[The background above is part of an image by the Hubble Space Telescope of the Crescent Nebula.]

WHERE: AT EXPLORIT Science Center, 3141 5th Street, Davis.

MEETING TOPIC: NEAR-EROS

Join us Saturday night, March 31st at 7:30 for a meeting dedicated to that plucky space probe: NEAR; and its new home, the asteroid Eros.

We'll trace the history of NEAR from its 26-month-long construction to its launch in 1966, and its 4-year voyage to asteroid Eros. Eros is a near-Earth object approximately the size of Man-hattan island. Why was NEAR sent to Eros? Why did it take NEAR so long to get there? What has NEAR discovered about that peanut-shaped world? We will consider these questions and more during our slide show presentation. Next, we will adjourn to the outdoors for some star gazing. If the weather is not clear, we will try our hands at making paper models of the NEAR space craft!

February's Meeting was attended by approximately 15 members, eager to discover more about telescopes. We learned that telescopes are designed to do 2 things: gather light to make the object brighter, and magnify the resulting image. We discussed the difference between refractor and reflecting telescopes, and how the two types are combined in catadioptric scopes. We weren't able to view the night sky because of clouds, so we used 2" diameter Styrofoam balls and 5" CDs to make models of Saturn. To make your own model, use crayons to make stripes on the ball to mimic the cloud bands on Saturn. Cut the ball in half along its equator. A bread knife works well in this role. Finally, glue the hemispheres to the CD to make a model of Saturn, "Lord of the Rings."

It appears that the Davis Star Show, which will be held August 24-25, has secured Sky and Telescope Magazine as a major sponsor. Larry Snyder announced the good news February 12. Preliminary information regarding the agreement suggests that Sky Publishing Corporation may provide:

1. Funds to assist rental expenses for the facilities.

2. Advertisement in the August 2001 issue.

3. Senior Editor J. Kelly Beatty as guest speaker from Sky & Telescope

4. Assistance in obtaining other qualified speakers. The tentative list of speakers includes: Alex Filippenko, Derek Buzasi, and Bob Naeye

5. A link from the Sky & Telescope Events page to the Davis Star Show web page (www.davisstarshow.com).

6. A short list of appropriate vendors to contact as possible exhibitors.

7. Door prizes.

Congratulations to the groups working to produce this exciting event! If you are interested in more information or lending a hand, please contact me.

Mir spacecraft has been orbiting the Earth for 15 years and in March it‚s coming down. According to www.space.com: "Russian space officials now expect the 130-ton Mir to naturally fall from space on March 26, plus or minus seven days. Nobody can tell for sure how solar winds will impact the Earth's atmosphere, causing it to expand and slow down the Mir as it speeds around the planet." It is expected to re-enter the atmosphere 1,850 miles east of the southern tip of New Zealand. For more information and a neat simulation movie go to: www.mirreentry.com

Here's a little quiz about a constellation that is associated with a description of the weather during the month of March:

"March comes in like a _____ and goes out like a lamb." Which mighty constellation contains these wonders?

1. Apparent origin of the Leonid meteors in mid November (17-18) around 100 meteors /minute in a good year.

2. Regulus "Little King" Half again larger and 160 times brighter than sun. Our moon & planets appear to "pass" by it. It is actually 85 light years away.

3. Denebola "the tail" star, is 43 light years away.

4. Algieba a bright double star is 90 light years distant, an orange/yellow pair moving around each other every 600 years or so.

5. R Leonis (5 degrees west of Regulus) varies in brightness from 10th to 6th magnitude over 312 days. It is a "Red Giant" 260 times brighter than our sun. and 500 light years distant.

6. M65, a spiral galaxy of magnitude 9.3. Bright, very large, much extended; gradually brightening to a bright central nucleus. 24 million light years away.

7. M66, a spiral galaxy of magnitude 9. Bright, very large; much extended, much brighter in the middle; 22 million light years away.

8. M95. Barred Spiral Galaxy. Mag 9.7. Bright, large, round, gradually much brighter toward a nucleus. 27 million light years away.

9. M96. Spiral Galaxy. Mag 9.2 Very bright and large, little extended, very suddenly much brighter in the middle, mottled. 27 million light years away.

Maybe we'll be able to see some of these objects at our March Meeting!

2001 A Space Adventure. Contrary to its name, space is not empty! Follow in the steps of astronauts and astronomers by exploring the wonders of space and the complexity of our universe. Check out this special exhibit through April 7 at Explorit!