A Message About the March 20th Meeting

Greetings Everyone

The March 20 meeting promise to be an action packed meeting because we have a number of celestial events to get ready for.

On the night of March 23/24 we have a Lunar Eclipse. The club refractor will be available for group use the night of the eclipse to enable everyone in the club to view or photograph this event with this high quality telescope. To make this happen we are looking for an observing site that is central to the majority of our members. This site could be anywhere providing it has and an unobstructed view from 135° - 200° azimuth, 30° above the horizon. If you know of a suitable location please share this with us at the meeting. Also if you are interested in photographing the eclipse please bring your camera and T2 ring with you so that we can make sure that it will attach to the telescope. At the meeting we will provide detailed information about the eclipse, how to photograph it and get things organized.

The last week of March, first week of April, Hale Bopp will be at its best in the evening sky. Again, for this occasion the club refractor will be available for group use. To make this happen we are looking for an observing site with a low, dark, unobstructed west to north west horizon relatively close to the city. Oak Heights is not really suitable because of the radio tower to the north west and the driving distance from TO. If you know of a suitable location please share this with us at the meeting.