AAC Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. Astronomical League
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Dark-Sky Association
Monthly Meetings 1999
29°39' N,  82°21' W
Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less)		   Updated Nov. 5, 1999
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Monthly Club Meetings (Second Tuesday of Month at 7:30 p.m.)

Location

Doyle Conner Building (usually) but check meeting date for actual location
1911 S.W. 34th Street (at S.W. 20th Avenue)
Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida USA

Click on date to see details

DATE (1999)     GUEST SPEAKER               TITLE OR TOPIC


January    12   Mr. Tom Clark               Telescope Making
February*   9   Mr. Mark R. Haley           Astronomical CD-ROMs From Analytical Software
March       9   Ms. Pamela Mydock &         Light Pollution: What Is It & What Can You Do About It
                Mr. Mike Toomey
April      13   Mark Barnett                Using a Home Observatory in a Suburban Environment!
May        11   Joe Haldeman                The International Space Station
June       08   Roy H. Johanson, Jr.        An Inside Look at the Processing of the Space Shuttle
July       13   Dr. John P. Oliver          Finding Asteroids for Fun and Profit
August**   10   Dr. Howard L. Cohen         Face Off: "TheSky" vs. "SkyMap Pro"
September  14                               Meeting Cancelled due to Hurricane Floyd Threat
                                            (September's program moved to October)
October    12   AAC Members                 Astro Bits: Minitalks by AAC Members
November    9   Barry N. Riu                Astrophotography My Way
December   11   None (Holiday Party)        Help Celebrate Our 12th Anniversary (date tentative)

 *Meeting in Rm. 220, Florida Gym, UF Campus. (See map.)
**Meeting in Rm. 280, Florida Gym, UF Campus. (See map.)

Details of 1999 Meetings


Tuesday, January 12, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EST

Speaker: Mr. Tom Clark (who claims to be "a retired old dude"!), owner of Techtron Telescopes and publisher of Amateur Astronomy Magazine.

Title: Telescope Making

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: We will greet the new year with a light hearted talk that is quite appropriate for general audiences as well as telescope makers. Mr. Clark will cover some details about what makes a good home-made telescope, and quickly cover what makes the difference between a poor design and a superb instrument.

Mr. Clark has built scopes of all sizes even up to a 36 inch telescope called the "Yard Scope" that gives fantastic views of deep sky objects.

Tuesday, February 9, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EST

Speaker: Mr. Mark R. Haley from Analytical Software

Title: Astronomical CD-ROMs From Analytical Software

Location: Room 220, Florida Gym, University of Florida Campus. This is a change from our usual meeting location. (See map showing location of room and building.)

Preview: Analytical Software Inc. (Dallas, TX), a multimedia software developer, will demonstrate their new multimedia CD-ROMs on "PLANETS & STARS: A Guide to the Universe." In addition they will give information on other CD-ROMs including "The World's Great Cities Parks and Wildlife" and on "America's National Parks and Forests". Members will be able to purchase these CD-ROMs (normal retail for $20 each) at the meeting for only $10 each—or $9 each one buys two or more.

The PLANETS & STARS software includes narrated slide shows, interactive star maps, videos, photographs and information on over 80 constellations (including the 12 signs of the Zodiac), and the U.S. space program. This CD-ROM includes interactive maps of the solar system and both the northern and southern universe plus spectacular full-screen photo-graphs. The Stargazer software also shows how the stars appear each night from the continental U.S. and Europe. The program automatically plays narrated slide shows and videos for an overview of the nightly skies. Or use the interactive maps to explore the universe on your own.

The system requirements for the software are: 486 75 MHz or better, Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows 98, 256 colors, sound card, double speed CD-ROM, and 8 MB RAM

Analytical Software claims it has designed multimedia CD-ROMs for many government customers, and has distributed over 200,000 copies of its software commercially.

Tuesday, March 9, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EST

Speaker: Ms. Pamela Mydock, AAC's FirstLight Editor and Mr. Mike Toomey, AAC's Publicity Person

Title: Light Pollution: What Is It & What Can You Do About It

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Growing from the orange glow of ancient campfires to glary over bright "security" lights, this thief of the night increasingly robs us of more than our night vision. One estimate of wasted outdoor lighting for a city the size of Gainesville is as high as $500,000 per year. But what is the cost of the lost beauty of the Milky Way? Astronomers are leading the way to educate the general public and elected officials about cost-effective lighting solutions. Come and learn how you can save more than the night!

[Note: The AAC is a member of The International Dark-Sky Association]


Tuesday, April 13, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Mark Barnett

Title: Using a Home Observatory in a Suburban Environment!

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Can an amateur successfully do deep sky imaging in a light polluted environment? A demonstration of what might be possible with the CCD and image processing tools now available to the amateur. There will be slides, photo displays, and discussion about the value of suburban imaging. A neat talk about astro imaging and the future of "backyard astronomy" in our light polluted world.

(Images shown my Mark at this meeting are now available on his club picture page)

Tuesday, May 11, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Joe Haldeman

Title: The International Space Station

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Hear well-known sci-fi author Joe Haldeman give his pros and cons about this controversial space station. His talk will discuss what he feels is the importance of the International Space Station for astronomy and, mostly, its importance for space science.

Joe has won numerous awards for his writing. The following is taken from his biographical outline:

AWARDS: THE FOREVER WAR won the Hugo, Nebula, and Ditmar Awards as Best Science Fiction Novel of 1975. "Tricentennial" won the Hugo Award for Best SF Short Story of 1976. In 1978, MINDBRIDGE won the Galaxy Award for "Science Fiction and Spirituality." "Saul's Death" won the Rhysling Award for best science fiction poem of the year, 1983. "The Hemingway Hoax" novella won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella of 1990. THE HEMINGWAY HOAX novel won the Italian "Futuro Remoto"Award as Best Novel of 1991. "Eighteen Years Old, October 11th" won the Rhysling Award for 1990. "Graves" won the World Fantasy Award and the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1993 . "None So Blind" won the short story Hugo in 1995. FOREVER PEACE won the novel Hugo in 1998.

BOOKS INCLUDE: WAR YEAR (short novel) Holt, 1972; COSMIC LAUGHTER (anthology) Holt, 1974; THE FOREVER WAR (novel) St. Martin's Press, 1975; MINDBRIDGE (novel) St. Martin's Press, 1976; PLANET OF JUDGMENT (Star Trek novel) Bantam, 1977; ALL MY SINS REMEMBERED (novel) St. Martin's Press, 1977; STUDY WAR NO MORE (anthology) St. Martin's Press, 1977; INFINITE DREAMS (short story collection) St. Martin's Press, 1978; WORLD WITHOUT END (Star Trek novel) Bantam, 1979; WORLDS (novel) Viking, 1981; WORLDS APART (novel) Viking, 1983; NEBULA AWARDS 17 (anthology) Holt, 1983; DEALING IN FUTURES (short story collection) Viking, 1985; TOOL OF THE TRADE (novel) Morrow, 1987; BUYING TIME (novel) Morrow, 1989; THE HEMINGWAY HOAX (short novel) Morrow, 1990; WORLDS ENOUGH AND TIME (novel) Morrow, 1992; VIETNAM AND OTHER ALIEN WORLDS (essays, fiction, poetry) NESFA Press, 1993; 1968 (novel) Hodder & Stoughton, U.K., 1994, William Morrow, Inc., June 1995; SAUL'S DEATH (poetry collection) Anamnesis Press, May 1997; FOREVER PEACE (novel) Berkley, October 1997.

Tuesday, June 8, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Roy H. Johanson, Jr., NASA Engineer

Title: An Inside Look at the Processing of the Space Shuttle

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Roy is a Lead Mechanical Systems Engineer for NASA ELV and Payload Carriers Program. He has been with NASA since 1971 and has participated in the Apollo, Skylab, ASTP, Viking, Helios, Voyager, Delta, Atlas/Centaur and Titan programs, as well as the Shuttle program. He has served as Vehicle Manager for OV-104, Project manager for the Shuttle Processing Data Management System, and was responsible for the implementation of computer technology to the processing floor of the Shuttles at KSC. He has also been Project Manager for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite Test Team and Lead Mechanical and Propulsion Engine for the NASA Medium Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations Division. Roy has received many outstanding awards during his career with NASA.

Tuesday, July 13, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Dr. John P. Oliver, Associate Professor of Astronomy, Dept. of Astronomy, Univ. of Florida

Title: Finding Asteroids for Fun and Profit: Asteroid Astrometry with Amateur Telescopes

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: In the last few years, the observation of asteroids has become a booming business as astronomers have been swept up in the process of looking for new asteroids, especially those whose orbits may pass close to the earth. CCD cameras and computer controlled telescopes have allowed amateurs to become significant players in this game that can result in the chance to pick a name for one of the solar system's minor planets. Will increases in funding for automatic search programs on big telescopes bring an end to the chances for amateurs, or is there still a window of opportunity? Come hear about LINEAR, LONEOS, NEAT, ODAS, Space Watch, the MPML, and how observers even with small telescopes can go asteroid watching.

Note: You can preview Prof. Oliver's talk on the web through his PowerPoint Presentation Slides!

Tuesday, August 10, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Dr. Howard L. Cohen, Associate Professor of Astronomy, Dept. of Astronomy, Univ. of Florida

Title: Face Off: "TheSky" vs. "SkyMap Pro"

Location: Room 280, Florida Gym, University of Florida Campus. This is a change from our usual meeting location. (See map showing location of room and building.)

Preview: The June 1999 issue of Sky & Telescope contains an extensive review of star mapping programs ("Charting the Sky with Software," pp.78-84). TheSky and SkyMap Pro are two leading contenders in this competitive market. See both of these powerful PC programs demonstrated at the August meeting and decide for yourself which, if any, you would recommend for purchase!

Note: We will meet in one of UF's multimedia rooms (FLG 280) so we can all enjoy "big screen" PC. (UF classes are not in session at this time—it's between semesters—so parking should be less of a problem on campus.)

Tuesday, September 14, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT (MEETING CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE FLOYD)

Note: September's program moved to October meeting

Speaker: AAC Members

Title: Astro Bits: Minitalks by AAC Members

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Several AAC members will make brief presentations on either their favorite astro topic or, instead, discuss some basic point about astronomy that would be helpful to beginners. Topics will include searching for extraterrestrial life, hunting double stars, and much more—a smorgasbord of fun and enlightenment for all!

Note: The September issue of the clubs' newsletter (FirstLight) incorrectly lists the speaker list.

Tuesday, October 12, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EDT (Program replaces September's cancelled meeting)

Speaker: AAC Members

Title: Astro Bits: Minitalks by AAC Members

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Note: This meeting replaces the September meeting that was cancelled due to the threat of Hurricane Floyd. October's original speaker, Howard L. Cohen, who was to speak about the Jewish Calendar, will give his talk next year. Also Mike Toomey, who was to give a minitalk in September about AL"s Double Star Club, will be away for the October meeting. (Mark Barnett will substitute.)

Preview: Several AAC members will make brief presentations on either their favorite astro topic or, instead, discuss some basic point about astronomy that would be helpful to beginners. Topics include searching for extraterrestrial life, CCD flat field exposures, and why the "Harvest Moon" — a smorgasbord of fun and enlightenment for all!


Tuesday, November 9, 1999, 7:30 p.m. EST

Speaker: Barry N. Riu

Title: Astrophotography My Way

Location: Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34 Street, Gainesville, FL

Preview: Barry Riu has been deeply involved in astrophotography over the past six years. Barry will do a "show and tell" on his equipment and methods that made him winner of the 1998 Okie-Tex Best Astrophotography Award—equipment and methods that he says he learned, begged, borrowed, stole and coerced!

Barry does astrophotography the "old fashioned way"—using medium format 6x7 film, manual guiding, an 11 in. Celestron SC or a 4.1 in. Astrophysics Refractor, and 105 and 300 mm Pentax lenses. He also does his own darkroom printing and negative combining/stacking. Barry plans to bring examples of these "non-CCD" sky shots to the meeting. Barry is a member of the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society (NEFAS) and has recently relocated to North Central Florida where he hopes to continue his award winning astrophotography.


Saturday, December 11, 1999, 6:00 p.m. EST

(Note: Date is a change from the original date of December 4, 1999)

Speaker: None but lots of fun!

Title: "Holiday Party" and Celebration of AAC's 12th Birthday!

Location: Cohen Residence, 1501 N.W. 28 Street, Gainesville, FL (174K gif map)

Preview: AAC will hold its annual December holiday party — a potluck dinner. (There will be no regular Tuesday meeting in December.) Bring a salad, veggie, dessert, etc. Club will buy drinks, main dish and paper products. (There will be a food sign up sheet at our November 10th meeting — see above.)

If you missed signing up at the November meeting, please respond to webmaster@floridastars.org and indicate what food dish you will bring (appetizer, vegetable, salad, bread or dessert), the number of adults who will attend, and the number of children who will attend (and their ages).

Last year we celebrated our 11th anniversary. This year we celebrate our club's 12th anniversary. Good food, games, our traditional astro slide quiz, lots of prizes, sci fi space music, and an astro video!

Begins approximately at sunset. Lasts till whenever.


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