OAKLAND ASTRONOMY CLUB

NEWSLETTER

Universal Time	Addison Oaks Sky At This Time	Bill MacIntosh, Editor

• On January 27th, West Bloomfield Nature Center hosted an OAC function for the public.   Dave Holt offered telescope Moon viewing, Bill MacIntosh gave a slide presentation and Mark Jeffery brought meteorites (big ones) for guests to handle and circulate.     Our thanks to Laurel Zoet for the video setup, hot chocolate and nice venue.
• Bob Berta reported excellent Mars viewing at opposition and Tim Olszanski also enjoyed scoping Mars and M42.
• The Independence Oaks Star Party on Feb 6th was clouded-out for scope viewing, but Dave Holt and Mark Jeffery made the trip to give guests an indoor presentation with Mark's meteorites and a sky discussion.
• Bob Berta had one of his astrophotos, Sharpless 2-240 posted on the Astronomy FM website.   See Bob's image.
  

• Addison Oaks plans OAC observing opportunities to campers in 2010.  No dates yet.
• Columbiere Center has also requested a Club function to be presented to their membership at a future date as yet undetermined.

•  2010 Independence Oaks Star Parties dates, all on Saturdays at the Wint Nature Center.  Mark your calendar.      

                                     SPRING -  Saturday, April 17   9 - 11 pm
                                                  SUMMER -Saturday, August 7   9 - 11 pm
                                                  FALL - Saturday, November 6    8 - 10 pm

• Independence Oaks has also invited the Club to a campout session on August 14 to coincide with the Perseids.

• SEVEN PONDS ASTRONOMY CLUB - (click link)  John Lines reports an upcoming all-night Messier Marathon at their site on March 13.   5 pm setup, 6:30 sunset and then it's a GO !!!

• Should the Club get involved in "sidewalk astronomy?"    Other groups have done this at various venues including the Meadowbrook Music Festival.    Clearances and approvals would be needed in advance of events.
• A motion passed to renew OAC sponsorship ($50) of the Addison Oaks Clear Sky Map.
• Awaiting news from Walt Fielek on the MeetUp program.

• At Michigan latitudes, as a practical matter, it's virtually impossible to hit all 110 targets in a single night.
• Dave knows of no one who has achieved more than 106.
• Even with the benefit of computerized GOTO scopes, observers have an average of only 6 minutes to locate and identify each target given the amount of dark sky near the Equinox and their positions in the dome between sunset/sunrise.
• Getting "lost in Virgo" is a common malady where so many galaxies abound.

Ford Club Swap Meet

Click above for Flyer (pdf)  

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METEORS:  The Delta Leonid meteor shower peaks before dawn February 24.  Best between 4 am and 5 am after the Moon sets.   They                           historically travel more slowly than typical meteors.    Radiant from the tail of Leo.     Credit:   Astronomy.com                                                                                                  CONSTELLATION  HIGHLIGHT:    PUPPIS               .                                                                                                                                                      PUPPIS MAP      Chart credit:  Wikipedia                                                                                            DSO PICK: M46 & M47 Open Clusters

Readily picked up in binoculars & finder scopes, these two are each as wide as the full Moon so are best at low power East of Sirius. Notice Planetary Nebula NGC 2438 (blue blob) near top of M46 which is actually much closer than the cluster itself. In this image, the field is centered on RA 7 hours, 39 min DEC  -14 deg, 30 min Mags:  M46 =  6.0       M47 =  5.2 Charles Messier added these to his list on February 19, 1771. For an image of the interloping Planetary NGC 2438, click HERE. More details: M46 http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html M47 http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m047.html

Image Credit:   Chris Hetlage via APOD    BONUS:   For a larger  image, click  HERE

Constellation:  PUPPIS

Physics & Astronomy

O.U. Physics professor David Garfinkle has announced a new book of interest to the Club. Three Steps to the Universe offers a compendium of astronomical info blended with unique insights into the scientific mind.    As an educator,  Dr. Garfinkle writes in a style suitable for students and amateur astronomers. It is available from Amazon in hardcover for $17.15 (new) and used from $4.87. <====Click on the book cover for details, purchase options and reader reviews.   Also available on Kindle.

     
    

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COOL LINK THIS MONTH:

With MARS at opposition,  it's worth a look at the various HUMAN fanciful
interpretations of Mars throughout history, from mythology to science-fiction
and finally to the images of actual exploration.

Music:   "Mars" from Gustav Holst "The Planets"

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Warren Club Newsletter

Click below for news & updates from our East side Astro-buds
(web download of pdf file)

The WASP

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400 Years of the Telescope

DID YOU KNOW?  

Click HERE to see Pluto spin (MP4 file)

Eighty years ago this month, PLUTO was discoved by Clyde Tombaugh.    Although it's been getting some bad press lately, details about Pluto continue to fascinate astronomers.   Its surface and atmosphere show seasonal changes, the exact nature of which are a subject of much interest. The NEW HORIZONS probe will arrive there in 2015 and is expected to provide valuable info.


                                                                     MORE DETAILS:     HERE                                                                            

  

                                                                 

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PERSPECTIVES

Beautiful..............uh...........what is it  ?



   Image credit: Noel Carboni, Greg Parker via APOD

                                                                    Yup, it's an asterism not a constellation
                                                                    Best in binoculars (much wider than a full Moon)
                                                                    Hint:   Located in Camelopardalis    


                                                                              Click HERE for the answer 

                                                                                      

  

                                                

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FUNZIES

Reactions to Cancellation of the Moon Program









Credit:   cartoonbox@slate.com
                                                                                            

                                                                                                              

                                                                 

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GUEST MICHIGAN ASTROPHOTO OF THE MONTH

Comet 73/P  Passing by M57 the Ring Nebula



17 May 2006
11" Celestron SCT under very windy conditions

Image Credit:   Tony Licata (Michigan Astronomy@Yahoo groups)

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Official Minutes from February 14, 2010

Space reserved for update

                  

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FOR SALE:

From OAC

FOR SALE: I've got a few items listed on Astromart, but are available locally if you contact me. EQ-2 mount head listed on AM $50.00 Celestron 114mm F8 reflector OTA listed on AM $40.00 Celestron 76mm F9 reflector OTA  (includes built in red dot finder, Vixen dovetail) listed on AM $20.00 John McSorley (thomrhymer@excite.com)

From Chesterfield, MI

FOR SALE:     Large Equipment Inventory VIXEN Catadioptric scope, Atlas EQ mount w/GOTO and GPS,  ED refractor, Solar Scope and many optical and camera accessories.    Too many to list in this ad..  All priced well below original cost.                        Click HERE for a full description, prices and photos.

Items forwarded from the Warren Club Newsletter

FOR SALE: Blaine McCullough's Telescope for sale! Mary Lou McCollough wishes to find Blaine's telescope a good home. Hand built by Blaine and Steve Greene, this 13” mirror, beautifully crafted truss dob has excellent optics. Finder scope and telrad included. $1000 or best offer. Contact Bill Beers for details at BEEZOLL@AOL.COM or 586-321-8207

FOR SALE: Meade 8” LX-90 UTHC with 8X50 finder, matching blue dew shield, 26mm eyepiece, diagonal, tripod, bobs knobs, counter weights, and piggy-back camera mount. $950 or best offer. Call Bill Kippen at 586-202-6484 or email billkip@comcast.net for more information and pictures. Other accessories are available.

FOR SALE: FOR SALE: Celestron Optima 2000, an 8" Schmidt-Cass go-to scope. It's in good shape, works well, and has fine optics. It comes with a hard case. Asking $900. Contact Bob Zinke, 586-264-0884, email: r1d3z@yahoo.com

FOR SALE: Williams Optics ZenithStar 80 II ED refractor telescope. Nice 80 mm scope, F/6.8, 545 mm focal length. ED glass, doublet, air spaced, APO , fully multi-coated. It has a retractable lens shade/dew shield, a 2 inch adjuster, 1:10 fine focus, and 2 inch to 1.25 inch adapter. Has a red dot finder that I added. Did not come with mirror diagonal, eye piece, or tripod. Has a foam-lined carrying case. Purchased in August 2008 from Scope City for $528 plus shipping. On sale for $270. Contact Dale Partin, dpartin@comcast.net or call cell phone after 5 pm at 810-338-3418.

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Members are encouraged to join the Club's Yahoo Group
for messages, photo posting and more.

Click to join OaklandAstronomy

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CLUB DUES 

Membership is $35 annually
If you are unable to make the next meeting and wish to support OAC
with your 2010 dues, you can mail your check payable to

OAKLAND ASTRONOMY CLUB
600 Shelley Dr
Rochester Hills, MI  48307-4237

2010 Officers

                                                                             President          Tom Hagen         tlhagen@gmail.com         

                                                                             Vice President  Bob Berta           biker123@att.net

                                                                             Treasurer         Bill Girardin        bggirardin@sbcglobal.net

                                                                             Secretary         Mark Jeffery      jefamily@wowway.com

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NEXT MEETING:   March 14th,  2010       7:30 PM

           
                                                                        

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Links to other club sites:

Astronomy in Michigan  NEW
Warren Astronomical Society (WAS)
Seven Ponds Astronomy Club
Ford Astronomy Club

GLAAC

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Editor's Note:   Newsletters can be saved locally by opening link,  then select Save as Webpage complete

2010 NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

http://oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0110.html                OAC Newsletter Jan 2010

2009 NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0109.html       OAC Newsletter Jan 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0209.html       OAC Newsletter Feb 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0309.html       OAC Newsletter Mar 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0409.html       OAC Newsletter Apr 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0509.html       OAC Newsletter May 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0609.html       OAC Newsletter June 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0709.html       OAC Newsletter July 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0809.html       OAC Newsletter Aug 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews0909.html       OAC Newsletter Sep 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews1009.html       OAC Newsletter Oct 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews1109.html       OAC Newsletter Nov 2009                   http://www.oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews1209.html       OAC Newsletter Dec 2009

Oakland Astronomy Club Newsletters are on the Web as Public Domain and may be freely accessed, linked-to or referenced by anyone.
However, certain images and articles are copyrighted material and such acknowledgements and credits are given whenever known.
Opinions in signed articles are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Editor or the OAC.

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