FROM THE PRESIDENT

April 2004
 

CFAS ASTROFEST 2004

CFAS Astrofest 2004 by all accounts was a big success ! We thank Seminole Community College for letting us use their facility for this event. The weather was great, although the fog did get heavy at times. Participants were treated to great observing and a super BBQ. Being able to share it with friends and family made it all the more special. Looking at the above picture shows that CFAS members have acquired an impressive array of telescopes. Being able to compare views with one another certainly added to the enjoyment of the festival. No one made it through the Messier Marathon, but Tom Chitty got all but a few. My observing team was doing great until the fog flooded our primary mirror about 1 AM. Perhaps next year!! Many thanks to the CFAS members who worked hard to make it all possible.

This month a special event will take place in Harmony. On April 24th. Harmony will host its annual Dark Sky festival starting at 6 PM. CFAS members are asked to bring their telescopes and set up in the town square for public viewing. Check out the flyer on our web site for more details. Robert Vogel(robertcv@aol.com) is the CFAS liaison for the event. For those wanting to use the golf course site it will be available also. In the future, we will be holding a fall picnic on September 11th at a lakeside site in Harmony also. Observing will be held after the picnic. Please mark these dates down on your calendar, and plan on attending.

On June 4th Venus will make a very rare transit of the sun. The transit will have already commenced at sunrise. We will host a special early bird observing session for this event. Location is yet to be determined, but most likely will be at the SCC Star Range site because of the need to catch the sun as soon as it rises

Last month NASA approved CFAS for membership into their Night Sky Network. The membership includes special access to NASA activities, plus training and program material for conducting educational programs for the public. Paul Kronenwetter is the principal contact for this program. Paul will give a short presentation at the April general meeting to explain just how this program works. Several CFAS members have already volunteered to help. These types of programs are very rewarding to the participants. I hope many more of you will volunteer. Contact Paul Kronenwetter (kronenpj@netzero.net ) if you are interested in participating in this program.

I appreciate all who volunteered for the open CFAS committee positions last month. The board approved Frank Gutowski as the Membership chairman, Tom Chitty as the Astolog editor, and Michael Liguori as the Science Committee chairman. CFAS now has a full slate for the first time in a few years. We have many members who are working hard for the organization, and I am very appreciative of their efforts. The Quarterly Astrolog will go to print starting in April.

Last month the new golf course viewing area at Harmony was utilized for the first time. The area has excellent dark skies and a very low horizon. The power generator is now mounted on a small trailer and supplies excellent power for the telescopes. Based on requests from CFAS members, Harmony has agreed to allow CFAS members access to the golf course observing area at any time. Members must sign up for the option, and must agree to the terms specified by Harmony. Members will have to check in with Harmony security before proceeding to the viewing site. There will be no power available. This is a very special offer that allows members the opportunity to use this dark site anytime they chose. We are very appreciative of the Harmony organization in agreeing to this use of the site. Sign up with Walt Hamler (whamler@bellsouth.net ) if you wish to participate in this observing program. The first list goes out in Mid April.

Robinson Operator volunteers are still needed for helping out the Robinson Visitors night program. If all those qualified help, you need sign up for only 1 session per year. Visitor nights run during the fall and spring semesters at UCF only. Volunteering for these sessions will keep your Robinson qualification active. Look at it as payment for the use of this special telescope. Sign up with Frank Gutkowski (FGutowski@yahoo.com ).

Many CFAS Polo shirts were sold during Astrofest. Additional shirts still are available for all members at a cost of $15.00. These are quality shirts that come with an iron on CFAS patch. Orders can be placed at meetings or through Pay Pal. Details will be posted on our web page. These shirts come in all sizes (up to 6X) with separate men and woman styles.

As you can see CFAS members are staying busy enjoying amateur astronomy in many different ways. I urge you to join a committee and help out.

GOOD SEEING ALL!!!

Ray Jones