Newsletter of the Big Bend Astronomical Society, Inc.
 
Please Note

           This Newsletter describes some changes in the frequency of some of our events, so it may be useful to keep this issue for future reference.

Minutes of the May 14 Meeting
by Jim Walker, Secretary

           The Sul Ross Campus was closed on the day of our meeting.  When we gathered at 7:30 PM, the door to 300 Lawrence Hall was locked even though we had reserved the room.  John Bell and I couldn’t find anyone in the Campus Security Office or any security people elsewhere on campus.  Bernie Zelazny contacted a campus operator on his cell phone, who told us someone would come shortly to open the room for us.  Pending the arrival of someone to let us in, President John Bell called the meeting to order as we sat and stood in the hall.  There were 18 people present.
           I reminded the group about the lunar eclipse on May 15, with totality lasting from 10:14 to 11:06 PM our time, CDT.  On the lighting front, I reported a bright new unshielded wall pack installed on the east side of the Elementary School.  When I spoke with Jude Urquídez, the Alpine Code Enforcement Officer, he had already written the school superintendent requesting that the light be shielded in accordance with the Alpine Lighting Ordinance.
           I reminded our members that many people had not yet paid dues for the current year.  Someone suggested that I read the names of members who had paid current dues, which I did.  If you have not yet paid your dues for the current year, please take a minute and send a check to

Betty Grimm, Treasurer  - 1001 Fighting Bucks Ave, Apt F-22 -  Alpine, TX 79830

           We continued our meeting in Room 300 after a security man appeared and let us in.
 
Treasurer’s Report
Betty Grimm submitted the following treasurer’s report:

Working balance March 31, 2003               $166.31
April Receipts              130.00
April disbursements          00.00
Working balance April 30, 2003               $296.31
Alpine Community Credit Union Savings Account
Opened 05/15/01

Savings balance April 30, 2003               $620.65
Newman Fund CD

 Newman Fund CD balance April 30, 2003      $4,870.90 
           Betty reported that our Newman Fund CD with the Alpine Credit Union is coming up for renewal this month.  The credit union would pay only 2.35% interest on a new CD, while the Consumer Price Index inflation rate on May 1 was 3.03%.  Thus, if we deposited our fund with the credit union, it would lose value through inflation.
           Dale Evans suggested that we consider investing in an I-Bond (I for Inflation), a federal security which pays a rate of interest 1/2% greater than the current inflation rate.  Betty Grimm later found that the interest on I-Bonds is fixed twice yearly, on May 1 and December 1, at the then current Consumer Price Index inflation rate plus 1/2%.  The current interest rate, as of May 1, is 4.66%.  Compare that with 2.35% available at the credit union, and even less at the bank!  Thus, we have invested our Newman Memorial Fund in a $5,000 I-Bond.  Many thanks to Dale Evans for bringing I-Bonds to our attention.
           Barbara and I noted that attendance at star parties has been very spotty.  Last month, only two neighbors came, and neither was a BBAS member.  Occasionally no one has come to a star party.  Attendance at our regular meetings improved after we began meeting every other month.  We suggested that we might have star parties every other month, in those months when we do not have a regular meeting.  Bernie Zelazny moved  that we adopt that schedule, Dale Evans seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.  Therefore, beginning our new schedule immediately, we will have NO STAR PARTY IN MAY.  We WILL have a star party in June, but no regular meeting (see Coming Events).
           We will send a Newsletter in those months in which we have general meetings; otherwise there will be no Newsletter unless special conditions warrant.  We’ll see how all this works out, and we’ll evaluate as we go along.
 
 
The Strange Universe
Reported by Jim Walker

           John Bell presented a video on several strange aspects of our universe.  The video began with scenes of the 23-foot mirror en route to the Mt. Hopkins Observatory in Arizona, working its way up the narrow mountain road.
           The idea of a strange force working against gravity originated with Einstein’s cosmological constant, an idea he abandoned – too soon.  Later observations have shown that very distant galaxies are receding faster than nearer galaxies, contrary to expectations based on the big bang theory.  Distance and velocity measurements are based on observations of Type 1a supernovas, which are nearly constant in brightness, serving as standard light sources.  If we know how bright a light really is, and we measure how bright it looks, then we can find its distance.  And if we measure the spectrum of a moving light source, then we can find its velocity.  About 35 Type 1a supernovas have been observed from the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, where astronomers sometimes work at an altitude of 14,000 feet.
           It appears that only about 5% of the universe consists of baryonic matter, the familiar normal stuff that we can see and feel.  The rest is alleged to be strange matter – so strange that we don’t know what it is, or much about its properties. . . .  Curioser and curioser, as Alice would say.
 
¡2003 Dues Now Payable
for each Voting Member!
Still only $20.00!
If you are reading the Newsletter online,
please print our treasurer's address
on an envelope and send in your dues today.
Betty Lou Grimm, Treasurer 
Big Bend Astronomical Society, Inc.
1001 N Fighting Buck Avenue, Apt F-22 
Alpine, TX 79830

¡COMING EVENTS!

*** STAR PARTY ***

Jim & Barbara Walker's
 9:30 PM, SATURDAY, June 28

Sun sets at 9:00 PM.  NO POTLUCK SUPPER:  It’s way too late to eat!

NO ALTERNATE DATE

Please e-mail Jim & Barbara Walker  or call 915-364-2467 if you need further information.

*** REGULAR MEETING ***

7:30 PM, Wednesday, July 16, 2003
300 Lawrence Hall, Sul Ross Campus
 
   Video: Destination Mars

Visit the Schedule Page for more info.
 

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