Our chapter has really been blessed with an increase of members and interested friends. We have seen young people coming over and over to the meetings and observing sessions. This is great in that we can help in growing the next generation of scientists, as well as amateur astronomers. I am really glad that Thomas Whalen and his family did visit my observatory and I could teach Thomas how to image the Sun. Thomas is 12 years old and is a 6 grader at the Trickum Middle School. I am reporting that Thomas made the image from start to finish by himself: He lined up the sun in the scope from the park position, connected the camera, loaded and setup the capture program, brought the sun on the chip and centered it. He also prepared himself beforehand how to capture the sun, by reviewing my presentation on the web. He set the controls of the camera and ran the required frames. Than the lessons continued inside with processing, Registax and Photoshop. It took him a while but you all can see he did a great job. To top it off, he also took the raw data home so he can practice even more…. Gratulations this month to Thomas Whalen for his Charlie Elliott Picture of the Month! http://ceastronomy.org

Clear Skies,
Theo

Our outreach event for observing the night sky at Hopewell Middle for tonight has been cancelled because of cloudy skies.  We will be contacted for an alternate date by the school when they have one.
Clear skies
Theo

Join us this Thursday, November 17th for a teleconference all about Exploring the Lunar Atmosphere. Brian Day from the NASA Lunar Science Institute will be sharing updates on a new generation of robotic lunar explorers and how they are revolutionizing our understanding of the Moon. He will also be highlighting an opportunity for the public to participate in NASA lunar science research.
To join the Teleconference on Thursday, November 17th at 9:00 pm Eastern. Call the toll-free conference call line:1-888-455-9236
Call anytime after 8:45 pm the evening of the telecon. An operator will answer and:
- You will be asked for the passcode: NIGHT SKY NETWORK
- You will be asked to give your NAME and the CLUB you belong to, and number of people listening with you.
You can download the PowerPoint, view it online, and find more information here:

http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=483

Clear skies,
Theo Ramakers

We are at Panola mountain State Park on Saturday November 19 at 6:00 P.M. We will present inside for about 30 -45 minutes and than go outside for observing. We could use additional volunteers to bring some telescopes to show the visitors the night sky over Panola Mountain. The parking fee is waived for our attendees. This is the first event of a series of two. The next event will be in the winter for solar observing. The address is:
Panola Mountain State Park
2600 Highway 155, SW
Stockbridge , GA 30281
Please send me an email if you can make it.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

OK this is far out, but we would like to get this on the calendar. The Venus transit of the sun will happen next year Tuesday June 5th and the transit following that will happen 100 years later, so this is the last time in our lifetime to see this. The transit will start in daylight around 18:10 and we will only be able to see the beginning of the transit through sunset. We have a number of solar scopes in the Club and it would be great if we could share this event with the public. However, some of us, including me, would like to image this rare occurance. So we are looking for ways to do both. Any volunteers to man solar scopes for that evening at prominenant locations? Or would we want to heavily publicise this and do this at CE? Please let me know any suggestions or if you would want to volunteer.
Clear skies,
Theo Ramakers

Frank and Theo will be at Chamblee Middle School tomorrow morning with a Solar program until the clouds start rolling in. Maybe they will stay away long enough to finish the program for the entire school. However, we are cancelling the mini Star Party for the evening. The clear Sky Clock forcasts clouds, and 0 for tranparency. In addition, Accuweather’s astronomy forcast is a 1. So if you were planning to come in the evening. Don’t come!
Clear Skies,
Theo

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, Dr. Ned Wright will present Exploring the Dark Side of the Solar System with WISE.

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) Mission is a NASA-funded mission that is providing a vast storehouse of knowledge about the solar system, the Milky Way, and the Universe. Among the objects WISE is currently studying are asteroids, the coolest and dimmest stars, and the most luminous galaxies.

Dr. Ned Wright of University of California at Los Angeles is principal investigator for the WISE Mission. Ned grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia, on land once owned by George Washington. He built a 6 inch Newtonian telescope while in high school, and ground and polished the mirror himself.

To log into the Telecon on Thursday, September 22nd, between 8:45 – 9:00pm (Eastern Time):

Use the IYA toll-free conference call line: 1-888-455-9236

An operator will answer and:

You will be asked for the passcode: NIGHT SKY NETWORK
You will be asked to give your NAME and the CLUB you belong to, and number of people listening with you.
Find the PowerPoint and other download links here:
http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=473
Hope to hear you on the call!
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

We are having an outreach event from 9:45 until 2:45 next week Friday at Stone Mountain Middle School. The entire 6th grade will attend. This is combined inside presentation and outside solar observing event. Frank was scheduled to attend, but now cannot make it since he will be travelling that week. If you could make some time avaialble for these students to see the sun that would be great. I will bring my Solar Scope, so if you don’t have one, but would have some time to attend the scope that also would help, Please let me know.
Thanks and Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

We now have booked and confirmed 13 outreach events for the coming two months with two full days still pending and the possibility of two more events during the Observe the Moon evening. Please check the calendar on ceastronomy.org (red dates) and let us know if you can help with any of the (evening-weekend) events. We also will announce these in seperate mails and Alerts on the website as we come closer to them
Clear skies,
Theo

Upon request of the family, the dedication ceremony of the Jon Wood Field is rescheduled from June 30th. to August 27th, immediatly following the chapter meeting.
Clear skies,
Theo Ramakers