GLOBE at Night is an annual 2-week public observing/light pollution awareness event in March.  It’s a very simple observing exercise where folks, especially kids, go out and observe Orion between 8-10pm, compare the results to magnitude charts on the GaN website and submit the observation.  Visit the web site for details:  http://www.globeatnight.org/

The Louisville Astronomical Society’s next montly meeting is this Friday, March 5th at the University of Louisville. We will meet in room 106 at Strickler Hall, which it the building closest to the Planetarium. The meeting is from 8PM to about 10PM. Our speaker is John Tuack and he will enthrall us with his recent adventures with the kangaroos, the Australian skies and the Queensland’s Observatory. John promises that there will NOT be a test after the presentation if he gets a standing ovation.

There will be a meeting of the Board of Directors at 6:30pm at the Planetarium. As always the board meeting is open to the membership.

Come one, come all.  The Louisville Astronomical Society welcomes all to a Free Star Party if the weather clears up. Come and meet the members and take look at the objects in the sky. On March 19, 2010 the Urban Astronomy Center (UAC) will be open from 6:30 p.m to 9:00 p.m. Members will start setting up their scopes about 1/2 hour before dark. 

The Urban Astronomy Center (UAC) is located in E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in the old root cellar. From I-265 take Westport Road West. Make a left turn onto Freys Hill Road towards the Park. Follow the road to the second entrance to the Park toward the BMX, Soccer Fields and the Archery Range. Follow the road to the end. Parking is in the lot at the rear of the building and at the archery range.

As always, star parties are dependent on the weather. Please check by 4:30 p.m. to see if it has been canceled.

The March/April version of Starword had been uploaded for your viewing pleasure.

If there are any comments etc, do not hesitate to contact me at mfrockstroh@yahoo.com.

Mark Rockstroh, Editor, Starword

As our May meeting is our annual election, I am asking each of our LAS board members to inform me if they want to continue on the board so that we can fill any vacant positions. Even if a board member wants to continue, each position can be contested by write-in vote either in person at the May meeting or by proxy.

Please let me know by email as soon as possible so that Mark can publish the information in the Starword. If you are a member in good standing in the LAS, you can self-nominate for any open position or be nominated by another club member but you have to give your permission and show a willingness to serve once nominated.

Don Spain has informed me that he will not seek the office of vice-president for 2010-11 due to other projects he is working on. Many thanks to Don for his past service and excellent programs. Mark Rockstroh will continue as Starword Editor. He has also done a great job.

Self-nominations and nominations for all offices are now open.

Ken

For your review, here are the duties and responsibilities of each office.

(Continue Reading …)

If you know of a cub or boy scout troop, pass this on to their leader. Space will be filling up soon for this year’s scout outings. Next available date will be April 23 at the UAC and April 24 at Curby, weather permitting.

Check the Scout Program link in the “Pages” section for more info on the LAS Scout Merit Badge Program

I have added a link in the “Astronomy News” section to StarDate Online.  StarDate is the public education and outreach arm of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory.  In addition to their website, StarDate also airs a daily  radio program and publishes a magazine dedicated to skywatching and astronomy information.

An interesting resource on their website is their Black Hole Encyclopedia.  It has been compiled by StarDate in partnership with The University of Texas’ Karl Gebhardt, one of the leading black hole researchers in the world.  It is a unique website that offers all of the latest news on black holes, as well as radio programs, feature articles, student activities and FAQ’s.  The glossary of terms and additional book and website suggestions can also serve as helpful tools for anyone looking for more information on black holes or just astronomy lovers in general.

Karen Collins was the speaker at our February meeting, and described her research to locate and characterize exoplanets.  She also described how amateur astronomers can contribute to the science using photometric methods.  You can download her presentation:

Exoplanet Transits

The new January/February issue of Starword has been uploaded for your viewing pleasure.
January-February 2010 Starword (69)

2010 Meeting Calendar

LAS General Meetings. All dates are Fridays. Some are not the first
Friday due to holidays or special events.

January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, (None in July or
August), September 10, October 1, November 5, Christmas Party December 3.

Curby Member Night
Saturdays closet to the new moon

January 16, February 13, March 13, April 17, May 15, June 12, July
10(Summer Picnic), August 7, September 4 (Labor Day Weekend Picnic), October 9,
November 6, December 4

Urban Astronomy Center Public Nights
Fridays closest to the first quarter moon

January 22, February 19, March 19, April 23, May 21, June 18, July 16,
August 13, September 17, October 15, November 12, December 10

Curby Public Night
Saturdays closest to the first quarter Moon

January 23, February 20, March 20, April 24, May 22, June 19, July 17,
August 14, September 18,
October 16, November 13, December 11