Friends of the Observatory

04-August-05

• No word yet on when UC will return the John Quincy Adams portrait to the Observatory.
  
• FOTO voted to approve the purchase of a Coronado Hydrogen Alpha filter.
  
• Aug. 13 -FOTOKids Campout at Chilo.
  
• Oct. 8- FOTOKids going to Union Terminal for the OmniMax movie and space exhibit.
  
• Amateur Telescope Society Weekend in October is open to all. $265 for all 4 days or you can purchase tickets for individual lectures.
  
• Paul Nohr is offering his Intro to Observing Class. Class dates are Aug. 2 and 16 and Sept. 6 and 20. Classes begin at 9pm.
  
• ARG (Advance Research Group) - Meet 2 and 4th Tuesday 7-9pm.
  
• Aug. 9 is the Planning Meeting and Aug 23 is the General Meeting.
  
• The new Radio Astronomy group will have it's first meeting Sept. 13th
  
• at 7pm.
  
• Presentation: Everett Yowell (son of former director Everett Yowell) came to tell us what it was like growing up at the Observatory. Very entertaining.
  

07-July-05

• Annual FOTO picnic held on the grounds of the Observatory.
  
• About 30 attendees.
  

02-June-05

• Our July program is the potluck picnic. (BYOM- bring your own meat). We'll have grills set up on the grounds.
• COC Report: Jim Neumeister is resigning (for personal reasons) as COC director as as of June 30, 2005.
• The clock has been restored in the Mitchel Auditorium. This clock is filled with mercury.
• ATS (Amateur Telescope Society) is coming the first weekend in October. They may need some assistants to help out. The program will last all weekend and all are welcome to attend.
• June 10/11- Apollo Rendezvous in Dayton. Theme is Astronomical Outreach.
• June 15- 6pm-8pm Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Observatory. Please RSVP to Jim Neumeister at the Observatory.
• June 26/27- 9pm-11pm. Open House. Venus/Mercury and Saturn will be near conjunction.
• Aug. 12/13- Meteor Nights. There will be classes and tours at the Observatory and Stonelick will be available for viewing.
• Program: Dave Bosse."Nucleosynthesis- or Snap, Crackle, Pop". How did all the elements get here? Covered 3 phases: Big Bang, Stellar Evolution and Supernovae.

05-May-05

• The Observatory had an incident with the dog-walkers. A FOTO member was bitten in the hand.
  
• May 19- the FOTO planning meeting will be held at 7pm at the Observatory to allow all to get back from the Brian Greene lectures at UC.
• Richard Hamilton showed us some results from the ARG group.
• May 24- Antares occulation at 4am. Be there or be square!
• Program: Ron Ravneburg, a member of the Columbus Astronomical Society gave a presentation on Amateur Astronomy from 1950-1965.

21-April-05

• April 14- COC Fundraising committee has its first meeting. Noon at the COC
• April 16- National Astronomy Day at Newport on the Levee. Noon to 5pm. Always need more volunteers.
• June 23- Greg Huber and Dave Bosse will host a solar program at the Observatory
• Parking charge for State Parks was NOT passed.
• Cinergy, thanks to Sam Vessel, donated $980 to FOTO
• FOTOKids meets on the first Friday on the month.
• ARG meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. The 2nd Tuesday is a planning meeting for the team leaders. 4th Tuesday is a general meeting.
• The Planet Walk is now installed on the COC grounds.
• Program: Last minute substitution. "A Selective Geological Tour of the Solar System" by Valerie Niemi.

3-March-05

• COC Rep. Report: April 30 is Museum Day at the Observatory. It's free to Smithsonian members. Details are being worked out.
• Last year's (total) attendance at the "O" was 17,331.
• Paul's classes are April 5 and 19. Also May 3
• ARG meeting- March 8. April 12 and 26
• March 10 Humanities at the Observatory Lecture: The Observatory, Cincinnati and the Development of late 19th Century Suburban Mt. Lookout
• GreenBank Star Quest II- July 6-10 in West Virginia. $75/party of 2. Register by Mar. 15 for 10% discount of registration fees.
• Tuesday March 8, PBS will air Brian Greene's Elegant Universe. Richard Hamilton will represent the COC.
• Program: Dean's Old Fashioned Slide Show.
• Dean showed us some of the glass slides from the COC's collection. Slides of stellar objects from all over and various slides from the time of directors Everett Yowell, Elliott Smith and Paul Herget.

03-February-05

• State Parks (i.e. StoneLick, Ceasar’s Creek) are going to start charging an entrance fee. This may affect the public coming out.
• FOTO Imaging Feb. 16 at 7:30pm.
• Messier Marathon at Stonelick will be March 11 and 12.
• Craig started a Snow Sculpture Contest, complete with an unknown, yet fabulous prize.
• February 12- How to use your Telescope Class
• February 16- Dean will be giving an “Old Fashioned Slide Show” to the public. This will be using the Observatory’s old glass slides. Dean will also give the program at the March general FOTO meeting. (Thanks for working all the kinks out on the public first, Dean!)
• Program: Valerie Niemi and Mary Manuell (CAS secretary) gave a lecture on “Women in Astromony”, complete with time traveling astronomers Caroline Herschel and Cecelia Payne-Gaposhkin. (Many thanks to Craig Niemi and Chris Manuell). We were also pleased to have UC astronomer, Margaret Hanson in our audience.

06-January-05

• COC board is pushing fundraising. They are inviting a new board member with fundraising experience.
  
• Dean thanked all who helped out at the David Levy Humanities Lecture.
  
• Listen January 11 to www.letstalkstars.com for an interview with David Levy and various COC and FOTO members.
• January 15- Saturn Day
• January 19- Last lecture of series. Science and Human Evolution. Dr. Teslow of UC
  $10 per person. No discount for FOTO members for the Humanities lectures.
• Program: Greg Huber showed us “10 Super Cool Starry Night Events in Starry Night Pro”

02-December-04

• This was our December dinner party.
  
• There was no business meeting portion.
  

04-November-04

• FOTO voted to donate $250 to CAS for two paving stones and a contribution.
  
• Dec. 2 FOTO dinner is catered. Starts at 6:30pm. Sign up sheet went around.
  
• A membership survey was included in the November newsletter. It's pre-stamped. Please fill out and return by the Dec. 2 meeting.
  
• The October COC board meeting was cancelled.
  
• We are missing the key to the Mitchel Cone Room.
  
• ARG- Advanced research group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. 7-9pm.
  
• The main building of the Observatory is now officially the Herget Building.
  
• Humanities Lecture Series. $10/person. Dec. 7 with David Levy. Where it will be held is still to be determined.
• Presentation: John Ventre told us about O.M. Mitchel and his Sidereal Messenger. He brought in the actual books for us to see
  

04-October-04

• Our December meeting will be a catered dinner served at 6:30pm.
  
• The November newsletter will contain a FOTO survey for you to fill out and return.
  
• Email Chuck at chuck@chuckstrubbe.com if you would like a copy of the COC mission statement.
  
• COC Fundraising, Public Relations, History and Exhibits and Membership committies are open to FOTO members to join.
  
• Humanities Lecture Series: $10/person
  Oct. 20- Steven Turner of the Smithsonian Institution
  Dec. 7 - David Levy
  
• Oct 19- Volunteer Training and Refresher Class
  
• Oct. 27-Lunar Eclipse from 8pm-11pm
  
• Cassini- Oct. 26 first close fly-by of Titan
  
• The Firefly Deluxe Planisphere is available for FOTO members for $32.
  
• Election Results:
  President: Craig Niemi
  Vice President: Scott Naylor
  Treasurer: Bill Bachelder
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Presentation: ASTRO JEOPARDY!
  Blue Team: Scott Gainey, Mary Hamilton, Matthias Boland and Matt Wallace
  Green Team: Dale Zoller, Lou Fresse, Mike Meeker and Scott Naylor (winners)
  Pink Team: Bill Bachelder, Chuck Strubbe, Dave Bosse and Rick Hunter.
  

01-September-04

• COC Subcommittee- completed mission statement and will present it to the COC next Thursday.
  
• Herget Dome Wall is painted. John Ventre polished the brass on both telescopes.
  
• Denise Mustain is the new head of the maintenance committee.
  
• Astronomy News- 4 new exoplanets have been discovered.
  
• ScopeOut Speaker is Dr. Timothy Broderick of UC Medicine.
  
• Interested in ordering the Astronomical Calendar -see Frank Huss.
  
• Interested in ordering the RASC Handbook -see Scott Naylor.
  
• Nominations:
  President: Craig Niemi, Scott Gainey, Greg Huber
  Vice President: Scott Naylor, Andy Bruggeman
  Treasurer: Bill Bachelder
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Program: Lori Rutherford reported back with the results from the quiz she gave us in June.
  

05-August-04

• Aug. 6- FotoKids at Shiloh Park
  
• Aug. 18- FotoImaging will have images from the Transit of Venus, Digital Images, Software and more
  
• Aug. 24-Photometry and related subjects will be covered at the Advanced Research Group
  
• Sept. 25 -SCOPEOUT. Still looking for volunteers. Next planning meeting is Aug. 31.
  
• COC patches and some shirts are in.
  
• Jim Neumeister (COC Director) stopped by. Thanked FOTO for all their volunteer work.
  
• Program: Astronomer Paul Nohr answered all your astronomy questions
  

01-July-04

• This was our annual picnic

03-June-04

• FOTO Rep Report: Subcommittee to restate the mission statement is underway.
  
• July 7-13 - Stairs to the Herget Dome will be closed so they can be refinished.
  
• Paul Nohr and Richard Hamilton are heading up a research program to discover extra solar planets. This is a long term permanent program, open to anyone who wants to volunteer. There were be a planning meeting July 27. Classes to follow to learn to use the equipment.
  
• Program: Lori Rutherford: "Alternative Conceptions" (Misconceptions) in Astronomy.
  
• We took a quiz. Lori will be back with the results in August.
  

06-May-04

• May 11 is Volunteer training.
  
• June 8 is Venus Transit Viewing at Ault Park at Sunrise
  
• Dean needs some volunteers for various projects:
  
• Clean up Comet Room
  
• Sidewalk Astronomy
  
• Contest- Needs digital image of Comet Neat WITH a tail. Must be a 64 by 480 resolution. Send to Dean's email. He'll choose a winner the end of the month. Enter and win transit glasses.
  
• Richard and Mary Hamilton attended the Variable Star Convention. They were most interested in eclipsing binaries as this most closely relates to the COC exoplanet study being developed by Paul Nohr and Richard.
• Program: Dave Bosse told us all about the many star catalogues out there, how they developed and which ones are most useful.
  

01-April-04

• April 12/26 and May 10/24--Paul's Optics and Observing Classes. Beginner level.
  
• April 21, 7:30pm- Photo Imaging Class
  
• April 23-- Venus Day
  
• April 24--National Astronomy Day. Newport on the Levee. Need volunteers.
  
• April 27-- Venus Transit Class. Open to the public
  
• April 28-- Harbin Park Stargaze. Need volunteers.
  
• May 9-- SunDay Sunday
  
• May 22--Banklick Stargaze. Need volunteers.
  
• Scott Naylor brought in the 16" Dob conversion. We'll use it tonight.
  
• Chuck Strubbe was reelected FOTO Rep. Congratulations, Chuck!
  
• Program: Jason Braden: Spirit, Opportunity and Cassini. Geology Reports from the Mars Rovers and the upcoming Cassini project.
  

04-March-04

• March 19/20- Messier Marathon at Stonelick
  
• March 22- Volunteer Training. 7pm at the Observatory
  
• March 25- Thursday. Jupiter Day
• Paul Nohr is offering classes on Optics and Observing. Held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. April 12 and 26, and May 10 and 24.
  
• Cinergy donated money to FOTO to be used toward the FOTOKids budget.
  
• COC Endowment fund is now up and running.
• Chuck brought up the idea of FOTO merging with COC. This is just an idea at this stage. Nothing is happening soon.
• FOTO Representative to COC position is up for re-election in May. A 3 year term.
  
• Nominees are: Chuck Strubbe, Greg Huber and Valerie Niemi
  
• Program: Ray McNeil from NKU did a presentation on tides.
  

05-February-04

• Volunteer Training: Web. Feb 11, 7pm at the Observatory.
  
• Stargazes: April 28 -Harbin Park
  May 22 and Aug. 21 Banklick, KY
  We always need volunteer and telescopes.
  
• 16" Dob should be ready for the Messier Marathon.
  
• The Cincinnati Observatory Center (COC) is rewriting their mission statement. Chuck Strubbe is on this committee.
  
• Feb. 23- MoonDay Program. Dean has moon rocks Feb. 12-25.
  
• March 6 -How to Use Your Telescope Class
  
• New rates for Astronomy Friday/ Saturday- $5/adult, $3/child (17 yrs and under)
  
• Program: Rick Hunter gave us an update of the Mars Mission.
  

08-January-04

• Dale Lombardo has a sign-up sheet if you are interested in getting Baader film and/or a workshop on how to use it.
  
• Astronet: tells you when things are happening. Last minute run out to StoneLick etc.
  
• January 21- Photo Imaging Meeting
  
• January 24- Using your Telescope Class
  
• Reflective Window Stickers are in. $5 each or $9 for a pair (COC and FOTO)
  
• Program: Dr. Scott Nutter from NKU. Cosmic Rays: An Alternative Eye on the Sky.
  

04-December-03

• Our annual Christmas Party. This year we had a catered dinner which was well received.

06-November-03

• The new alarm system will be on soon. See Jim Neumeister if you are a presenter.
  
• District 2 police will step up patrols for loose dogs at the COC.
  
• The Dobsonian Conversion Kit should be here in about 7-10 days. Finally.
  
• FOTO Planning Meeting has been moved to the 3rd THURSDAY of the month.
  
• Still at 6pm. Still at Indigo's.
  
• Nov. 19- Leonids double peak this year. This is the one we can see.
  
• Dec. 4 FOTO Meeting/Dinner starts early at 7pm.
  
• Dec. 6 Using Your Telescope Class. Open to the Public.
  
• Planet Days- Dean Regas will have a series of Lectures on the Planets.
  
• Saturn Day is Saturday, Jan 3, 2004.
  
• COC/FOTO window stickers are in. $4 each or 2 for $7.
  
• We now have a complete set of Mitchel's “Sidereal Messengers”. Thank you Greg Huber.
  
• Newsletter-remember email has its advantages. You get it faster, it's in color, and it's 6 pages instead of 4.
  
• Astronomy News: The Chinese have joined the space race.
  
• Program: IKONOS-Public pictures from Space.
  
• Launched in 1999, it orbits 423 miles above the Earth.
  
• You can find the images at www.spaceimaging.com
  

02-October-03

• ScopeOut is SATURDAY. It's not too late to volunteer!
  
• Craig Niemi presented outgoing President Greg Huber with a plaque
  
• Deeding him the entire known universe.
  
• FOTOKids tomorrow night. Assisting Chuck Strubbe are Mike Helfin, Lori
  
• Rutherford and Tom McDonough.
  
• COC Board Meeting discussed the need to decide various issues such as
  
• Loose dogs on the property, soccer players and the number of party rentals.
  
• The clocks are back from American Watchmakers Institute. Will be in the lobby for ScopeOut.
  
• Mars Mania and Stonelick were very popular. Mars Madness brought in about $3000 to the Observatory.
  
• November 8 is the Lunar Eclipse.
  
• Election Results:
  President: Craig Niemi
  Vice President: Scott Naylor
  Treasurer: Bill Bachelder
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Program: Deciphering Alien Messages.
  

04-September-03

• Dean Regas -Sept. 6 is Mars Open House. 10pm- 1am. Expecting 500 people minimum. HELP! If you are able to volunteer, please come by 9:30pm.
  
• Mars Week has added Sept. 15, 16 and 18 programs. HELP! Please volunteer to assist if you can.
  
• Greg Huber is still not a Dad.
  
• Sept. 10, ScopeOut Meeting. 6pm at the Observatory.
  
• FOTOKids will start again on Oct. 3. For children 8-14 years.
  
• Assisting Chuck Strubbe will be Lori Rutherford, Mike Helfin and Tom McDonough.
  
• Sept. 30- Descendents of Ormsby M. Mitchel will visit the observatory.
  
• Nominations:
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi, Becky Shundich
  Treasurer: Bill Bachelder, Sam Vessel
  VP: Frank Huss, Valerie Niemi, Craig Niemi, Scott Naylor
  President: Craig Niemi, Scott Naylor
  
• Program: Paul Nohr told us all about the Harvest Moon.
  

07-August-03

• Paul Nohr will do the September program.
  
• Greg Huber will do the October program on IKONOS.
  
• AWI is almost finished with the clocks. We are hoping to display them throughout both buildings.
  
• ScopeOut- sign-up sheet is going out. We will have one larger tent.
  
• Margaret Hanson of UC will be the keynote speaker. Subject: Super Open Clusters or Still Forming Globular Clusters.
  
• AWI will have a display in the lobby of the Herget.
  
• Aug. 20 Photo Imaging Meeting 7:30pm at the O.
  
• Aug. 23 CAS Public Mars Night
  
• Renovations: Putting curbs on inner circle of parkway. Pine trees will be topped before Mars Opposition.
  
• Bathroom and kitchenette of Herget are finished.
  
• Refinishing floors of Mitchel Bldg.
  
• Ault Park has one dance left on Aug. 21. Meet at the base of the fountain. We've had a nice turnout for the previous two dances.
  
• Aug. 29, 11pm. Mars Opposition night. Open to the public.
  
• Museum Committee- as renovations finish, will work on museum’s short, medium and long term goals.
  
• Nominations for Officers:
  
• Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen, Bill Bachelder, Frank Huss
  
• VP: Craig Niemi
  
• President: Craig Niemi
  
• Program: Rick Hunter- Mars Launches, Videos and Pictures returned for the Mars Rover.
  

03-July-03

• Our annual picnic at the Observatory.

05-June-03

• June 9- Harbin Park, StarParty. Open to the Public
  
• June 13/14- 33rd Annual Apollo Rendezvous. Observing Saturday night at
  
• John Bryant State Park. Organized by MVAS.
  
• June 18- Next PhotoImaging Meeting. 7:30 at the Observatory.
  
• June 19- Ault Park Dance and Star Party.
  
• Next planning meeting will be held at Indigo's in Hyde Park.
  
• Next general meeting is the July picnic. Bring your own meat.
  
• Renovations: Bathroom/kitchenette in Herget Building is 2 weeks from completion.
  
• Mitchel Building renovations to begin in 2-3 weeks. It should take about 90 days.
  
• Maintenance Committee will help move stuff from Mitchel on Saturday June 21
  
• FotoKids: Off for the summer. Chuck would like for someone else to take over.
• Mars-MER Simulcast Launch this Sunday at 2PM.
  
• Clark Training- June 11 and 25
  
• Grant Martin received an award for all his years of volunteering.
  
• Program: Dave Bosse: History of Eyepieces
  -how the eye processes light
  -refraction
  -how to figure refraction
  -chromatic aberrations
  

01-May-03

• Amateur Telescope Makers -still on hold due to renovations in the Herget Building.
  
• May 10 National Astronomy Day- need FOTO/CAS booth and the astronaut.
  12-5pm at Newport on the Levee. Evening- Banklick Woods Star Gaze.
  
• PhotoImaging -Next meeting is May 21. 7:30pm
  
• Lunar Eclipse is May 15. 9pm -midnight. Open house at the Observatory.
  
• The Observatory will have a "clean-out day". No date yet, but it will happen before the renovations begin on the Mitchel building. See Dave Bosse if you signed up for the Maintenance Committee.
  
• Art Show at the Observatory. Eileen McConkey will be exhibiting pictures from May 1 to June 15. Reception is May 16, 6-9pm. Painting are on sale.
  Prices range from $150-$3000.
  
• Good WebSite: www.mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey
  
• Presentation: Jason Braden showed "A Mars Odyssey"
  Theme: Using Thermal Imaging to determine Life on Mars, Climate,
  Geology and to Prepare for Human Exploration.
  

03-April-03

• Greg announced that he and his wife are expecting their first child this fall.
• Greg will not be running for reelection.
  
• FOTOPhoto met yesterday. Sessions begin with digital 35mm imaging and
  
• Work up to CCD imaging. Meetings have been moved to the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7:30PM.
  
• FOTOKids have purchased new green lasers.
  
• Paul Nohr's Classes are open to FOTO and CAS members.
  -2nd and 4th Monday classes are non-math classes. Beginner level
  -1st and 3rd Tuesday classes are advanced level. Some math and physics involved.
  
• Ault Park Dances: 3rd Thursday in June/July and August. We'll need volunteers to man a table and pass out literature.
  
• Aug. 9, 2003- Kenton County Star Gaze. Dave Bosse will host, but will need some assistance.
  
• Good website: www.cleardarksky.com
  
• Presentation: Astronomy Jeopardy played by 3 teams of 4 FOTO members.
  
• Team I-Lou Frees, Sue Rismiller, Matthias, and Fred Bowman
  
• Team II-Scott Gainey, Chuck Strubbe, Steve Rismiller, Jeff Groen
  
• Team III-Bruce, Michelle, Jeff Green and Rick Hunter (WINNERS)
  

06-March-03

• Thanks to Scott Gainey for the telescope repairs and all who helped him.
• Local Group site should be ready early in April. The Weblog is up and running.
• Still looking for volunteers for a maintenance committee. See John Ventre if you are interested.
• Mar. 22, Saturday, 7PM Clark Training in the Herget Building.
  
• April 12 is Astronomy Day. Ashland Kentucky will have some excellent speakers.
• May 10 is National Astronomy Day
  
• The Observatory is considering having an open house in May during the lunar eclipse. Totality should be around 11PM.
  
• Program: Messier Bingo! Great time, great prizes and we even had a Clear night for viewing!

06-February-03

• A rather somber meeting as we acknowledged the Columbia tragedy. Most were encouraged by the fact that the public wants manned space flight to continue.
  
• Construction news: Upgrading the Herget restroom is scheduled to begin in March. A kitchenette is planned for the West Wing.
• ATM-suspended until after the restroom is updated.
  
• FOTO is considering adding a Maintenance Committee. See John Ventre if you are interested. This would consist of general work needing to be done at the observatory, with the committee being able to turn down any work they do not choose to do.
  
• Program: "Totality". 2nd edition. Book review by Dave Hemmerle. Covers
  
• Early history of eclipse research to the future. Improved sketches and charts.
  
• Part 2: Two sticks and a stopwatch. Lecture by Greg. How the early Greeks figured out the distance from the earth to the moon.

09-January-03

• Our first meeting back at the Observatory. Held in the West Wing of the Herget Bldg. A little crowded, but we're happy to be back home.
  
• ScopeOut 2003 will be held Saturday October 4.
  
• FOTO Imaging Group should start in a month or so.
  
• Star Light, Star Bright- 700 people visited. Big thanks to all who volunteered. It made $18,000 for the observatory.
  
• How to use your Telescope Class- Saturday Jan. 11
  
• We now have a list of all the equipment FOTO has and what needs to be fixed.
  
• 2003 EVENTS:
  1.Lunar Eclipses in May and November
  2.Mars in August
  3.ScopeOut/Bicentennial on Oct. 4
  
• Astronomy News:
  1.New portion of Milky Way discovered. Star ring around the MW. Probably stars from a galaxy that bumped into the MW.
  2.Speed of Gravity equal to Speed of Light.
  3.Extra solar planet found in BINARY star system.
  
• Program:
  Craig and Valerie Niemi presented a slide show of Meteor Crater, Arizona, Lowell Observatory and Yerkes Observatory. Popcorn with the slide show was a big hit.
  

05-December-02

• Our annual Christmas Party was held at the Observatory.
  
• We came, we ate, we drank, we partied!
  

07-November-02

• This is our final meeting at the Church. We will be back at the Observatory after this.
  
• ScopeOut review: Thanks to all the volunteers. No outside backing, so we pretty much broke even. It's more of an outreach program.
  
• Nov. 19 is the best time for the Leonids.
  
• Astrophotography, Paul's classes-- all to begin again in January.
  
• Dec. 5 is the Christmas Party.
  
• Dec. 7-Star Light, Star Bright (SLSB). The Observatory's biggest fund raiser.
  
• 7 houses on the tour, all new. Two have been in before, but both have been remodeled. There will be 2 horse and carriages to take you to the houses on Observatory and Herschel.
  
• See JoAnne Pedersen for $10 discount on "Astronomy" and "Sky and Telescope" magazines.
  
• COC-has approved three new trustees. Names to be announced after next COC Trustee meeting.
  
• Program: Scott Naylor and Steve Rismiller
  
• How to Use Computer Programs/Free Software.
  
• Scott has CD with many programs.
  
• Virtual Moon Atlas-feed in your coordinates and date, it brings up the moon as you see it. Move mouse over lunar feature and it gives much information about it.
  
• Other Software:
  
• Sky Charts, Celestia, Aberrator, Astrosnap, Helios 1 and 2, Registax.
  

03-October-02

• ScopeOut is on the 12th, we need more volunteer for parking.
  
• Election Results:
  
• President: Greg Huber
  
• Vice President: Craig Niemi
  
• Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen
  
• Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Scott Naylor updates Astronet, the FOTO website promoting Stonelick outings. It will be expanded to include CAS, MVAS and other nearby astronomy groups. The new name will be the Local Group.
  
• Craig and Paul Nohr will be promoting ScopeOut on WVXU Thursday 10/10/02.
  
• Phase I Restoration of the Observatory is complete.
  
• The Observatory will be the main feature in Air and Space Magazine in Spring 2003 issue. It will feature observatories from 1842-1930s.
  
• StarLight StarBright will be held Dec. 7 from 2-8pm.
  
• Presentation: Dean Regas gave a presentation on the life of Galileo Galilee. Very interesting and promoted much discussion.
  

04-September-02

• Greg passed around sign up sheet for Scope Out (Oct. 12)
  
• Scott Naylor passed around sheet so you can be advised when anyone goes out to Stonelick.
  
• Valerie Niemi passed around Bicentennial Marker sign up sheet (Sept. 7).
  
• COC Board of Trustees enlarged to 15 members
  
• FOTkids Camp Out went well. Sky was good.
  
• WebLog (BLOG) info board is on the Web. Get to it off the COC page.
  
• Thomas Moore College is breaking ground for a new observatory.
  
• ATM group will start again later this month.
  
• Hidden Hollow Oct. 5/6 Warren Rupp Observatory in Mansfield, OH. Star Party. They have a 36" Newtonian.
  
• Photo Imaging Classes to begin again after Scope Out.
  
• Paul Nohr will have Beginner/Volunteer and Advanced Technology again. Sign up sheet for those interested.
  
• Sept. 14-Using your Telescope class.
  
• Sept. 28-UFO Convention at King's Island
  
• Oct. 4/5- Project Astro- see Dean Regas if you want to assist. It involves 4 visits to a class over one school year.
  
• Observatory clocks are waiting for final jewels and should be ready in mid-fall.
  
• Presentation: Randy Schroeder- Chemistry and Physics of Astronomy
  
• Nominations for Officers:
  
• Secretary: Valerie Niemi
  
• Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen
  
• Vice Pres: Craig Niemi
  
• President: Greg Huber
  

01-August-02

• Beginning in January, FOTO general meetings will move to the West Wing of the Herget Building at the Observatory.
  
• Aug. 10- Meteor Party- Herschel Lake, East Fork and Family Night at the Cincinnati Nature Center
  
• Aug. 15- Ault Park Dance
  
• Aug. 17- All about Kids at the Convention Center
  
• Aug. 17/18 Near Earth Asteroid passes by.
  
• Maury Childs has passed away.
  
• Presentation: Not so Famous Hubble pictures by Greg Huber.
  

11-July-02

• This meeting was the annual FOTO family picnic held on the grounds of the Observatory.
  

06-June-02

• The Observatory has already surpassed the number of people served in a year(in less than 6 months!)
  
• FOTO Picnic has been moved to July 11. BYOM (Bring your own meat)
  
• FOTOKids June 7 Beginning at 6:30 with sun viewing with the filter.
  
• June 8 -Stonelick
  
• June 10- Partial (annular) eclipse at sunset.
  
• June 13- Board of Directors Annual Meeting begins at 5:30pm
  
• June 14/15- Apollo Rendezvous in Dayton.
  
• June 27 and July 18- Solar Programs beginning at 6pm.
  
• Aug. 9 - East Fork Meteor Shower, Sheila has programs.
  
• Dean is coordinating Family nights at the Observatory.
  
• Andy still taking shirt orders.
  
• Program: Standard Candles by FOTO member Dave Bosse.
  Best Standard Candles are trigonometric parallax spectroscopic parallax and type I supernovae
  Nice technical program
  
• Observatory Update: Sod, Lighting and Water Fountain are in. Outside looks great. Running out of money for interior.
  

03-May-02

• Apollo Rendezvous is June 15 and 16
  
• Passed around sign-up sheet for Adler in Chicago.
  
• Scope Out is Sept. 22. We need volunteers.
  
• Mars Viewing Ault Park. Tentative dates June 24 and July 8
  
• History Tours at COC held 2 and 4th Sundays
  
• Astro Meeting at COC held 2 and 4th Wed. Not an ongoing class, so you can come and go.
  
• FOTOKids 8pm. Aug. 10 FOTOKids campout.
  
• Chuck Strubbe will be formally inducted as COC Trustee.
  
• May 9 and 14 -7PM Classes for "O" assistants.
  
• Program: Bob Witkowski- Cosmic Dust and meteorites of Antarctica.
  
• Covered concept of interplanetary dust particles, tour of the South Pole,
  
• ESP collector of particles and Meteorites and Wrongs
  

04-April-02

• Wes Hall has been scraping paint off the Observatory walls to get to the cinder block paint beneath.
  
• There are two telescope classes left.
  
• ATM will try to resume in July.
  
• Dean has changed the program structure to 1 presenter and 3 assistants, due to influx of volunteers.
  
• Ault Park Flower Show- April 27 and 28. We will have 1 telescope with a solar filter. (Sign up sheet for volunteers)
  
• Messier Mini Marathon this summer. July has 93-95 observable objects. August has over 100.
  
• First quarter at the Observatory has recorded 4100 guests.
  
• 3 dances at Ault Park. Normal attendance is 2000/dance. We will have telescope viewing afterwards. June, July and August.
  
• Program: Shane Heilman of QUARK brought in various rockets, some handmade.Showed some videos. Passed out sheets listing what you need to get started as well as listing several websites.
  

07-March-02

• We had a large group tonight, 50 -60 people. Several new members attended.
  
• Astronomy Day is April 20, at the Main Library downtown. FOTO has been asked to man a table of "Bad Astronomy" and tell why it's bad.
  
• February 2002 was a new Observatory record. 1700 people went through. Many due to the telescope classes.
  
• This Friday looks good weather wise for the Messier Marathon. Saturday-not so good. Messier Log Sheet is on the Website.
  
• Ault Park Flower Show-we may set up a telescope in the children's section with a filter for the sun.
  
• Aug. 17- we will have a Star Party in Ault Park.
  
• Construction Report: Now have enough money to finish the Herget Bldg. Should be done by mid-summer. Driveway should be done in a month or so.
  
• WE ARE MISSING A 6" CELESTRON DOBSONIAN. If you have borrowed this telescope, please advise Greg Huber or Craig Niemi.
  
• FOTOKids- tomorrow night will be an astronomy movie with popcorn.
  
• May meeting will be a WXIX studio. Their weatherman will give a tour of the station
  
• March 16- 3pm at the Observatory. Astronomical museum experts will give a report of their finding and suggestions for the Observatory.
  
• We are taking orders for new stone-washed Denim shirts. Logo is the Herget Bldg. National Historic Landmark. Embroidered, long sleeves, sizes XS to 4XL and Tall sizes.
  
• $30 each. $27 to FOTO members.
  
• Program: Lecture by Dr. Paul Herget. History of the Observatory. Recording of the 1973- 100 Celebration of the Herget Building.
  

07-February-02

• No Treasurer's Report.
  
• Thanks to all who helped assist at the telescope classes.
  
• Greg will e-mail the URL of recent reconstruction pictures of the Observatory.
  
• Messier Dates at Stonelick: March 8/9 and March 15/16. Observing logs will be put on the website.
  
• Chuck's Construction Report: Alvan Clark Scope is uncovered. Mechanism for the dome is fixed-but no electricity yet.
  
• Four a/c units have been added. Most plaster just needs to be patched.
  
• Trying to get booth at Ault Park Flower Show April 24-28. Would like to set up scopes if we can staff it.
  
• FOTOKids found objects using RA and declination at their last meeting.
  
• The Observatory has the 2003 Bicentennial plaque. There will be a formal unveiling.
  
• Clocks should all be back and working for 2003.
  
• Presentation: Rick Hunter. Mars Exploration Rover.
  
• Launch date -May/June 2003 to arrive on Mars January 2004.
  
• In depth coverage of instruments on board, many of which
  
• Rick worked on.
  

03-January-02

• Greg passed around photos of the construction at the Observatory.
• John Ventre gave an "under construction" tour after the general meeting.
• Chuck's Report:
  The dome in the main building is out of commission until April 2002.
• Meade (via Jim Groen) donated a video camera to FOTOKids to use with the Mitchel Scope.
• Stonelick dates are Jan. 12 and Jan. 19. There is now a shield on the light near the parking light, thanks to Scott Naylor.
• Beginner telescope classes for the public will begin Saturday, Jan. 5.
  Additional classes are Jan. 12 and 18, Feb.1/9 and 15.
• All are full and have waitlists.
• Anyone will to volunteer to help Paul Nohr with these classes would be greatly appreciated. Fridays 6:30-10:30pm Saturdays 6-10pm.
• Training for new assistants and presenters is Feb. 5, 2002.
• We had door prizes at this meeting! 10 certificates for a free entree at Max and Erma's.
• Program: Greg used Starry Night Pro to show us "10 Super-Cool events to
  Witness in the Solar System". Interesting and fun. Greg will have a list of the dates he used so you can check it out yourself.
  

06-December-01

• Annual Christmas Party. If you weren't there, you missed it! Held at the Observatory, a good time was had by all..

01-November-01

• FOTO Banquet is next month at he Observatory. Sign up sheet passed around for goodies.
• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra "Planets"-passes out many COC flyers
• Processed Membership letter
• Installing ADA ramps. Offices moving into trailer next week. All personal items should be removed form Herget building by Nov 19th.
• Next planning meeting is November 14th.
• Scope Out '02 tentatively scheduled for 9/14, same weekend as Astrofest.
• Stonelick 11/10. Rain out date 11/17 is also Leonid Meteor shower peak.
• Mars Odyssey is in orbit. Rick Hunter who has worked in part on the project showed some of the first infrared images made available from JPL's web site.
• Evening program by John Bevan. Southern Observatories.
  Perth-The old observatory. Professional and amateur use.
  Koolang-Privately owned and operated. Open to the public.
  Siding Springs-Australia's principal professional observatory.
  SkyWatch Observatory and AstroGolf (putt-putt)-Open to the public. During star parties each telescope is pointed to a unique object.
  Melbourne-19th century. Not in use.
  Mt. Stromlo-Administrative site of National Observatory at Siding Springs.
  

04-October-01

• Greg began with a general welcome and passed around a sign-up sheet.
• ATM group is meeting again.
• Dave Benazon is scanning the plates and negatives of the observatory into
  the web-site.
• Observatory News: walls around the pier in the Herget Building have come
  down.
  Mitchel bathrooms are almost done, windows are in the Mitchel classroom
  ADA and dome construction in the Herget building is set to begin in 2-3
  weeks.
  May be possible to keep main building open for tours.
• Oct. 13 Stonelick is expecting 100 parents and scouts. Volunteers would
  be appreciated.
• Oct. 20 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is playing "Planets". 25% discount
  for FOTO members. Tickets range from $9-26. Music begins at 8pm.
• Oct. 27 Shilo. Sheila has organized a night hike.
• Chuck Strubbe led the elections. First opened the floor for any new nominees.
  There were none. Since there was just one person running for each office,
  Tom McDonough moved for a voice vote. This was seconded and the following
  were elected:
  President: Greg Huber
  Vice Pres: Craig Niemi
  Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi
• Greg thanked all the ScopeOut volunteers.
• AstroNews:
  Fred Bowman advised there is a new comet. Magnification of 5 or brighter.
  Due 2004, 4th quarter. There have been 3 good comets in the past 10 years.
• Presentation: Chuck discussed and showed the tape he took of the cleaning of the Mitchel Scope. Paul Nohr, Dick Wessling and John Ventre contributed.
  

06-September-01

• Dean's Family Astronomy Classes are $12.00. Offered in September, October, November, and December.
• Elections are next month. Nominees are:
  President: Greg Huber
  Vice Pres: Craig Niemi
  Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi
• Chuck's Report: Mitchel Building: gutting bathrooms, windows are in the south classroom. Tuck pointing as needed.
• FOTOKids will meet at Cincinnati Astronomical Society if it's not raining.
  November meeting will be about rockets.
  Green laser has been purchased for FOTOKids courtesy of a donation from Cinergy (Sam Vessel)
• Stonelick date is Sept. 15. Backup date is Sept. 22.
• Stargaze at Shiloh Oct. 27. Will include night hikes.
• Program: Greg showed Fox's Lunar Hoax Program and refuted it point by point. Very amusing. *Half the group went to the Observatory to view. Exceptionally clear skies. Huzzah!
  

02-August-01

• All about Kids Aug. 18/19 at the Convention Center.
• Dean has 4 Family Astronomy Classes coming up. He is always looking for volunteers.
• ScopeOut sign up sheets going around. Mike Flick is the keynote speaker.
  Advertised in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy magazine and linked on
  Several Web Pages.
• Chuck's Report: The roof is completed on the Herget Building. It's all copper.
  Restroom renovation in the Mitchel Building is progressing.
• FotoKids will have an informal meeting on Aug. 3 at 8:30pm.
• Don't forget to sell the Christmas ornaments. Realtors and companies like to give them as gifts.
• Foto Imaging will now only meet once a month. Aug. 8 is the next meeting
• Aug. 4- MVAS and CAS Voice of America Viewing
  Aug. 11- Perseid Meteor Shower. Viewing at Caesar's Creek Beach/Campground.
  Stonelick as well. Makeup date for Stonelick is Aug 18 if necessary.
• $856.23- Cinergy (Sam Vessel) donation for FotoKids.
• IRS has waived penalty for late filing of form from 1999.
• Presenter was Jason Braden of Eastern Michigan University. Program:
  Mars: An Enigma within a Conundrum.
  Discussion of sedimentary rocks.
  Check out the Mars Global Surveyor Website.
  

05-July-01

• This was our annual family picnic. Did not attend. Out of town.

07-June-01

• Our next meeting is the summer picnic. FOTO supplies the grill. Open to the whole family.
• Need volunteers for Showcase Cinema June 8 and 9 to promote COC.
• Ault Park is a go for Mars viewing. 9PM to midnight. June 24 and July 8.
• COC package sold for $235(?) WCET Action Auction.
• Scope Out 12-6pm Sept. 22
• Chuck Strubbe is now a COC Trustee. Gave update on renovations at COC.
• COC capital fund drive will begin in a month or so.
• Telescope training on 16" Alvan Clark is June 13 at 8:30PM.
• FOTO kinds Aug. 10 meeting is a campout.
• Program: Dave Bosse -"Longitude" -the history of clocks and timekeeping.

03-May-01

• Apollo Rendezvous is June 15 and 16
• Passed around sign-up sheet for Adler Planetarium in Chicago.
• Scope Out is Sept. 22. We need volunteers.
• Mars Viewing Ault Park. Tentative dates June 24 and July 8
• History Tours at COC held 2 and 4th Sundays
• Astro Meeting at COC held 2 and 4th Wed. Not an ongoing class, so you can come and go.
• FOTOKids 8pm. Aug. 10 FOTOKids campout.
• Chuck Strubbe will be formally inducted as COC Trustee.
• May 9 and 14 -7PM Classes for "O" assistants.
• Program: Bob Witkowski- Cosmic Dust and meteorites of Antarctica.
  Covered concept of interplanetary dust particles, tour of the South Pole, ESP collector of particles
  and Meteorites and Wrongs

05-April-01

• Renewed 501C3 status-good for 5 years
• Weekend trip to Adler in Aug. Lv. Saturday morning. See show. Evening
  Hotel outside town better?
• Mitchel lens removed today for cleaning. Should be back in scope tomorrow.
• June 30- Science Teacher Appreciation Night. Expecting 300 people.
  Need about 10 volunteers.
• Map on display during meeting. Shows changes in "O" grounds.
• Astronomy News:
  MIR is down
  Mars 2001 Launch date is April 7
  Sunspot 9393 was huge and gave off eruption. Second largest in 25 years.
  Larger than the one that took out power in Quebec.
• Project/program
  Making a Cross Staff. Used to measure angles.
• Missing telescopes. Check newsletter.
• Newsletter will have a note reminding you your membership is about to expire in the month prior to expiration.

01-March-01

• Craig began the meeting, held at the Mitchel Bldg. at the Observatory.
  He gave a list of astronomical events happening in our area.
• Scott Naylor need a group of people to talk about astrophotography.
  They will meet on Wednesdays. Greg has sign up sheet.
• Craig showed a program on the southern skies of the Galapagos.
• Bob Casey has a list of renovations at the O. Roof completed as of
  March 1. (All copper). Dome repair begins soon. April ADA ramps, air conditioning
  for Herget Building and new bathrooms for the Mitchel Bldg.
• "The Astronomy of the Bible" by Mitchel is on the internet.
• Messier Marathon- March 23 and 24 at Stonelick. Scott's famous chili will be there.
• Astronomy News:
  Sun's magnetic poles flipped in February.
  SETI is down for a few days.
  NEAR landed on Eros. Worked for several days. NASA will check again in
  three months when it's back from the dark side.
  An article discussed moving the Earth as the Sun gets hotter. Use an
  asteroid in orbit around the sun to swing past the earth and nudge it a little.
• Program:
  Greg gave a program on the Messier Objects.

01-February-01

05-January-01

• Did not attend January meeting.

07-December-00

• FOTO Christmas Dinner held at the Observatory.

02-November-00

• Greg thanked Andy Bruggeman for getting the Observatory postcards.
• 250 people attended Scope Out.
• The December meeting will be the FOTO Banquet Dinner at the Observatory on Dec. 7
• The Christmas ornaments are in. Cost $20. FOTO members, $18. Checks made out to COC.
• Partial eclipse in our area on Dec. 25, 2000.
• FOTOKids will meet on Dec. 8.
• Amateur Telescope Makers (ATM) are meeting again on Wednesday nights.
• Star Light Star Bright is Dec. 9, 2-8PM. We need more volunteers.
• Wolf Planetarium will celebrate it's 50th anniversary on Nov . 5
• John Bevan gave a wonderful program showing us all that Starry Night Pro (computer program) can do.
• Stonelick stargazing is Nov. 25.

05-October-00

• Election Results:
  President: Greg Huber
  Vice President: Craig Niemi
  Treasurer: JoAnn Pedersen
  Secretary: Valerie Niemi

02-September-00

• FOTO Election

04-Nov-99 - The meeting began at 19:30 and Greg Huber dispensed with the month's business in less than 30 minutes.  (Will miracles never cease ?)  Following that Dr. Sitko of the U.C. Astronomy department gave a very good presentation on "Pick and Shovel Astronomy", detailing his research into the formation of solar systems in general and planets in particular.  Following the meeting, members went to the Observatory were a fairly large number of member of the general public  were waiting to get in to observe as part of Astronomy Thursday.  Skies were exceptionally clear and the wind was light.  Both Jupiter and Saturn were high enough to be easily seen with the Mitchel scope.  The Jovian system was in the process of a double eclipse, with both Io and Ganymede casting shadows onto Jupiter's disk, and it was quite impressive.

October- missed

September- missed

July- missed

June - our annual picnic

May- had surgery, Missed meeting

April-had surgery, Missed meeting

March 4, 1999 - meeting was started at 7:30PM by Greg. A sign-up sheet was passed around to sign in. Chuck went over the idea of FOTOKids. Also we discussed the possibility of having a Scope Fair. Minnie gave a Treasurerís Report.

Paul Nohr will give a class for non-observational astronomy and it will be at high school to college level. This will be on Wednesday March 24, 7:00PM This will help volunteers for knowledge to give tours or answer questions.

Tom McDonough gave some comments on the Web Page.

Chuck once again went over some things with FOTOKids. Will be a material fee and would be FOTO member. Next month is first meeting. We all voted for this.

There was a discussion on coexisting with Cinti Observatory Center. Every thing will stay same for FOTO members. This will help fund Observatory instead of coming out of FOTO funds. The motion was passed.

The meeting adjourned at 8PM.

February 4, 1999 - Missed meeting.

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