This is a reminder for our meeting and observing for this Saturday. Phil Sacco will present “The Wonders of the Night Sky”. The meeting and presentation are open to everyone, members and no members, and is free of charge. Come on out and share the beautiful night sky with us.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

We received a request from the Garden Club of Georgia to do an event during their Camp at Charlie Elliott the evening of Sunday July 11 at Jon Wood field. Frank Garner has volunteered to run this, but he is looking for additional scopes. Two years ago we did an event with them, and last year the event rained out, so this year hopes are up for clear skies. Call Frank, or talk to him at next week’s meeting and let him know if you can make it.
Clear Skies,
Theo

Theo Ramakers gave the kids of CE’s Summer Camp a view of the night sky. During the session the kids continued to learn about our solar system and each had a chance to see the “Half phase of Venus”, Mars and Saturn with its rings. Because the group had to leave before it really got dark, we were unable to show them some nebulas and clusters. Click here for some of the pictures.(click the thumbnail for the full sized picture). But the kids loved what they saw. 

Marie Lott, Stephen Ramsden, Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers particiapted in the Solar event which was scheduled for 10:00 A.M., but the temperature was already way in the 90s. But the kids saw a nice sunspot and three very nice prominences in H-alpha. During the evening indoor session, which was put on by Frank and Theo, the kids learned about our solar system and each made a model of the relative distance at which each planet orbits around the sun. Because of the stormy weather, the observing was rescheduled. Click here for some of the pictures, and note that because of the heat, Stephen did not need a shower to take a shower…….
Clear Skies,
Theo

Thanks to Frank Garner, Alan and Sally Bolton, Milena and Jimmy Choy and Theo Ramakers who did participate in this event for the Scouts. The first scouts arriving after the camp fire saw Venus, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon, The rest had to be satisfied looking at the clouds. However we did talk much about our solar System, the Milky Way and the Universe!! Click here for a few pictures.(click the thumbnail for the full sized picture).
Clear skies,
Theo

As you are aware, I have been pursuing to have the Safety Zone boundery at Charlie Elliott changed, so the Jon Wood Field is located within its bounderies. I presented an old map which clearly showed how the field is located within the Safety Zone. I now have received an email which confirms that the Field is within the Safety Zone. Since money is very tight everywhere, it has been suggested that CE would appreciate any help in changing the markers for this boundary. So at some time in the future, I would like to call on a work session to move the markers to where they should be and to post the official sign dedicating the field to Jon Wood.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

We are having an outreach event this coming Saturday, June 19, at the Bert Adams Boy Scout Reservation. We have received the invite from Scout troop 211. About 300 scouts and parents are camping there and would like some help in understanding “what’s up there”. This is an evening event only. So if you can spare the time come on out and help us in letting these scouts see the beauty of the night sky. Address: 218 Boy Scout Road. Covington, GA 30016.
Directions: In Covington, go south on GA 36. Go 3 miles beyond Hendersons Restaurant and turn right on Boy Scout road. The reservation is on the right. I have been told to ask for David Evercombi to let us know where to setup.
Hope to see you there.
Theo

The JPL Solar System Ambassadors have invited NSN members to participate in their telecon on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

On July 10, the Rosetta spacecraft will pass by asteroid Lutetia, as it travels to its ultimate destination Comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimanko.
To learn more about this exciting ESA/NASA joint mission and the asteroid encounter, please join us for a telecon with Dr. Claudia Alexander, Project Scientist and Art Chmielewski, Project Manager, as they discuss Rosetta and the upcoming milestone.

Date: June 15, Tuesday Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm PT (6:00 pm -7:30 pm ET) (Phone lines open at 2:30 pm PT – 5:30 pm ET)
Call-In: 888-282-0432
Passcode: Ambassador
Leader: Kay Ferrari
TRAINING MATERIALS: Training materials will be available on the NASA Nationwide website under the “Current Telecon” section prior to telecon.
The URL for the NASA Nationwide website is:

http://nnw.jpl.nasa.gov/telecon/

Log-in information for the website:
Username: NSN
Passcode: NNW001

TELECON ETIQUETTE – PLEASE READ:
1. When the telecon begins, please mute your phone while the speaker is talking.
2. If your phone doesn’t have a “mute” button, your phone may be muted by pressing “*6″ (star six).
3. The “*6″ feature is a toggle; your phone may be unmuted for questions by pressing “*6″ again.
4. For technical problems encountered during the training, pressing “*0″ (star zero) will signal the operator who can temporarily remove you from the telecon “room” to resolve the issue.
5. If entering the telecon after the recording has begun (3:00 pm PT), please enter SILENTLY and do not announce your name as the recording will have already begun.
6. DO NOT place your phone on “hold” if music is played while the hold button is engaged, as the music will be heard by telecon listeners and will be disruptive to the speaker.
7. Any participants who do not adhere to these rules of telecon etiquette stand the chance of having their phones muted by the operator for the entire session if background noise is a problem.
If you have any questions about this telecon, please let me know. Kay Ferrari, Coordinator NASA/JPL Solar System Educators Program NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Program:
kay.a.ferrari@jpl.nasa.gov
The audio file and transcript will be posted at a later date.
IMPORTANT NOTES: This telecon is ONLY for Solar System Ambassadors, Solar System Educators, Museum Alliance and NASA Nationwide partners: Night Sky Network, NEAT Teachers, NASA Explorer School Teachers, Spaceward Bound Teachers, MESSENGER Fellows, GAVRT Teachers, Saturn Observation Campaign, Girl Scout Trainers, GLOBE Teachers and NASA and JPL Speakers Bureau members. It is NOT to be shared LIVE in classrooms, museums or other venues. This is professional development for YOU, intended to prepare you for your upcoming presentations and events. Please do NOT share the call-in information (phone number, passcode, etc) or telecon with anyone outside this program.
This professional development telecon is sponsored by the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Program.

http://nnw.jpl.nasa.gov/telecon/

Clear Skies
Theo Ramakers

We had a great meeting yesterday with a number of new visitors, much delicious food (Thanks to all those great cooks!!), a great presentation by Richard Schmude Jr., and our new observing supervisor Steven Phillips’ Observing 101 and Theo’s Current Events. Stephen Ramsden received the Master Outreach Program award from the Astronomical League and those who hang in there at the observing field until after 11:00 when the clouds moved a little out of the way, were awarded with some beautiful objects in the night sky. A great night for our Chapter! The website has been updated with presentations, pictures etc with the exception of Steven’s presentation and the minutes of the meeting, but I am sure they will be there very soon also
Thanks for all that attended or did visit us at the field after the meeting!
Clear Skies
Theo

This is a reminder for our Potluck dinner meeting this coming Saturday June 12, 2010 at 5:00 P.M.   Richard Schmude will present “Jupiter”.    Since his last presentation, we have had two major events happening on Jupiter.  Last year amateurs accross the world followed the impact scar and this week Anthony Wesley and Christopher Go observed, and imaged as well, another event, a hugh light ball.  Richard will include both events in his discussion.
This is a potluck dinner meeting, so please send me an email what you will be bringing so I can give an update of the menu as we progress during the week.  So far we have:

Romaine and Theo Ramakers    -   meatloaf.

Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers