The Warren Astronomical Society Paper

Volume 30, Number 5, May, 1998

Table of Contents

Computer Chatter

by Larry Kalinowski

(Editor's Note: Due to the lack of significant computer news, this month's column will contain only astronomical news. Sorry computer buffs.)

Mark your calendar on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2. That's the days for the 2nd Annual Kensington Metro Park Spring Festival and Astronomical Bash (star party). Astronomical clubs from southeastern Michigan will be there, selling, demonstrating and teaching astronomy to all who may be interested. Our twenty-two inch Dob will be there and so will dozens of other telescopes. There will be a car fee charged at the entrance gate if you don't have a Metropark pass.

If your planning to participate in the astronomy day festivities at Cranbrook on Saturday, May 2, you'll still have time to pack up your 'scope and be at Kensington Mertropark in the evening.

Cy-don-ia, Cy-don-ia....what makes your big face so hard....to recognize as a natural formation? Mars' Global Surveyor returned another picture of the notorious face on Mars and this time, from another lighting perspective, it shows a typical desert formation of gullies and ravines. Quite a natural setting, even if I have to say so myself. Lets's face it (pun) anyone can see something unnatural in natural formations, if they keep trying.

The X-38, a space glider that has been designed to return six astronauts from the International Space Station, has been successfully launched and returned, in an unmanned mode, from the underbody of a B-52 bomber. This test brings us one step closer to that multinational space effort and a vehicle that can return humans from space in case of an emergency.

The Keck telescope has discovered the most distant galaxy known to man. It's called RD1 and the distance is supposed to be twelve billion light years. That makes the universe at least twelve billion years old, enforcing the estimate that it could be as much as fifteen billion, as some astronomers believe.

If you're new to astronomy as a hobby and need to make a decision regarding which magazine to subscribe to (Astronomy or Sky And Telescope), I would recommend Astronomy magazine if you're a novice. Sky And Telescope is recommended if you've been into astronomy for awhile or are an advanced amateur.

AN APRIL COMPUTER MEETING. After three months of no meetings at all, the computer group will gather again at the home of Jack Szymanski. Jack is a well known amateur astrophotographer, computer buff and audiophile, a combination that, more than once, has generated music of the night in past astronomy presentations at local, regional and national conventions. He welcomes any one interested in those activities to join him at his home in Mt. Clemens, MI, at 23568 Myrtle. Tel: 810-468-5479. A map will be available at the next Macomb meeting, showing how to locate his residence. A free Windows planetarium program will be given to all new attendees.

Even though the computer group meetings are being discontinued at my place, there will be additional meetings in the future. Gary Gathen will continue to hold meetings in the months of May through October. Other meetings will be scheduled at other places throughout the year. Keep your eyes on this column for announcements. You can reach me at 810-776-9720 if you have any other questions related to astronomy and computers.

Minutes of Meetings

by Bob Watt
Macomb, March 19 1998


Cranbrook, April 3, 1998
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