[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.

"Now wait just a minute!" I can hear you saying, "Wasn't this the topic of our February 23 meeting?" Yes, it was! But because we were so busy observing outside, we never got to the "program." So join us Saturday night, March 30 at 8:00 when we will open a box containing a telescope donated to Explorit. What kind of scope is it? Are all the parts in working order? The printing on the box advertises it as a 6-inch diameter, commercially made Newtonian design, with a Dobsonian mount. This sounds like a fun learning experience with lots of 'hands on' potential. This time we will really try to get the scope assembled, and, weather permitting, we'll test it outside.

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So what transpired at the February 23rd meeting? We had two telescopes featured and approximately 15 members present. Both scopes were "great" but for different reasons.

First, was a small, but stable 3" or 4" reflector that belonged to Pierre and his son. They were from Winters, and their telescope was inexpensive, small, and old but still great in its way. The mount was solid, though the fine adjustment in azimuth needed some fixing. It was made by Tasco, and is the type of telescope that many of today's amateurs began with. The optics probably needed a careful cleaning, but still allowed good wide-angle views of the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. The Great Nebula in Orion was conspicuously nebulous (cloudy looking). It was great fun to see just how much enjoyment one of these inexpensive little instruments could produce, and we were all grateful it was there.

Alvin Huey, from Folsom, brought the second telescope, a slim, trim, 22-inch Dobsonian. Alvin showed how the scope gathered light, and how he had used light weight materials to make a large instrument he could disassemble alone and carry in his SUV to a dark site. Of course, the front yard of Explorit is not a dark-sky area, and the Moon was like a searchlight overhead. But we looked at Jupiter, the Lunar terminator, Saturn, and the Great Nebula in Orion. The views, especially of the planets, were jaw-dropping. The sky was especially transparent and still for much of the time. We weren't able to use 1100X, as Alvin has done looking at Jupiter on other occasions, but at 328X we had very crisp views of the disk of Jupiter displayed in more detail, contrast, and color than I have ever seen. Saturn's rings were magnificent, of course. Is it any wonder that we stayed outside and enjoyed the views? Two telescopes, both Newtonian in design, and both providing fun and excitement in their own ways; a wonderful evening's entertainment under the stars!

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Were you one of the thousands of attendees at last August's 2-day celebration of astronomy, the second annual DAVIS STAR SHOW event at the Veterans Center and adjoining Community Park? If so, you might find a picture of yourself posted at the Internet site for the THIRD ANNUAL DAVIS STAR SHOW.
This year the show will be held Friday and Saturday, July 19th and 20th at the same location. Would you or your group be interested in participating? Contact Yvette Mulholland or Trina Walley of the DCVB at (530) 297-1900

The Astronomy Club is hosted by Dennis Smith with the assistance of Tim Feldman and other eager astronomy buffs. The club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.