R E F L E C T O R The Astronomical League Newsletter Vol. XLI No. 4 ISSN: 0034-2963 August, 1989 Quarterly Publication of the Astronomical League Issued by the Astronomical League in February, May, August and November. The Reflector is mailed directly to each individual of its affiliate socities and to members-at-large as a benefit of League membership. Editor Ed Flaspoehler 5027 W. Stanford Dallas, TX 75209 Assistant Editor M.. Barlow Pepin P.O. Box 295 Lake Helen, FL 32744 Book Review Editor Gail O. Clark 74 Mountain Drive Pocatello, ID 83204 Advertising Debbie Moran - Coordinator see address below Reflector Deadlines Fall Issue September 20th Winter Issue December 20th Spring Issue March 20th Summer Issue June 20th Written and graphic material from this publication may be reprinted only for non-profit benefit of interested parties, provided specific credit is given to the writer(s), the Reflector and the Astronomical League. Any other use of material, including graphics and photographs, is subject to express permission from the Editor and the Astronomical League Publications Director, Rollin P. Van Zandt. National Officers PresidentKen Willcox 225 SE Fenway Pl Bartlesville, OK 74006 Vice President Jerry Sherlin 1001 S. Cornelia St Sioux City, IA 51106 Secretary Harriet Witt Miller 480 Olinda Road Makawao, Maui, HI 96768-9399 TreasurerDebbie Moran 11832 Sandpiper Houston, TX 77035 Executive Merry Edenton-Wooten Secretary 6235 Omie Circle Pensacola, FL 32504 Assistant Executive Wayne Wooten Secretaty 6235 Omie Circle Pensacola, FL32504 T e x a s S t a r P a r t y A Soggy Texas Star Party Still Lives Up To Its Reputation TSP '89 As Seen By Robert Reeves You no longer have to be a psychic or a meteorologist (Is there a difference?) to know what the weather is going to be like at the Texas Star Party, held each year at the Prude Guest Ranch outside Ft. Davis, Texas. Since its inception in 1982, the Texas Star Party has been clear and dry on even numbered years, rainy and cloudy on odd numbered years. This year's record gathering of 657 amateur and professional astronomers, held between May 31, and June 4, 1989, remained true to this pattern and was very wet. Although the astronomers gathered for the event were dampened by the weather, their spirits were not. The Texas Star Party has evolved beyond solitary groups of people hell bent for marathon observing sessions under the darkest skies in America. Over the years, many friendships have been forged between observers, astrophotographers, and ATMs who normally do not see each other except at the Texas Star Party. This years damp weather only allowed more time for these acquaintances to be renewed. As I departed San Antonio to attend this year's TSP, I was hopeful the traditional weather pattern would be broken as I motored under clear sunny skies. However, the closer the Davis Mountains loomed over the horizon, the more apparent it became that tradition would not yield. Heavy rain and rapid fire lightning greeted me as I exited IH-1O to turn south toward Ft. Davis. I thought, "It's a long week. It will pass. Even on wet years. We still have at least 50% clear slies during the week." Upon arriving at the Prude Ranch on Tuesday, the day before the Star Party actually got under way, my eyes fell on a marvelous sight; the largest gathering of amateur astronomical telescopes in one spot in the entire world! Although it was still a day before the Star Party was to officially open, it was clear that there were more people then in attendance than there was at the peak of last year's gathering. Scopes set up on the observing fields ranged from 2-inch refractors and ingenuous binocular holders all the way up to the amazing 32-inch reflector brought by the Danzinger Astronomy Group in Houston, Texas. After establishing my camp in the tent city the San Antonio Astronomical Association traditionally establishes on the upper observing field at the Prude Ranch, it was time to scout the scene for familiar faces. Although enough people attended this year's gathering to temporarily more than double the population of Ft. Davis, sadly, one person was conspicuous by his absence. Everyone looks forward to seeing Ed Boutwell from Birmingham, Alabama. However, Ed injured his back changing a flat tire early in the week and had to retreat back to Alabama for back surgery. Ed's good cheer and smiling face was missed by many this year and we wish him a speedy recovery and clear skies for his 20-inch Dobsonian. Tuesday night, the evening before the convention officially opened, marked the inauguration of Comedy Night at the TSP. This light hearted look at astronomy featured jokes and skits by people who probably now wish they hadn't, and three films which are destined to become classics in amateur astronomical circles. Two films, "The Observer's Nightmare", and "The Mirror Maker's Nightmare", by John Cotton and the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, brought home all the things that can possibly go wrong with an observation session or ATM attempt. Although the films were made back in the 1960's, they still had a clear ring of humorous truth to them we could all relate to. The third film by Don Garland of the Ft. Worth Museum of Science became an instant hit at this year's TSP and was screened again in several encore presentations. For this film, Don trained his 16 mm movie camera on friends and the elements of nature at the 1988 TSP. What resulted was some remarkable time-lapse movies which speeded up scenes of the nightly observing preparations on the upper observing field, complete with red flashlights zipping hither and fro. Don's cinematic coup de grace however was several celestial scenes which had never before been captured in a timelapse movie. Using a continuous series of sequential] time exposures with his movie camera, Don succeeded in exposing each frame of movie film long enough to clearly show stars beyond the limit of visual detection, but without the star images streaking on each frame. This resulted in a fast-action movie capturing the celestial rotation of the stars. Views looking south clearly showed the Milky Way rising, while a circumpolar sequence showed the northern skies spinning around Polaris. The visual impact of these film clips brought spontaneous applause from all who viewed them. However, Tuesday night's cloudy skies also brought in the items which all attendees prayed would not materialize, heavy rains and severe lightning! At 2 AM, Wednesday morning, a line of tent-busting thunderstorms crossed over the Davis Mountains and bombarded the Prude Ranch with the first of three severe rain storms and an estimated 5,000 lightning bolts. The lightning continued to plague observers until Friday night. Although most tents escaped the thunderlashing with minor corner tears and water puddles inside, some, like that of Lynna Hilbig from San Antonio simply gave up and imploded. When Wednesday's first wave of storms passed about 3 AM, we poked our heads out from cover to discover her tent collapsed around the camp table inside with Lynna holed up under a sleeping bag under the table. Quick work by all hands extracted our soggy fellow astronomer from her predicament and performed some emergency sewing and patching which held up through the next thunder bombardment an hour later. Wednesday afternoon, TSP '89 formally got under way. The traditional paper sessions in the afternoon, astronomical vendor's displays, tours of the nearby McDonald Observatory, and endless prowling among other people's telescopes took our minds off the previous night's bad weather. Due to the projected high attendance to this year's TSP, and the limited seating in the Prude auditorium, the plan was to hold the audience for all the paper presentations and guest speakers in a circus-type tent. This plan clearly proved unworkable because of weather and lighting restrictions and the events were moved back into the auditorium. Kicking off this years presentations was Klaus Brasch, a well known amateur observer and astrophotographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Klaus presented his photo-visual studies of the 1988 Martian apparition which featured the technique of drawing his visual eyepiece impressions of Mars directly on a photographic print taken at the same time. The resulting image had a startlingly similar appearance to the high resolution digitized CCD images of Mars obtained by professionals. Ron Dawes and Rick Frankenberger of San Antonio also presented their techniques for organizing large expeditions of observers for the increasingly popular activity of group observations of grazing lunar occultations and stellar occultations by asteroids. They also presented their methods of computerized data reduction of these group observations. Brian Skiff, TSP's resident fixture from Lowell Observatory, started the first of several discussions at this year's Star Party about the science and medical aspects of dark adaptation. Brian presented some good insights into the subject, but when it all boiled down to the basics, it is evident from his presentation that the feeblest, dimmest red light you can possibly get by with is what you should use, as even bright red light will destroy a portion of night dark adaptation. This year's TSP attracted a large number of commercial astronomical vendors. The usual folks were there, including the ever friendly Biff Bigby from Astro-Tech, representatives from Lumicon, Tuthill, Jim's Mobile, and other familiar brands. New at the TSP this year was a large and well attended display from Parks, and a wide collection of items from the Kitt Peak Observatory's gift shop. The Parks display was so large in fact, with many big aperture reflectors and a huge eight or ten inch restored brass refractor, that it took over the abandoned circus tent which was to house the speaking presentations. Another popular site for frequent visitation was the GOES weather satellite picture receiving station set up at the vendors hall. Many long and gloomy faces departed that area Wednesday evening as it became apparent more thunderstorms were coming to the Prude Ranch. The third wave of heavy storms hit after midnight and continued the awesome wrap around lightning displays that were becoming the trademark of the 1989 TSP. Wednesday night, Fly Hill, from Tyler, Texas, and Astrogoggles fame, passed out dozens of his transparent red business cards which have the same filtering factor as his Astrogoggles dark adaptation device. It was quickly discovered that viewing the brilliant lightning strokes through Fly's business card provided a stunning visual spectacle as the individual lightning bolts became clearly visible without the painful blinding flash. As the electrical display intensified, Fly's cards became hot items. Although the TSP was surrounded by intense lightning, there was no damage done as the closest bolts cleared the camping areas by 2,000 feet. Thursday presented a glimmer of weather hope as the day progressed. By early afternoon, solar observing was in swing through broken clouds. Although I don't know who it belonged to, everyone at this year's TSP quickly became aware of the incredible Hydrogen Alpha views of the sun available from the Day Star equipped four-inch refractor on the lower observing field. One solar prominence seen through it remains imbedded in my memory. It was ballooned out so far from the edge of the sun that it looked like an Oak Tree rooted to the solar surface. One technically interesting feature on Thursday was Houston's Lee Cain as he presented plans for the proposed two-meter binocular telescope for the planed National Public Observatory to be located near Alpine, Texas. The largest teIescope ever to be set up at the Texas Star Party was the 32-inch reflector built by a Houston group led by Al Kelly. Needless to say, his presentation Thursday on how the instrument was built drew an attentive audience. Although the mirror took over a year of commercial preparation, the structure of the 32-inch instrument was not started until April, 1989, and was completed just hours before transport to the Prude Ranch. That is cutting it close! As expected, views through the 32-inch after the weather broke were superb! Joel Harris of Twilight Tours, explained the prospects for observing the 1991 solar eclipse from Baja California. His assessment of the upcoming spectacle? If you haven't made your plans to be there yet, you are likely out of luck. Virtually everything is all booked up. Although they often have little to do with actual astronomy, I usually present some aspect of the Soviet space program to the TSP each year. My program this year about the Russian space shuttle drew a larger than expected crowd and the questions asked about the Soviet vehicle were quite good, showing a wide interest in the Soviet program. "A New Look at Pluto" was the subject of the evening guest speaker, Richard Binzel from MIT. This presentation contrasted well with the talk given two years ago by Clyde Tombaugh recalling his discovery of the planet, resulting in the old Pluto and the new, side by side. Thursday evening provided the first real observing at the Texas Star Party when the clouds departed for four hours after sundown. The usual delights of Omega Centauri and galaxy hopping slaked everyone's observational thirst, but the clouds returned about 2 AM and cut off prime Milky Way observing. Thursday night, June 1st, also marked the first light ceremonies for the newest telescope at McDonald Observatory, located a fifteen minute drive away from the TSP. The Moody Visitor's Center there received a donation of a 24-inch, f/4 Sky Designs reflector for public use. Final installation was completed that day, and as darkness fell, the clouds vanished as if on command. Present at the 24-inch for its inaugural were a group of us from San Antonio, McDonald superintendent Ed Barker and his wife Ann, visitor's center Robert Scheppler and his wife, and assistant Mark Bridges. After a round of champagne and good cheer, a rousing group chorus of "The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas" greeted the night sky as the 24-inch telescope's roll off roof slid back to reveal clear black skies. I was proud to steer the 24-inch telescope toward its first publicly viewed object, M-51. I'm happy to say the telescope performs excellently! Friday passed relatively quietly with the only major program on tap being the meeting of the Southwest Region of the Astronomical League. At this meeting, Dave Clark reported the progress of the Astronomical League's Light Reduction Project for the area around McDonald Observatory. Details of this project are highlighted elsewhere in this issue of the Reflector. Friday night's guest speaker, Dr. Louis Frank from the University of Iowa presented his views on the "Comet-Ocean Theory" which reviewed the findings by the Polar Dynamics Explorer satellite which suggest that Earth's water comes from continuous ongoing bombardment of the atmosphere by small ice mini-comets. Friday night did not disappoint anxious observers as the skies again cleared at sunset and provided four good hours of observing before clouds again cut off the rise of the Milky Way. In addition to deep sky observing, a parade of planets attracted eyepiece interest also. The usually ignored Neptune and Pluto were much sought after objects. At the TSP this year, Pluto was an easy object to see in a 1O-inch reflector. Saturday morning, a bright sun greeted me as I unzipped out of my tent, but I knew something was wrong. I had clearly caught cold from the previous rain and cool weather and was rapidly loosing my voice. This couldn't come at a more critical time as within several hours I would be directing the TSP group photo from atop my traditional perch of a vertical standing 1O-meter ladder. Photo preparations continued as the ladder was assembled, erected and tied down. Once again, I was equipped with a remote wireless microphone and my voice, although weak, held up to complete the best attended group photo at the Star Party. Almost 200 people were arranged in a giant map of the state of Texas and photographed from above. Orders for just under 100 copies show this is a popular item at the TSP. As my voice failed to nearly nothing, other events continued on the final day of TSP '89. The astrophoto contest, ably judged by Astromedia's Dave Eicher and Brian Skiff, drew a fantastic 72 entries this year. Additionally, over a dozen superb entries of telescope designs and accessories made the ATM showing one of the best ever. This year's swap meet provided the astronomical tinkerer with all sorts of items to choose from, ranging from books to large refractors. One item which caught my attention was a black T-shirt which stated the fact: "DATE AN ASTRONOMER. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PROVIDE YOU THE SUN, MOON AND STARS, AND DELIVER!" Saturday evening approached with thick cloud cover promising everybody a long nights sleep for the drive back home the next day. As the auditorium filled to capacity to hear the Saturday evening guest speaker, few considered there to be a chance for any more clear skies at TSP '89, and the evening's events proceeded at a leisurely pace. Don Parker, Miami Florida's famous Mars observer and photographer, was the main keynote speaker for TSP '89. Don produced a masterful performance of pushing planetary observing on a "deep sky" audience. With a skilled blend of science and humor, Don fascinated the hundreds present with his amazingly detailed planetary photos and tips on his photographic techniques. The conclusion of the Texas Star Party arrived with the traditional awards and door prizes. As usual, there were so many give aways that it was nearly impossible for you or one of your fiends to leave empty handed. The best part of the evening was yet to come however. As the concluding TSP ceremonies ended and everyone made their way back to where they were staying, it was still cloudy, but the air was very dry. Within a half hour, as if in a parting gift, the sky had totally cleared into the crispest and darkest skies of the entire TSP '89! Plans for sleep were abandoned and 'scope covers were removed for one last shot at the darkest skies in America. Die hard observers were not disappointed as the skies remained clear and dry until dawn. As people started pulling out for home on Sunday morning, a perspective of the 1989 Texas Star Party was now possible. Although the proceedings got off to a soggy start, this year's Star Party still managed to log 50% of the night sky during the Wednesday through Saturday period as clear, just as I had expected. Granted, astrophotography was impossible because of over the horizon lightning flashes, but good deep sky observing was possible for those who persevered! But beyond the early rains, lightning, and eventual clear skies, there was the other part of the Texas Star Party which remains equally important as a bright Milky Way overhead; we renewed old astronomical friendships and shared our experiences with fellow astronomers from all across the land. That's what makes the Texas Star Party so great! Astronomers Turn off the Lights in West Texas David K. Clark, Vice Chairman SWRAL Amateur astronomers at the Texas Star Party (TSP) have taken an unusual direction towards curbing light pollution. They are paying for the actual replacement of troublesome outdoor light fixtures with fully-shielded low-pressure sodium (LPS) fixtures and bulbs. The TSP, operated by the Southwest Region (SWRAL), is held each May at Fort Davis in west Texas, near McDonald Observatory. The funds for The Light Reduction Project have come from donations and the operating budget of the SWRAL. Over $10,000 has been committed at this time. The SWRAL, in conjunction with McDonald Observatory, The University of Texas, Jeff Davis County, and West Texas Utilities Company (WTU), is replacing unshielded or partially-shielded mercury-vapor and high-pressure sodium outdoor lights with the new fixtures in an effort to improve and preserve some of the darkest skies in the United States. The county-operated lights in Fort Davis have already been replaced. Lights in nearby Valentine will be replaced shortly. In a recent agreement, the TSP has agreed to pay for the replacement of WTU- leased residential and commercial outdoor lights for all of Jeff Davis County...... an area the size of Delaware with 1/20th of the population. While Jeff Davis county currently has an outdoor lighting ordinance, new Texas state legislation was passed in May which allows counties within 57 miles of McDonald Observatory to regulate outdoor lighting in unincorporated areas. This brings an area the size of Vermont and New Hampshire with the capability of outdoor lighting controls. The 6 Texas counties have agreed to work on a uniform outdoor lighting code and may enact these rules in the near future. West Texas Utilities has further agreed to install only the LPS fully-shielded fixture in this area, and will no longer install the old-style lights. The new fixture will also be used to retire old fixtures when they are replaced. These results would have been difficult, if not impossible to achieve without the cooperation of the West Texas residents, businesses, and governments. However, the Astronomical League, the SWRAL, the Texas Star Party, and its many participants over the years deserve credit for showing these communities that dark skies are an important and desirable resource. With persistent and continuing effort, these same dark skies will be available to observers for many years to come. A Word from the President by Ken Wilcox ATTENTION!! If your name is on the front of this issue of the Reflector, you are a member of the Astronomical League, the world's largest organization of amateur astronomers. Although we have almost 12,000 members, approximately 50 to 60% do not know they are members of the Astronomical League. That is because they automatically become a member when they join one of our 175 member societies around the nation, but somehow, the club or society they join simply forgets to tell them. Since the dawn of history, people have been fascinated with the mysteries of the heavens; thus the science of astronomy has grown to its present state largely due to the efforts of "amateurs". No other science, in fact no other hobby, has more "amateurs" contributing towards its advancement than astronomy. I am a scientist today for Phillips Petroleum Company because someone gave me a telescope at the age of 11. I not only "discovered" craters on our Moon and moons around Jupiter, I learned something much more important. I learned that I had a natural curiosity about the unknown. I am just one of many who joined the Astronomical League as a result of joining my local astronomy club and didn't know I was a part of a much larger organization dedicated to four basic goals. To promote the science of astronomy, To encourage and coordinate activities of amateur astronomical Societies, To foster observations, computational work, and craftsmanship in various fields of astronomy, To provide a medium for correlating amateur activities with professional research. The Astronomical League is basically people; people who have a common interest and desire to understand God's universe. The League is here to help you see the wonder and become even more blessed and enriched. Since everyone is a volunteer, there are no paid positions in the Astronomical League. You pay about $1.75 per year through your member society's dues, or $25.00 per year as a member at large, to join the League and receive the following. REFLECTOR - Quarterly newsletter sent to each member of the AL. As a member, you are entitled to publish special club activities and astronomically related work you are doing, especially astrophotographs. LEAGUE BOOK SERVICE - A 10% discount or more on all astronomical and related science books published in the U.S. It also handles quantity orders of all League Publications at a discount. PROGRAM MATERIALS - A growing film, slide and videotape library for use by member societies at a nominal rental charge. LEAGUE SALES OFFICE - Retail sales on League publications, AL jewelry, decals, T-shirts, postcards, etc. LEAGUE PUBLICATIONS - As and aid to the observer and student, the League offers the following publications available through the League Book Service: - OBSERVE: a Guide to the Messier Objects - OBSERVE: and Understand the Sun - OBSERVE: the Herschel Objects - OBSERVE: Eclipses - OBSERVE: the Meteors - OBSERVE: the Comets - The Stellar Handbook - Math for the Amateur Astronomer PAMPHLETS - How to Organize an Astronomy Society, A Career in Astronomy, etc., available from the Executive Secretary. EDUCATIONAL GUIDES - Planned astronomy courses and guides prepared for group study. OBSERVING AWARDS - Messier, Herschel and Meteor Awards with certificates of achievement. COMPUTER USERS GROUP - Bulletin Board System (BBS) that members of the Astronomical League can contact with their computer by using a modem to call (214) 578-7618. The AL BBS was established to allow amateurs to down-load and up-load astronomy programs to their own computers. In addition, amateurs will be able to send copy directly to the REFLECTOR editor about activities in their own societies. AL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - For active amateur astronomers who do not belong to a League member society. GENERAL AWARDS - Achievement awards at the junior, society, and National League levels. AL COORDINATORS - The League has special coordinators to assist member societies in celebrating Astronomy Day, tours to view solar eclipses and other related sights of interest. In addition to the benefits listed above, the League has organized special action committees to deal with national interests of concern to its members such as light pollution. By joining the Astronomical League through your local society, your voice becomes 12,000 times louder in helping promote the science we all love. ANNOUNCING THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE'S NEW BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE In following up on its policy of continually adding new services to benefit its membership, the Astronomical League is happy to announce the addition of a Bulletin Board Service (BBS) for the League's computer users. The purposes of this new service are many. First and foremost, it will give our membership immediate access to the latest in Public Domain astronomy software. The BBS will have six areas devoted entirely to our hobby, ranging from MAC, GIF, and general graphics to astronomy information, databases, and planetarium programs. The graphics areas will let you display on your screen the sun, moon, planets, deep sky objects, Space Shuttle, and Voyager pictures, or give you a chance to add astronomical clip art to your library for use in your club's newsletter. The database area will include the Yale Bright Star Catalog, the SAO Catalog, The Arizona Database, JPL's Asteroids Catalog, and the complete Messier, Astronomical League Herschel, and full Herschel Catalogs among others. The information area will show you how to collimate your optics, clean your optics, or build an entire telescope, while at the same time provide files covering some of the more controversial topics in astronomy. But the fun area is general astronomy. This provides sidereal clock, planetary, star chart plotting and galaxy collision programs as well as everything else in the universe. No matter what area you're in, you'll find all the programs an enjoyable compliment to our wonderful hobby. Second, the BBS will offer a place for League members to conduct a national forum on astronomy, to meet and discuss various topics on a regular basis, and to communicate with and leave messages for their friends around the country. Third, the BBS will offer a place where national, regional, and local AL officers can meet, exchange information, conduct League business, and have access to E-Mail. Also, files can be uploaded to the BBS while the individuals that they were intended for can download them to their systems. And last but not least, there will be a special area on the bulletin board for the Astronomical League newsletter, the Reflector. National and regional officers, regional editors and others can upload files (articles, information, etc. to go into the Reflector) to the BBS so that the editor can then download them to his system. In this manner, we won't have to rely on the mails to meet deadlines. This new service will be free to the members of the Astronomical League, and as members log on to the BBS, they will have immediate access to the system (no waiting for verification). The only charges incurred by the member will be long distance tolls to Dallas, Tx. which in many cases are cheaper than the fees for programs charged by the League's Computer/Calculator User's Group, and definitely cheaper than Compuserve. All that is needed to use the bulletin board is an IBM or compatible computer and a modem. Owners of other brands of computers will have access to the board and its message areas, and will be able to upload and download ASCII files, but unfortunately will not be able to utilize the IBM format programs on the board. The Bulletin Board is known as Stargate BBS, and can be reached by dialing 1-214-578-7618. It is available 24 hours a day at 300, 1200 and 2400 baud, and its parameters are 8,N,1. As Sysop of Stargate BBS, I would like to welcome all League members to the board, and hope that you will find it an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Once on the board, feel free to communicate with me at any time, offering your ideas, suggestions and even criticisms. With your help, as the board grows, we will offer more and better services. We also welcome any program you may want to upload to us that you feel will be of benefit to the rest of the Astronomical League membership. With that thought, I wish you clear skies and happy computing. John Wagoner 1409 Sequoia Plano, Tx. 75023 A CURE FOR AEIBRANDYNODIANOMETISM Aeibrandynodianometism is a common affliction of clubs -- astronomy and other -- wherein the distribution of the club's newsletter is continually late or delayed. Although there are many causes of aeibrandynodianometism, until now there has been no positive cure. Only palliatives for the outward symptoms were available. Now, from the good folk who brought you "Evita", comes not a treatment but a definitive cure. Sr. Carlos Manuel Rua, editor of Revista Astronomica of the Asociacion Argentina de los Amigos de la Astronomia, explains: Esteemed Reader, You will have been able to appreciate the irregularity with which this publication arrives in your hands; this owes to multiple causes, from difficulties with the printer up to the poor disposibility of funds. In actuality, the moneys earned from dues amount to only almost as much as those for the printing. But we are notable to continue with the fiction of editing a magazine which is supposed to be trimonthly, in order to frequently publish double issues, triple, and even quadruple, and with such lateness that the contents become out of date and useless. At the root of this problem is the honcho of the directive commission of the Asociacion has taken the following resolutions which will enter into rule at the departure of the next issue: 1) The magazine will not correspond to any period of time in particular, but they will contain the material most recently received at the date of publication. 2) They are going to be numbered in serial order without indication of the volume, but there will be maintained an index for the material as actually now issued annually. 3) There will be edited as a minimum two issues to the year (in addition to the ephemerides which will continue to be sent out separately, as up to now). All this does not signify in any manner a lapse in the quality of the Revista or a reduction in its content. To the contrary, for allowing a greater flexibility, it will permit that it be published whenever it fills up with sufficient material with the dates of delivery being regularized. (This cure was announced in the Revista's double issue numbered 242/243 dated July-December 1987 sent out in June 1988.) 1991 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TRIP Ken Wilcox - Astronomical League President The Astronomical League has made plans to view the 1991 solar eclipse from the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. We have 250 rooms reserved and estimate the cost for the five day trip, including ground transportation and baggage, to be approximately $1700 per person, based on double occupancy from the mid west. Rates may vary depending on your departure city. We will be staying in two hotels on the west side of the island, which offers the best chance for good weather the morning of July 11, 1991. Accompanying us will be Dr. Mark Littmann, visiting professor of astronomy at Loyola College, Baltimore, MD, and formerly at Space Telescope Science Institute, Dr. Ron Schorn, Technical Editor for Sky & Telescope Magazine, and Dr. Jim Zimbelman, planetary geologist with the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. Special talks on solar eclipses, particularly the 1991 eclipse, will be presented prior to the eclipse, including instruction on photographing the eclipse with and without a telescope. Dr. Zimbelman did his PHD research on Mars volcanism at Arizona State University and will be leading side trips to Volcano National Park so bring along your hiking boots. In addition to having a ring-side-seat for this spectacular eclipse, we have obtained tentative permission to take approximately 80 people up to Mauna Kea Observatory following the eclipse to view the new Keck Observatory which should be completed by 1991. We have not yet determined the cost for the side trips, but anticipate the cost to be between $40 to $60 per person. Four wheel drive vehicles will be required for the Mauna Kea Observatory trips, and buses will be used for trips to Volcano National Park. A third side trip is being planned called Ancient Hawaiian Astronomy. All side trips are on a first come first serve basis and are subject to cancellation at the discretion of the AL Eclipse Coordinator. All of our plans remain tentative at this point since few events call for such plans this far in advance. All of the hotel rooms on the Big Island are already reserved and this eclipse promises to be the eclipse of the century. Travel agents are amazed and have never experienced so much interest in a single event so far in advance. We expect the space to go fast so if you are interested in holding a place for yourself you must send a $150.00 refundable deposit to The Astronomical League c/o Ada Guess Spears World Travel 500 S. Keeler Bartlesville, OK 74005 Your deposit is refundable until July 1990. Make checks payable to the Astronomical League. For additional information you can call Ada Guess, 1- 800-331-0717. Feel free to copy the registration form and complete one form for each person. A refundable deposit of $150.00 is required for each person and should accompany their registration form. ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 1991 ECLIPSE REGISTRATION Name_______________________________________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________________ State______________ Zip_____________ Day Phone (_______)____________________ Night Phone (_______)________________________________ Airport of Departure ______________________ Side Trips: Mauna Kea Observatory ______ Volcano National Park ______ Ancient Hawaiian Astronomy _____ Astronomical League Member Yes___ No ___ Name of member Society____________________ Messier Pin The Astronomical League has recently approved the awarding of another symbol of recognition for honorary Messier Club members. This award is a one inch diameter blue and gold clutchback pin. The design on the pin is copied from Messier's decorative colophon, inscribed by him in his personal copy of his catalog. If you look at it closely, you will see that it is a stylized writing of "MESSIER". This pin is to be given to all those who are awarded honorary Messier status (all Messier objects) January 1, 1989 or later. Astronomical League clubs who wish to obtain pins for members who have been awarded honorary Messier status in the past can do so by sending $2.00 per pin plus $2.00 per order for postage and handling to: Kathy Machin MessierClub Chairperson 4846 N. Smalley Kansas City, MO 64119 Requests should be made on a club letterhead. If a letterhead is not available, clearly show your club name and your title. Checks should be made out to the Astronomical League. We hope awardees will wear this symbol of recognition with pride! Correction The May 1989 Reflector article on the pins for honorary Messier Club members left out a crucial bit of information: there is a $2.00 per order shipping and handling charge. The $2.00 charge for the pin covers the cost of the pin but does not cover the additional costs of postage and a padded envelope. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the error in the May Reflector. Welcoming Mat New Socities Capitol Area Astronomy Club (gl 8905) ALCOR: David Batch 1717 Ann St. East Lansing, MI 48823 Northern Cross Science Foundation (nc 8906) ALCOR: Kevin Bert 1436 Cedar Drive Port Washington, WI 53074 Springfield Astronomical Society (nc 8901) ALCOR: Jack Bleicher 49 Greencastle Cr Springfield, IL 62707 Astronomical Units (nw 8903) ALCOR: Robert Fischer Box 82210 Fairbanks, AK 99708 Sandusky Valley Amateur Astronomy Club (gl 8907) ALCOR: Thomas Fretz 650 S. Washington St. Tiffin, OH 44883 Skokie Valley Astronomers (nc 8908) ALCOR: Gretchen & James George 910 Glenwood Ln Glenview, IL 60025 Western Colorado Astronomy Club (ma 8909) ALCOR: Paul Harbath 2355 Teller Court #4 Grand Junction, CO 81505 Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (ne 8904) ALCOR: Glendon L. Howell 2808 Flag Rd Chesapeake, VA 23323 Sociedad de Astronomia de Puerto Rico (se 8902) ALCOR: Luis Maura Tegucigalpa 1025 Las Americas Rio Piedras, PR 00921 Society of Low-Energy Observers (se 8911) ALCOR: Kathy J. Nix 4277 Park Forest Dr Memphis, TN 38115 Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association (me 8913) ALCOR: Robert L. Post 980 Almshouse Rd Ivyland, PA 18974 San Antonio Astronomical Association (sw 8910) ALCOR: Robert Reeves 520 Rittiman San Antonio, TX 78209 Astronomical Society of East Texas (sw 8912) ALCOR: Larry Scott Rt 14, Box 394 Tyler, TX 75707 SPECTRUM YOUNG MOON RECORD Sighting a young crescent Moon as soon as possible after it is new has long been a sporting activity among amateur astronomers. It also has religious significance, since the first view of the evening crescent signals the start of a new month in the Moslem calendar. One of the youngest sightings on record is that of Robert Moran of China Lake, California. In 1972 using optical aid he spotted the thin crescent just 14 hours, 53 minutes after new Moon. Now it appears that Robert C. Victor, a former Sky & Telescope columnist, has beaten Moran's record by more than an hour. On Friday evening, May 5, 1989, Victor saw the slender crescent just 13 hours, 28 minutes past new. He was observing with 11x80 binoculars from the parking lot of Abrams Planetarium, East Lansing, Michigan. At the time the sky had a low layer of haze, and he could not spot the Moon with his unaided eye. from the Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society Newsletter for June, 1989. CONGRATULATIONS, SYRACUSE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY The Syracuse Astronomical Society in upstate New York as led a successful campaign to turn off the large strobe lights atop Syracuse's Channel 68 towers at Otisco near the SAS observatory site. This action is the result of petitions from local residents and the SAS. Nice work, folks! from The Rochester (New York) Astronomer, March, 1989 PONTCHARTRAIN ASTRONOMY SOCIETY TO OPERATE PUBLIC OBSERVATORY The PAS has entered into a contract with the City of Kenner, Louisiana to provide personnel and programs to operate the astronomical observatory now under construction. The contract was signed at the March, 1989 meeting of the PAS. The contract terms state that the City will be considered the property owner/landlord of the observatory and will provide building and ground maintenance. Normal operating costs of the observatory will be the responsibility of the City including utilities and local telephone calls. The City will provide all necessary insurance coverage as well. The City will maintain City and State occupational licenses and file all sales and other tax returns required by City, Parish, State, and Federal laws. The PAS will be responsible for providing to the public experienced individuals that have the necessary talents and expertise to conduct "hand on" telescopic observations and lectures. The Society agrees that it will operate the observatory a minimum of twelve regular hours per week open to the public except when those hours fall on certain major holidays. The PAS will receive a percentage of the admission fees received and maintain a shop in the observatory. The City may sell some items in the shop as well. from PAS-TIMES, March, 1989 the newsletter of the Pontchartrain Astronomical Society of New Orleans, Louisiana THE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER REIGNS By Ray Harris in the " Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society Observer", can be sung to the tune of "Home On The Range" Oh, give me a home with a six-meter dome and a twenty-four inch Cassegrain where seldom are heard those discouraging words, "Damn, the skies are too cloudy again". Home, home in my dome with my twenty-four inch Cassegrain, so far from the light of the city so bright. Here, the astrophotographer reigns! Oh, give me a home with a six-meter dome and a twenty-four inch Cassegrain on a mountain so high under dark, steady skies in a climate where it never rains. Home, home in my dome with my twenty-four inch Cassegrain, so far from the glow of the city's halo. Here, the astrophotographer reigns! Oh, give me a home with a six-meter dome and a twenty-four inch Cassegrain I'll stifle a yawn and keep guiding 'til dawn, (and by now you all know the refrain!) Home, home in my dome with my twenty-four inch Cassegrain, so far from the light of the city so bright. Here, the astrophotographer reigns! ESCAMBIA (FL) AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS HOLD ASTRONOMY DAY ACTIVITIES Even cloudy skies couldn't daunt the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Assoc. for their Astronomy Day activities Saturday, May 13th at Mariner Mall in Pensacola, Florida. The newscaster from WEAR-TV got a brief interview from EAAA member Michael Schwartz, and the camerawoman captured a fleeting glimpse of his telescope's projected sunspots. Schwartz also gave an explanation of the cause of sunspots on the 10PM news. Club members distributed free sky charts, May celestial calendars, informational sheets on the club and the Young Astronauts program, maps from Pensacola to Conecah National Forest, Space Shuttle Discovery pictures, a Consumner's Guide to Telescopes, and extra copies of the May issue of the club newsletter, Meteor. There were telescope displays and slide shows as well. The club sold Astronomical League Stickers, patches, and Observe manuals as well as club T-Shirts. Nineteen people signed up for further information about the club. Twenty- two teacher packets were distributed to local teachers. One elementary school class earned 25 points for coming to the exhibit. The activities started when the mall opened on Saturday and continued until after 11PM. The sky cleared about 8:30PM so the group was able to have some public observing time with their telescopes. from Meteor, newsletter of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Assoc., Pensacola, Florida, June 1989 AMATEURS DISCOVER A NEW STAR Have you ever wondered what it would be like to actually make an astronomical discovery? I mean to see a star and realize that your are the first person on Earth to see it, and that throughout the history of mankind the star's existence was not known until the exact moment your eyes detected the light. Recently two members of the Astronomical League member societies made such a discovery. Richard Wilds of Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers League and Robert Sandy of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City are co- discovers of a star that is believed to be a companion of Chi Virginis shining at a magnitude of roughly 9. CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SUBURBAN ASTRONOMERS ATTEND NCRAL CONVENTION On Saturday, April 29, 1989, eight members of the NSA attended the 43rd Annual Convention of the North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL) in Rockford, Ill. This year's convention was hosted by the Rockford Amateur Astronomers, Inc. There were many fine programs given by members of the area clubs. One very interesting program was "E.T. News: SETI From A Different Perspective" by Pete Minneci of the Rockford club. He used headlines from various "non-scientific" sources. It brought down the house with laughter. Bert Stevens was this year's recipient of the NCRAL award for meritorious service. Stevens also gave a presentation on the March 7th partial solar eclipse as he photographed it from Elk Grove Village. He was able to observe about six minutes of the eclipse. I was able to see 25 minutes from Coral Woods. It appears from the data I received from the U.S. Naval Observatory that Bert may have been east of the predicted eastern eclipse limit and still saw contact. The 1990 NCRAL Convention will be hosted by the Madison (WI) Astronomical Society on April 28, 1990. excepted from an article by Gordon Garcia in NSA's Celestial Log, July, 1989. AMATEUR AID WANTED FOR SPACECRAFT OBSERVATIONS Researchers with the European Space Agency's HIPPARCOS astrometric satellite have asked for assistance from the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). The satellite will be making precise measurements of positions, parallax and proper motion of 276 long-period variable stars in the AAVSO observing program. These high precision measurements, 100 times more accurate than any now existing, will improve brightness, mass, and size data on these stars. Amateur visual observations of these stars will be needed for three years. Throughout the mission AAVSO data will be used to schedule satellite observations when the stars are brighter that 12th magnitude, the satellite's detection limit. A NASA grant has been given to the AAVSO to assist in this project. Any AL members interested in helping on this very interesting and useful scientific project may obtain information about variable star observing and the program by consulting the AAVSO. EVIDENCE OF INSANITY William Johnson McDonald, a successful banker of Paris, Texas, died in 1926 at the age of 81. Although his interest in astronomy remained active to the end of his life, it came as a great surprise to nearly everyone, when his will was read, for he had left the bulk of his fortune totaling more than a million dollars to the regents of the University of Texas for the construction of an astronomical observatory for research purposes. Mr. McDonald's relatives contested the will on the ground that it was not an evidence of sanity that he should have bequeathed his money for what seemed to them so impractical a purpose. The court, however, upheld the will, and the final settlement left the University of Texas about $800,000. The McDonald Observatory has been operating successfully since 1939, and its largest telescope is an 107-inch reflector. Ref: Frost, Edwin B., An Astronomer's Life, 1933, p. 248. SHELDON COHEN'S MONDO BIZZARO Another episode in the annals of star wars is recounted in the August, 1988 issue of the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, p. 71. In the closing months of WW II , the Japanese were sending incendiary bombs by balloon to the U.S. via the jet stream, and at Santa Rosa (CA) Naval Auxiliary Air Station binocular-equipped observers spotted what they took to be a fire balloon -- one man said he could see the weapons package hanging down from it. An F8F fighter was launched to shoot the balloon down. The pilot went to 46,000 feet but gave up when "the damned thing seemed just as far above me as when I was on the ground." When darkness fell, the navy fliers realized they has been trying to shoot down Venus. This is one of several U.S. air attacks on planets in the last fifty years. TWO NEW TELESCOPES BEING CONSTRUCTED Two radically new professional telescopes have been announced to perform specialized astronomical functions. One of these telescopes is the Spectroscopic Sky Telescope (SST) being built by the Universities of Texas and Pennsylvania State at UT's McDonald Observatory site in West Texas. The other one is an Astrometric Optical Interferometer being constructed by the Naval Observatory. SPECTROSCOPIC SKY TELESCOPE The University of Texas and Pennsylvania State University are collaborating on a Spectroscopic Sky Telescope with most of the light gathering area of a 27 foot mirror (8+ meters). The primary mirror is a collection of perhaps 70 small spherical mirrors each about 3 feet in diameter. The main telescope does not track the sky object; instead, each mirror has a servo pair to do its own tracking reflecting the light beam up to two cameras and secondary mirrors. Each servo pair collects light from half of the mirrors and the image is not focussed because only the wavelengths and intensities of the incoming light are important to the spectroscopic analysis of the light. The secondary mirrors reflect the light from their halves of the primaries into an optical fiber for conduction to the analysis equipment below. The cameras are used for control of the tracking servos on the 35 or so mirrors viewed by each camera. Since there are two sets of mirrors, they may simultaneously track separate objects up to 12 degrees apart in the sky. It is easily seen that the enormous size of this "light bucket" will not carry a matching enormous price because there are several simplifications over an imaging telescope. The estimated cost is $6 million which is very inexpensive for such a powerful telescope. UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATORY INTERFEROMETER During the period 1989-1992 the Naval Observatory will design and build a unique high precision telescope called an astrometric optical interferometer. This project is among the largest and most complex ever undertaken in the Naval Observatory's 160 year history. Routine astronomical observations should begin by 1993. An interferometer, simply stated, is several telescopes operated as one. In the case of this interferometer the four light-gathering mirrors will be located at separate locations, but they will act together as a unified system. The four mirrors will each be about 1.2 meters in diameter, and they will be located up to 40 meters apart. They will direct the light from the stars through evacuated underground pipes into a large underground optics building which will house the most sensitive components of the interferometer: the delay lines, beam combiners, and electronic detection systems. Since its establishment in 1830, the Naval Observatory has continually conducted observation programs to determine the precise positions and motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. Historically, this has been done, and continues to be done today, with transit circle telescopes which are single lens instruments making a single observation at a time. The new telescope arrangement will make it possible to determine the exact positions of stars to an accuracy 10 times greater than that which can be determined today. The instrument can also provide new information on the diameters of stars and the configuration of close double-star systems. Once in operation observations made with the new optical interferometer will provide a highly accurate stellar reference frame for 21st century applications. The U.S. Naval Observatory is the authority in the United States for astronomical data required for timing, navigation, civil affairs, and legal purposes. The following telephone numbers may be used to get information: Master Clock Time 202/653-1800 or 900/410-TIME ($.50 for 1 minute) Earth & Sky Report 202/357-2000. Membership at Large in the Astronomical League What does the League offer you, as Member-at-Large? -Full voting privileges -the Proceedings of the National Convention -A subscription to the REFLECTOR newsletter. -Book Service through which you can buy astronomy related books at a 10% discount -A subcription of your choice to one of the following publications: Abram Star Chart Griffith Observer Star Date News from Mcdonald Observatory To join the Astronomical League as a member at large, send a check for $25.00 made payable to Astronomical League Subscription Service Linda Sensining, MAL Chair 345 Douglass Street Wyomissing, PA 19610