The big event for the June meeting was the Trade and Swap time we had before we actually started observing. I had kinda expected a couple of gadgets but I was pleasently suprised when everone began to arrive. Mainly Ben, who we all affectionately refer to as the "LASS used scope dealer". Ben had everything from a 10 inch DOB down to magazines that were old enough to be called antiques. He made a few sales and seemed quite pleased with the overall outcome. I even think he sold his 10 inch DOB to one of our clubmembrs. That deal is still in the works however. Scot showed up with a very good scope mount but as of now , it didn't get any action.
When the dust settled, we got down to some serious observing. Seeing condition were very good but the wind cause a lot of problems with the DOB's. Doug and Russ declined to set Mr T. up because of the strong breezes. We did have two 10 inch DOB's and one 15 inch DOB set up and we all made good use of them. It was truly a swap meet as we went from scope to scope looking at what each one had found. I believe that M-51 was as good as I have ever seen it. We also looked at a new galaxie for some of us, NGC 4265, and it was simply georgeous. A face on galaxy with a lot of detail. I don't see how Messier missed it. There was a lot of other things we looked at but I enjoyed 4265 the best.
The attendance was not what I had hoped for but the action was great. We didn't stay out very long because of the wind but since we couldn't get started until after 9:30, when I came in at 1:30, it seemed like it had been a short observing session. We did have one new guest, Jason Irby, who decided on the spot to become a member. Jason is going to be a very active and helpful additon to our small arsenal of observers. He has his own observing site complete with a roll off observatory building about 6 miles from LASS on highway 281. Jason is a visual and imaging observer so we will be taking full advantage of his experience. He has already volunteered to set up a LASS discussion group on Yahoo and that site is already up and working. Good on you Jason. There has already been some message traffic on the site.
I decided to make a big change in how we observe here at the LASS site and am now making the site available ANY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY night providing that I will be at home and avialable. There are some conditions to this change. First and most improtant, anyone wanting to come out must call me and find out if I will be at home on the desired night. I am not yet comfortable with just having folks show up on any evening without knowing about it in advance. If I have other plans for the evening that would interfer, I will not make the site available. I might not even come out to observe with you but if I am home, you will be welcome to come out. The clubhouse and grounds will be open but you are on your own as far as any refreshments are concerned. This is an experiment and may be changed or modified at any time. We'll give it a couple of months for evaluation.
SOME OBSERVING HELP---MAYBE
I have done some work on the "observing list page" that I promised to develop for the LASS web site. You can investigate what I have done but clicking on the "Observing List" link on the main page of this site. It will still take some effort on your part to develop an observing list but depending on what you are trying to do, these lists should be of some help. I especially like the one that develops a list for any gived date you select. Give some of them a try and let me know what you think. Changes and or suggestions are welcomed.
THE "LASS DISCUSSION GROUP" SITE
A little more information on the LASS DISCUSSION GROUP site that is sponsored by Yahoo. All of the regular members of LASS were sent an e-mail message informing them about the new site that Jason set up for us. Only folks that are on the LASS list will be able to sign up but anyone can post to the site. If you haen't signed up please do so soon and give it a try. It is a very good way of informally keeping in touch with each other as well as posing and answering any questions you might have. For those of you that may be a little timid about using the internet or e-mail, this would be a good way lessen your tensions. Jason is the modorator and administrator of the site. Give it a try at least once.