[AZ-Observing] Thanks to SAC

From: stevecoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: "az-observing@fre" <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:31:30 -0400 (EDT)
I give the editor of the SAC news permission to reproduce this in the
November newsletter, if he so desires.

Giving "Thanks" to the Saguaro Astronomy Club

by Steve Coe

I would like to take a moment to give thanks for SAC.  I made it to 60
years old this year and I have been a SAC member for 30 of those years and
have enjoyed those years very much.  November is the month of Thanksgiving
and so I am motivated to thank SAC members for continuing to create a
lively and fun group for observers of the sky.

I spent a week at the Antennas site in October and observed and
photographed the sky.  I was joined by several club members and I enjoyed
chatting with them and exchanging observations in our telescopes as the
stars moved overhead.  We took some break time and told stories about
everything from eyepieces, filters, new astronomy software and even
science fiction movies on DVD.  It was all good.  It served to remind me
that I am a member of the best astronomy club in this arm of the
galaxy--but, I am prejudiced.

There have been many fun and memorable times with the members of this
club.  The eclipse cruise and all the fun we had capped by a beautiful
solar eclipse near Aruba.  Traveling to see the Very Large Array in New
Mexico, the MMT south of Tucson and several trips to Kitt Peak.  Going to
Australia with David Fredericksen and Chris Schuur to observe Halley's
Comet and all that southern sky splendor.

As far as observing goes, we have several decades of viewing the stars
together.  From Buckeye Hills, Dugas Road, Cherry Road, Fessler's Ranch,
Sentinel, Antennas and 5 Mile Meadow we have consistently had a large
percentage of the club members show up, set up a wide variety of
telescopes and let the fun begin.

We have had a group of astronomical computer users who have helped to
create and maintain an excellent list of objects to view.  These lists
include:  deep sky objects, lunar features, double stars, red stars, urban
objects and asterisms.  They are all available for free at
www.saguaroastro.org.

The Amateur Telescope Makers Group has been active at all levels of
telescope making from building entire telescopes to helping with
accessories.  I have often shown up with a problem and had someone else in
the group offer a solution.  I have seen several ATM group members jump in
and help someone for hours to get their set up working in top condition.

Did I mention the meetings?  We often get interesting speakers who come
from a variety of disciplines.  Listening to Rik Hill, Father George
Coyne, David Bernstein and many others is fascinating and inspirational. 
And...we have time to discuss it all at JB's restaurant.

I have thought about the club members who are not with us anymore.  Pierre
Schwaar, Curt Taylor, Wally Brown, Bob Gardner and others I can't recall
are observing the stars from the other side.  Because we will all
certainly join that group someday, we need to get out and enjoy the sky as
much as we can now.  The stars are not immortal, why should we think that
we are going to live forever?

And so, I would like to thank those of you who have particated in the
Saguaro Astronomy Club over the years.  May this only be a great
beginning.

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[AZ-Observing] Thanks to SAC

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