THE DARK SKY OBSERVER

 

EASTERN MISSOURI DARK SKY OBSERVERS (EMDSO)

 

EMDSO Meeting Minutes for May 16, 2009; Ray Mueller’s House

 

Members present:

Rick Schwentker, Ray Mueller., Joe Parish, Alfred Schovanez., Jerry Kelly, Paul and Rachel Chambers.

 

Treasure’s Report:

$1045.45 is left in the treasury. The A.L. dues was paid for 12 members $70.00).

 

New Business:

 

Kevin Dixon from ECC contacted Rick about the upkeep of the ECC observatory. It was said that the club is not responsible for the cost of the repairs. ECC wants a list of what is needed and the cost. Jerry K. will get a price list together for the needed repairs. ECC wants to have a commercial observatory and fund it through grant money. Ray stated he can help come up with a plan and make a proposal to the college. Joe Parish stated that he wants to help ECC start an astronomy program at the college if he can (work situation pending!). It was also stated that we would try to get Kevin Dixon to attend our next meeting.

 

Discussion was also help about having name some kind of identification tags for club members when we do outreach activities. Jerry will try to find the logo that the club had in the past. Rick stated he will contact Designer Threads in Washington to get more information. Since the meeting, Ray has come up with a creative logo idea. More ideas are welcome!!!

 

The club agreed the outreach programs with the library have been good and we would like to pursue additional activities with the library every year.

 

Ray mentioned a potential observing night for the City of Fenton, MO and will be discussing that with the city officials. He will get back to us with dates.

 

Our next meeting will be June 20 at a location to be announced (Jerry has suggested E.C.C. to coincide with the scheduled observing outreach).

 

What’s Up! (in June):

 

Saturn continues to be an impressive target in June and is up high at sunset in the constellation Leo, and

doesn’t set till around midnight. The nearly edge on rings continue to delight!

 

Look for Jupiter and Neptune less than a degree apart in the early morning!

 

And of course, it is a great month to enjoy all your summer favorites, including the Milky Way, tons of globulars, the veil nebula, the dumbbell nebula, and the ring nebula among others before the doggy dog days (and nights!)

 

For more information see the following:

 http://stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_night_sky_for_june_2009

 

Meeting was adjourned.

 

Clear Skies! JMP

 

Meetings held every third Saturday of the month at various locations. June’s meeting is tentatively scheduled for the 20 at ECC. Look for an e-mail for an update.