National Capital Astronomers

Membership Application rates reduced

Serving science and society since 1937. The National Capital Astronomers (NCA) is a non-profit, membership supported, volunteer run, public service corporation dedicated to advancing space technology, astronomy, and related sciences through information, participation, and inspiration, via research, lectures and presentations, publications, expeditions, tours, public interpretation, and education. NCA is the astronomy affiliate of the Washington Academy of Sciences. We are also members of the Astronomical League, in fact NCA members helped form the Astronomical League a long time ago.

NCA has for many years published a monthly newsletter called Star Dust that is available for members. Besides announcement of coming NCA meetings and a calendar of monthly events Star Dust contains reviews of past meeting and articles on current astronomical events.

NCA is a very unusual astronomy organization. All are welcome to join. "Everyone who looks up to the sky with wonder is an astronomer" and welcomed by NCA. You do not have to own a telescope, but if you do own one that is fine, too. You do not have to be deeply knowledgeable in astronomy , but if you are knowledgeable in astronomy that is fine, too. You do not have to have a degree, but if you do that is fine, too. WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE local ASTRONOMY CLUB anywhere. Come to our meetings and you will find this out. WE REALLY MEAN THIS!

Monthly Meetings with Educational Presentations are Open to the Public with No Admission Charge

Next Meeting Date is Saturday, May 10, 2008

7:30 pm at the University of Maryland Observatory on Metzerott Road.

Speaker Dr. Paul D. Lowman

on the topic

ASTRONOMY FROM THE MOON: WHY, WHERE, AND HOW?”

On Saturday, May 10, 2008

Biographical Background

Dr. Paul D. Lowman, Jr. is a Geophysicist in the Planetary Dynamics Laboratory of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He has been with NASA since 1959, most of that time at Goddard, but with 2 years spent at NASA Headquarters and 1 year on sabbatical
at the University of California. Dr. Lowman earned his BS degree in Geology from Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ and his PhD in Geology at the University of Colorado in Boulder. His primary interests include lunar geology, comparative planetology, global tectonics, remote sensing, and petrology (the study of rocks). He has been interested in the possibilities of lunar astronomical observatories for some years and has written several articles on the subject.

Abstract

It has long been recognized that Earthbased astronomy would one day be surpassed by astronomy from beyond the atmosphere, and specifically from the
Moon - "an astronomer's paradise." However, the spectacular successes of space-borne instruments such as Hubble have led most astronomers to give up on the Moon, favoring programs such as the Lagrangian point James Webb Space Telescope. This talk will argue the older view, that the Moon offers a much better site for astronomy of all sorts - UVOIR, radio, etc.

Followed by an Observing Session for NCA members and guests after the meeting
around 9pm if clear at the observatory

Public Meeting / Lecture Series Schedule for 2007 - 2008

2007 Meetings: September 8, October 13, November 10, and December 8;
2008 Meetings: January 12, February 9, March 8, April 12, May 10, and June 14.

Most meetings will be held at the University of Maryland Astronomical Observatory in College Park, Maryland.

Join Us for Dinner Before the Meeting

Join our special guest and members for dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Garden Restaurant in the Inn and Conference Center University of Maryland University College
at University Blvd. and Campus Dr. The restaurant is in the West Wing Lobby Level; they now have new inexpensive menu items just for us.
Dining Establishments Near the UMCP Observatory

About Our Meetings

NCA has regular monthly meetings September through June on the second Saturday of the month.
historically NCA does not have a monthly meeting in July or August, but who knows we might change this and meet in July and August.

Some Past Meetings, by no means even most.

Public transportation: when we meet at the University of Maryland Observatory on Metzerott Road contact Elizabeth if you need a ride from the Metro to dinner or to the Observatory.
Inclement weather: In case of severe weather (tornado/snow/impassable roads), a notice will be placed on the
UMCP Website on the day of the meeting. (Be sure to shift-ctrl-reload to force your browser to reload.)

Telescope-Making and Mirror-Grinding Class

New: Telescope-making and mirror-making classes with Guy Brandenburg at the Chevy Chase Community Center, at the intersection of McKinley Street and Connecticut Avenue, NW, a few blocks inside the DC boundary, on the northeast corner of the intersection, in the basement (wood shop), on Fridays, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. For information visit Guy's Website To contact Guy, use this phone #: 202-262-4274 or Email Guy .

Come See the Stars at Exploring the Sky!

Exploring the Sky is an informal program that for nearly fifty years has offered monthly opportunities for anyone in the Washington area to see the stars and planets through telescopes from a location within the District of Columbia. Sessions are held in Rock Creek Park once each month from April through November on a Saturday night starting shortly after sunset. Meet in the field just south of the intersection of Military and Glover Roads, NW near the Nature Center.

Questions? Call the Nature center at (202) 895-6070 or check :
Rock Creek Planetarium

Date	Time	Things of Interest
April 5	8:30PM	Dark Sky Week begins Sunday
May 3	9:00PM	Saturn near Regullus; Astronomy Day May 10,2008
June 7	9:00PM	Moon in Beehive Cluster
July 12	9:00PM	Mars and Saturn close (low in the western sky)
August 2	8:30PM	Andromedia rising mid-evening
September 27	8:00PM	Rock Creek Park day; Jupiter near the Teapot in Sagitarius
October 18	7:30PM	Moon 4 days past full; Orionoid meteors
November 1	7:00PM	Andromeda; Tauroid meteor swarm possible

Exploring the Sky Schedule 2008

Star Parties

Year Long Star Party at Spruce Knob May through October at Gatewood, West Virginia sponsored by NOVAC.
Cherry Springs Star Party - May 17-20, 2007 sponsored by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, PA.
The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA) Annual Meeting and Technical Conference July 1-July 3 at the Green Bank Radio Telescope, Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
The 4th Annual Green Bank Star Quest July 4th - July 7th, 2007 sponsored by Central Appalachian Astronomy Club, Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and Dominion Resources also at Green Bank Radio Telescope, Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

The 18th Annual Mason Dixon Star Party: July 11th - July 15th, 2007 and MERAL Meeting; sponsored by the York County Astronomical Society.
Almost Heaven Star Party August 9th - August 12th, 2007 sponsored by NOVAC and VOLT at the Spruce Knob Mountian Institute.

For NCA information by E-mail or phone

Walter Faust, NCA President and program chair, 301-217-0771 home, wlfaust1370@hughes.net.
Jack Gaffey, NCA vice-president and program chair, 301-949-7667, jdgaffeyjr@gmail.com
John Hornstein, NCA assistant vice-president and program chair, 301-593-1095, jshgwave@yahoo.com
Michael Brabanski, NCA secretary & treasurer, 301-649-4328
Jeffrey Norman, NCA Trustee and former NCA treasurer and now assistant teasurer, [202]-966-0739 home, jeffrey.norman@att.net.
Elizabeth Warner, NCA Star Dust Editor and host of our meeting at the University of Maryland's Observatory.
Guy Brandenburg, NCA Trustee and leader of NCA's telescope making and mirror grinding, 202-635-1860 home, gfbrandenburg@yahoo.com.
Wayne H. Warren, NCA Trustee and former NCA President, 301-474-0814 home, w.h.warrenjr@att.net.
Benson Simon, NCA Trustee and former NCA President.
Joseph C. Morris, NCA leader of "Exploring the Sky" at Rock Creek Park in DC, 703-620-0996 home, 703-983-5672 work, jcmorris@mitre.org.
Jay H. Miller, former NCA President from 2001-2005, 240-401-8693 home, rigel1@starpower.net.
Jeffrey Guerber, former NCA vice-president and program chair from 2003-2005, 301-614-5915 work GSFC, 703-281-4980 home. jeff.guerber@gsfc.nasa.gov.
Harold Williams, web master from 1996-present, 240-567-1463 office & planetarium, 301-565-3709 home, Harold.Williams@montgomerycollege.edu.

NCA constitution and by-laws current as of August 28, 2005 they need some changes so we can continue to be a healthy organization.
NCA constitution and by-laws revision as of October 25, 2005 proposal.

Navigation Star Chart
Northern Hemisphere Star Alignment Chart
Southern Hemisphere Star Alignment Chart
Astronomical League Observing Clubs, you might use these above alignment charts if you have a GoTo telescope to accomplish some observing.

uaqa understanding articulation quality assurance home of National Capital Astronomers web page. Check out their web publishing services and the other people and organizations using uaqa.com., also home to Astrolabes.org and Mcstaffunion.org .

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Updated by Harold Williams on April 28, 2008 at 4:15P.M.