the observer - tcaa.ustcaa.us/(x(1))/observer/aug 16 observer.pdf · along with the email that...

Copyright © 2016 TCAA All rights reserved. 1

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 41, Number 8 August 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month……..……………….1 President’s Log..………………………………….………..……….2 Calendar of Celestial Events – August 2016…………...3 New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues…………..…….3 Subscribing to Our E-Mail Lists………………………….……3 This Month’s Phases of the Moon……..……………...…..4 Mars-Saturn & Venus-Jupiter Conjunctions……………4 Minutes of the BoD Meeting July 19th…………………….5 TCAA Board Decides on “Unwanted Items”……………6 CLC to Publish Eclipse Guide………………………………..…7 July 2016 E/PO Reports………………………………………….8 AstroBits……….……………………………………………...……….9 Yerkes Observatory………………………………………………10 Renewing Your TCAA Membership…………………..…..10 TCAA Central Illinois Mini Conference Sept 24th……10 Intro to Amateur Astronomy Course Starting…….….11 Wenning Visits Camp Eberhart……………………………..11 Speaker at McLean County Arts Center……………..…12 Visitors at SGNC……………………………………………….…..13 Next POS August 6th…………………………….………….……14 Remaining Public Observing Sessions for 2016……..14 Recent TCAA Images…………………………………….………15 TCAA on Facebook and Twitter…………………………….15 HowTimeFlies……………………………………………………….16 TCAA Treasury Transactions and Balances ……….….16

The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. For more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit our club website.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – NGC4631/27

The Whale Galaxy, by Jim Gibbs

NGC 4631, also known as the Whale Galaxy or Caldwell 32, is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. Because this nearby galaxy is seen edge-on from Earth, professional astronomers observe this galaxy to better understand the gas and stars located outside the plane of the galaxy.

NGC 4631 contains a central starburst, which is a region of intense star formation. The strong star formation is evident in the emission from ionized hydrogen and interstellar dust heated by the stars formed in the starburst. The most massive stars that form in star formation regions only burn hydrogen gas through fusion for a short period of time, after which they explode as supernovae. So many supernovae have exploded in the center of NGC 4631 that they are blowing gas out of the plane of the galaxy. This superwind can be seen in X-rays and in spectral line emission. The gas from this superwind has produced a giant, diffuse corona of hot, X-ray emitting gas around the whole galaxy. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4631)

It is 30 million light years distance with a magnitude of 9.8 and an angular size of 15'.5 x 2'.7. This image was created from L = 10 x 300s and RGB = 8 x 300s, and taken at SGNC on June 2, 2016.

http://www.astroleague.org/

http://www.tcaa.us/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4631

Vol. 41, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2016


The OBSERVER is the monthly electronic newsletter of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization of amateur astronomers interested in studying astronomy and sharing their hobby with the public.

TCAA OFFICERS

President & Director/Property Manager Tim Stone 309-531-2401 [email protected] Vice President & Director Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 [email protected]

Treasurer & Director Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 [email protected] Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 [email protected]

5th Director Tom Weiland 309-830-0167 [email protected]

ALCor/Registered Agent Duane Yockey 309-452-3936 [email protected]

Webmaster Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] Lighting Education Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number [email protected]

Membership Coordinator Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 [email protected]

The OBSERVER

Carl J. Wenning, Editor Paul Pouliot, Assistant Editor

Submission deadline is normally one day before the end of each month.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25

(Senior status equals ages 60+)

To join, send your name, contact info and dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471.

PRESIDENT’S LOG

It’s been a lot of fun to be at the Sugar

Grove Nature Center and have members of the club just “show up” there for observing. We’ve had evenings where six or even more of us have gathered, set up telescopes, and had a generally good time viewing, joking with each other, and learning something new. Secretary Carl Wenning, when he is there, always shows us something we’ve never seen before, using his 11” Celestron. Oftentimes some members of the public are there, and a spontaneous outreach opportunity presents itself. The camaraderie is always great, and these opportunities to get to know each other as well as help foster enthusiasm for astronomy are priceless. The next clear night when the moon is absent, won’t you join us? Even if you don’t have an instrument, or don’t want to lug it down to the nature center, the instrument in the SGO is there, the photographic platforms are there, and your fellow club members are there. You’ll have a great time; I know it!

This month we should start getting some of the spectacular images of Jupiter from the Juno spacecraft as it moves through its first perigee (or perijove as it is called for Jupiter orbit), just a few thousand miles above Jupiter’s cloud tops. These first images will be system checkout and calibration images, but even so should give us a tantalizing taste of things to come. The first science orbit is in November, when the fireworks will really start.

As Juno is only the second spacecraft ever to orbit Jupiter, I can’t wait to see what it will discover. With New Horizons flyby of Pluto already a year in the past, Cassini’s mission drawing to a close in September, Curiosity and Opportunity rovers exploring the surface of Mars with their accompanying orbiters, and Dawn’s continuing mission at Ceres, this has been an incredibly exciting few years for planetary exploration. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars are beautiful and bright in the evening sky this month. Jupiter is quickly slipping into the evening twilight, so get your last good evening views in while you can. By the end of August, it will be little more than a blurry blob low above the horizon at sunset.

In other news, the roof of the Sugar Grove Observatory has been replaced. It had shown some wear from the years of exposure, and so we thought it would be good to have it replaced before it got much worse and started leaking. As we were examining the roof, we couldn’t help but notice the condition of the exterior of the dome. It has flaking paint and some weathering metal. We will likely need to power wash, caulk, and paint it soon. Would you be willing to help with this project? If so, please drop me a line at [email protected]. It’s important that we protect our facilities and equipment as well as we can.

I’ve had some questions lately about using TCAA equipment to do lunar and planetary photography. We have all the necessary equipment to engage in those activities, including the video cameras. While I don’t know much about it, I would love to see some members take up the challenge of learning to how to create high quality imagery of our solar system. It’s all there, and the online resources of how to do it are plentiful. Much, if not all, of the software needed is free. Here’s an opportunity for you to put TCAA on the planetary and lunar photography map. Come on and give it a try!

Carpe Noctum!

Tim Stone, President

mailto:[email protected]









http://spaceflight101.com/juno/juno-mission-trajectory-design/


mailto:http://www.damianpeach.com/best.htm

mailto:http://www.damianpeach.com/best.htm



CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – AUGUST 2016

MORNING PLANETS (8/15): Uranus and Neptune EVENING PLANET (8/15): Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn 2 New Moon – Sets at sunset and rises at sunrise; not

visible.

5 Moon and Jupiter – These two make a pretty pairing in the western evening sky.

10 First Quarter Moon – The waxing moon rises around midday and sets around midnight.

11 Saturn, Mars, & Saturn – These bodies make a beautiful triangular trio in the southern evening sky.

11-12-13 Perseids – The Perseid meteor showers peaks over the next two nights. The best views will be after midnight and after moonset.

12 Moon, Saturn, and Mars – These bodies make a beautiful line in the southern evening sky.

16 Mercury at GEE – Look for Mercury low in the west after sunset. Not a good apparition due to low inclination of the ecliptic.

18 Full Moon – The moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. It is visible all night long.

23 Mars-Saturn Conjunction – Look for brilliant Mars and bright Saturn to make their closest approach (4°22’) among the stars of Scorpius this evening. Antares (Alpha Scorpii) is located just below.

26 Last Quarter Moon – The waning moon rises around midnight and sets around midday.

27 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction – Look for Venus and Jupiter, and Mercury gathered together low in the western sky 30 minutes after sunset. Venus and Jupiter are separated by a mere 7.5’ minutes of arc. See the article in this issue for details.

Did you know that right now you can see all the planets during one 24-hour period if you start watching during the daylight hours? Former TCAAer Darren Drake observed Mercury and Venus during daylight the other day, and during the ensuring night saw all the other planets – but for Uranus which he had forgotten about!

EVENING SKY MAP

Click on either of the icons found here to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

The following individuals have paid dues for new or renewed memberships as of July 31st, 2016. (Others who paid after that date will appear in the September 2016 issue of The OBSERVER.)

New: Rebecca Ansher, Julie Callahan, Chris Franklin, and Jim Beard

Renewing: Peter Kates, Daniel Eggena, Terry Wright, Michael Starasta, and Justin Meyer

DUES BLUES

If you have received a “your dues are due” statement along with the email that brought you this issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular.

SUBSCRIBING TO OUR E-MAIL LISTS

By subscribing to a group’s mailing list you will receive email messages from the group so you won’t have access to the group’s web features (like photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members activate it later. The club now has two open email listservs. The first email listserv is known as the TCAA Yahoogroups listserv. It will be used to share announcements and reminders about astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv you must do the following:

1. Subscribe: Send a blank email to [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a confirmation email from the group. Reply to the confirmation email to activate your subscription.

2. Unsubscribe: [email protected] 3. To post a message: [email protected]

A second listserv – TCAA–imaging – is for club astronomical photographers as well as those who want to view their images and follow their discussions. It is an easy way to keep up with all the stuff we’re doing at the observatories.

1. Subscribe: [email protected] 2. Unsubscribe: [email protected]

3. To post a message: [email protected]

Once members join a Yahoo! group they can manage group and subscription settings whenever it is desired to customize the group experience.

http://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?locale=en_US&y=PROD_GRPS&page=content&id=SLN2464








http://help.yahoo.com/kb/index%3Flocale=en_US%26y=PROD_GRPS%26page=content%26id=SLN2408

http://help.yahoo.com/kb/index%3Flocale=en_US%26y=PROD_GRPS%26page=content%26id=SLN2408

http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html

http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html



THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon August 2

First Quarter

August 10

Full Moon August 18

Last Quarter August 26

All moon phase dates are given for Central Standard Time. Additional moon phases can be found for the 2016 calendar year by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

MARS-SATURN & VENUS-JUPITER CONJUNCTIONS COMING On the evening of August 23rd, Mars will pass Saturn in the

southern evening sky. After dark, look for the constellation Scorpius low in the south. This will not be a “spectacular” conjunction (or “coming together”) as the two planets will be separated by more than 4 degrees of arc – some 9 full-moon diameters. Perhaps more interesting will be the juxtaposition of Mars (Ares) and the star Antares (Alpha Sco, the “rival” of Mars). This will be an ideal opportunity to determine which of the two objects is the redder.

On the evening of August 27th there will be an interesting and rare “triple conjunction” involving Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. On

that evening, Venus will appear only 7.5 minutes of arc from Jupiter. This is only ¼ the full moon’s apparent diameter (½ degree). The two will be so close together in the sky, that the will be visible simultaneously in a telescope’s eyepiece or set of binoculars.

Much fainter, Mercury will be visible with optical aid some 5° to the lower left of the brighter due. All three are roughly in “conjunction” in ecliptic longitude on this date.

While Venus and Jupiter will appear close together in the sky, a distance of 4.83 astronomical units (AU)

will separate the two with Venus being the nearer. Venus will be about 1.55 AU from Earth; Jupiter will be about 6.37 AU. Mercury will be 0.75 AU from Earth.

http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2016cst.html



On this evening, Venus will be shining brilliantly at magnitude –3.9 whereas Jupiter will be shinning less brightly at magnitude –1.7. Both should be readily visible to the unaided eye. Because Mercury will be shining at magnitude +0.9, and is lower in the sky, it will be much harder to see. It probably won’t be visible without the aid of binoculars.

The diagram here shows the positions of these planets relative to one another and the horizon a half hour after sunset or 8:03 PM on August 27th. (Sunset occurs at 7:35 PM.) Both Venus and Jupiter will be about 5 degrees above the horizon at this time, but Mercury will be much lower at just over 1 degree.

If you wish to see this rare and spectacular event, be certain to view from a location with a clear western horizon. Some members of the TCAA are known to frequent high parking decks in town in order to see such events. Contact your editor for suggestions if you’d like to know more.

MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING JULY 19TH

(21 Grandview Drive, Normal) President Tim Stone called the Board and other attendees to order in the home of Carl Wenning at 6:34 PM. In attendance were Carl, Bob Finnigan, Tom Weiland, Dave Osenga, Lisa Wentzel, Tom Willmitch, and Justin Meyer. The meeting began with reports from officers and committee chairs.

As president, Tim had nothing to report. As secretary, Carl noted that the minutes of the last meeting were published in the newsletter; they were approved as published without amendment. As treasurer, Dave gave an update about the status of financial accounting. He is now much nearer the goal of balancing accounts, though several things were as of yet unaccounted for. Lee Green was not present and therefore did not make a report though Carl mentioned that Lee had made several requested changes recently. Tim gave a brief synopsis of his property manager report (distributed electronically after the meeting) in which he noted the following:

The problem with flare in the 20” camera system has been

eliminated. It turns out that the guider pickoff prism had

somehow been chipped. The pickoff prism has been

removed and there recently donated 4” refractor with

mounting rings is being used instead with great success.

Thanks were again given for Bill Mammen’s donation.

The roof has been replaced on SGO thanks to an

anonymous donor.

A new computer has replaced the laptop computer used

on the ground floor of SGO thanks to an anonymous donor.

A problem with the wall outlet’s electrical circuit in SGO

has been identified, and a safe work-around will soon be

instituted.

Duane Yockey was not present to make the ALCor report, but Dave noted that Duane has forwarded AL dues information to him and that he has paid TCAA dues based upon his latest membership information. Duane had indicated earlier that he has forwarded to the AL the latest

TCAA roster update (done quarterly). Tim noted that Jim Gibbs and Carl will be going to ALCon in Washington, DC.

Tom Willmitch reported that he had spoken with Nathan Shoop about some of his excellent ideas for promoting amateur astronomy, but he has not gotten back with us. The suggestion was made that we consider a number of Nathan’s ideas in future planning regardless.

Under OLD BUSINESS, the following topics were addressed and decisions made:

Tim appointed Carl, Bob, and Lisa to serve on a committee

to review and assist with getting the Treasurer’s report up

to date, and to provide guidelines about accounts and

accounting procedures – something that Dave began

working on last year. Bob was authorized to access to the

TCAA’s checking and savings accounts in order to obtain

any required information.

Bob reported that the re-roofing of SGO has been

completed thanks to an anonymous donor.

Lisa, Bob, and Carl – serving on a Bylaws committee –

recommended that, in order to increase the leadership

attending the Board meetings, we return to prior language.

That is, only the president and vice president must be

members of the Board. Other officers and chairpersons

can be but need not be members of the Board. Lisa will

draft language of the amendment(s) necessary for club to

vote on at the Annual Meeting in February.

Carl noted that he has been in contact with CUAS’s Dave

Leake who will be visiting Camp Ondessonk on June 30th to

look into accommodations and activities for the August 21,

2017, total solar eclipse weekend program. Tom Willmitch

and Carl will coordinate a club visit to the ISU Planetarium

for a program and a concurrent talk by Dave Leake.

Carl noted that he has revised The Great Eclipse 2017

publication, and is about ready to go to print in

cooperation with the Challenger Learning Center at

Heartland Community College. Draft prices were given for

distribution of the booklet to the TCAA and other groups



for distribution in exchange for donations to a group. It

should prove to be a good moneymaker for astronomy

clubs, planetariums, science centers, and museums that

promote the publication.

The Central Illinois Mini Conference for September 24th is

a “go.” The keynote talk will be delivered by Carl and will

deal with the topic of “Growing Club Membership.” If

approved, there will be a flea market where attendees can

sell unwanted items. The TCAA will have numerous items

available in exchange for a donation. There will be a $5

activity feel for non-TCAAers in attendance, though the

fee will be waived (and paid by TCAA) for speakers who

give contributed talks.

The special half-price membership offer that ran from late

June to mid July resulted in only one member renewing a

lapsed membership.

Carl showed a draft membership brochure that was

approved in concept. He will continue to work on the

layout and send the finalized version to the Board for

approval before publication.

It was decided to declare numerous TCAA inventory items

“unwanted.” That now make them available to the TCAA

membership (only) in exchange for a donation until August

31st. Each item will have a 70% reserve valuation. Any

items remaining after August 27th will be available at the

September 24th Central Illinois Mini Conference. (See the

separate article for details.) Tom Weiland’s question about

how the resulting funds should be allocated within the

club’s financial accounts was tabled until such time as the

committee working with Dave Osenga comes back with

their recommendations.

Under NEW BUSINESS, the following topics were addressed and decisions made:

An individual who wishes to remain anonymous has

offered to contribute four 2” eyepieces to the TCAA:

o Explore Scientific 100-degree 9mm Nitrogen-purged

o Explore Scientific 82-degree 18-mm Nitrogen-purged

o Meade Series 5000 60-degree 32mm Super Plössl

o Meade Series 5000 60-degree 40mm Super Plössl

The offer was accepted, and the Secretary was asked to provide a letter acknowledging this generous donation.

It was agreed to reposition the infrared security camera so

that less of the sky and more of the ground will be

captured. Carl will work with others to reposition this

camera so it is also clear who enters and exits both POS

and SGO.

The date of the next Board meeting was set as Tuesday,

September 13th, at the home of Carl Wenning, 6:30 PM.

The Board approved the purchase of one Starlight Express

guider to be provided by another anonymous donor.

There being no further business or announcements, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM. Motion previously approved via email: A motion was made, moved, and seconded to reroof SGO following an offer by an anonymous donor to pay for it. (Motion passed unanimously on June 7, 2016)

Respectfully submitted, Carl Wenning, Treasurer

TCAA BOARD DECIDES ON “UNWANTED” ITEMS

The Board, at its July 19th meeting declared the following inventory items “unwanted.” As such, they are now available to TCAA members who are willing to donate a sum of money equal to or greater than a reserve price. A valuation (in effect a reserve price) has been set at approximately 70% of new value. Secretary Carl Wenning ([email protected]) will accept “sealed bids” for each of the following items only from TCAA members in good standing now through August 27th. The item will go to the highest bidder with a 15-day term for evaluation. If before the 15 days is out, items not found to be satisfactory may be returned for a complete refund of their donation. After that, any unclaimed items will go out for sale to the general public and will be sold for whatever the market will provide given a new, lower valuation that will again serve as a reserve price. The following items are now available to club members (only) and their valuation have been set as follows:

10” Meade telescope with “goto” fork mount (no tripod) – Valuation: $2,100

Lunt 60mm H-alpha single stack solar telescope (LS60THα) – Valuation: $2,485

Park crosshair eyepiece for finder telescope – Valuation: $14

Image erector prism – Valuation: $21

Orion 12.5mm illuminated reticle eyepiece – Valuation: $44

Meade 9mm Plössl illuminate reticle eyepiece – Valuation: $42

Smart Astronomy 5x Barlow lens – Valuation: $40




5-position manual filter wheel with filters (Hα, Hβ, SII, OIII, and clear) – Valuation: $360

Thousand Oaks white light solar filter (110mm aperture, type 2) – Valuation: $48

Bader Planetarium C-ERF energy rejection filter (110mm aperture, type 2) – Valuation: $200

Lumicon deep sky filter for screwing into 1¼” eyepiece – Valuation: $105

Lumicon comet filter (approximately 2” in diameter but unmounted) – Valuation: $100

Argo Navis push-to guide with encoder rings – Valuation: $625

Losmandy tandem mounting plate – Valuation: $70 Whatever items TCAA members have not permanently acquired will become available for donation on a first-come, first-

served basis at the September 24th Central Illinois Mini Conference. That listing of materials with revised valuations will appear in the September issue of The OBSERVER.

CLC TO PUBLISH ECLIPSE GUIDE

The Challenger Learning Center (CLC) at Heartland

Community College in Normal, IL, will soon publish The Great Eclipse 2017: Observer’s Guide for Illinois. This lavishly illustrated 24-page booklet is tailored to provide detailed information specific to Illinois observers, and includes scientific background, local circumstances of the eclipse, and a host of preparatory and eclipse day activities. Dr. Carl J. Wenning, member of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers and former director of the Illinois State University Planetarium, authored the publication.

The booklet is intended not only to inform the public about the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, but to provide observers with the information and basic tools in order to do so. Each copy of the Observer’s Guide includes a set of certified-safe solar eclipse viewing glasses manufactured on behalf of the Astronomical League, the nation’s largest association of amateur astronomers.

The distribution of this booklet is intended as a fundraiser for both the CLC and other educational non-profits willing to distribute this Guide. The author suggests that the publication either be sold for a minimum of $10 or given in recognition of those who donate $10 or more to a club, museum, or science center. The document is digitally printed on durable 80# velvet stock paper and is saddle stitched at two points near the center and trimmed on three sides.

Pre-publication BULK orders are now being accepted by the CLC. The first set of booklets will go to press around September 15th, with delivery to the purchaser anticipated by October 15th. Guides MUST be ordered in multiples of 20 only. Guides will be available in exchange for a donation of $5.25 per copy to the CLC. Shipping and handling is included in BULK orders. Please remit your tax-deductible contribution (made payable to Challenger Learning Center – a federally registered 501(c)(3) educational non-profit) and mail it to the following address by September 15th:

Challenger Learning Center Attn: Stacey Shrewsbury Heartland Community College 1500 West Raab Road Normal, IL 61761



JULY 2016 E/PO REPORTS TCAAers started off July with a bang.

Lee Green hosted viewing on July 1st for about 35 Cub Scouts and families at Timber Point near Lake Bloomington; Carl Wenning was present at Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton to give a “Red, White, & Blue” talk to campers, and Tim Stone, Bob Finnigan, Dan Eggena, and Justin Meyer were viewing and photographing from SGNC. The night was as dark and as clear as any in recent months.

The evening of July 2nd was chilly, dank, and overcast, but that didn’t keep 43 members and guests from attending the July Public Observing Session at SGNC. Lee Green gave two talks. The first talk dealt with Mars and the second with Saturn. Following Lee’s 50-minute presentations, Dave Osenga hosted visitors in SGO and Bob Finnigan and Tim Stone hosted visitors in PSO. Also in attendance were the following TCAA members: Mark Cabaj, Mark Boulware along with Nataya, Tom Weiland, Dave Meyer, Carl Wenning, Darren Erickson, Justin Meyer, Michael Starasta along with his son Steve, and Peter Kates along with his son Dan.

Carl Wenning and Mark Boulware hosted the final Skynet meetings July 7th and 14th thus culminating efforts that began on May 26th with a two-hour orientation session. A group of 11 Scholars meet weekly for 6 weeks. During the final three weeks the Scholars learned more about scientific research, how to run the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s 20-meter radio telescope, and how to make color photographs using both Skynet and TCAA resources. Three of the 10 scholars who saw their way through the entire 6-weeks are now working diligently to prepare displays for the McLean County 4-H fair – either this year or next. Others continue to work on projects of their own choosing from home just for the fun of it. The course was a very positive experience for all involved, and now efforts are underway to possibly host a fee-based week-long workshop through the Challenger Learning Center.

On Saturday, July 30th, Tony Cellini helped out Mark Cabaj with his HCC astronomy students by giving them a tour of some prominent objects using the Meade 12" SCT housed in the SGO. Tony later noted, “ I can't impress enough how much I like this scope. I know that Meade has been hit or miss in the past decade, but this one was definitely a hit and we again thank the donor who so graciously provided it. His name escapes me (Bill Mammen, ed.), but I'm sure someone will remember :-)” Mark later noted via the club’s listserv, “I hope you know how grateful I am for you sacrificing your personal time to show Heartland students wonderful sky objects through the 12 inch. I appreciate the SGO’s staff stepping in to assist on such short notice. My frequent comments in Heartland astronomy classes as to how nice the club members are, is the reason that [the two] students decided to become new TCAA members. As my shoulders are healing, I am trying to change my spring and fall class scheduling at Heartland so that I will have the time to more actively participate and contribute to the mission of the club. Thank you again to you, Tony, and to all who helped me this week.”



ASTROBITS

On July 1st, Carolyn and Tom Weiland took time to permanently install hooks on the observatories to display Tim's star field photo and the TCAA banner. The Board approved the hooks after members tried temporarily nailing the vinyl banners up at SGNC Autumn Celebration. Thanks, you guys, for you time and effort!

August 17th is the 30th anniversary of the passing of club member G. Weldon Schuette. Though few current TCAA

members knew him (Sharon MacDonald, William Carney, Bob Finnigan, and Carl Wenning remember), his presence has a lasting effect on the club. It was in his memory that the G. Weldon Schuette Society of Outstanding Amateurs Astronomers was created. That Society was recently renewed by the TCAA Board of Directors, and the first new society membership in many years will be conferred out our next Annual Meeting which will take only a few weeks after the 100th anniversary of his birth on January 17, 1917.

Two TCAA Guides, #1 – Introduction to Amateur Astronomy, and #2 – Membership and Benefits, recently have been

updated and expanded. Guide #1 (version 1.3) has gone from 42 to 56 pages, and Guide #2 (version 1.2) has gone from 14 to 15 pages. Guides may be downloaded from the following URL: http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx. The author of these guides, Carl Wenning, would like to acknowledge the extensive work of Geoff Hughes who did a bang up job proof reading expanded Guide #1 most recently.

Darren Erickson, Dan Eggena, and Dave Meyer have recently acquired keys to the Sugar Grove Observatory after having

successfully completed the Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course that was presented during the month of June. Bob Finnigan, working for two days with information provided by Treasurer Dave Osenga, has been able to balance the

club’s checking and savings accounts to the penny. The complication of NCRAL in addition to a new treasurer using unfamiliar procedures made the task quite formidable. Fortunately, Bob was a former businessman with many years of accounting experience and this made all the difference. Thanks to Bob and Dave for working together to put the club’s financial house back in order.

The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers is being distributed to several Illinois astronomy clubs: CUAS, PAS,

SAS, FVAS, and PAS. Members of two of these clubs recently indicated to your editor that the TCAA newsletter is not being sent out to some of these memberships. The editor urges those who receive our newsletter on behalf of their clubs disseminate them to their memberships when they become available.

http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx



YERKES OBSERVATORY ~ by Nataya Boulware ~

After my father and I kayaked on Lake Superior recently, we decided to stop by Yerkes Observatory for a tour on our way

back to Bloomington. When we went in we had to sign in, pay, and listen to a tour summary. There were three main telescopes: 24, 40 and 41-inch telescopes. There were also a few smaller telescopes scattered here and there.

Our first destination was the 41-inch telescope. Even though it was pretty neat to see, we couldn’t stay there for long because there was a private observing session for donors that donated larger sums of money. Some of the things they told us were that all of the floors could be raised and lowered. The 41’’ was manual and that all of the domes were machine operated.

The second and last stop was the 24-inch telescope. This was the telescope was the one we did all of our observing on. Our guide told us that the dials near the base of the telescope were for when there weren’t any computers and they had to manually move the telescope. We observed binary stars, nebulae, galaxies, open star clusters, and planets. We stayed there for about 3 hours. While we were observing, we also got to use filters such as red and blue. We also got to look through 150mm and 215mm lenses. Lastly, we learned how they shut down the telescopes.

That sums up my tour of Yerkes Observatory.

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the general public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for education and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.

The TCAA currently supports family friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the upcoming August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini conferences, and education courses for our membership and the general public. The TCAA maintains two observatories including payment of insurance, and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through their membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits.

Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.

TCAA CENTRAL ILLINOIS MINI CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 24TH – AN INVITATION

The TCAA will be hosting the third annual Central Illinois

Mini Conference at Sugar Grove Nature Center on Saturday, September 24th. The day will include open houses at both the Sugar Grove and Prairie Sky observatories, contributed speakers giving 15-minute afternoon talks, a free suppertime picnic, an evening keynote speaker and observing session if the sky is clear.

This event is open to members of Illinois astronomy clubs with whom the TCAA shares its newsletter – Fox Valley Astronomical Society, Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, Sangamon Astronomical Society, Peoria Astronomical Society, Rockford Amateur Astronomers, and

Popular Astronomy Club. Members of these clubs are cordially invited to attend.

If permission can be obtained to sell and/or trade item (we are still in the planning stages), the Mini Conference will begin in the late afternoon with a flea market concurrent with an open house at the TCAA’s observatories. The TCAA recently has acquired a large assortment of materials, and will be offering some of these items in exchange for a donation to the TCAA. Other clubs and their members are most welcome to bring along things to sell or trade. The flea market will start at 3:00 PM along with open houses at Sugar Grove and Prairie Sky observatories.

http://www.tcaa.us/Download/Membership_and_Benefits.pdf



Toward suppertime, a series of contributed talks will take place. If you would like to present a talk, then be sure to sign up by going to the following case-sensitive URL: http://goo.gl/GWPf1j. Application deadline for making a contributed talk is Saturday, September 17th. A laptop computer with PowerPoint, video projector, and screen will be available for your use.

Following the contributed talks, there will be a complimentary evening picnic. As with the first year of this event, the TCAA and members will provide all the “fixins.” Two TCAAers will provide the food, and the TCAA as a whole will provide refreshments and table settings. Registered participants need to bring nothing more than their appetites.

TCAA member Carl Wenning will present the evening’s keynote address “Satisfying Membership Needs.” During the summer of 2015 Carl conducted a survey of several Illinois astronomy club memberships, and learned a lot about what new and old members alike both want and need to stay in and grow clubs. Since that time the TCAA has made some major changes in its benefits structure. As a result, during the past year the TCAA membership has begun to grow in

number for the first time in many years. New members are staying, becoming active amateur astronomers, and are integrating with the existing membership.

If the sky is clear, there will be a follow-up observing session. Sunset occurs at 6:49 PM, and astronomical twilight ends at 8:20 PM. The moon won’t rise until 43 minutes after midnight. Camping is available on site, but no campfires will be permitted.

This year for the first time there is a $5 per person facility fee that must be paid to Sugar Grove Nature Center by non-TCAAers as part of a new understanding with the Nature Center. (The Center is a private non-profit entity and receives no state or federal funds.) The fee is due upon arrival, and should be paid at time of check in. The fee includes camping for those who wish to do so. The fee will be waived for contributed speakers, but picked up by the TCAA on their behalf.

Attendees must register in advance in order to attend so we know how many to expect to ensure adequate seating and food items. Register at https://goo.gl/KAmcm0 by 9/17.

NEXT INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY COURSE STARTING EARLY SEPTEMBER

Due to two recent successes with different iterations of the course, Introduction to Amateur Astronomy will be offered once again starting in September. The day of the week, dates, and times have not yet been determined, but will be through the use of an online survey. The course will include three two-hour sessions, and each session will include follow-up training with the use of the 12” Meade telescope housed under the dome of Sugar Grove Observatory (SGO).

Only TCAA members in good standing are allowed to enroll in this course. The course is open to both adult and youth members greater than 12 years of age approximately. Adult supervisors must accompany all youth. Each person attending (including supervising parents) must pay the required fees. Only those 18 years of age and older who qualify with the use of the SGO telescope will be eligible to acquire an observatory key providing 24-hour access. A $10 fee is associated with the issuing of the SGO key.

The course will be presented informally, and will be based on discussions of readings with examples and demonstrations. No knowledge of astronomy is required, but is highly recommended. Additional post-course telescope training will be provided on an as-needed basis.

The fee for the course is $30 for the first person in a household, plus $15 for each additional person in the same household. Enrollees will receive – one per household – a printed and bound copy of the 56-page manual Introduction to Amateur Astronomy.

To indicate your interest in this course, please complete the online survey at the following case-sensitive URL by August 15th. If there are not at least 4 likely enrollees, the course will be canceled. Survey site --- https://goo.gl/HKIKww

WENNING VISITS CAMP EBERHART

Carl Wenning took a quick jaunt to Three Rivers, Michigan, Wednesday/Thursday, July 27/28, to visit with former TCAA member Darren Drake, and see the astronomy summer camp program he is running at YMCA Camp Eberhart. The Camp is on Corey Lake, and Darren’s “club house” is well located with a southern exposure looking out across the picturesque lake. It is from here that Darren presents his summer observing activities with campers for 10 weeks each summer. During a one-week

http://goo.gl/GWPf1j

https://goo.gl/KAmcm0

https://goo.gl/HKIKww



stint in mid July Darren, working with several others, runs an AstroCamp program for youth (see http://www.astrocamp.us/index.php/blog/).

In addition to visiting for the purpose of seeing Darren and his program, Carl also wanted to see the 18” Obsession telescope he sold to the camp last winter. The telescope is quite a hit among campers due to its large size and ease of use. Darren also brings along his own 18” telescope and amazing collection of eyepieces each summer. In addition to these behemoths, he uses a C11 telescope and a host of smaller telescopes so that kids can get hands-on experiences as much as possible. Darren has been the astronomy coordinator (not a camp counselor which is mostly done by college students) at the camp – a rather unique position for the USA – for 11 years now. The Camp is internationally well known, and during his stay Carl met students from across the USA, Mexico, Spain, China, and perhaps other countries as well.

During his short visit, Carl had an opportunity to meet Mohan Song and Erin King. Mohan, a 22-year-old chaperone who recently completed her BS degree in Beijing, China, was there leading a group of nine elementary school students for a 3-week stay. The purpose of the trip is to get to know Americans and work on improving English language abilities. Erin is a camp counselor who works with Darren at Cernan Space Center throughout the year. Erin assists Darren with programing as her schedule permits.

All in all, it was a great visit and we had a nice opportunity to meeting with students, and participate in both discussions and viewing with Darren and lots of campers on Wednesday evening. Carl had a good time and looks forward to a return visit next year.

Darren with the 18" Obsession telescope

SPEAKER AT MCLEAN COUNTY ARTS CENTER AUGUST 2ND

The McLean County Arts Center will present an evening with astrophotographer Tim Stone on Tuesday, August 2nd at 6 pm in conjunction with the exhibition The View from Here in the Center’s Brandt Gallery. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Darren Drake, Mohan Song, Erin King, and Carl Wenning

Carl answers questions on Wednesday afternoon A group of observers between the two 18" telescopes

http://www.astrocamp.us/index.php/blog/



Tim has studied the night skies of McLean County since a child and picked up black and white photography in high school. Bringing these two lifelong passions together, he began an interest in astrophotography supported by the digitally advanced equipment of our local astronomy club, the Twin City Amateur Astronomers at the Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove. Stone presents startlingly detailed images of the stars, constellations, and galaxies light years away. Printed on large-scale sheets of aluminum metal, the images glow and reflect light while drawing you into the darkness.

The View from Here features Stone's cosmic photographs as well as photographs of three other McLean County residents in the Brandt Gallery through August 6, 2016. Marty Gerwick, Mabel Lux, Tim Stone, and Britten Traughber show distinct perspectives of McLean County through their camera lenses developing a series of photographs highlighting a significant facet of our community. This exhibition was generously sponsored by Barbara & Bill Taft.

The McLean County Arts Center is located at 601 N. East Street in downtown Bloomington. Arts Center hours are Tuesday, 10am- 7pm; Wednesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; and Saturday, noon-4pm; Sunday and Monday, closed. For more information, please call 309/829-0011, like us on Facebook, or check on our website: www.mcac.org. MCAC is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

VISITORS AT SGNC

Two visitors met with Carl Wenning, Bob Finnigan, and Tim

Stone at SGNC on Friday, July 29th. Shown in the accompanying picture, Mark Steven Williams (southern Indiana) and Karen Collins (Bloomington-Normal) spent evening twilight speaking with Carl about amateur astronomy in general, and later with Bob and Tim about astrophotography as they were working in PSO. Bob displayed his work on the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and Tim showed his work on the Eagle Nebula (M16). Both of our visitors were greatly impressed.

Later, Carl spent an hour with our visitors under the SGO dome showing a variety of showcase objects. Mark just happens to be an amateur astronomer who visits town from time to time. During this trip he wanted to check out the TCAA as he has heard about us even living just outside of Louisville, KY, in the wilds of southern Indiana.

Both are looking forward to a return trip to SGNC to do some more observing. On the day after Mark wrote:

Carl, Thank you, Tim and Bob so much for the cordial welcome, fellowship and tour of SGNC! I had no idea we would be visiting such a special, world-class facility. The evening was very special for Karen. We were running on about 4 hours sleep in the previous 24 as I had driven in from southern Indiana on Thursday and rolled out at 3:30AM Friday to observe the occultations of 01/02 Tau and Aldebaran. After you called, I invited Karen to join us and at first she declined because she was pooped. She awakened about 4:40AM to find me out in the back yard at the eyepiece of my ETX 90. A couple of peeks at the waning crescent Moon and Aldebaran she headed back to bed having to be at work at 8AM.

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Karen experienced her first views of the Milky Way at Sugar Grove and DSOs at the eyepiece of the Meade 12”. She thoroughly enjoyed herself, our visit with you, Tim and Bob and enthused about the visual treats all the way home! You can find me at StarGeezerAstronomy.com (same on Facebook) and we’ll be back in the neighborhood soon looking forward to sharing the night skies with you and the members of TCAA! Clear skies, MSW

Mark especially is interested in joining the TCAA so that he might take our September Introduction to Amateur

Astronomy course in order to learn more about amateur astronomy, get to know some of our members better, and gain access to SGO. We look forward to seeing more of Karen and Mark.

NEXT PUBLIC OBSERVING SESSION AUGUST 6TH

The TCAA’s next public observing session will take place from 8:30-10:30 PM on Saturday, August 6th, at Sugar Grove Nature Center. Carl Wenning will present Globular Clusters of the Milky Way. Stars of our galaxy come individually, in binary systems, in small groups, in open clusters, and in titanic globular clusters. Join us as we describe the largest star systems within the Milky Way – some containing 100,000+ stars.

Each public observing session includes the following:

Lecture about the featured object or topic. This 30-40 minute presentation, held in the SGNC picnic shelter, includes images of and details about the featured sky object or topic as well as information about other interesting objects that might be viewed that evening.

Sky tour using a laser pointer. We step out under the stars to point out the major constellations and planets, and to designate the location of the featured celestial object for the evening if appropriate.

Telescope observing session. We use a wide variety of telescopes at ground level to observe the wonders of the heavens. The Sugar Grove Observatory has an “open house”. Visit to see what’s happening there.

Here is a list of other things to know about our public observing programs:

Programs will be held even in the event of an overcast sky; active rain, however, will cause a cancellation of the event. On cloudy evenings the presentation will be given and tours of the Sugar Grove and/or Prairie Sky observatories will be available. Additionally, various images taken by TCAA astrophotographers will be shared via computer display in one of the observatories.

Please dress very warmly during cooler months. These are outdoor events; none of the buildings we use are heated.

Please be very careful when driving into and out of the Sugar Grove Nature Center parking lot. At all times there are people, including small children, walking from place to place in the dark. Please park so that your headlights are aimed away from the picnic shelter and telescopes.

You may bring along a flashlight if you wish, but be certain to cover the lens with a red filter so that observers’ dark adaptation isn’t adversely affected. Please aim your flashlight at the ground only. Also, please leave pets at home.

You may download the schedule of 2016 POS events at the following URL: http://www.tcaa.us/Download/POS_2016.pdf

REMAINING PUBLIC OBSERVING SESSIONS FOR 2016

The TCAA Board of Directors has approved the following schedule and topics for the 2016 public observing sessions at SGNC. In addition to the presentations described below, we will conduct a laser-guided sky tour and have telescopes set up for viewing if the sky is clear. These events are now listed on Facebook. Sign up for them if you want to be reminded. Sep 03 The Heart of the Milky Way Galaxy (Dave Osenga) 8:00 – 10:00 PM

http://www.stargeezerastronomy.com/

http://www.tcaa.us/Download/POS_2016.pdf



Recent studies have shown that the heart of our galaxy – like most other galaxies – is a seething, writhing mass of stars about to meet their doom as they are swallowed by a massive black hole.

Oct 01 Fading Glories of the Summer Triangle (Tim Stone) 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Stars live out most of their lives as in rather stable fashion. However, near the ends of their lives they become unstable. They swell and redden, and eventually end their lives in violent outbursts – some yet visible today.

RECENT TCAA IMAGES Each month numerous images are shared with your editor either for consideration as IMAGE OF THE MONTH, or merely to

share with other TCAAers. This month we share several such images worthy of mention. Enjoy! The Editor

Markarian’s Chain by Jim Gibbs

The Trifid Nebula by Jim Gibbs

The North American Nebula by Craig Prost

The Lagoon Nebula by Bob Finnigan

TCAA ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER



Did you know that the TCAA is on both Facebook and Twitter? We encourage users of both

social networks to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing. If you have not yet joined us on Facebook, you are missing important reminders about astronomical events posted several times weekly. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. We can be found on Twitter at @TC_Astro.

HOWTIMEFLIES

The Twin City Amateur Astronomers was founded in 1960 through the efforts of John & Bertha Kieviet. Over the years, newsletter editors David B. Williams, G. Weldon Schuette, Garry Skinner, Jim Moncher, Mike Rogers & Jean Memken, Rebecca Wenning, and Erin Estabrook (as well as other contributors) documented the efforts of the club. Now, TCAA Editor and Historian Carl Wenning continues that effort and provides monthly updates about the history of the club going back in intervals of 40, 25, and 10 years. Details about all mentioned events will be found in either the publication Twin City Amateur Astronomers: 1960-2010 or in the archive of The OBSERVER found on the TCAA website.

40 Years Ago: August 1976 – The club’s original observatory at the Fissel Farm north-northeast of Normal is falling apart and

only four members have expressed an interest in maintaining it. As the result of a lack of maintenance, it is becoming unusable. During the August membership meeting, it was agreed to rebuild the roll-off-roof of the Beehive Observatory and to complete required maintenance.

25 Years Ago: August 1991 – President Mike Miller and owner Jim Jones sign a contract allowing the club to use Bob

Finnigan’s former observatory at Downs. “Beginning astronomer” Tony Cellini writes an impassioned editorial in August issue of The OBSERVER calling for the TCAA to begin some sort of regular observing programs for the general public.

10 Years Ago: August 2006 – Mike Miller and Carl Wenning hosted an evening of sky watching for Lincoln College students on

Friday, August 18th. Refreshments and snacks were available, including the opportunity to make s’mores over a campfire. The club held its traditional summer picnic at SGNC on August 19th.

TCAA TREASURY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES: JANUARY 1 – JULY 31, 2016

TCAA members will note that there have been no detailed Treasurer’s Reports appearing in this newsletter during the past several months. Board member Bob Finnigan recently has provided much needed experience to help reconcile the TCAA’s fiscal records and provide a detailed report – a task made considerably more difficult than usual given the switch to a new treasurer, new computer software, and complicated accounting associated with NCRAL 2016 that occurred April 29-30. The problems have been corrected and now the club’s records have been completely reconciled with bank reports. We thank Bob for his protracted efforts to assist Dave Osenga with his new job. What follows are all club transactions since the beginning to 2016.

CHECKING (12/31/2015 – 7/30/2016)

BALANCE 12/31/2015 3,845.08

Date Description Memo Category Amount

1/13/2016 Illinois Department of Revenue Illinois Sales Tax Tax

$(2,725.00)

1/26/2016 Carl Wenning Award Engraving Reimbursement $(16.16)

http://www.tcaa.us/History.aspx

http://www.tcaa.us/History.aspx

http://www.tcaa.us/



1/26/2016

Brad Welch Dues Received $41.00

1/26/2016

Scott Woodrum Dues Received $41.00

1/26/2016 Paypal Brad Welch Fees $(1.20)

1/26/2016 Paypal Scott Woodrum Fees $(1.20)

2/1/2016

Donation Anonymous $2,000.00

2/10/2016

Martha Bright NCRAL Registration $160.00

2/11/2016

Charlotte Dupree NCRAL Registration $140.00

2/11/2016

Wayland Bauer NCRAL Registration $90.00

2/11/2016

Roy Gustafson NCRAL Registration $180.00

2/12/2016 Carl Wenning Award Engraving Reimbursement $(16.31)

2/16/2016 International Dark Sky Association Membership Dues Charity $(100.00)

2/17/2016

Nathan Shoop Dues Received $26.00

2/17/2016 Paypal Nathan Shoop Fees $(0.87)

2/17/2016

Beaman NCRAL Registration $250.00

2/19/2016

David Udell NCRAL Registration $70.00

2/20/2016 Carl Wenning Pouliot flowers Reimbursement $(64.74)

2/20/2016

Dave Osenga --Split-- $101.00

2/20/2016

Duane Yockey Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Mark Boulware Annual Meeting $60.00

2/20/2016

Ken Kashian --Split-- $45.00

2/20/2016

Brian Barling --Split-- $60.00

2/20/2016

Tim Stone --Split-- $80.00

2/20/2016

William Carney --Split-- $61.00

2/20/2016

Tom Weiland Annual Meeting $40.00

2/20/2016

Mark Cabaj Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Bob Finnigan Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Lee Green --Split-- $60.00

2/20/2016

David Peters Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Eric Clifton Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Carl Wenning Annual Meeting $40.00

2/20/2016

Allan Saaf --Split-- $45.00

2/20/2016

Chuck Hoette Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Tony Cellini Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Paul Pouliot Annual Meeting $40.00

2/20/2016

Justin Meyer Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016

Lisa Wentzel Annual Meeting $40.00

2/20/2016

Adam Giebelhausen Annual Meeting $20.00

2/20/2016 HyVee Annual Meeting Food $(407.59)

2/20/2016 Carl Wenning Annual Meeting Reimbursement $(33.32)



2/20/2016

Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes NCRAL Sponsor $500.00

2/23/2016

David & Vicki Philabaum NCRAL Registration $195.00

2/26/2016

Troy Berg Dues Received $41.00

2/26/2016 Paypal Troy Berg Fees $(1.20)

3/7/2016

Alan & Sara Sheidler NCRAL Registration $140.00

3/7/2016


3/9/2016

Jeff Setzer NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/9/2016

Terry Mann NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/9/2016 Paypal Jeff Setzer Fees $(1.88)

3/9/2016 Paypal Terry Mann Fees $(1.88)

3/9/2016 Dave Osenga Annual Meeting --Split-- $(47.00)

3/10/2016

Kevin Bert NCRAL Registration $70.00

3/10/2016

Roy Lawry Dues Received $26.00

3/10/2016 Paypal Roy Lawry Fees $(0.87)

3/10/2016

Mark & Bryce Heiniger NCRAL Registration $140.00

3/10/2016

David Leake NCRAL Registration $85.00

3/14/2016

Tom Willmitch Annual Meeting $20.00

3/14/2016

State Farm Good Neighbor Grant

Donation:State Farm $500.00

3/15/2016

Donald Klemt NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/15/2016

James Kloeppel NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/15/2016 Paypal Donald Klemt Fees $(1.88)

3/15/2016 Paypal James Kloeppel Fees $(1.88)

3/16/2016

Wayland Bauer NCRAL Registration $92.16

3/16/2016 Paypal Wayland Bauer Fees $(1.88)

3/17/2016

Matthew Will NCRAL Registration $90.00

3/18/2016

Gerald Kocken NCRAL Registration $125.00

3/18/2016

David Oesper NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/18/2016 Paypal David Oesper Fees $(1.88)

3/22/2016 Carl Wenning SGO Improvements Reimbursement

$(1,000.00)

3/22/2016


3/22/2016

Bob Baer NCRAL Registration $70.00

3/25/2016 Robin Shelton

SGO Improvements $(850.00)



3/25/2016 Donation SGO Improvements Donation: Anon. $850.00

3/25/2016 NCRAL Registration Robert and Claire Gadbois NCRAL Registration $140.00

3/29/2016

John Werner Dues Received $40.00

3/29/2016 Commerce Bank SGO Improvements SGO Improvements $(77.94)

3/29/2016

CP4 Control Boxes for PSO Donation: Anon. $2,400.00

3/29/2016


3/31/2016

Erik Johnson NCRAL Registration $71.68

3/31/2016 Paypal Erik Johnson Fees $(1.88)

3/31/2016

Timothy Sauppe NCRAL Registration $92.16

3/31/2016 Paypal Timothy Sauppe Fees $(1.88)

3/31/2016

James Gibbs NCRAL Registration $107.52

3/31/2016 Paypal James Gibbs Fees $(1.88)

4/1/2016 Robin Shelton SGO Improvements SGO Improvements

$(1,157.00)

4/1/2016 Astro-Physics, Inc. SGO Improvements SGO Improvements

$(2,450.78)

4/1/2016

Macdonald NCRAL Registration $70.00

4/12/2016

Eric Claeys NCRAL Registration $81.92

4/12/2016 Paypal Eric Claeys Fees $(2.10)

4/14/2016

SGO Improvements Donation: Anon. $425.00

4/14/2016 Robin Shelton SGO Improvements SGO Improvements $(425.00)

4/16/2016

Astro-Physics NCRAL Sponsor $200.00

4/16/2016

Allan & Mary Fenske NCRAL Registration $60.00

4/16/2016

Brian Barling NCRAL Registration $70.00

4/16/2016

Duane Yockey NCRAL Registration $55.00

4/16/2016

Carl Wenning NCRAL Registration $20.00

4/16/2016

Mark Boulware NCRAL Registration $55.00

4/16/2016

James Gibbs Jr Dues Received $40.00

4/16/2016 Grinnell Mutual

Insurance, Bus $(154.00)

4/26/2016 Dep #101 Eclipse Book NCRAL 2016 Supplies $317.51

4/26/2016 Dep #101 Peter and Sharon Kates Dues Received $40.00

4/26/2016 Dep #101 Carl Wenning NCRAL Registration $50.00

4/26/2016 FedEx Office Eclipse Books NCRAL 2016 Supplies $(317.51)

4/26/2016 First Student Bus Rental NCRAL 2016 $(210.00)



Supplies

4/26/2016 Carl Wenning Shirts, Printing, Name Tags --Split-- $(471.61)

4/29/2016 Wayland Bauer Challenger Refund

NCRAL Registration Refund $(20.00)

4/29/2016 Barry Beaman Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Daniel Eggena Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Roy Gustafson Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Gerald Kocken Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Timothy Sauppe Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Herman Zwirn Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Vicki Philabaum Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Anne Bauer Challenger Refund


4/29/2016 Michael Borman Speaker Expenses Reimbursement NCRAL Speaker $(465.00)

4/29/2016 Heartland Comm College Facility Usage

NCRAL Facility House Cleaning $(120.00)

5/2/2016

NCRAL Registration $240.00

5/16/2016

Donation Anonymous $950.00

5/17/2016

David J Meyer Dues Received $40.00

5/18/2016 Woodland Hills Camera Guider SGO Improvements $(940.50)

5/18/2016

PayPal Transfer $538.49

5/18/2016 Commerce Bank Mobile Deposit Fee Misc $(0.75)

5/21/2016 Redbird Catering Catering NCRAL 2016 Supplies

$(1,764.25)

5/23/2016 Dr. Mike Reynolds NCRAL 2016 Speaker Expenses NCRAL Speaker

$(1,215.76)

5/28/2016 Commerce Bank VISA Card Payment SGO Improvements $(375.55)

5/28/2016 Illinois Charity Bureau Fund Annual Report Filing Fee $(15.00)

5/30/2016

Mark Boulware NCRAL Registration $50.00



5/30/2016

Tom Weiland NCRAL Registration $50.00

5/30/2016

D Yockey NCRAL Registration $50.00

5/30/2016

E Johnson NCRAL Registration $70.00

5/30/2016

H Zwirn NCRAL Registration $70.00

5/30/2016

T Puckett Donation $100.00

5/30/2016

J Treete NCRAL Registration $140.00

5/31/2016 State Farm Postage and Stamps Postage and Delivery $(12.22)

6/13/2016


6/13/2016

Observing Class $100.00

6/13/2016

S MacDonald Dues Received $26.00

6/13/2016

M Boulware Dues Received $40.00

6/13/2016

G Hughes Observing Class $25.00

6/13/2016

D Meyer Observing Class $25.00

6/13/2016

K Kashian Observing Class $25.00

6/13/2016

D Eggena Observing Class $25.00

6/13/2016

A Saaf Observing Class $25.00

6/15/2016 Sugar Grove Nature Center Usage Fee

Intro to Amateur Astronomy Facility $(100.00)

6/15/2016 Carl Wenning Training Course Reimbursement $(75.00)

6/15/2016 NCRAL Split of Remaining NCRAL Balance

NCRAL Registration $(189.44)

6/15/2016 Corn Belt Roofing, LLC Roof Repair SGO Improvements

$(1,000.00)

6/25/2016 Secretary Of State Filing Fee Annual Report $(13.00)

7/2/2016 Astronomical League 40 Members Dues and Subscriptions $(210.00)

7/5/2016

Terry Wright Dues Received - PayPal $41.00

7/5/2016

Daniel Eggena Dues Received - PayPal $26.00

7/5/2016

Rebecca Ansher Dues Received - PayPal $41.00

7/5/2016

Terry Wright Fees - PayPal $(1.20)

7/5/2016

Daniel Eggena Fees - PayPal $(0.87)

7/5/2016

Rebecca Ansher Fees - PayPal $(1.20)

7/6/2016

Darren Erickson Key Holder Fee $10.00

7/6/2016

Dave Eggena Key Holder Fee $10.00

7/6/2016

Dave Meyer Key Holder Fee $10.00

7/6/2016

Chris Franklin Dues Received $20.00

7/8/2016

Justin Meyer Dues Received - PayPal $41.00

7/8/2016

Justin Meyer Fees - PayPal $(1.20)

7/13/2016

Jim Beard Dues Received - $41.00



PayPal

7/13/2016

Jim Beard Fees - PayPal $(1.20) 1/1/2016 - 7/30/2016 1,247.38

BALANCE 7/30/2016 5,092.46

TOTAL INFLOWS 18,517.84

TOTAL OUTFLOWS -17,270.46

NET TOTAL 1,247.38

SAVINGS (12/31/2015 – 7/30/2016)

Date Description Category Amount BALANCE 12/31/2015 $9,013.56 1/29/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.15 2/29/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.15 3/31/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.14 4/29/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.15 5/31/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.15 6/30/2016 Interest Earned Interest Income $0.15 1/1/2016 - 7/30/2016 $0.89 BALANCE 7/30/2016 $9,014.45 TOTAL INFLOWS $0.89 TOTAL OUTFLOWS $0.00 NET TOTAL $0.89

the observer - tcaa.ustcaa.us/(x(1))/observer/aug 16 observer.pdf · along with the email that...

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