B.C.A.A.S. MEETING MINUTES
October 11, 2007
Dave Brown called the meeting to order with 29 in attendance. Dave noted that on October 15, Venus and Saturn will be close to each other in the pre-dawn sky. He also showed some photos of the August Lunar eclipse that he and his son, Dan, took at the Flying Field. Also shown were some NASA images of caves found at high altitude on the side of a Martian volcano. We also viewed a movie of Comet Encke having its tail ripped off by a coronal mass ejection from the sun.
Dave reminded everyone that the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society is having its 50th Anniversary banquet this Saturday, with keynote speaker, David Levy. Everyone is invited.
Ron Kunkel announced that there will be full moon hikes to the Pinnacle at Pulpit Rock on October 27 and November 24. If anyone is interested in participating, contact Ron. Also, on October 30, there will be a lunar grazing occultation of a 5th magnitude star around 5:30 am.
Linda Sensenig handed out the 2008 Astronomy calendars. If anyone is interested in purchasing one, she can still take orders. Also, if anyone is interested in new or renewal “Astronomy” ($34) or “Sky and Telescope” ($32.50) magazine subscriptions, please contact her. “Sky and Telescope” renewals can also now be handled directly through S&T, either by phone or online. She noted that her dad is recovering nicely and appreciated the get-well card from the club.
Barb Geigle noted that there had been a Night Sky Network teleconference the previous week. The topic was the making of the most recent toolkit. She also noted that she has been attending meetings of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council as the club’s liaison. If anyone is interested in learning more about ways to reduce light pollution, either on a township/boro basis, or just one neighbor’s annoying lights, you can check out the POLC’s website (there is a link on the BCAAS website), or contact Barb.
Dave reminded everyone that next month we will be taking nominations for the election of officers for 2008.
Our speaker tonight was Dr. Ruth Daly, from Penn State Berks, on the “Accelerating Universe”. As usual, she took a complicated subject and made it understandable and interesting.
Respectfully submitted
Barbara Geigle, Secretary