The Denver Observer - The DAS Newsletter

The Monthly Newsletter of the Denver Astronomical Society

Current Online Issue of
The Denver Observer

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Current Online Issue: May 2013

May 2013 (1.5MB)
Ron Hranac's view of the big and small, Dennis Cochran's May Skies; book review of Caleb Scharf's Gravity's Engines (the latest on black holes), Lisa Judd's primer on seeing and transparency, NASA info on the recent storm on Saturn, Roger Clark's Serengeti Milky Way image; commentary on comets by Frederick Miller, PhD. Cover photo of comet PanSTARRS and M31 by Darrell Dodge.
April 2013 (8.5MB)
Comet PanSTARRS issue. April Skies, Ron Hranac's first "President's Corner," Lisa Judd's "Eclipse and Southern Skies" trip report, PanSTARRS images by DAS members: Roger Clark, Darrell Dodge, Ron Hranac, Don Lynn, Ron Pearson, and Greg Wimpey. Joe Gafford's M3.
March 2013 (2MB) S&S Insert
Part 2 of "Ridiculously Tiny Telescopes;" Ron Pearson's farewell "President's Corner;" Messier Marathon Preview; Comet PanSTARRS info; Job Jar; March Skies; 2013-14 election results; astrophotos by Ron Pearson, Joe Gafford, and Darrell Dodge.
February 2013 (3MB)
Jack Eastman describes his "ridiculously tiny" telescopes; review of "Alone in the Universe," Ron Pearson's President's Corner on observing comets in 2013; asteroid 2012 DA14 flyby; February Skies.
January 2013 (2MB)| S&S Insert
Bill Ormsby Memorial Issue; Presidents Corner; January Skies; Trip Report: Arizona Science & Astronomy Expo; DAS Job Jar. Images by Ron Pearson (C/2012 K5 LINEAR) and Darrell Dodge (M78 complex).

2012

December 2012 (6MB)
Year of the Comets?; Beginner's Bits: Filters; Tim Pimentel's Chamberlin Clocks; NASA Space Place: Goldilocks Zone; iamges by Darrell Dodge (Angel Nebula) and Ron Pearson (Orion Rising); Jumble Puzzle.
November 2012 (3MB)
Jack Eastman on this year's Okie-Tex star party; Dennis Cochran's November Skies; President's Corner; Colorado Astronomy Day Wrapup; Herschel Space Telescope Science Team by NASA's Space Place; astro images by Joe Gafford (Double cluster) and Darrell Dodge (Iris Nebula); and Alan Erickson's narrowband Elephant's Trunk.
October 2012 (3.1MB)
October Skies and President's Corner; First Showing of "The City Dark" in Denver; Beginner's Bits: Meteor Showers; CAD Preview.
September 2012 (3.0MB)
Cover image of the Rho Ophiuchi region by Joe Gafford. September Skies; the September speaker Peg Alig; the DAS Adopt-a-Telescope project; the BioBlitz sky brightness program; deciphering Greek alphabet and other star designations. Additional images provided by Roger Clark (Milky Way), and Darrell Dodge (M27, the Dumbbell Nebula.)
August 2012 (3.9MB)
"RTMC or Bust" by Jack Eastman; Presidents Corner; August Skies; Recent NASA Discoveries; IDA membership contest; Okie-Tex Star Party Preview; Windscreen tests. Glorious images by Roger Clark (Milky Way), Patrick Gaines (Perseid), and Ron Pearson (Solar Prominence).
July 2012 (6.4MB)
Focus on the 2012 Transit of Venus at DMNS and Chamberlin; the Dark Site Oil Well; July Skies, Denis Cochran.
June 2012 (3.7MB)
Photos of the annular eclipse submitted by DAS members from many places in the western U.S., June Skies, President's Corner, the Summer Sky for beginners by Lisa Judd, info and hints for doing the Astronomical League's Sunspotter observing program, Dark Site update on the new windscreen.
May 2012 (3.5MB)
"May Skies;" President's Corner; annular eclipse and Venus transit observing events; recent DAS AL Observing Awards; Europe's Rossetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko; Star Colors for beginners, NASA's call for amateur observations of asteroids; puzzles by Jack Eastman & Lisa Judd.
April 2012 (1.3MB)
"April Skies;" President's Corner; info on special DAS and DMNS observing events upcoming in 2012; a Beginners Bits on learning constellations; "Planet in the Machine" by NASA; the new DAS Job Jar; a preview of the April General Meeting on the Herschel Space Telescope, and view images by Ron Pearson and Darrell Dodge.
March 2012 (3.3MB) "Messier Month"
Resolving Globular Clusters with Collins I³ Eyepieces, by Ed Mihelich; Messier "Beginner's Bits" and "Bubbler" answers, Lisa Judd; Messier Marathon Preview; March Skies by Dennis Cochran; President's Corner; Banquet Info; Images by Darrell Dodge, Joe Gafford, Brian Kimball and Steve Solon.
February 2012 (6.5MB - best images) (794KB)
February Skies, Dennis Cochran; March Banquet speaker, Bruce McCandless II and invitation; President's Corner; "Magnitude" for novices, by Lisa Judd; GOES App from NASA; images by Joe Gafford (NGC247) and Darrell Dodge (Heart Nebula.) "Messier Bubbler" quiz.
January 2012 (4.96MB)
January Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner, Ron Pearson; Dawn at Vesta Update, NASA Space Place; cover image of Thor's Helmet, Darrell Dodge.

2011

December 2011 (2.1MB)
December Skies, Dennis Cochran; Observing Asteroid 2005 YU55, Mike Hotka; 2011 Okie-Tex, Jack Eastman; Michael Carroll, January Speaker; Holiday Party News. Photos by Darrell Dodge (Flaming Star Nebula) and Joe Gafford (Asteroid 2005 YU55 sequence); Dob Maze answer, Lisa Judd.
November 2011 (4.1MB)
Steve Innes Memorial Issue. Ron Pearson, Guest Editor. President's Column - About Steve Innes; Cover Meteor Photo by Steve Innes. November Skies; "What Telescope is for Me?"; November Galaxies, Darrell Dodge; Holiday Party info and registration form; Finder Chart for Asteroid 2005YU55.
October 2011 (12.8MB) (796kB)
Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship Award Winners; President's Corner; October Skies; Comet Garradd finder charts; Vesta Fiesta Photo; Maze puzzle for cloudy nights; NASA'a Space Place: Dark Clues to the Universe; images by Joe Gafford (Comet Garradd) and Darrell Dodge (Wizard Nebula & Pacman Nebula).
September 2011 (9.7MB) (971kB)
Brooks Observatory Dedication (article & President's Corner); September Skies; CAD preview; Solar System Size Surprise, NASA Space Place; Dr. Doug Biesecker to speak on space weather at Sept meeting; Grand Canyon star party; Images by Darrell Dodge (M8/M20 region), Brian Kimball (Comet Garradd/M71), Dr. Roger Hassell (ISS crossing the moon); answers to Galaxy crossword; September New Astronomer's Den star chart.
August 2011 (10.2MB) (825Kb)
August Skies; Jack Eastman's RTMC Travel Journal; President's Corner; Info on Brooks Observatory Dedication; Vesta Fiesta preview; August Astronomer's Den Star Chart; Lisa's Galaxy Crossword. Images by Darrell Dodge and Joe Gafford.
July 2011 (9.4MB) (919kB)
July Skies, Dennis Cochran; Mike Hotka, benefits of doing the AL Observing Programs; President's Corner, Ron Pearson; Jamie Riggs, Radio Astronomy, July speaker; Elephant Trunk cover image, Darrell Dodge; The Sun, by David Wolf; Planets Among the Stars, NASA.
June 2011 (8.6MB) (688kB)
June Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner, Ron Pearson; Gathering at the Grange, Keith Pool; June meeting: Bob Koff on how amateur astronomers can contribute to science; Brooks Observatory Taking Shape, Darrell Dodge; June 2011 New Astronomer's Den Star Chart, Steve Solon; crossword puzzle by Lisa Judd; NASA Space Place: The Milky Way Project; two astro images by Darrell Dodge (M13 and Leo Trio).
May 2011 (9.3MB) (703kB)
Cleaning of a Classic Part Two, by Jack Eastman; May Skies; President's Corner; May 2011 New Astronomer's Den chart, Steve Solon; astro images by Darrell Dodge and Joe Gafford.
April 2011 (2.4MB)
Cleaning of a Classic Pt One of Two, by Jack Eastman; April Skies; President's Corner; April 2011 New Astronomer's Den star chart, Steve Solon; GOES-R Zombie Fighter, NASA Space Place; Little Thompson Observatory Field Trip Planned; Images by Brian Kimball (Rosette in Hubbell Palette); Darrell Dodge (Witch Head & Rosette); Ron Pearson, (Discovery & ISS).
March 2011 (2.5MB)
Messier Marathon, March Skies, President's Corner, Spring Banquet speaker Naomi Pequette and registration, NASA Space Place: Thank Goodness the Sun is Single. Images by Alan Erickson (Jellyfish Nebula), Steve Solon (Andromeda Galaxy), Darrell Dodge (M81/82), and Joe Gafford (IC 410 - The Tadpoles).
February 2011 (2.9MB)
Simple Aluminum Dobsonian Telescope, by David Shouldice; Help Wanted - DAS; February Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner; Planets in Strange Places, MASA Space Place; astro images by Darrell Dodge (Christmas Tree and Cone Nebula), Steve Solon (M46/M47 & NGC 2438), Joe Gafford (NGC 281 - Pac Man Nebula).
January 2011 (3.9MB) S&S January Insert
International Dark Sky Association, Carla Johns; President's Corner; January Skies; DAS at "The Night the Stars Fell;" Huge Space Molecules, NASA Space Place; Solstice Total Eclipse photos by Brian Kimball, Joe Gafford, and Ron Pearson

2010

December 2010 (5.3MB) S&S Holiday Open House
Okie-Tex and Back Again, Jack Eastman; December Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner; Holiday Potluck news; DAS member renewals; data for total lunar eclipse, Dec 20-21; NASA's "Blue Rings Around Red Galaxies;" Astronomer's Den Star Chart for December; images by Darrell Dodge (Horsehead & Flame) and Alan Erickson (M33 - The Pinwheel Galaxy.)
November 2010 (3.2MB)
Colorado Astronomy Day Recap in Photos; November Skies; President's Corner; Juno's Close Encounter with Jupiter; New Astronomer's Den Sky Chart for November. Photos by Darrell Dodge (Pleiades); Joe Gafford (Bubble Nebula): Steve Solon & Ron Pearson (Astronomy Day).
October 2010 (HiRes Color 10MB | LowRes Color 0.6MB)
Rebuilding the Student Telescope; Colorado Astronomy Days; Reunited in CA, Part II; October Skies; President's Corner; New Astronomer Star Chart; Hunting Planets. Images by Alan Erickson (Flying Horse Nebula); Brad Gilman & Steve Solon (M27); Joe Gafford & Ron Pearson (Comet Hartley 2); Ron Pearson (Jupiter & Solar Prominences).
September 2010 (2.4MB)
Reunited in California Part 1, by Jack Eastman; September Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner; September New Astronomer's Den starchart; September Speaker - Jamie Lomax; Perseus report by Ron Pearson. Images: Alan Erickson's H-alpha Elephant Trunk; Perseid & Orion photos by Ron Pearson; IC1318 - Butterfly Nebula, by Darrell Dodge.
August 2010 (2.51MB)
August Skies, Dennis Cochran; President's Corner from Alaska; August speaker: Dr. James Green and the Hubble ST; New Astronomers Den for August; Picnic pics, Joe Gafford; Black Holes. Images by Darrell Dodge (M31), Steve Solon and Brad Gilman (Moon) and Joe Gafford (Cat's Paw Nebula).
July 2010 (2.8MB)
July Skies, by Dennis Cochran; Warming Hut Rescue; President's Corner; July Speaker: Archeoastronomer Herman Bender; Images by Darrell Dodge (M8, Trifid Nebula), Steve Solon (Virgo Cluster), Pat Gaines (Comet McNaught 2009 R1), and Alan Erickson (M20, Lagoon Nebula).
June 2010 (1.7MB)
June Skies; President's Corner; Space Day at DMNS; June Speaker: Tim Pimentel on Solar Observing; Jack Eastman on RTMC 2010. Images by Brad Gilman and Ron Pearson.
May 2010 (1.8MB)
Clark-Saëgmuller Sticky RA-Lock Mechanism Repair, Aaron Reed; Comet Eastman-Edwards-Gardner, Jack Eastman; President's Corner, Ron Pearson; May Skies, Dennis Cochran. AstroPhotos: Tail of the Swan, Alan Erickson; The Neanderthal Nebula, Steve Solon; Siamese Twins, Joe Gafford.
April 2010 (1.9MB)
April Skies; Ron Pearson's President's Corner; Steve Solon to present at April Meeting; "Take It from the Beginning," new beginners outreach program, by Steve Solon; DAS astro images by Pat Gaines, Alan Erickson, and Joe Gafford; Space Day at DMNS; NASA's traveling Lunar Exhibit; Deadly Planets.
March 2010 (3.0MB)
To Larry, with Love: Tributes to Larry Brooks from DAS members; March Skies; President's Corner; 2010 Spring Banquet reservation and preview; Bubble Nebula and Christmas Tree by Steve Solon; Herschel Space Observatory.
February 2010 (1.4MB)
Goodbye to President Emeritus, Larry Brooks; cover image: Integral Sign Galaxy by Joe Gafford; Strasburg observatory takes shape; DAS scope loans; February Skies; President's Corner; Dr. Jennifer Hoffman February meeting speaker; David Wolf's Mars; Steven Solon's M43; general election and spring banquet announcements.
January 2010 (1.9MB)
January Skies; President's Corner; Tribute to Hank Rael; Visit with Past President Carla Swartz, Jack Eastman; "Wish Upon the Sky" by Dennis Cochran; Dr. Suzanne Metlay on NEOs at the January Meeting. Images: The Moon, Steve Solon; California Nebula, Joe Gafford.

2009

2008

December 2008 (933KB)
Atacama Large Millimeter Array, Part I, by Ron Mickle; Steve Solon's M31; December Skies; President's Corner; Naomi Pequette on Archeo-Astronomy at January Meeting; Leavitt book review; Holiday Potluck info
November 2008 (570 KB)
Colorado Astronomy Day Wrap-Up and Photos; November Skies; President's Corner (Auction); Upcoming Meetings
October 2008 (1.4 MB)
Colorado Astronomy Day Preview; New Open House Team Leader; President's Corner; October Skies; Joe Gafford's Elephant Trunk; Phil Good's Horsehead region.
September 2008 (1.2 MB)
ALCON Report, 2008 Van Nattan-Hansen & Horkheimer Awards; Star Stare Photo Album; President's Corner, September Skies, Phil Good's Cocoon Nebula.
July 2008 (1,7MB)
DAS Imager Profile: Joe Gafford, July Skies, Mark Bottorff "Dark Matter" preview, Renewal Date Update, DAS Member Picnic, astrophotos by Phil Good, Joe Gafford, Bryan Wilburn
June 2008 (2.7MB)
Steve Solon's Rosette Nebula, Presidents Corner, June Skies, Stephanie Pahl's Analemma presentation at June General Meeting.
May 2008 (783KB)
Summer is Star Party Time, Phil Good Astro Imager Profile, May Skies, New DAS Renewal Date, President's Corner, Cover: Phil Good's M31.
April 2008 (1.6MB)
Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship, Steve Solon Imager Profile, Chuck Carlson's "Heavenly Intrigue," President's Corner, April Skies, Cover: Joe Gafford's Whirlpool Galaxy.
March 2008 (1.2MB)
Marathon Days! Annual Spring Banquet, Phil Good's M13, March Skies, President's Corner, Messier Marathon Part 2, DAS E-Board Election Results
February 2008 (4.6MB)
Phil Good's Monkey Head Nebula; February Skies; Presidents Corner; David Grinspoon to be February Speaker; Messier Marathon Part One; New Member Area on Web Site
January 2008 (1.8MB)
"Image(ine) That," Part III by Steve Solon; January Skies; David Wolf's Pleiades, January speaker: Michael Carroll, space artist.

2007

December 2007 (2.5MB)
"Image(ine) That," Part II by Steve Solon, December Skies, Joe Gafford's Comet Holmes, Comet 17/P Holmes Gallery, President's Corner.
November 2007 (961KB)
November Skies; "Image(ine) That", Part I by Steve Solon; President's Corner; Holiday Potluck News; Phil Good's Bubble Nebula.
October 2007 (1.1MB)
October Skies, Dave Wolfe's North American & Pelican Nebulae, October Meeting Speaker, Colorado Astronomy Day Report, President's Corner, In Defense of Department Store Telescopes.
September 2007 (854KB)
ALCON 2007 Report, September Skies, President's Corner, Colorado Astronomy Day Preview, Naomi Pequette's NYAA Award, Cosmic Cockroaches, images by Steve Solon, Joe Gafford & David Wolf.
August 2007 (922KB)
August Skies; Phil Good's Crescent Nebula; VP's Report; Astronomy Week/Ferris Pre-Screening Flyer
July 2007 (558KB)
July Skies; President's Corner, July Speaker Max Moe
June 2007 (1.1MB)
June Skies, M104, guest speakers for summer, Ron Mickle receives honor, DAS in the news, Summer friends
May 2007 (1MB)
May Skies, News, "Becoming an AL Master Observer," Darrell Dodge.
April 2007 (1MB)
Messier Marathon Report, John Bally preview, Banquet report, black hole breakfast, Messier Images
March 2007 (1MB)
Orion's Astrophysics Laboratory, Messier Marathon preview and observing hints.
February 2007 (4MB)
Phil Good's M42 image, Jim Holder's Dusk and Daytime finder charts; Time, DST and April 15th
January 2007 (3.5MB)
Year in Review Photo Album, Mark Bottorff preview, Space Weather for Air Travelers

2006

December 2006
Mercury Transit Report and Photo Album, Colorado Astronomy Day Report.
November 2006
Ron Pearson's Mercury Transit preview, Dark Site update, Promoting the DAS
October 2006
Mercury Transit observing information, Pleiades Occultation
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006

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