September 2024

Greetings and Happy Holidays!

Time seems to fly by faster and faster, and my to-do list gets longer and longer. With this message, I hope to check off a few items.

First, I am passing along an invitation from the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society (KAS) to participate in their “Introduction to Amateur Astronomy” lecture series beginning in early 2024. This five-part series was last offered in 2022, and many Skyscrapers, including me, attended and earned a Certificate of Completion. The series will be offered exclusively on Zoom and admission is FREE. But, you must register through the KAS website https://www.kasonline.org/amastro.html. More details and scheduled dates are available on their website. One check.

Next up. Sometime in the last year, I, on behalf of Skyscrapers, completed a survey regarding collaboration with professional astronomers from the International Astronomical Union (IAU). I was recently notified that the IAU has launched a Pro-Am Research Collaboration (PARC) initiative to promote and facilitate research between amateur and professional astronomers. Amateur astronomers from around the world are invited to visit the PARC web portal, explore the “Active Projects”, and sign up to participate in those that are of interest. If you have an interest, or just want to browse, the PARC Web Portal link is: https://www.iau.org/science/scientific_bodies/working_groups/professional-amateur/. Check two.

Lastly, I would like to extend my congratulations to Skyscrapers member, Mark Munkacsy, upon his election to the Board of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). Mark is also a member of the Data Quality Task Force which received the AAVSO Director’s Award. We are fortunate to have Mark as a member of Skyscrapers. Mark joined Skyscrapers in 2021 and immediately took on forming an astronomy club at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library which met biweekly for well over a year. His latest project for Skyscrapers (in conjunction with Michael Corvese) is prototyping “Sky Puppies”, a youth astronomy program currently ongoing at the Portsmouth Free Public Library. Congratulations to Mark on his accomplishments, and my thanks to Mark and Michael for bringing astronomy to the youth of Portsmouth. Check three.

I will end by reminding you that Skyscrapers will celebrate the upcoming holidays with a Potluck Dinner before our speaker on December 16th. This event will not take place at the observatory, but at the nearby North Scituate Community House. More information is available on our website. I hope to see you there!

Warmest wishes,

Linda

I am pleased to announce that Skyscrapers has won the 2024 Library Telescope drawing for the New England Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL). Each year the AL, through the Horkheimer Charitable Fund, awards a Library Telescope to an AL club in each region of the United States. This is the third time that Skyscrapers has received this award.

The Library Telescope consists of a table-top 4.5-inch Dobsonian Reflector fitted with an 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece, and a name plate commemorating the late Jack Horkheimer. The Library Telescope program was initiated by the New Hampshire Astronomical Society in 2008 and has grown into a nationwide presence. Clubs donate an easy-to-use portable telescope with quality optics and a sturdy mount to their local library. Patrons can then check it out as they do books.

Skyscrapers’ involvement with the Library Telescope Program began in 2017, with the donation of Orion StarBlast telescopes to three Rhode Island libraries. This was followed by assisting other libraries with the purchase of telescopes with their own funds. In 2021, and again in 2022, Skyscrapers won the Library Telescope from the Astronomical League. These telescopes were donated to North Scituate Public Library and the Woonsocket Harris Public Library. This year, the AL Library Telescope will be donated to the Hope Public Library in Scituate, RI. We anxiously await its arrival sometime this Fall.

Telescopes, continued... We are cleaning house (or observatory)! We have gone through our inventory of telescopes and have decided to surplus many that are not being used and just gathering dust. A variety of telescopes and mounts will be available for purchase during AstroAssembly. They are priced to move! Pay us a visit on October 5^th, and go home with a “new” telescope. 

Warm wishes and clear skies,

Linda