[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.

Join us Saturday night, May 26th at 7:30 when we will review the upcoming apparition of Mars. Mars won't be visible for the meeting, since it doesn't rise until around 10:30 p.m., but we can "prepare" for its viewing in upcoming weeks, as it rises earlier in the southeast with every passing week. The planet will be nearest to Earth in mid-June, but it won't get much higher in the sky than 25 degrees above the southern horizon. De-spite this southern path, Mars will pass closer than at any time in the past 11 years. The shortest distance between the planets will be on June 21st, when it will be approximately 40,000,000 miles away.

Our meeting will include a slide show on what we know and don't know about Mars, and how amateur astronomers can best prepare for viewing this object. It is the only heavenly body, other than the Moon, whose surface features we can see with our backyard telescopes. Weather permitting, we'll adjourn after the meeting to view the Moon and other attractions of the spring sky.

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April Meeting report: Approximately 15 avid amateurs attended our meeting to learn why and how amateurs sketch impressions of the images they see through their telescopes. We were fortunate to have Alvin Huey present to discuss his personal experiences as an observer. Alvin also printed some blank information cards and explained how to use them to describe the viewing conditions and draw deep sky objects for your permanent observing record. Alvin also shared his enjoyment of deep sky observing by providing the group with copies of his brief written introduction to this aspect of our hobby. Thank you Alvin for your many contributions and also for bringing your telescope! We were also grateful to Larry Snyder, who shared views of the Moon, stars and other objects through his telescope. For members who receive these comments by mail, I've enclosed Alvin's "Intro to Deepsky" notes. Those who receive these comments by e-mail will have Alvin's notes attached as a file.

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SPECIAL EVENT. The Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society and the Sunrise Recreation and Park District presents their annual ASTRONOMY DAY, Saturday, May 19th, 2001 From Noon until 10:00 PM At Rusch Park, 7801 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA 95610. For more information call (916) 725-1585 Free activities and displays for all ages include:

Star Lab Portable Planetarium Shows

Meteorite, Astrophotography and Telescope Displays

Planet Walks and Interactive Astronomical Experiments

Junior Astronomer Club Activities

Computer Software for Astronomy Demonstrations

Telescope Making Workshop, with Free Project Star Galileo Telescopes (100)

SVAS College Scholarship Applications

Free Balloons and Astro-Paks, with valuable printed astronomy material

Telescope Viewing by Day (with sun-safe filters) and by Night (Weather Permitting)

About the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society:
The SVAS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment of astronomy by its members and to educate the public about astronomy. They and their members have been very active in the Davis club events, especially the plans for the second Davis Star Show on August 24-25. Membership to the SVAS is open to all interested persons. Dues are $25 per year. Members receive the informative monthly SVAS Newsletter and access to Henry Grieb Observatory located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, east of Sacramento. Monthly meetings are held at California State University, Sacramento at 6000 J St. in Mendocino Hall, Room 1015, located next to the Hornet Bookstore. Meetings are held on the third Friday of each month. Meetings commence at 7:30PM. The public is invited to monthly meetings, and there is no charge for admission. Monthly star parties are open to members and guests only. For information about the SVAS and its activities, call the SVAS Hotline at SVAS-111 (782-7111). To join, send your name, address and phone number with a check for $25 to: SVAS, PO Box 15274, Sacramento, CA 95851-0274. Web site: http://www.skywatchers.org/

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WHAT'S UP FOR MAY? Here are a couple of nice sights in the west at Sunset:

First: On Thursday, the 10th, Taurus's red star Aldebaran and its star cluster the Pleiades are joined by the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn around 8:10 p.m. just above the setting sun. Next: Mercury is easy to view this month and on Monday the 21st at sunset (around 8:13 p.m.) it will be approximately 20 degrees above the setting Sun and 5 degrees above Jupiter.

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Hope to see you!

Dennis