, the full moon will be about 30,000 miles closer to earth and look appropriate bigger than in the rest of the year. So take your cameras out…… if the rain ever stops.

Clear Skies,

We have an outreach program scheduled at Morgan County Middle School for Friday January 22, 2:20 -3:15 P.M.

The school is located at:
920 Pearl Street
Madison, GA 30650-1021

We have planned to do some solar observing with the kids. If the weather does not cooperate, we will do an in class presentation and present some NSN projects and make a tour through the Solar system using Celestia. If you can make it to this event, please let me now and arrive around 2:00 P.M. at the school.
So far, Frank Garner and myself have committed time for this event.

Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

We have cancelled the January Charlie Elliott Chapter meeting at the visitors center, and the evening observing session, because of a conflict with Jonathan Wood’s memorial service. Our next meeting and observing will be held on February 13, 2010. Please check the home page of our website for more details.
www.ceastronomy.org

We received the following email from Jon’s wife Janet:

A memorial for Jonathan Wood will be held Saturday, Jan 16th @ 3:00pm at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Tucker, Ga.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made at www.curepc.org to raise public awareness and aid in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

St. Mark Lutheran Church
2110 Brockett Rd.
Tucker, GA 30084
Pastor: Ray Borchelt

770-938-4541 – office

Location
From 285 – Exit 39B – Take 1st Exit Coolidge/Brockett. Turn left. Stay on Brockett. Church is 1½ miles on left. From Lawrenceville Highway – turn south onto Brockett Road – Church is ¼ mile on right.

Theo Ramakers

I did receive this afternoon the following email form Janet Wood:

Theo,
Please thank everyone for their kindness and support. Most of all thanks for being such good friends to Jonathan (or the big guy with the red truck).

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to www.curepc.org

I will let you know when we have a date for the Memorial.

Love to all,
Janet

It is with deep sadness that I have to report that Jon has lost his battle against pancreatic cancer yesterday. He passed away peacefully with his wife Janet and other family members on his side. It is not known yet when the memorial service will be held, but we will post this information as soon as we receive it. Anyone who would like to share his/her thoughts about Jon, please do so on the Yahoo-Group. I am working on my thoughts about the loss of Jon and will publish it as soon as I finish it.

Further information will be posted at the Charlie Elliott Chapter Yahoo group as it becomes available.

Theo Ramakers

For those of you who have not heard the news, Jon Wood, our Chapter Observing Supervisor has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer. The doctors have released him to go home, where is resting and recieves hospice care. Janet his wife has asked that anyone from the Chapter who wants to, comes by and visits him. If you need the address or phone number, please give ma a call or send me an email. Updates to Jon’s health will be posted on the Chapter’s Yahoo group.

Theo Ramakers

Stephen Ramsden is coordinating the Star party at Hopewell Middle School for December 10th. If you can spare the time to let these kids observe the nightsky, please contact stephen and let him know you will be there!.
Thanks and Clear Skies.

I would like to wish a happy Thanksgiving Holiday to all Charlie Elliott members and friends. This year we are giving thanks for another great year of astronomy in the Chapter with many new members and friends, and even the relative bad weather we have had, but we needed it so the lakes could fill up again . So now we are looking forward and hoping that the coming year may turn again in our favor with some beautiful nights, allowing us to enjoy observing of “what’s up there”.

Clear Skies
Theo Ramakers

I made a mistake The call for Volunteers is for Tuesday and Wednesday October 20 and 21st. Not 19 and 20. Sorry for this. Stephen that probably eliminates you for one of the nights If anyone wants to come early and have dinner with the kids, let me know and we will get the details.
Clear skies,
Theo

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is hosting again the Childrens School from Atlanta. As you know this event was a great success last year and the school has asked us to repeat the program. Since there will be two different groups we need volunteers for two evenings. One for Monday evening and one for Tuesday evening. Both events will start at the observing field between 6:45 and 7:00 P.M. Please drop me a note to let me know if you can make both or one of these events even if it is only for one hour. You know the kids will be thankfull for your time.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers