"Hello Editors!Although Mark Allison makes his point about the proliferation of names for sky objects, he is in error about the Saguaro Astronomy Club's "110 Best of the NGC" observing list. In my 15 years with the club, I have never heard any officer or other member refer to any object on the list as "SAC 18" or any other "SAC" number. Our published book on the subject refers only to the NGC numbers and already existing catalogs: Messier etc. It is a list, and only a list, similar to those published by the Astronomical League and RASC, and designated numbers just do not exist. Everyone makes lists and they are quite useful, but SAC has never named or "renamed" anything in the sky."
(copyright 2006, Jack Jones Ltd.) :-) Jack----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 12:18 PM Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Numbers assigned to NGC objects in SAC best of list Rick; Thanks for taking this on, we shall see if S&T decides to put your letter into the magazine in the future. Steve Coe -----Original Message----- From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of saguaroastro@xxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:46 AM To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Tom Polakis Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Numbers assigned to NGC objects in SAC best of list For the record, I wrote a letter to the editor of S&T pretty much explaining that SAC has no intention of "Renaming" anything, I pointed out that I've never heard a SAC member refer to "SAC 18" and emphasized that the SAC 110 is merley a list of intersting objects for people to use as an observing guide. I'll post my letter when I get home and an access my sent mail folder. I've receive no confirmation that S&T got my message nor that they plan to run it. the last letter I wrote, they did send me a note saying they would use it. I guess we'll see when the next issue comes out. Clear Skies Rick