Meeting of Hilo Astronomy Club
Gemini Telescope complex, U.H. Hilo
15th August 2002
1900-2106
Meeting Summary - by Kaliko Trapp, secretary
1. Meeting called to order by Dave Brennen, president.
2. Round-table introductions by members
3. One new member signed up: welcome to Kumino Miura
4. Special Lecture - Astronomy Education (to 2003 hours)
by Dr. Richard Crowe, Chairman of U.H. Hilo Astronomy Department
a. U.H.H summer astronomy students working on the summit
b. telescopes and their use by students. Digital CCD photographs.
c. Hale Pohaku
d. proposed courses to be offered by Astronomy Department in future
e. future plans for the department
f. various images taken from the U.H. 24" observatory on the summit
g. spectrum-graph images
h. web-sites of interest
i. current courses available at the University; degrees in astronomy
5. Beginner's chat - Comets (2005-2035)
by Renauld Savalle
a. some images from the Perseid shower of the weekend past
b. formation of comets, debris trails; parts; sizes
c. why the study of comets is important
d. depictions of comets from history (Bayeux Tapestry)
e. early astronomers; early scientific study of comets
f. Halley's comet observations: early 1900s to present; space-probe images
g. images of nucleus, jets, tail
h. Shoemaker-Levy comet fragments; influence of Jupiter
i. major comets seen in past decade & images
6. Alexander will take on Beginner's Chat next month - "Dark Matter"
7. 2002 County Fair
a. will mark the one-year anniversary of club initial idea of formation
b. we will have some displays; Thurs. Sept 19th (1730-0000); Fri. Sept 20th (1730-
0000); Sat. Sept 21st (1000-0000); Sun. Sept 22nd (1000-1800 + breakdown)
c. if interested in helping to watch booth, email Dave: dbrennen@lava.net
8. let's get a club banner - Dave. Cost $12-15 per linear foot
a. should we raise money to get it?
b. vote: 9 for / none against the idea of "pass the hat" for a couple of meetings
c. Sky & Telescope national award given to Gary Fujihara for AstroDay 2002 best
in U.S. $250 given to use on S&T catalogue: will use to start club library
d. J. DeAngelo and A. Christian to give club recommendations
e. certificate given to treasurer for safe-keeping
9. Reports on past events
a. July 13th trip to Mauna Kea summit was a success: got to see four telescopes
rather than the planned two alone. Next meeting, let's bring photos to share. Spent
about $1000 (actual cost would have been two or three times this).
1. any interest in going next year? Vote: most for / none against
b. Moonlight Madness: raised $1500
c. August 10th Star Party with Vic Maris
10. possible future field trips: Kapoho archaeological sites; Mauna Loa summit to see
large Megellanic clouds (only place in U.S. where they are visible)
11. next meeting at Subaru Telescope conference room, 12th September, 1900 hours
12. amateur photos done by a friend of Dave. (see www.astronomical images.com )
Digital CCD camera photos. Perhaps members would like to work with him when
he comes to Hawaii at the end of the year? He has a lot of great equipment and is
looking for good places to go..
13. casual discussion by members
14. meeting adjourned at 2106
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