AAC Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. Astronomical League
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Monthly Meetings 1996
29°39' N,  82°21' W
Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less)
  Updated Dec. 24, 1998
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Meeting Schedule 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Click here to jump down to schedule

Monthly Club Meetings (Second Tuesday of Month at 7:30 p.m.)

Location

Doyle Conner Building
1911 S.W. 34th Street (at S.W. 20th Avenue)
Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida USA

Click on date to see details

DATE (1996)     GUEST SPEAKER               TITLE OR TOPIC

January 09 Mr. Mark Cowan Messier Objects and Three Asteroids February 13 Dr. Francisco Reyes The Jovian Decametric Radio Emission March 12 Dr. T. Jay Vaccaro One Dwarf, Two Dwarf, Red Dwarf, White Dwarf April 09 Dr. Howard L. Cohen Should the Lord Architect Have Left That Space Empty? May 14 Mr. Donald P. Loftus Astrophotography Basics June 11 Mr. John Brandorf Review of Equipment for Amateur Astronomy and Highlights of the Texas Star Party July 09 Ms. Pamela Mydock Shooting Stars in August August 13 Dr. Howard L. Cohen Astronomy's Right Hand Rule or Can You Find the Moon? September 10 Dr. David F. Muir Lunar Photography & the Upcoming September Eclipse October 08 Mr. Chuck Broward First Steps in Astronomy: Buying a REAL Telescope November 12 Dr. Alex G. Smith Global Warming: Fact or Fiction? December 14 None (Holiday Party) Potluck Dinner/Star Party at Bob Jacobs Saturday, December 14 (No Tuesday meeting in December)


Details of 1996 Meetings

Tuesday, January 09, 1996
7:30 p.m. EST -- Guest Speaker

Mr. Mark Cown, AAC member

Title: Messier Objects and Three Asteroids

Preview: A look at simple deep sky objects on hand at mid-month, slides of objects visible in small telescopes, and a discussion of how to find the three asteroids visible this month.



Tuesday, February 13, 1996
7:30 p.m. EST -- Guest Speaker

Dr. Francisco Reyes, Assistant Scientist in Astronomy
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida

Title: The Jovian Decametric Radio Emission

Preview: Review of what is known about Jovian radio emission and current research projects at the UF Radio Observatory, including examples of radio energy heard during a typical Jovian radio storm.



Tuesday, March 14, 1996
7:30 p.m. EST -- Guest Speaker

Mr. Jay T. Vaccaro, Graduate Student
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida

Title: One Dwarf, Two Dwarf, Red Dwarf, White Dwarf

Preview: Mr. Vaccaro will present observational data and computer modeling about the bright emissive regions on a red dwarf star (V471 Tauri) as a result of florescence from companion white dwarf star.



Tuesday, April 11, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Dr. Howard L. Cohen, Associate Professor of Astronomy,
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida

Title: Should the Lord Architect Have Left That Space Empty?

Preview: Discussion J. Daniel Titius, a professor lost in history, and his "wonderful" Titius-Bode relation.



Tuesday, May 14, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Mr. Donald P. Loftus, Coordinator of Broadcasting,
Division of Instructional Resources, University of Florida

Title: Astrophotography Basics

Preview: What is the easiest way to get good pictures of the starry night? What films should I use and what type of equipment do I need? Astrophotography does not need to be complicated or difficult. Don Loftus will present the basics of getting started in this fascinating field. The idea is to get started now, not wait until you have a plethora of expensive equipment.



Tuesday, June 11, 1995
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Mr. John Brandorff, President of the Alachua Astronomy Club

Title: Review of Equipment for Amateur Astronomy and Highlights of the Texas Star Party

Preview: A review of amateur astronomy equipment. Members will bring in telescopes and related equipment for display. Mr. Brandorff and Mr. Bruno Pancorbo will also show slides of the Texas Star Party.



Tuesday, July 09, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Ms. Pamela Mydock, FirstLight Editor

Title: Shooting Stars in August

Preview: This year's most exciting meteor shower peaks on August 11-12. Ms. Mydock will tell how to observe and report observations of meteors, and give an historical overview of the Perseid meteor shower.



Tuesday, August 13, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Dr. Howard L. Cohen, Associate Professor of Astronomy,
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida

Title: Astronomy's Right Hand Rule or Do You Know Where the Moon is Tonight?

Preview: Do you know where the Moon is tonight? Did you know there is a relation between the Moon's and Sun's positions on the sky, and the Moon's phases? Did you know you can often use your right hand to show this relation? Then you can quickly estimate moon rise or moon set times from the Moon's phase (or conversely). No fancy diagrams, no tables or math needed. Just bring your right hand to the August meeting and find out how! (And renew your acquaintance with the lunar cycle!)



Tuesday, September 10, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Dr. David F. Muir, Asst. Professor of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida

Title: Lunar Photography and the Upcoming September Eclipse

Preview: This year's Harvest Moon on September 26 will bring the last total lunar eclipse visible from Gainesville until the year 2000! Dr. David Muir will present explicit details for photographing the upcoming eclipse including a showcase of past achievements in lunar photography. Photography of a lunar eclipse presents particular challenges in selection of equipment and film exposures as well as unequalled opportunities for multiple- and prolonged-exposure astrophotography. As Earth's shadow creeps across the moon's surface, will you be ready to capture on film the rapidly changing and unpredictable cast of lunar reflections?



Tuesday, October 08, 1996
7:30 p.m. EST -- Guest Speaker

Mr. Chuck Broward, AAC member and Electrical Engineer, Coastal Engineering, University of Florida

Title: First Steps in Astronomy: Buying a REAL Telescope

Preview: Telescope buying peaks at Christmas time and so are the wonderful winter skies that beckon to us all. Learn what is available, what it costs, where to buy it, and even why not to buy it. Chuck will display a variety of telescopes, catalogs, and books to whet the interest of anyone planning, or who is willing to succumb to the urge to purchase a telescope.

If you have a telescope to share with the group, or questions about astronomical advertising, please bring them to share.

Note: October meeting in Doyle Conner's meeting room at south end of building rather than main lecture hall)



Tuesday, November 12, 1996
7:30 p.m. EDT -- Guest Speaker

Dr. Alex G. Smith, Professor of Astronomy,
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida

Title: Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?

Preview: Are claimed increases in global temperatures real? If so, are they caused by our activities or by long-term astronomical factors beyond our control?



Saturday, December 14, 1996

Time: Approximately 5:30 p.m. EST (sunset)

Speaker: None but lots of fun!

Title: "Holiday Party" and Celebration of Tycho's Brahe's 450th Birthday!

Preview: AAC will hold its annual December holiday party -- a potluck dinner and star party at Bob Jacobs. (There will be no regular Tuesday meeting in December.) Bring a salad, veggie, dessert, etc. Club is buying a turkey and maybe some ham.

December 14, 1546 was the birthday of the astronomer we know as Tycho Brahe so the AAC is giving him a 450th birthday party on Saturday night. Come to the party at our usual Star Party site at Bob Jacobs' house. Starting at dusk (five-ish), we are having a fabulous potluck dinner, games and PRIZES, etc., (Pin the Comet Tail on the Universe, Reverse Planet Toss, and Howard's Ultimate Slide Show Quiz, etc.). The club has ordered some very nice prizes as rewards but you must be present to win! Our monthly Star Party will follow into the wee hours of the night.

Bring your scopes. Begins at sunset (5:32 p.m. EST) or a bit before. Lasts till whenever. Four day old waxing crescent moon (sets at 10:07 p.m. EST).



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