 |
Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. |  Member Astronomical League |
 Member International Dark-Sky Association |
| Monthly
Meetings 2011 |
|||
| 29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less) |
Updated May 27, 2011 | ||
| (Click logo for home page) | Founded: September 1987 | (Developed with Netscape 4.x) |
| Club Address |
Club Info |
Club Meetings |
Star Parties |
Special Events |
Club News |
Astro News |
What's Up |
UF Ast Dept |
Astro Links |
| Meeting Schedule | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| CURRENT SCHEDULE BELOW |
| « INDEX OF SPEAKERS SINCE 1996 (pdf file) » |
USUAL LOCATION
– Check each month's talk below in case usual location changed –
POWELL HALL EXHIBITION CENTER (FLMNH) of the FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
University of Florida Cultural Plaza — Hull Road
(Just east of S.W. 34 Street at western edge of UF campus)
Gainesville, Florida USARoom: Meeting usually held in Lucille T. Maloney Classroom. (Meeting may meet elsewhere in building during summer due to special museum classes.) [Directions and Map]
Parking Warning Powell Hall is located in the UF cultural complex that includes the Phillips Center for Performing Arts (CPA) and the Harn Museum of Art. Also across the street is the SW Recreational Center. Unless there is a CPA performance on the same evening as AAC meetings at Powell Hall, parking should not normally be a problem.
However, if an event is also schduled at the CPA, plan accordingly and arrive early!
(You can check UF's Calendar of Events for scheduled CPA performances)
- All monthly meetings are free and open to the public (but why not become a member!)
- Check detailed schedule for any changes in time or location
- The AAC Executive Council also currently meets the first Tuesday of odd months
Date (2010) Guest Speaker(s) Title or Topic
January 11 Bob Lightner, AAC President Grand Opening of the Newberry Star Park February 8 Tim Malles The Keyhole Project: Voyage of Discovery March 8 Arne Reykowski An Introduction to Astrophotography
April 12 Tippy D'Auria Amateur Astronomy: Frustrations and Rewards May 10 Francisco Reyes The Radio JOVE Education and Public Outreach June 14 Andy Howell AAVSO 100th Anniversary July 12 Michael S. Generale NASA Update August 9 Byron Bergert Deep Sky Astrophotography with Small Telescopes September 13 Martin Durant A Multi-wavelength View of the Universe October 11 Bill Carter The Astronomer, the Clockmaker, and the Sea-Captain Extraordinaire November 8 Robert Morehead Kepler Mission Results December 10 Holiday Party Help Celebrate Our 24th Anniversary! (Date Tentative)
DETAILS OF 2011 MEETINGS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Bob Lightner, AAC President
Title: Grand Opening of the Newberry Star Park
Location: Main Auditorium, Eastern Newberry Sports Complex, Newberry, FL
(From junction of SR 26 [W. Newberry Road] & US 27/41, go 1.6 miles north on US 27/41)
Maps: See NSP Map Page
Time: 7:00 p.m.opening ceremony1 followed by refreshments & views through telescopes2
Notes:
1 All guests must enter through the Newberrys Sports Complex auditorium
– If you arrive late, please be respectful of the presentations in progress
– Access to the Star Park will only be permitted at the conclusion of the presentations
2 Parking for disabled available by escort only
Preview: A Special Event
The City of Newberry, Florida, along with the help of the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. has created a new astronomical observatory, called the Newberry Star Park (NSP) at the Easton Newberry Sports Complex. This site features 24/7 access with eight telescope stations, electrical service for motor drives, computers and dew shields. A large 12' x 28' observatory shed is at the site for storage, telescope construction and maintenance. In addition, there is a large patio area for additional telescopes, outdoor meetings, etc. This new site is located 15 miles west of Gainesville in North Central Florida.
Star parties, educational outreach, safe solar viewing, model rocket building and launching will be some of the events taking place at this new observatory. Members of the AAC can also gather there to do private observing, astrophotography, mirror-grinding and other related astronomical activities.
The AAC will use this occasion to publicly thank everyone from the City of Newberry who contributed to this observatory and to show them some of the capabilities of our new facility. Additionally the AAC hopes to showcase the club's many areas of expertise, including astrophotography, art, science and educational outreach.
Since the very beginning of this project the AAC has offered to assist the Newberry science teachers at the middle and high school levels. The club wishes to help them instruct their students with regard to the State of Florida "Sunshine Standards" that are related to this science. Members of AAC also hope to work with the after-school programs at the ENSC to energize these young minds about the potential rewards from learning about the sciences.
The AAC hopes this new facility will entice youngsters from Newberry to enter into science careers.
Special thanks to the many contributors to this project, which include:
- The City of Newberry; Connie Goode, Amy Dalusio, Richard Blalock and Keith Ashby
- Doug Engh, National Alliance for the Development of Archery
- Domenic E. Scorpio, PPI Construction
- Glen Beck, Perry Construction
- Joe Hoffman, Hoffman Construction
- Innerlight Electrical Contractors of Florida, Inc.
Members who wish to bring their own telescopes to this event are encouraged to do so and set up in advance of the meeting. One or more members will stay with the scopes until we break from the short meeting to walk to the observatory.
If weather permits, we will do the "first light" via wireless web cam direct to the auditorium.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Tim Malles, Artist Member of IAAA and AAC
E-Mail: timmalles "at" aol "dot" com
Title: The Keyhole Project: Voyage of Discovery
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: From the constellations to the man in the Moon, the zodiac to the face on Mars, it has always been man's conceit to place himself among the stars. The Keyhole Project rockets off on a flight of fancy targeting man's lofty and unending attempt to anthropomorphize the heavens. From straining to peer through a narrow peephole to unlocking and opening the door wide, the project explores our primitive and psychological need to make a human connection to the abstract and particularly with what we do not understand. Not only do we instinctively attempt to find a human context there, we look for the highest possible meanings.
Space Artist and amateur astronomer Tim Malles has completed a series of 30 paintings that provide a unique and provocative perspective on views of space taken from the Hubble Space Telescope. He turns his trained eyes and computer skills to closely examining the images of stars, swirling gas and dust and creates paintings that reveal his unique vision and interpretation of what he sees there. His talk will cover some of the creative and interpretive aspects and share some of the breakthroughs during seven years of work on the project. This installation of The Keyhole Project will exhibit a selection of the original oil paintings, a multimedia presentation with comments by the artist and a public interactive element...he invites the viewer to make their own connections between inner and outer space. Like peering into a cosmic reflecting pool, you will always see something of your self staring back at you! The goal is to show how much of our selves and our experiences influences not only what we see but ultimately what we believe.
About the Speaker: Tim Malles is a professional artist living in Gainesville, Florida. Astronomy themes, landscapes and public art are some of the targets of his work. He was accepted as a Juried Artist Member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists in May 2009. Tim has been an active AAC member since 2001, serving as Star Party Chair, Board Member, Special Events Coordinator and the last 3 years as Programs and Publicity Chairs. As a volunteer of the AAC, Tim created the artwork for the 10 bronze science plaques for the Gainesville Solar Walk. He also contributed efforts to its construction and installations. Tim has a passion for astronomy outreach at AAC sponsored events and reaching out to thousands more through his own brand of sidewalk astronomy at outdoor art festivals. This is Tim's third presentation to the club, following his earlier talks, "Space and Astronomy Art—An Artist's Impression" (Apr 2008) and "An Artist in Residence—Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Kitt Peak National Observatory" (Jan 2010).
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Arne Reykowski, Newly Appointed Editor of Club's Newsletter, FirstLight
E-Mail: TBA
Title: An Introduction to Astrophotography
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview:TBA
About the Speaker: Arne Reykowski received his MS in electrical engineering from the University of Erlangen, Germany in 1989 and his PhD in electromagnetics from Texas A&M University in 1996. Since 2005 he is the director of research for Invivo Corporation here in Gainesville, FL. Invivo, which is part of Philips Healthcare, develops and manufactures components for MRI scanners.
Arne's special research interests are antennas, low noise receiver systems, and image processing. Since his teenage years he has been interested in astronomy and from early on experimented with astrophotography. However, the hobby stayed unattended during his years in college and the early years of his career due to lack of time and clear skies. Recently he went back to astronomy and discovered astrophotography in the digital age which opens surprising possibilities for the amateur astronomer. Some of his other hobbies are amateur radio, mountain biking and photography in general.
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Tippy D'Auria, Founder of the Winter Star Party and AAC Member
E-Mail: TBA
Title: Amateur Astronomy: Frustrations and Rewards
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview:TBA
About the Speaker: Tippy D'Auria is a retired Electronics Engineer and has a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, and a degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. He has been an active astronomer since 1980. He is currently a member of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and has served as a member of the Societies Board of Fellows and was a Vice President of that Society for many years as well. Tippy is also a member of the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers, the Institute for Planetary Research Observatories (IPRO), Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), The Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. and the Astronomical League. He is also a founding board member of Astronomy Outreach Network and an advisor for the Meade 4M Community.
Tippy is the founder of the Winter Star Party which is sponsored by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and has been the Chairman of that Star Party for thirteen of its twenty five years. Tippy D'Auria is an international lecturer and has lectured on Astronomy at many Universities and Astronomy Clubs. He has been a guest speaker at the Winter Star Party on eighteen different occasions and has also been a guest speaker at events such as the Texas Star Party, Mt. Kobau Star Party, Southern Star Conference, Hidden Hollow Astronomy Convention, Peach State Star Gaze, Starfest Convention, Highlands Star Gaze, Nebraska Star Party, Chiefland Star Party, the 4th Annual Congress of Central American Astronomers and many Astronomy Day Conferences.
In 1987 and 1988 he was awarded the Southern Cross Astronomical Societies "Joe T. Doris Service Award for Outstanding Contributions". In 1992 he was honored with a Lifetime Membership to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society for Meritorious Service to that Society. In 2001, Tippy received recognition for his contributions to amateur astronomy, as he was honored by the International Astronomical Union, when an asteroid was given the name "11378 DAuria". He received the 2007 Astronomical League Award for his many contributions to the astronomical community and in 2008 he received the Astronomy Outreach Award in recognition for his contributions for public outreach and education.
In April of 2001, Tippy led an expedition to the Volcanoes of Costa Rica, to film a National Geographic documentary called "The Volcano Hunters". In June of 2001, Tippy joined an elite group of some of the world's best planetary astronomers on a mission to record a predicted flash on the red planet...flashes that may be reflections from ice or other highly reflective land features on Mars in a region called Edom. This is the only existing video sequence of this event which made the IAU circulars and headlines throughout the global astronomy community. He is also the author of numerous articles and papers and co-authored, along with Vic Menard, the definitive book on telescope collimation, "Perspectives on Collimation - Principles and Procedures".
Tippy is also an amateur telescope maker who has several instruments of 2, 4.5, 6, 10, 12, 14, and 18 inch aperture. His main astronomical interests are astrophotography, deep sky observing and solar system observing.
He is also a volcano hunter, and enjoys exploring and photographing active volcanoes, and is a member of the International Volcano Watch team. Tippy last spoke to the club 2010 May 11 with a talk titled "Solar Heliocentric Illustration Tissue: A New Way to Measure Astronomical Distances." He also gave a presentation 2009 August 11 with a talk titled "Volcano Suite."
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Francisco Reyes, Assoc. Scientist, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida;
Dir. UF Teaching Observatories (Campus Teaching Observatory [CTO] & Rosemary Hill Observatory [RHO]; Dir. UF Radio Observatory
E-Mail: TBA
Title:The Radio JOVE Education and Public Outreach
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: (Tentative) Talk will discuss the Radio JOVE outreach and educational project and the low frequency radio emission of the Sun and Jupiter. The presentation may also discuss the Low Frequency Planetary Radio Astronomy and the Radio JOVE project.
About the Speaker: Dr. Reyes wears many hats. As an Associate Scientist in UF's Astronomy Dept., he also directs the UF Teaching Observatories that includes the Campus Teaching Observatory (CTO) and Rosemary Hill Observatory (RHO), and is director of the UF Radio Observatory. People who attend the astronomy department's open houses at the CTO know Dr. Reyes well since he has managed this program for many years. Dr. Reyes received his Ph.D. in 1989 and Master degree in 1981 under the supervision of Professor Thomas D. Carr at UF. He also holds a degree of Electrical Engineer (Ingeniero Civil Electricista) from the Univ. of Chile in 1977.
Dr. Reyes areas of specialty are extremely varied and include low frequency and planetary radio astronomy, Jupiter decametric radio emission, pulsar low frequency emission and studies, radio astronomical instrumentation, computer control of telescopes, and astronomical instrumentation. Research interests include low frequency planetary radio astronomy, Jupiter decametric radio emission, micro structure of Jupiter's S burts and Jovian radio rotational period. Interests also involve the location of jovian decametric radio sources observation and studies of pulsar at low radio frequencies. Dr. Reyes participated in the construction and testing of Mid IR instruments TReCS and Canaricam. More recently he has been doing observations of transiting extrasolar planet. He has a long interest in astronomical education as shown by his years of dedication to the astronomy department's Friday night public sessions at the CTO.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Andy Howell
E-Mail:
Title: AAVSO 100th Anniversary
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: TBA
About the Speaker:
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Michael S. Generale
E-Mail:
Title: NASA Update: Status of Space Shuttle Atlantis mission & the Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: NASA Update: Status of Space Shuttle Atlantis mission & the Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle
Mr. Generale is the NASA Test Director at Kennedy Space Center.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
E-Mail: TBA
Title: Deep Sky Astrophotography with Small Telescopes
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview:TBA
About the Speaker: TBA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Martin Durant
E-Mail: TBA
Title: A Multi-wavelength View of the Universe
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview:TBA
About the Speaker: TBA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: William E. (Bill) Carter, Research Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston Adjunct Professor, Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida
E-Mail: carter4451 "at" bellsouth "dot" net
Title: The Astronomer, the Clockmaker, and the Sea-Captain Extraordinaire
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: The names Nevil Maskelyne, John Harrison, and James Cook will forever be entwined by the roles they played in "solving" the problem of determining longitude at sea, during the age of sail. In recent years much attention and credit have been focused on John Harrison, including the dedication of a memorial in Westminster Abbey, in 2006. Unfortunately, much of the effort to heap more credit on Harrison and his clocks has come at the expense of denigrating the contributions of Nevil Maskelyne and his astronomical solution to the problem. The obvious question: Are these realignments of credit justified by historical facts? Those who have read Dava Sobel's book "Longitude, the True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time" may be surprised, dismayed, or pleased by the content of this talk, but hopefully few will leave believing that Harrison single-handedly solved the longitude problem.
About the Speaker: Bill Carter was born in Steubenville, OH, and grew up in western PA, near Pittsburgh. He studied Civil Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a B.S. Degree in 1961. He served 8 years in the U.S. Air Force, as a Geodetic Officer, and then as a graduate student at Ohio State University where he earned an M. S. Degree in Geodetic Science, before being assigned as a Minuteman Missile Launch Control in Montana. After leaving the Air Force Bill worked for the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory and earned a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Arizona, while helping to build a Lunar Laser Ranging Station at the summit of Mount Lemmon. Later positions included: Research Geodesist, University of Hawaii, and Chief of Geodetic Research and Development Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Moving to St Augustine, FL in 1996, Bill became an Adjunct Professor at UF, and helped found and develop the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) at the University of Houston, where he is a Research Professor. Bill has published several papers and two books (Latitude, How American Astronomers Solved the Mystery of Variation, and Simon Newcomb, America's Unofficial Astronomer Royal) with his daughter, Merri Sue Carter, who is an astronomer at the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, AZ.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Robert Morehead
E-Mail: TBA
Title: Kepler Mission Results
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview:TBA
About the Speaker: TBA
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2010, 6:00 p.m. ET — Dinner Served 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: None but lots of fun!
Title: "Holiday Party" and Celebration of AAC's 23nd Birthday!
Location: TBA
Maps:
Time: Approximately 6:00 p.m. EDT
Preview: AAC will hold its annual December holiday party — a potluck dinner. (There will be no regular Tuesday meeting in December.) Club will buy drinks and paper products. (There will be a food sign up sheet at our November meetings — see below.)
Food to Bring: If you missed signing up at the November meetings, please e-mail to potluck (at) floridastars.org and indicate what food dish you will bring:Last year we celebrated our 23rd anniversary. This year we celebrate our club's 24th anniversary! Good food, games, our traditional astro slide quiz, sci-fi space music, more. Begins approximately at sunset. Lasts till whenever.
- Wings, ham rolls, cheese & crackers, finger sandwiches, taco salad w/chips, dessert or other (please designate)
- Also indicate the number of adults and children (give ages) who will attend.
[Return to Top]
 |
Return to AAC Home Page |
 |
For comments and suggestions send e-mail
to webmaster@floridastars.org © Copyright 2000-2011 Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. |
