(next)

   (to the "Directory")
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

.
 

    Directory:
 

       (Contents--a guide to this section) (full-length version, with appendices to all documents)
 

       ("Observing notes")  (from Fox Observatory and the South Florida area--1956 through 2000)
 

       (A brief introduction to the SFAAA, with pictures)  (a short version of the story)
 

       (This way to the "library index")  (to the Archive)
 

       (This way to SFAAA)  (the web site of the SFAAA)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

GUIDE TO THIS SECTION:

Contents

Foreword  iv
Acknowledgments  v
About the SFAAA and Club Sponsored Activities  vi
About Fox Observatory  vii
The Founder and Charter Members (purpose and motto)  viii
Benefactors and Honorary Members  ix

PART 1: A Gathering of Dreams
  Broward County's Amateur Astronomers in the 1950s (1950-1956)  1
  An Event of Some Importance (1956-1960)  2
  A Common Bond (1960-1965)  3
  Dr. Fox and the Brandon Refractor (1958-1968)  4

   (PART  2--next page)

   (Appendices--second page)

   ("Observing notes"--third page)

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PART 2: A New Beginning
  The Dream is on Track (1965-1973)  5
  How to Build an Observatory: The Project Begins (1973-1974)  8
  How to Build an Observatory: The Project Continues (1975-1977)  11
  Help From Many Sources (1974-1976) 15
  The Project Draws to a Close: A Time for Celebration (1976-1977)  20
  Adjusting to Observatory Life (1978-1980)  21
  Radio Astronomy at the Park (1977-1980)  23
  Civilization Comes Closer (1980-1983) 26
  Sawgrass Mills, Weston and the Interstate (1983-1984)  28
  Halley's Comet Returns (1984-1987)  30
  The Builders Move On (1987-1991)  34
  Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1991-1994)  41
  The New Technology: A Saving Grace (1991-1995)  45
  Comet Hyakutake, the 30th Anniversary Celebration and the FAA Tower Hearing (1996)  47
  Hale-Bopp (C1995 01): The Super Comet (1997)  65
  El Niño: An Ill Wind (1998)  69
  The New Lease and the LX200-16 (1999)  77
  Y2K: The Jinx is Broken, but La Niña Lingers (2000)  84
  The Future (2001 and Beyond)  88
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    (Appendices--next page)

    ("Observing notes"--second page)

    (Return to the "Guide"--Part 1)

    (Return to the "Directory")
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Appendix I: An Archival Report   (period ending 12-31-00)  89
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Appendix II: Project Flare-Watch  91
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Appendix III: The Membership and the Observatory-A Pictorial  97
  (Historical Documents and other information)
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Appendix IV: Membership Records and Archival Catalog  102
  Officers and committeepersons, by year of service  103
  Members and officers in alphabetical order  112
  A Schedule of Meetings  130
  The Newsletter  132
  Source Material and Catalog of Archival Documents  133
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Appendix V: Sundry Information  144
  Schedule of changes in dues and Sky and Telescope subscription rates  145
  The Winter Star Party: Where and When  145
  An SFAAA e-mail list
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Appendix VI: Constitution and Bylaws  146
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   ("Observing notes"--next page)

   (Return to the "Guide"--Part 2)

   (Return to the "Guide"--Part 1)

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   (Begin at the beginning)  (Foreword to Under Southern Skies: 1950 through 2000)
 
 
 
 
 

Observing notes:
.
  The occultation of 28 Sagittarii by Saturn's ring system: July 3, 1989
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  Comet Hale-Bopp: 1997
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  Comet Hyakutake--"the Dark Site" ("area 51"--the WD Ranch): March 1996
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  Comet West: 1976  (the dark skies--gone but not forgotten)
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  (Halley's Comet: 1986)
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  Jupiter: 1995, 1997, 1998--October and November
.
  Jupiter and Saturn  (Some of the Best Seeing Ever: October 1998)
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  Lunar eclipse: 1996--April and September, 1997
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  M 1, M 33, M 81 and M 82: December 1996
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  Mars: 1956, 1976, 1997, 1999
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  NGC 205: November 1996
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  NGC 4565, Omega Centauri and Tom Peters' 16-inch Ritchey-Chretien: March 1996
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  Omega Centauri, M 31, M 33 and NGC 205: 1956
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    (more)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

More observing notes:
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..Orion Nebula and "trapezium": 1996  ("the nestlings:" a cluster of brown dwarfs)
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  Plato--craterlets: 1997  (a rare moment)
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  Saturn and Maxwell's Gap: November 2000
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  Saturn, Jupiter, M 31 and M 57: November 1998
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  Shoemaker-Levy 9: 1994
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  Some of the best seeing of the year: November 1999
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  zeta Cancrii: April 2000
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  78 UM: April/May 2000
 

     (Return to the beginning of the "Observing notes")

     (Return to the "Directory")

     (Begin at the beginning)  (Foreword to Under Southern Skies: 1950 through 2000)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Foreword
 The history of an organization is the foundation on which it builds, and the members are its assets. Milestones, new equipment and anecdotes on events, achievements and contributions of club members are part of the club lore. In this account, we try to acknowledge the efforts of the pioneering members of the South Florida Astronomical Association, Inc. (SFAAA). This story is told in the hope that no ones contribution has been overlooked. Because some of the past and present members also took part in the Fort Lauderdale Astronomical Society, Inc. (FLAS) in the 1950s, the story will begin there.

 This project began as a series of articles published in The Meridian, the newsletter of the SFAAA. The subject was the founding and activities of the Fort Lauderdale Astronomical Society. A short time later, during the dedication ceremony for the restoration of the Brandon Refractor, on 9-16-95, it was decided to write additional articles, covering the history of the South Florida Astronomical Association. It was also decided to write a more detailed document, covering the history of both organizations. Part 1 covers the earlier organization, the FLAS. Part 2 originally covered the SFAAA, from its founding up to the end of 1996 (now 1999), and it commemorated the 30th anniversary of the association. (The original project spanned the period from June 1995 through March 1997--1375 hours, 79 interviews--61,721 words. The present length of the manuscript, 12-31-00, is  83,873 words.)

 A hard copy of this document is kept at the observatory. In addition, there is a condensed version (an orientation package), copies of which are available on request from the observatory director. (Note: To find information on a particular topic in the internet version, you can search for a key word, such as a member's name. Example: to find text or the location of documents related to skyglow problems search for: light. See page 133, Appendix IV: "Source Material and Catalog of Archival Documents" for information on search options.)

 This document includes information (offices, dates, committees) on the more than 849 individuals who have belonged to the club since it's founding. In the interest of privacy, and because not everyone could be interviewed, in the November 1996 issue of the association newsletter, a section was included describing this document and offering those concerned the choice of not being mentioned by name. A related notice was posted on the clubroom bulletin board on November 30th. Similar statements appeared in an addendum to the 30th Anniversary Program, given out during Astronomy Day at Fox Observatory, May 18, 1996. These issues were also discussed at membership meetings during 1996, and several SFAAA members assisted with proofreading.

*   *   *   *

  (Return to the "Guide")
 
 
 

Acknowledgments
 Without the free exchange of ideas this story could not have been told. The following individuals (officers and members) contributed to this account: Lyndon V. Allwood (treasurer), Joe Amick (vice president), Susan Barnett (Buehler Planetarium), Ron Beauregard (president), Ralph Boyd (president), Dennis Clift (SFAAA), Ron D'Oria (SFAAA), Jim Dailing (treasurer), Art DeLaurentis (president), Dan DelRio (SCAS), Chuck Faranda (SFAAA), David Goldstein (president), Bruce Haigh (president), Bob Higgins (newsletter ed.), Louis Huey (treasurer), George Johnston (president), Steve King (president), Herb Knapp (vice president/observatory director), Nick Lawrus (newsletter editor), Joe Leo (president), Jeff Lichtman (president), Andy Malmed (vice president/program director), John Martin (ex. vice president/program chairman), Vic McKeighan (president), Russell Peecook (designer/creator of the Kornfeld Garden), Lee Poulin (vice president/observatory director), Barry Perlman (vice president program director and observatory director), Tom Peters (vice president/program director), Ted Rosz (director-at-large), Paul Schofield (SFAAA), John Stilwell (FLAS), Bill Weaver (president), Steve Wells (president), Charles Wylie (president and charter member), Mary Wylie (ex. vice president and charter member). (This list indicates the highest office held. Additional information on these and other members is included in the text and in Appendix IV.)

 Some information came from four scrapbooks and one notebook, compiled by club members in the years since the formation of the association. The secretary's minutes, treasurers reports, other papers and the recollections of long time members, both current and no longer active, helped form the balance of the story.

 Along with the dozens of photographs and newspaper clippings, there were copies of past newsletters, memos, corporate reports and notes recorded by those who participated in club activities, and in the construction and continuing development of Fox Observatory. (A source catalog can be found in Appendix IV.)

 Many times, the exact sequence of events could not be verified or there was conflicting information. In some cases, there were more than two or three versions of a story. If there was any uncertainty, the majority opinion, or what seemed to be the most consistent or best documented explanation became part of the record. (The dates for some events were approximated because the minutes and other records were incomplete or missing.)

*   *   *   *
 

The SFAAA and Club Sponsored Activities
 The South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association (SFAAA) was founded in 1965, with as its principal motivation, to provide information and create an opportunity to participate. The SFAAA is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in the state of Florida since 1966. The membership presently makes its home base, and holds monthly meetings, at the Fox Observatory in Markham Park.

 In 1973, the State of Florida turned control of the land that is now Markham Park over to the citizens of Broward County. The intent was for the land to be maintained as a natural recreation area. The South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, the first resident of the new park, has always been committed to that end, and has, in the past, worked to improve the environment by participating in recycling programs.

 With the help of the Broward County Commission and the Parks Department, Markham Park was selected as the ideal setting for an observatory, and for the study of the night sky. In the mid 1970s, the membership, with the support of the citizens of Broward County and individual benefactors from the South Florida area, designed and constructed Fox Observatory. Over the years since completion of the project in 1977, thousands of young visitors from Broward and Dade County schools and from organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America have looked up into the night sky over the park.

 This unique opportunity for education and involvement is the result of a joint effort. Annual membership dues and public contributions provide for the operation and maintenance of the observatory equipment, while the Broward County Parks Department maintains the building and the grounds. (None of this could be accomplished without the support and cooperation of the Parks Department!)

 Groups and individuals from the area or visiting South Florida are invited to visit the Fox Observatory. In addition, anyone wishing to attend the association's monthly meetings is welcome and encouraged to do so. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, and membership is open to the public. Anyone wishing to join can do so at one of the monthly meetings or during a visit to the observatory on one of the open house nights. (Dues: student under 18--$10, regular--$25, patron--$60, gold--$100. One membership fee covers the family, and includes the monthly newsletter. The fee for patron and gold membership includes a subscription to Sky and Telescope magazine; however, Sky and Telescope and Astronomy are also available to regular members, at club rates, through the association treasurer. Activities include: learning to use a telescope, video tape and slide shows, star parties, astronomy day, CCD imaging, observatory operation and special projects. Club members wishing to be certified to operate the observatory and its equipment should apply to the observatory director.)

 The observatory is open to the public every Saturday evening, free of charge, the year around. Organized groups and schools wishing to visit on these and other occasions are asked to make arrangements, in advance, through the observatory director at (954)384-0442.

 The members of the association have been granted the use of a dark-sky observing site (area 51), just inside of Collier County (visual limiting magnitude 6.5). The site is located on the Davidson Ranch ("The WD Ranch"), 26 miles west of the toll booth on Alligator Alley. The turnoff to the site is on the north side of "the Alley," just beyond (within 1/4 mile of) mile marker 51, and at the beginning of the reflectorized portion of the roadway, passing over the canal. Groups from the club periodically get together for star parties on the dirt road, running south, along the east side of the canal. (Note: It is best to slow down, immediately on reaching the mile marker (#51)! It is easy to drive past the getting-off-point, and it is a long way to the next exit!) (Please dim your headlights, when approaching the site, on the dirt road!)

(The newsletter of the SFAAA, The Meridian, is online at http://sfaaa.org/themeridian.html and the home page is at http://sfaaa.org.)

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  (Return to the "Guide")
 
 

Fox Observatory
 The Fox Astronomical Observatory, one of the largest amateur operated installations of its kind in the Southeast, is located at latitude 26° 7' 44" north, longitude 80° 21' 41" west (160001 West SR-84, Sunrise FL 33326). The observatory is just inside the entrance to Markham Park, 12.4 miles west of I-95, on the north side of I-595. When coming from the east, turn right at the traffic light, opposite the Weston Road turnoff, on SR-84. For those using the Interstate, take I-95 to I-595 west, and get off at the 136th Ave. exit. Then, take SR-84 the rest of the way west, 2.0 miles, to the park entrance. (It is best to reduce speed, and get in the right hand lane early, when approaching the 136th Ave. exit on I-595, and again, when approaching the entrance to the park on SR-84! The exit and entrance come up very quickly!) From the south, on I-75, get off at the Arvida Parkway exit (8 west) to Weston Road. Then, turn right (north) onto Weston Road, and proceed 2.0 miles to the park entrance, just beyond the underpass and SR-84. For directions to the observatory, once inside the park, there is a ranger on-duty at the entrance on weekends. (Admission is $1 per person, before 6 p.m., but visitors to the observatory enter at no charge.) Otherwise, take the first left just after the ranger station, and then the next right. The observatory will be just ahead! Please dim your headlights on approaching the site, and donut forget your binoculars!

 The primary observatory equipment consists of a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, the Brandon Refractor, a 1,420 MHz radio telescope, a UHF weather satellite receiver, a 12.5-inch, equatorially mounted, Newtonian reflector and two Dobson reflecting telescopes, one with a 13-inch mirror, the other with a 10-inch mirror. The Schmidt-Cassegrain is fitted with a CCD imager, and the Brandon Refractor has a 6-inch objective lens, with an 87.25-inch focal length. The Brandon Refractor was donated by Dr. Joseph Dennison Fox, a retired professor from the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Fox was an early member of the SFAAA, and donated the instrument to the association while the observatory was in the planning stages, in 1973. (The main lens of the Brandon Refractor is the only one of its kind in existence.)

 In 1994, the CCD imager was installed on the Schmidt-Cassegrain, giving the observatory an added dimension. Modern CCD processing technology can subtract unwanted skyglow, and has a potential for setting the clock back to a time when there was less light pollution. Also, some of the inconvenience of dealing with high humidity and insects is offset by being able to view the night sky on the monitor in the association's air conditioned clubroom. The CCD and monitor also offer an important advantage to groups and individuals traveling a considerable distance to visit the observatory. When cloudy or rainy weather threatens, images previously stored in the computer or on floppy disc provide a library of things to see. (Installation of the radio telescope and the weather satellite receiver, during 1998, made the SFAAA one of the most complete, entry level, amateur astronomy clubs in the US. In the near future, a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, donated by the family of Louis W. Huey, a past member, officer and benefactor of the SFAAA, will be housed on the grounds immediately west of the existing observatory building.)

*   *   *   *

  (Return to the "Guide")
 
 
 

The Founder and Charter Members
Officers, board members and subscribers to the Articles of Incorporation, South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, January 12, 1966:

Herman G. Perry Hallandale, Fla. (Subscriber-Founder)
John R. Gallagher Hollywood, Fla. (Sub.-President)
Joseph A. Cardin Hallandale, Fla. (Sub.-1st V. P.)
Harold S. Pender Hallandale, Fla. (Sub.-2nd V. P.)
Charles S. Wylie Hollywood, Fla. (Sub.-Treasurer)
Anita Haack Hallandale, Fla. (Secretary)

(A Certificate of Incorporation was issued to the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association by the State of Florida on January 25, 1966.)

Additional charter members from the first meeting November 3, 1965:
Kay and Ken Ellington
Vicki McGraw
Pauline Miller
Mollie O'Donnell
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Stephens
Mary Wylie
 

 In November of 1965, the association's founder, Herman Perry informed the press there were 20 charter members in the newly formed club. This might have been wishful thinking (14 have been identified, and are indicated above); however, several others might have been present at the first meeting, and may have dropped out before their names were recorded. Also, a few may be among those whose earliest attendance is unknown: Donald Jones, Melanie Reynolds, Bill Schuster and Harold Simons.
 

 (The) PURPOSE of the ORGANIZATION is to further education and research, and to advance the knowledge and study of the science of astronomy through its members, and in cooperation with other organizations devoted to the study of astronomy.

  H. G. PERRY--FOUNDER
  November 3, 1965
 
 

(the motto)
Knowledge Through Association

*   *   *   *
 

Benefactors:
Frank and Barbara Kornfeld: 1974 - 1976
Dr. Joseph Fox: 1973 - 1976
Howard and John Leban: 1975
Ted Rosz: 1975 - 1976
Ed Stack: August 1976
Louis Huey and ABC Distributing, Inc.: January 1991 (see next line)
(Marvin Leiberwitz, Mike and Debbie Nunez, in the name of Louis Huey)
Mary Huey, in the name of Louis W. Huey: 1998

*   *   *   *
 

Honorary Members:
Gladwin Comes:  June 15, 1972
Dr. Joseph  Fox: 1972
Frank and Barbara Kornfeld:  1976
Howard and John Leban:  May 21, 1975
Ed Stack: August 1976
Robert and Dorothy Sickels:  November 1980
Wayne Davidson:  March 3, 1988
Mike and Debbie Nunez of ABC Distributing, Inc.:  June 15, 1991
Charles and Mary Wylie:  April 2, 1992
Mary Huey:  September 3, 1998

*   *   *   *
 

PART 1
A Gathering of Dreams
 

Broward County's Amateur Astronomers in the 1950s (1950-1956)
 In 1950, the greater Ft. Lauderdale area was best known as a winter resort, but agricultural interests came in a close second. There were fewer than 30,000 full-time residents, and the air was clean and clear. The few inhabitants and the fields of vegetables and oranges posed little or no threat to the grandeur of the night sky. On occasion, the Milky Way could be seen from secluded locations in the downtown area.

 Those of us who were here in those years remember the small town environment of most of South Florida. Some of us would rather it had not changed into the sprawling megalopolis it has become. In the summertime, when there were fewer visitors to the area, you could drive from Ft Lauderdale to Miami, via US-1, morning or afternoon, and few if any cars would pass from either direction.

 The Korean war was under way, and only a few homes had television. Ft. Lauderdale was about to become the fastest growing community in the US, and the unprecedented rate of growth would not be challenged for more than 30 years. Within a generation, the population of Broward County would approach one million.

 The only organization in the area dedicated to amateur astronomy was the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, Inc., in Miami. The Southern Cross group met regularly, but the trip south was impractical for many Broward residents. It could be argued, the skies were better here, and if you were a student, or if work required that you rise early, a local meeting place sounded more inviting.

 Inspired by the remarkable view, and, with the support of the Miami club, a small group of avid stargazers formed the Ft. Lauderdale Astronomical Society, Inc., in 1951. It was a not-for-profit venture, but incorporation seemed appropriate. (The Miami group advised caution and the filing of the necessary papers!)

 Some of the founding members were professional people. Among them, were a physician, a university professor and a grade school principal. Because of summer vacations, and because some of the members were retired and only in the area in the wintertime, meetings during the summer were poorly attended. The idea of getting together in June, July and August was soon given up. (Mrs. Brown the principal of North Side School, located at Warfield Park, in North-Central Fort Lauderdale, was one of the founders.)

 When enough enthusiasm could be found to organize a formal gathering, as many as 20 or 25 members would put in an appearance. However, there were only eight or nine faces you could count on seeing on a regular basis. The program usually included a presentation on a subject researched by one of the members. There were slide shows and film clips. Some of the subjects were gravity, X-rays, Project Vanguard, amateur telescope making and personal projects.

 A local physician was the leader of the group. From the beginning, Dr. Frank Denniston and his wife made their home and observatory available for club activities. Dr. Denniston encouraged get-togethers for the planning of special events: star parties, club meetings and visits by school groups. Dr. Joseph Fox, then Professor of Astronomy and History at the University of Puerto Rico, provided valuable input from the academic community. While Dr. Fox was not a full-time resident of Broward County, he was well known in the area. Because of his academic schedule, he could only visit the area during the summer months. One of his dreams and a challenge he put before the club was to build a dark-sky observatory west of the city.

 The focus of the club's activities was on education and community involvement. It provided young amateur astronomers with an opportunity to learn and participate. Everyone was welcome, and students of all ages were encouraged. In the fall, Dr. Denniston opened the observatory to groups from local middle schools. (The membership fee was $5 yearly, and included a subscription to Sky and Telescope.)

 I was 14 when I joined the club, in 1956, and the Denniston complex was a wondrous place. It was not just a residence. It included a medical practice, with X-ray facilities, and everything needed to support the Denniston Observatory. There was a 20' by 30' theater with opaque and motion picture projectors, a laboratory and a 12-1/2-inch f/9 Springfield reflector. The telescope was housed in an aluminum dome, erected over a fully equipped machine shop, which was attached to the main building. The observatory floor was 18 inches of reinforced concrete, supported by eight, 12-inch, cast iron standpipes, each, eight feet in length. All this was strung together like a stockade, shielding those inside from the world outside.

 To make it even more ideal, the "Denniston compound" was conveniently located, near the heart of downtown Ft. Lauderdale, two blocks north of Broward Blvd. and three blocks east of US-1. The original site of Pine Crest School was across the street, and the gymnasium of St. Anthony's School now stands on the site.
 

An Event of Some Importance (1956-1960)
 A few days after Labor Day 1956, Mars was to be its closest to Earth in many years--35,120,000 miles. Astronomers of the period, thought the Red Planet might give up some of its secrets on September 7. Could it be, the canals were manmade? Could life as we know it, once have existed in such an arid and foreboding place? It was thought, some lower life form might still be detected. (The excitement generated by the Martian opposition, and my growing interest in astronomy led me to seek out and join the local club.)

 I purchased a kit for a 3-inch f/10 Edmund reflector ($29.95) the year before, and I was ready for the big event! My plan was without flaw--I would be on the roof at the moment of opposition. That was as close to Mars as I could get. But as the predicted date drew closer, success began to slip away! In the early spring, Fire engulfed a large part of the Everglades west of Broward County, and a rare west wind brought an impenetrable cloud of smoke to the tri-county area. The stench of burning mangroves and scrub brush filled the air, and a blanket of ash settled over what was by then referred to as the Gold Coast. Neither Sun nor planet would be seen from these parts until the opportunity for discovery was past.

  (more Mars)

.Aside from natural and manmade disasters, the seeing in the city was very good. Of course, an unaided sighting of Omega Centauri or M 31, the Andromeda Nebula, as it was most often called, was more likely if you were up and around in the a.m. On one occasion, it was possible to spot Messier 33, from my family's home, near Sears Town, on East Sunrise Blvd. It was rising in the east, and 60 degrees above the horizon at 9 p.m. I was using 7 x 50 binoculars, and we lived just a mile north of the downtown area. On dark nights, it was possible to see the third member of the Andromeda trio, M 110/NGC 205, magnitude 10.8, in a 4-inch refractor at 49x. (Today, in the 1990s, it is more likely you will have to travel 40-50 miles west of the populated areas of the coastline to see M 33, using 7x50 binoculars or anything else.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Omega Centauri, M 31--1956)

 Other club members had scopes ranging in size from 3-inch reflectors and refractors to Dr. Denniston's 12-1/2-inch Springfield reflector. The Freids had a 3-inch f/16 Unitron, and the Cases had a 3-1/2 inch Questar. John Stilwell put together a 3-1/4-inch refractor, using an A. Jaegers objective, and Lloyd Rice built a 6-inch f/8 Newtonian reflector, with a homemade pipe mount. Fred McMurtrie had a 3-inch refractor, with slow motion controls, of his own design. Some of us undertook related projects: Fred was working on three-dimensional models of lunar and planetary landscapes, and I spent many hours working on a 24-inch map of the Moon's surface, done in lead pencil. Lloyd Rice was more enterprising. He had a Tasco franchise, and sold small (2.4-inch/60-mm) refracting telescopes.

 On joining the club, Lloyd, Fred and Dr. Denniston encouraged me to build a larger telescope. Shortly after the disappointing Mars approach, my father and I began the construction of a 4-inch f/15refractor. The project was completed in six months (in early 1957), and the telescope was still being used periodically up until 1994. (In 1994, a two-year project was begun to rebuild the mount, and the 4-inch tube assembly was put into storage, to be replaced by a larger refractor.)

 Like myself, Fred, John and Lloyd were students, but Dr. Denniston was a senior citizen. Even so, he was active with both his medical practice and with the club. Dr. Denniston was energetic but slight of build, and started each day with a dip in the pool.
 

A Common Bond (1960-1965)
 Like the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, the Ft. Lauderdale Astronomical Society had as its goal to construct an observatory west of Ft. Lauderdale. Dr. Fox came up with the idea, and arranged for a building site on county land as early as 1956. The club members would have to provide the funds and organize the project. Money was raised by setting up telescopes and asking for donations on the beach. A favorite spot for public viewing was at the corner of Los Olas Blvd. and A1A. If we could get the interest of the public, a growing membership and enough donations might make the task doable.

 The plan was to build near SR-84, about 20 miles west of town. If we could pull it together, we would have a 12-1/2-inch, equatorially mounted, Newtonian reflector under "ink-black" skies. But it was not to be! In 1960, Dr. Denniston succumbed to heart failure. He was 72, and the end came without warning. Everyone was shocked by his sudden death. He had been so active and so involved in the association and the community, we just naturally thought he would always be there.

 Dr. Denniston's passing and the coming of age of most of the younger members brought an end to club activities in 1960. Higher education and the military took most of us out of the area, some never to return. Dr. Fox continued to visit the South Florida area, but it seemed unlikely his dream would ever become a reality.

 The "Denniston telescope" was left to Broward Community College, then in its founding year, as Broward Junior College. Unfortunately, this remarkable instrument was put in storage and most of its various parts were eventually lost or discarded, due to disinterest or neglect.

 After completing military service, John Stilwell, Lloyd Rice and I returned to the area, but there was not enough interest to get the club started again. However, by that time (1965), and unknown to any of us, a new club was forming in the Hollywood/Hallandale area.
 

Dr. Fox and the Brandon Refractor (1958-1968)
 In the late 1960s, Dr. Fox completed his tenure at the University of Puerto Rico, and with his wife Sylvia, moved to North Miami, near Miami Gardens Drive and US-1. He brought with him a 6-inch f/15 refractor. This telescope, in its updated and restored state, now resides at Fox Observatory, on the grounds of Markham Park. The lens and original tube assembly were built by Chester Brandon, renowned as a designer of eyepieces and objectives. (The lens was ground from special blanks, made for the project by Dow-Corning. The uniqueness of the glass, along with the increased air space and thickness, qualified the lens for a new patent.) In the late 1950s, Brandon decided to move to the mainland to conduct business, and needed to find a home for his creation. Brandon was a friend and neighbor of the Fox family in the San Juan area, and during an after-work get-together at the Fox home, talk of what was to happen to this unique instrument came up.

 On the evening in question, Dr. Fox showed an interest in acquiring the big refractor. Brandon said there had been many offers, but he had not decided what to do. He wanted the refractor to be available for use by the largest possible number of people. He asked what Dr. Fox would do if he had possession of it. Dr. Fox, being a teacher, and consistent with his interest in youth, said the scope would be mounted on the roof, for the young people in the area to use. That was apparently what Brandon wanted to hear. The scope changed hands that night for a small sum of money and two sets of Melmac dinnerware. The exact date of the exchange is unknown, but it was sometime in 1958 or early 1959.

 Once in his possession, Dr. Fox attached the tube assembly, with an asbestos covering, of his making, to an improvised equatorial mount, made from part of a landing gear off a World War-II, P-38 fighter. Then, as promised, and using a diving tank as a pier, the telescope was mounted on the roof of the Fox family home, where it remained until Dr. Fox retired and moved to South Florida.

 (Chester Brandon founded Brandon Instruments in the late 1940s, probably 1948 or 1949, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, ten miles north of San Juan. After moving to the mainland (i.e., Maryland: General Precision) in 1959, Brandon sold his tooling and blueprints to VERNONscope and Company in 1963. (VERNONscope, of Candor New York, a telescope and accessory outlet, was founded several years before, in 1958.) The Brandon ocular was designed in 1949, and is still considered one of the better eyepiece designs available. As of August 1996, Chester Brandon was in his 90th year, and living in Wisconsin with his daughter. (As nearly as can be determined, the 6-inch objective and tube assembly were completed in 1949 or 1950.

*   *   *   *

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PART 2
A New Beginning
 

The Dream is on Track (1965-1973)
 In 1965, H. G. Perry, a resident of Hallandale, and a former member of the Manhattan Amateur Astronomers Association, started the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc. (The Manhattan organization was headquartered at the prestigious Hayden Planetarium, and Perry was a member for eight years before moving to South Florida.)  On October 28, 1965, Perry placed an article in the Sun Tattler to promote a gathering of amateur astronomers. The article stated a meeting was to be held at Hollywood College, 1939 Harrison St., on Wednesday, November 3, at 8:00 p.m. (Perry, a seasoned instructor with the Manhattan club, had it in mind to hold classes in elementary astronomy.)

 There were 20 would-be members in attendance at the first gathering. During the evening, the decision was made to get together on a weekly basis. Future meetings would be held every Wednesday evening, at 7:30. (In the first newspaper article, Perry said he had ordered a 10-inch Newtonian reflecting telescope for club use. It appears that something caused the order to be canceled before delivery. Possibly, the existence of a 12-1/2-inch equatorially mounted Newtonian telescope, constructed and owned by Adam Stephens, a mechanical engineer and one of the clubs charter members, satisfied the need.)

 After a few gatherings, on December 8th, 1965 the group started meeting in the Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan Assoc., Hospitality Room, 1909 Tyler St. The larger than expected turnouts made the move to a more spacious meeting place necessary. (Shortly after its formation, the association joined the Astronomical League of America.)

 The group met on the second floor of the S & L, but early in 1966, before May 11, it was decided, the fourth meeting of each month would be held on Thursday. (Another group was scheduled to use the room that Wednesday.) In January of 1968 the fourth meeting was changed back to Wednesday. The club's meetings continued at Hollywood Federal through October 9, 1968. By that time, there were more than 40 dues-paying members. During the almost three years at Hollywood Federal, the day and time for the meeting was on occasion changed due to other activities being scheduled for the room. (A few meetings in this era were held at the newly opened Buehler Planetarium. One such gathering was held on March 1, 1967.)

 The earliest meetings, 1965-1968, were referred to as classes, and there was no age limit on membership. In the early years, films were shown once or twice each month, usually the first and third week. The rest of the month, lectures were presented by Perry and the more experienced members. (The membership fee, family or single, was $10, and included a years subscription to Sky and Telescope.)

 In May of 1967, the club set up a display of member telescopes in the First National Bank of Hollywood at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and 20th Avenue. The display was in place for one week (8th to 12th), and was intended to recruit new members. (One of the topics of discussion among the members, in that era, was the possibility of building an observatory on property owned by the City of Hollywood.)

 In the closing months of 1967, Adam Stephens sold his 12-1/2-inch, equatorially mounted, f/6.4Newtonian telescope to Charlie and Mary Wylie. The Stephens family was moving back to Michigan, and offered the scope to the club for $700. The club did not have the money, but the Wylies asked if they could buy it, and said they would make it available to other club members at star parties.

 In July of 1968, the club considered setting up an observatory on the grounds of Hollywood Hills High School, to include a student astronomy club and public nights once or twice each month. The idea was approved by the membership, but something happened that brought an end to the plan. Another project, was construction of a radio telescope, scheduled to begin in October of the same year.

 On October 15, 1968, the club moved its meetings to the David Park Field House on Fillmore Street. The day and time was changed to every Tuesday, from 7-10 p.m. Starting that date, classes were held in elementary astronomy from 7:00 to 7:45, and the regular meeting started at 8:00. The 7 o'clock classes were known as the "Junior Club." (In July or August of 1969, the club moved to the Parish Hall of the Nativity Church in Hollywood. It was necessary to find a new place for meetings, because the field house was scheduled for remodeling.)

 During 1967 and 1968, Mary Wylie, a charter member and former school teacher, gave twice-monthly talks on the constellations currently in view. Donald Major, Bob Berentsen and Ralph Megna occasionally shared the spotlight with Mary, and spoke on elementary astronomy. On alternate weeks, films, provided by the Southern Bell and NASA film libraries were shown. The films covered subjects including cosmic rays, Earth's oceans and time (During the spring, summer and fall of 1968, the last meeting of each month was a viewing session at Eppleman Park.)

 In 1969, the Wylies became proprietors of a nursery in Davie. It took a year or so to get settled in, but in 1970 or 1971, the Wylies began inviting the club to the nursery for viewing sessions. When the club visited the Wylies, the big Newtonian was set up for members to use. The dark skies there were perfect for viewing, and starting in August of 1972, the Wylies made the grounds of their place of business available for regularly scheduled star parties. The gatherings at the Wylies were usually on the first meeting night of the month, and continued that way through 1974. (The club made occasional visits to the Wylie Nursery in 1975. However, by that time, many of the members were meeting, with their telescopes, at Markham Park, near the site designated for the observatory.)

 (In 1978, with changing interests, the Wylies dropped out of the club, and took up square dancing and rock collecting. In the years since, they have traveled over most of this part of the world, acquiring an incredible collection of over 1100 rock samples. In January of 1996, I had the pleasure of visiting the Wylies at their home and seeing their rock collection. On January 23, 1996, the Wylies celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The Wylies have 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.)

 In 1969 or 1970, H. G. Perry became seriously ill. The record is not clear, but it appears that he passed away in 1970. Herman G. Perry was an old fashioned amateur astronomer, and while a member of the New York club, he wrote a book on elementary astronomy--star finding and constellations. He was highly regarded by his friends in the Manhattan club and at Hayden Planetarium, and kept in touch with them after moving here. He was survived by his wife, Clarisse, who accompanied him on the move to Broward County.

 H. G. Perry had moved to the South Florida area in 1964, and he started the SFAAA after having attended a few meetings of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society at the Miami Museum of Science. In a letter to a friend, still residing in Manhattan, Perry mentioned the long drive for meetings. His friend, Patrick Rizzo, then secretary of the Manhattan club, wrote back and suggested that Perry start a club in the Broward County area, and that led to the beginning of the SFAAA.

 The SFAAA was incorporated, and named for the Manhattan club (MAAA: SFAAA) in January of 1966. In March of that year, a Constitution and Bylaws, with eleven articles was drawn up. The date of the annual meeting was defined, and officers were to be chosen by a nominating committee. (The club was formed as a branch of the AAA, Amateur Astronomers Association, a nationwide organization, and it is said that some of the members of the then defunct Fort Lauderdale Astronomical Society joined in that period. Dr. Fox attended his first meeting later, sometime between February 4, 1969 and December 1970.)

 On February 23, 1971, Mollie O'Donnell presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the club to outgoing president Wendell Marsh. (At that time, Marsh became treasurer and Mollie took over as president. With each new year, many of those who have become officers, were and still are reelected to the same position or are elected to some other position.)

 During the summer of 1971, the second director of Buehler Planetarium, Gladwin Comes, suggested that an astronomy club be started in conjunction with the activities of the planetarium. In response, a student in Comes' night astronomy class, Mollie O'Donnell, then SFAAA president, mentioned the existence of the club, and asked if it would be possible to meet at the planetarium. Comes said yes, and the SFAAA began holding its weekly meetings at the planetarium, on the Davis Campus, in the fall of 1971 (probably in September). (The first director at Buehler was Joel Martin, the planetarium's designer and a professor of biology and astronomy at the junior college since one year after its founding, in 1960.)

 When the club moved to the planetarium, the day and time for the meetings was changed to every Thursday evening at 8:30. The meetings were scheduled to begin shortly after the conclusion of the 7:30 planetarium show. Most members arrived early enough to attend the show, and then stay over for the club meeting.

 Because the planetarium was closed for vacation during part of the summer (three weeks in August), some meetings were held at the homes of club members, most often at the Wylies' (during the 1970s), or they were canceled. In every year the association met at the planetarium, the August shutdown was in effect, and other arrangements had to be made.)

 Fred Read and Walt Golden, planetarium staff members, at that time, were also active in the SFAAA. The planetarium director, Gladwin Comes, became an honorary member on 6-15-72, and Dr. Fox became an honorary member in the same period, sometime before 2-8-73. (The information on Dr. Fox'es early years with the association is somewhat sketchy. It appears he was a guest speaker for approximately two years before becoming an honorary member. The first full year of his participation was most probably 1971. As of 12-31-00, Fifteen honorary members have been named.)

 During this period (early 1970s), and in the years that followed, the club relied heavily on Dr. Fox, Barry Perlman, Mollie O'Donnell, Roy Lurcott, Walt Golden, Mary Wylie and Mark Hamilton, a high school student, for researching and presenting the weekly programs. When Barry started attending meetings, in the fall of 1971, he provided relief to Mary, Mollie and Dr. Fox, each having taken it upon themselves to get a program together almost every month. One of Barry's earliest programs was a slide show on how to build an observatory. (February 24, 1972). His next, on March 16, was on "Messier Objects," and it was shared with Mollie O'Donnell. (On February 17 of that year, Mollie was elected to serve as executive vice president for the second time and Barry, a new member, as 2nd vice president.) (The club was getting younger and more active, and the topic of discussion was. . . "let's build an observatory!")

 Most often, program committees were appointed by the president for two or three months at a time. Others would participate, but the members of the committee would coordinate the effort. On February 24, 1972, Barry, Mollie and Roy were appointed, and that is the way it was done until 1975. (In that year, it was decided to make the executive vice president, the program chairman as well. The first order of business for the new "Exec." was getting volunteers to respond to the change in policy. Ralph Boyd was the first Executive VP to officially hold the combined position.)

 Another change in the way things were done was the "book drawing." Book drawings were held at nearly every meeting, and thirty-five or forty books were given away for each of the years between 1972 and the late spring of 1977. Some books were donated by members and by friends of the club, and some were bought with club funds by whoever was in charge of the drawings for that year. (In 1975, Walt Zalph, a high school student in Miami, and soon to be club secretary (1976), was in charge of the book drawing. (Walt was active in club projects and took his 8-inch Celestron wherever he went. I think he had it with him all the time! On one unannounced occasion, he showed up at my house with his brother, his midnight snack and his C8.)

 On April 28th and 29th of 1972, the club set up a display of telescopes and other equipment in the Lauderhill Mall on SR-7/US-441. The planetarium had been invited to present a display. In turn, the club was invited to participate by the staff of the planetarium. It was an excellent opportunity to  recruit new members. After that, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the club tried to stage a show (and recruit members), somewhere in the area, once each year.

 On May 18, 1972, the club presented a "sky show" at the Masonic Lodge. There was a slide show and talks were given by Mollie O'Donnell, Charlie Wylie, Barry Perlman, Mary Wylie and Walt Golden. Afterwards there was to be a viewing session, but the weather was poor, so the group stayed indoors.

 In the fall of 1972, Barry Perlman (then 2nd vice president) visited a Southern Cross meeting in Miami and met Bob Sickels, an SCAS member. Bob was an amateur radio astronomer and Fort Lauderdale resident. Barry suggested that Bob join the SFAAA. The convenience of the shorter drive to Buehler Planetarium had to be a factor in convincing Bob and his wife, Dorothy, to become part of the Broward club.

 After one of the weekly meetings, in the spring of 1973 (sometime between mid February and early April), Barry and Mollie were in the planetarium parking lot discussing the possible advantages of having a permanent observing site. The idea for the observatory, discussed by club members in 1967 and 1968, and mentioned again in Barry's slide show of February 24, 1972 came to fruition that night. Shortly thereafter, Barry discussed it with Bob Sickels, the newly elected club president, and the wheels began to turn.

  (A footnote: The association secretary, Mary Wylie, in 1972, and Wayne Darland, in 1973, were in the habit of taking the roll at all regular club meetings.)

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How to Build an Observatory: The Project Begins (1973-1974)
 Before any plan could go forward, a suitable site would have to be found. In April of 1973, Barry Perlman and Bob Sickels scheduled a weekend outing to the less populated, western part of Broward County. During the trip Barry and Bob came across a section of land that fit what they had in mind. It was under State control, at the time, but was slated to be transferred to the County in the near future. The membership, having already been alerted to the idea, was told of the location at the next regular meeting--April 12th, and it only took a few weeks to form a plan and start moving forward. On May 31, 1973 the club delivered a preliminary proposal to the County Commission. First contact was with Commissioner Jack Moss, and the emphasis was on public access and the availability of the proposed facility to schools. Commissioner Moss liked the idea, and responded promptly.

 On June 6, Commissioner Moss sent a letter to Bob Sickels, stating that Robert Kauth, the County Administrator, would be contacting him to discuss the proposal. The County Administrator referred the proposal to Director of Parks and Beaches, Robert Grube. There were several meetings with Director Grube during the months that followed, and eventually an expanded and more specific version of the proposal was submitted. The finished document was drafted by Barry Perlman and presented to Director Grube by Bob Sickels. The site was eventually granted, but 16 months passed after the original proposal before the agreement was finalized (9-24-74), and another 14 months passed before ground was broken (11-23-75).

 This is how it came about: On June 12, 1973, a special meeting of the membership (16 members attended) was held at the Country Kitchen to discuss strategy. In attendance were: Charlie and Mary Wylie, Bob and Dorothy Sickels, Judith and Stephan Thompson, Art and Mary Jane DeLaurentis, Roy Lurcott, Dr. Joseph Fox, Chris Bergman, Barry Perlman, Harold Frisch, Mollie O'Donnell, Vicki McGraw and Wayne Darland. After dinner, the group adjourned to the Wylies' to continue the discussion. At the end of the evening, it was decided the club would submit a "concrete proposal" to the County, if and when the opportunity arose.

 Also in June of 1973, probably on the 14th or the 21st, the deliberations over what instruments would be housed at the site brought Dr. Fox more into the picture. At a meeting set aside for one of his programs, Dr. Fox donated the Brandon Refractor to the club and to the observatory project. It lacked much of the finish and sophistication it bears today, but it was a start. On 7-1-73, the first equipment inventory was drawn up, totaling $18,155. The most significant item on the list was the 6-inch f/15 Fox/Brandon Refractor, valued at $7,000. (In the 1970s, the second Thursday of each month was reserved for programs by Dr. Fox.)

 On July 10, 1973, the club met with the County Commission. Bob and Barry suggested two possible sites for the observatory: One, 20 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, at Everglades-Holiday Park (Dr. Fox'es choice in 1956), on SR-27, south of SR-84, and the other at Markham Park. The members of the club preferred Markham Park because it was within reasonable driving distance. At the conclusion of the meeting, the club was given the go-ahead to come up with an expanded and more specific version of the proposal. (In 1973 (2-8-73), the SFAAA had about 40 members, and many were new recruits, between ages 18 and 30. (Enthusiasm for the project was high in this age group.) By September 12, 1973, the treasury had grown to $1,300, most of which was donations for the observatory.)

 At the club meeting on July 19, 1973, Barry and Bob estimated that between $4,000 and $6,000 would be needed to complete construction. Bob Sickels also mentioned having met with Robert Grube, County Parks and Beaches director, Tuesday, July 17. Director Grube had promised that the County would clear and fill a piece of land conveniently near the entrance to the park, and utilities would be brought to the site. At the meeting on July 26, Barry presented a model of the proposed observatory, and Charles McCrae showed slides he had taken at the Park. (The estimated cost was optimistic, but some of the County's stipulations and requirements, regarding public buildings, that eventually had to be agreed to, added substantially to the list of expenditures.)

 Several efforts were made to raise money for the project. One of the more informative was the publication of The Eyepiece, a monthly newsletter. Stephan Thompson, the editor and a teacher at Pine Crest School, produced it for 25 cents a copy, starting in July of 1973, with the proceeds going to the building fund. The format included information on club events, and the progress on the observatory project. The Eyepiecewas discontinued about the time its publisher, Stephan Thompson became vice president in February of 1975. (It probably wasn't very profitable at 25 cents a copy, and, with weekly meetings and the membership totally committed to the project, the news was probably old before it could be printed.)

 An event occurring in the fall of 1973 temporarily distracted some of the attention being paid to the project--Kohoutek, "The Comet of the Century." During the regular meeting on September 27, Stephan Thompson gave a talk on Kohoutek. Afterward, Barry mentioned that BCC was putting up an exhibit at Hollywood Fashion Center on October 18th. The club was invited, and decided to set up a booth. Charles McCrae volunteered to display his new 10-inch (Cave?) Newtonian.

 The day of the exhibit, literature on Kohoutek was passed out and questions from visiting shoppers were answered. The booth was near Kinney Shoes and was attended by volunteers from the membership in two hour stints: Charles McCrae, Walt Golden, Bob Gale, Vicki McGraw, Charlie Wylie and Barry Perlman. Some of the other members showed up during the day and wanted to take part. At one point, as many as 16 members were in the vicinity of the booth. Of course, visitors were invited to the upcoming SFAAA club meetings and told of the observatory project. Each volunteer signed up for a two hour stint, but Chuck McCrae stayed throughout the day, probably because his prized possession was on display. (The age of the volunteers ranged from early 20s to late 50s. Several of the members in attendance, were in their teens.)

 In the weeks prior to the October 18 show (1973), interest in the comet increased the visitorship at the club's meetings. The number of visitors on Thursday, September 27, was 23, four more than the number of members attending, and, on October 25th, there were 22 visitors and 18 members. After the show, and, as the comet neared, there was a dramatic increase in attendance. On November 29, there were 56 visitors and 28 members. (Prior to the comet's approach, the greatest number of visitors to a club meeting was seven, and the number of members attending in 1972 varied between 7 and 17. In 1973, there were between 17 and 26, prior to November 29, with 24 present at the Christmas party on December 20th.)

 Barry and Bob were still working out the details of the observatory proposal with the Parks Department in late October, when the comet was approaching. It was February of 1974, by the time the expanded version of the proposal, was finished and submitted to director Grube. At the annual meeting, on February 14, 1974, the membership presented outgoing president, Bob Sickels with a tektite tie tack. (Try to say that three times without pausing.) It had become common practice to commemorate the service of each past president with a token of the association's appreciation. (In 1974, the membership fee, including a subscription to Sky and Telescope, was $15.)

 The expanded observatory proposal said the club would be responsible to build the observatory, and see that it would be open to the public on scheduled nights. The final agreement (i.e., a lease), drafted and issued by the County on September 24, 1974, stated that certain terms would be met by the association (access for schools and public viewing, separate bathrooms, liability insurance, etc.) in lieu of rent, and the agreement would be renegotiated in 25 years. In return, the County would provide land, service connections, roadways and the other benefits of being on public land (landscaping, grounds-keeping, etc.). (Unbeknownst to Bob and Barry, they were carrying out Dr. Fox'es dream. Dr. Fox apparently said nothing of the earlier plan.)

 In the 2-1/2 years following the initial proposal there were discussions concerning the type of roof, which way the building should face and how far off the roadway it should be. Some members wanted a dome, others, a flat roof. After some debate, it was decided to have two telescopes under a motorized, roll-off roof. (Some members say the County was opposed to having a dome because it was felt a dome might come off in a storm.) Barry Perlman took everyone's inputs and drew a floor plan for the part of the building intended to house the telescopes.

 By July of 1974, it had been tentatively decided to name the observatory for Dr. Fox (7-3-74), in recognition of his donation of the Brandon Refractor. About the same time, the landscaping firm of Stressau, Smith and Stewart had been selected to do the greenery (7-3-74) and the initial plans for the grounds, building and roof had been drawn up (7-13-74).

 On December 2, 1974 a copy of the plans for the service connections was turned over to the club by the project engineer, Earl E. Seck). I did not know the particulars of this part of the story, at the time, but I remember visiting the construction site on several occasions. As I recall it, the project moved slowly, seemingly due to a lack of funds; however, there were other factors (changes to the plans, the involvement of community leaders and benefactors, meetings and approvals involving the County, the state and the local school system). Of the  many things slowing the pace, in the fall of 1975, the building fund was still $12,500 short of the amount needed to complete construction. (Earl Seck completed the blueprint for the building on September 12, 1974, but the record shows there were four revisions to the drawings between September 12, 1974 and the "final signoff" on September 29, 1976.)

 The project was underway, but it would be many years before the observatory was as it is now. The part of the building, presently used for club meetings, was constructed with funds provided by the 1978 Parks Bond Issue. Because of other priorities, it took almost 11 years, until early in 1989, for the County to disperse the funds, and construct what is now the club's meeting room, or clubroom.

 (During the years from 1973 to 1977, a committee was formed for almost everything that needed looking into. Barry says things did not get done by committee; however, the record shows that many were appointed and reported on, and Barry was on more of them than anyone in the club. There were committees for weekly programs, membership drives, telescope construction, observatory construction, fund raising, auditing, banquets and Christmas dinners. (These things need to be documented, but Barry had a good point! You cannot get anything done if you get bogged down in deliberations. If you really want it done, you have to dig in and do it... and so they did!)

 An anecdote: One of the members, in this period, built a Newtonian reflecting telescope from spare parts. A rear view mirror bracket from an automobile was used for the secondary holder. He ground the mirror, put it all on a 2x4, and attached it to a threaded-pipe mount. Some of the members were concerned, because they thought he could not afford to buy better parts. It turned out that he was the chairman of the board of one of Broward County's oldest banks. He just wanted to see what could be done with readily available materials.

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How to Build an Observatory: The Project Continues(1975-1977)
 During much of 1975, the observatory project proceeded slowly, but some club members were in high gear! In the latter part of 1975, Jeff Lichtman, then club president, and Bob Sickels wrote and published a 119 page, illustrated handbook on radio astronomy (i.e., Amateur Radio Astronomer's Notebook,© 10-15-75). This document was simply written, but still professional and scientific. There were many photographs and circuit schematics, all designed and laid out by the authors. A copy of the original manuscript is on hand in the club archives. (Jeff had only recently moved to South Florida but both he and Bob had been involved in radio astronomy for many years. While living in Bayshore, New York, Jeff submitted an article and a photograph on radio astronomy and solar flares for publication in the September 1974 issue of Sky and Telescope.)

 Land had to be cleared and plans approved, but regardless of the problems, 1975 was a year of substantial progress. In March, a mosaic sundial, 160 feet across, was completed and dedicated. (At the September 18th meeting, Jeff Lichtman announced that Astronomymagazine was on sale for the first time and the subscription price was $10.) In late September, the County graded the land for the building site. On December 2, shortly after the ground-breaking, the pilings for the piers were poured by the Banaszak Concrete Company, and, on December 18, most of the rest of the foundation was done. Ted Rosz, a contractor and former club member, agreed to do the foundation for $1763. (Ted was the lowest bidder--the other bids were $2,000 and up. The ledger shows a total cost of $2,081 as of 12-23-75.) According to the agreement, the price included the slab for the observatory and the east patio. However, the portion of the foundation known as the "back porch," now the floor of the clubroom, was not poured until almost a year later.

 Some sources say, the porch floor was an afterthought, and others say it was included in the original bid for the foundation. At the membership meeting on May 1, 1975 (before any work was done and before Ted Rosz made his bid), the membership agreed to add a 15' 4" by 15' 4" extension on the north side of the observatory. The minutes say it was to be used as a viewing patio or a class study area. Barry says, "it was a good time to pour the slab, but the club didn't have the resources to go any further." (In 1996, Ted Rosz informed me that he did not do the additional pour.) Either way, the floor of the "back porch" was in place before the dedication on March 20, 1977. (Because the planetarium closed for a brief summer vacation, the only meeting held in August of 1975 was a viewing session at the Wylies'.)

 Things were starting to happen, but the major part of the construction lie ahead, and most of the needed capital was still outstanding. The County okayed the architect's drawings on November 10, 1975, and the building permit was issued on Thursday, November 13, for $99. The observatory was officially named for Dr. Fox a week later, on the 20th. (As late as the fall of 1975, the treasury was still $12,500 short of the estimated $15,000 needed to complete the project.)

 Most decisions were made during meetings of the combined membership, but, in one case, decisive, on-the-spot action was taken. During the ground-breaking ceremony, just after Thanksgiving 1975 (November 23 at 12:30 p.m.: a cold, cold day), several club members, mostly officers and committee persons, were huddled together, discussing the location and orientation of the building. Some of those present felt uncertain, as to just how much land the County was setting aside for the club's project. One member suggested the building should sit well off the roadway. (It seemed unlikely the County would build anything in front of the observatory.)

 This thought gave birth to a change in the plan--there would be more space if a greater setback was chosen. The stakes, marking the foundation, were immediately moved farther back from the roadway, and to make certain of their claim, the group dug the pits for the piers. Everyone took a turn--it was the only way to get warm!

 To add to the frustrations, the building permit was going to expire on 3-11-76. However, it could be renewed within 90 days at half price. If the 90 days slipped by the club would have to reapply. On March 3, Ted Rosz started working on the block walls, up to the tie beams. This part of the job was completed the last day of March, and cost an additional $1,500. Because the building fund was nearly depleted, the finish contractor/roof builder was not lined up, but the project was about to get a big boost. (The overall financial situation was about to change!)

 Ted did his part of the job for the cost of materials, and there was no electric power until several months after he finished. (Working without electricity, had to make progress more difficult.) When I spoke to Ted in 1996, he said "it would be prohibitive to build the observatory today." Ted's contribution to the project (sweat equity) was significant! (When Ted joined the club in the spring of 1967, he built an 8-inch reflecting telescope, which he still has as of this writing.)

 In the late spring of 1976, two club members came to the rescue with a plan to finance what remained to be done. Bob Sickels, construction coordinator, was then free to go ahead and hire a finish contractor. The "company," Bob hired to work on the interior and put up the roof also nailed up the wood shakes. He, William Hall of Hall Masonry was a one man operation, and was afforded the opportunity to bid on and do the job as a result of building an addition on the Sickels home. The interior, doors, roof and exterior finish were to be completed in 5 weeks and cost $5,384. The bid was made, and the deal was set on June 3, 1976. Some sort of adjustment or cost cutting must have come about because the record indicates Hall Masonry was paid $5058.85 to complete this part of the job.

 Joe Taylor, another contractor, and a club member as early as November 1966, had been scheduled to apply the stucco to the interior and exterior walls for $4191.75, but the plan had to be changed when the County requested the exterior of the building be finished in cedar planks and shakes, which they supplied. The Parks Department said the appearance of the structure should be compatible with the natural setting of the park. (The interior, and the part of the exterior, not covered by the cedar shakes, were to be plastered by a team made up of 5 or 6 club members.)

 Two months earlier, Bob sent a letter to Director of Parks, Robert Grube. The gist of it was that Dr. Fox promised to lend a 21-foot trailer to the club for members to rest in and use while waiting for an astronomical object to come into view. Grube asked for more information, and gave the idea a fair hearing, but by the time construction was to begin the deal had been nixed. It was decided that a trailer would be too obtrusive in the pristine setting of Markham Park.

 Construction was scheduled to begin the second week of June. The contractor informed Bob that he would need electricity for his equipment, and, on June 8, Bob asked the County for a variance allowing power to the site. The next day, temporary approval was granted, but the hookup was not to exceed a period of 30 days. (When the variance was granted, power was still not available at the site. FP&L wanted a goodly sum ($1,500) to install a transformer and run the lines.) Without electricity, the job moved slowly at first (everything had to be done by hand), but after a few days, the hookup was made, and the work was completed in a time frame close to the contractor's original estimate. (The building was secure by early August, but Hall Masonry did additional work in November. Possibly, that was when the County delivered the wood shakes for the exterior. The record shows that W. Hall was paid an additional $900 on November 25, 1976.)

 (There were negotiations with the County over the FP&L transformer and who pays what. Between June and late September 1976, there were several meetings and correspondences with the Building Department concerning this and other issues. One account has it, the club made monthly installments totaling $500 as its share of the cost. However, the treasurer's ledger shows the club paid FP&L $1,568 on 8-6-76.)

 Once the walls were up, and he had access to the building, George Johnston, a licensed electrician, and an SFAAA member, donated time and most of the materials to do the wiring. He completed the job on his Saturdays off, over a period of several months, ending the second week of September, 1976. Joe Leo, another member, also an electrician, assisted with the finishing touches.

 If the problems with the transformer and the hookup weren't enough, there was a disagreement with the county electrical inspector over grounding methods at the tie-in point. During the final inspection on 9-14-76, the inspector found the wiring going to the two piers not to be in compliance. Four code violations were noted, and power to the piers was red-tagged. On 9-15-76, Bob Sickels resubmitted the wiring plan for the two piers. A big pow-wow was held downtown on 9-21-76, with the County Planning and Zoning Enforcement Division, and the issues were resolved. On 9-22-76, all actions to be taken by both sides were laid out in a memo including the comment that George Johnston was free to call FP&L and request temporary power in order to completely check out his work before the final electrical inspection. (Every effort was being made by the County to see the project to a speedy conclusion.)

 The wiring was approved a week later, on September 29th (i.e., 9-29-76). The work to install the plumbing was done at reduced cost ($292.50) by Ralph Raspen, an associate of George's, and required another three months (from the first part of October to December 16). (With the hooking up of the plumbing, the installation of the wood shakes, the plastering, the pouring of the slab for the clubroom and other work on the interior and the telescopes all being done during the same period, the observatory must have been like a beehive.)

 The remoteness of the site, and the lack of conveniences, was a considerable hardship to those overseeing and participating in construction. Adding to the difficulty, was the general problem of getting inspections and service connections attended to. The members of the Observatory Committee had jobs, families and other demands on their time, and it was a long drive to wait for a service technician or an inspector who might be late or who might not show up at all.

 At the beginning of construction, a document was drawn up to describe the Observatory Committee, its duties and its methods. There were to be five officers, with two year terms. The committee was to establish a written operating procedure, and certify those qualified to operate the observatory. The committee was empowered to elect its chairman, and make twice-yearly reports to the club. (The observatory would be operated on the "buddy system," and, to be certified as operators, candidates would have to be at least eighteen years of age.) On September 22, 1976, Bob Sickels filed a progress report. In the report, Bob requested the Observatory Committee should, "very soon," provide the Operations Procedures for the observatory. (Multiple copies of the finished two page document are kept in the observatory archives--search "Other documents" twice, then search "6.")

 When the building was secure and the wiring was signed off, the details of finishing the interior were attended to (plastering, carpentry, ceiling, etc.). The members did most of the work themselves. Whatever needed attention, was done on a time-available basis. A small but dedicated team came by after work, or whenever they could. There were nine or ten individuals involved in this part of the job, and a lot of initiative was exercised!

 Bob Sickels purchased most of what was needed to finish the exterior and interior walls for $242. Joe Taylor picked out the materials and directed most of the work. Bob and Barry put up the drywall in what is now the storeroom. Joe Leo helped George finish the wiring. Charlie Helwig, Jeff Lichtman, John Martin, Bob Sickels and Ralph Boyd did the plastering. (This finishing phase of the job covered the four month period from early October of 1976 to mid February of 1977.)

 Along with the wood shakes for the exterior, the County supplied the tile for the floor. The shakes were available in 1976, but the tile did not become available until 1980. Other items, chairs, fire extinguisher, restroom supplies, etc. were bought out-of-pocket by whoever was working that day and saw the need. The sofits were made and donated by a screen and porch company, located a few doors from Bob Sickels' place of business. (The "observatory crew" was made up of the following club members: Rick Adams, Ralph Boyd, Paul Daniel, Charlie Helwig, George Johnston, Sylvia and Charles Lawson, Joe Leo, Jeff Lichtman, John Martin, Rae Parnell, Barry Perlman, Robert and Dorothy Sickels, Mike Smith, Joe Taylor and Walt Zalph.)

 While it was mentioned early on in the minutes, the back porch was not on the original drawings. However, once the work on the observatory was begun, it was logical to go ahead and extend the slab to include what was eventually to become the clubroom. The exact date is uncertain, but the additional section was poured sometime after the walls were up, but before the dedication ceremony in March of 1977. (The additional work on the floor may have been done by the County, in the closing months and weeks of 1976. Regardless of who poured the slab, the walls would have to wait until a later date. At the time, there was no way for anyone to know the County would eventually finish the job, or that it would take as long as it did.)

 Construction of the observatory was completed in February of 1977, fifteen months after the ground-breaking and almost four years after the trip to find a suitable site in May of 1973. The blueprint for the building was drawn up 9-12-74 by Earl E. Seck, P. E. (Mr. Seck, a friend of Bob Sickels', donated his time and expertise to the project.) The final inspection for the building was at 4:00 p.m. 2-25-77, by W. D. Taylor. All inspections were taken against permit #75-6114. A Certificate of Occupancy was issued two days later, on 2-28. The liability insurance premium for the year of dedication, 1977 was $31 for bodily injury and $22 for non ownership liability (limits: 100-300-25). (During the construction phase, a survey was done to complete the legal description of the property. Fox Observatory is located at latitude 26° 7' 44" north, longitude 80° 21' 41" west.
 

Help From Many Sources (1974-1976)
 When I first learned of the SFAAA and the construction going on at Markham Park, it was the spring of 1974. John Martin, a fellow worker at Harris Corporation, had been going to the club's meetings, and told me the story. I attended a few meetings, and Dr. Fox was one of the scheduled speakers. At the time, I did not know he was a relatively new member or that he had little to do with getting the observatory project started.

 Because I knew the first half of the story, but little of what happened in the late 1960s, I assumed it was Dr. Fox'es plan that was unfolding. I surmised that he might have been a part of the new club and the observatory project from the very beginning. It seemed remarkable that he was finally achieving his goal, and that he had been able to keep the promise of county land alive for so many years. However, as more information became available, it seemed likely, the site Dr. Fox had in mind in the mid 1950s was farther out, probably at or near Everglades-Holiday Park. (I mentioned the earlier club to SFAAA members on a few occasions, but could not get a discussion started. I thought everyone was following Dr. Fox'es lead, so I said nothing more of it.)

 After the first three articles in the newsletter series were published, I was told, Dr. Fox did not participate in the earliest planning, or in the search for a site. However, once the project was underway, and apparently without telling anyone of the earlier plan to build an observatory in the same general area, he and another member gave the project a boost by arranging the largest part of the financing.

 In 1974, Russell Peecook undertook the task of creating the zodiacal garden and sundial. The original plan was that plants and other decorations would adorn the circle. It took several months to get the ceramic tile and set up the job. Time was running out, but everything was completed just in time for the scheduled dedication of the garden and the future site of the observatory. (How it was done: Russell obtained permission to collect scrap tile from the dumpsters, behind several local Italian tile installers. There was no precise agreement or designation as to the use of the land within the circle, south of the observatory, so it was "acquired," so to speak, to serve a worthwhile cause.)

 On Friday, March 21, 1975, at 1:30 p.m., the day and time of the vernal equinox, the dedication ceremony was held, and a 200-year time capsule was put in place in what became known as the Kornfeld Zodiacal Garden. The pads for the planets had been placed in a pattern representing their relative positions around the Sun on the day of the dedication. (Frank and Barbara Kornfeld had, by that time, made several sizable donations and a commitment to donate more to the observatory project. In recognition of their continuing support, the zodiacal garden was named after them.)

 Mrs. C. Robert Markham attended the dedication, and made a $25 donation to the building fund. County Commissioner Jack Moss represented the citizens of Broward County. Members in attendance were: Mollie O'Donnell, Russell and Joy Peecook, Lyndon Allwood, Frank and Barbara Kornfeld, Aileen and Dr. George Rhodes, Frank and Pat McCarthy (son of Frank), Morey Morrison and Robert and Dorothy Sickels. The next step in the plan was to complete the observatory in time to dedicate it on the same day, one year later, but it was not to be. A shortage of funds delayed the start of construction until after the intended completion date. (The body of water on the north side of the observatory is Lake Madolyn, named for Mrs. Madolyn Markham.)  (sp: Madolyn or Madeleine)

 The sundial had been installed in two weeks by a crew headed by Bob Sickels and the designer, Russell Peecook. Russ and Dorothy Sickels did the work to set the tile on the 24-inch cement squares. Two of the three SFAAA members who knew the exact location of the time capsule were deceased as of 1995. The location is recorded in the archives of the Smithsonian Institute and of the State of Florida. The time capsule is scheduled to be opened in conjunction with the nation's quadri-centennial celebration in 2176. (The cement for the pads on which the signs of the zodiac and the planets were affixed was donated by the Banaszak Concrete Company. It is said that when the truck arrived with the cement, and the driver realized there would have to be 22 separate pours, moving the truck each time, "he went ballistic." Not long after completion and dedication of the garden (before Thanksgiving 1975), the Parks Department planted sod and installed a knee-high, post-and-rail fence around the circle.)

 The day before the dedication, the Kornfelds donated another $100 to the project. The Kornfelds' determined efforts and donations to get things done were, time and again, the fuel for the fire. The Kornfelds lived in Fort Lauderdale and in New York. They were itinerant travelers, going to major observatories and viewing sites all over the country and the world. They visited places like Ballart, Australia to view a solar eclipse.

 The Kornfelds were senior citizens, and they were very interested in the club! They made yearly sojourns to far off places and carried a 6-inch Quantum OTI Maksutov-Cassegrain with them wherever they went. In Ballart (1977), they chartered a plane and chased the eclipse. (A solar eclipse will last a few seconds longer if you fly west to its beginning, come about, then fly east to its conclusion.)

 A fund drive, begun early in 1975 (3-13-75), with Bob Sickels as its chairman, helped get the available capital up to a more workable level. Letters were sent to many civic leaders, with gratifying results. By mid year the treasury had grown to $3,000. Howard Leban and son, John Leban, Chairman of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee donated $250 in May. Father and son were made honorary members on May 21, 1975. On the following day (at a club meeting), Wayne and Eleanor Wilson, new members, as of March 5, 1975, donated $200 to the fund. (At the membership meeting on May 1, 1975, a motion was passed to make anyone who donated $500 or more to the building fund an honorary member.)

 On 12-11-75, Dr. Fox turned the deed to the Brandon Refractor over to the association. At the same time, he received a Certificate of Appreciation for his contributions to the club and to the observatory project. In the spring of 1976 (March 12), Frank and Barbara Kornfeld, with Dr. Fox'es help, floated a $5,000 bond, to help finance the project. (At the time a trust agreement was drawn up with Bob Sickels and Ralph Boyd designated as trustees and "keepers" of the bond.)

 In addition to their share of the bond, the Kornfelds donated a total of approximately $5,000 more in cash between March of 1975 and February of 1977. The largest amount was $3,500 and came in July of 1976, just when the project needed it most. The Wylies, Johnstons, Foxes and Sickelses led a large group of members who donated a sum totaling another $2,500. (During 1975 and 1976, Lyndon Allwood, a prominent local political leader and club member, helped get things done by working with the various commissions and departments of county government. It took all these efforts and a lot of persistence to get the job done.)

.On one occasion, during a "block drive," Bob Sickels' salesmanship brought in more than he bargained for. It was at a Thursday night meeting, almost a year after the fund drive began. The previous Monday, January 19, 1976, John Martin and I, in response to an add in the Sun Sentinel, visited the home of an SFAAA member. The add directed us to Dr. Michael Blatt, Cherry Garden Circle, Inverrary. One of us called the phone number in the newspaper, and we were invited to visit Dr. Blatt's home to see his 10-inch, Cave, Newtonian reflector.

 The Blatt reflector was an f/8 or f/9 planetary scope, with the tube extended 12 inches beyond the optics at each end. The extra tube length formed a chimney to help keep stray light out of the visual field. The tube assembly was over 100 inches long and 12 inches in diameter--it took the three of us to set it up.

We wanted to look at Mars, but the red planet was nearly overhead--a 6-foot stepladder was needed to reach the eyepiece. The image was crisp, on a jet-black sky, with fine markings visible on the surface at 85x. (Neither John nor I could transport or set up an instrument of that size without serious help, so we passed it up. However, I have often looked back and wished that I possessed this remarkable telescope. The asking price was $500.)

  (more Mars)

 When John went to the club meeting on Thursday, he still had the money to buy Dr. Blatt's telescope in his wallet. When the meeting began, Bob gave a patriotic speech to inspire donations. He said he would match the highest dollar amount from anyone present. Bob was noticeably shaken when John, stirred by the rousing address (gung ho, in John's words), raised his hand, with $100 in it. (Jeff Lichtman had agreed to put up half of the matching funds.) Before John, Bob or Jeff realized what had happened, they were a total of $200 lighter. (Eli Silk, a member of seven months, and the Wylies had each contributed $100 in the previous days.)

 In November of 1995, a few days prior to John telling me of his "gung ho" donation, I found a reference in the club minutes for January 22, 1976, regarding several hundred dollars ($320) having come from the membership during the meeting. I thought that was a large amount of cash to come from the floor at one time. Now I know the rest of the story. (John fondly recalled the look of astonishment on Bob Sickels' face.)

 We did not know Dr. Blatt was a club member when we arrived at his home. He had not attended many meetings, and only casually mentioned the club during the evening. (While we left Dr. Blatt's home empty-handed that evening in 1976, we were not entirely without gain. It turned out that Dr. Blatt was a cardiologists at Cape Kennedy working on the Apollo missions. He told stories until almost midnight--yarns about Zor Astrans and extraterrestrials. That evening still stands out in my memory.)

 Among the many donations, a considerable sum came from Sheriff Ed Stack. Lyn Allwood contacted the Sheriff, explaining that the club needed help covering such expenses as the cost of connecting electric power to the observatory. Sheriff Stack responded almost immediately (August 10, 1976), with a check for $1,000. (In recognition of their support, Sheriff Stack, and Frank and Barbara Kornfeld, were extended honorary life memberships. The Kornfelds' were honored sometime in 1976, with Sheriff Stack in August of the same year.)

 Ralph Boyd, the club president during the peak construction period (1976), resigned from office late in the year. Ralph lived in Miami, and felt that with the demands on the president, and with the observatory construction underway, it would be best to let someone who was geographically closer to the observatory fill the position. Bob Sickels served the balance of Ralph's term.

.Ralph said it was a hectic year, but for him, it was also a year of recognition. Earlier in the year, on Sunday, March 7, 1976, at 6:30 a.m., Ralph was waiting for Comet West to come out from behind the Sun. It was on its way back to deep space, and the completion of its one million year orbit. Previously, the comet had followed a 300,000 year trajectory. This time it ventured too close to its keeper, 18.3 million miles, and, on that morning, Ralph was the first in the US, to see and report the breakup of the nucleus into two pieces.

 Ralph called Brian Marsden at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to record what he had seen, but in the early morning hours of the weekend, could only draw the attention of a telephone answering device. Ralph was unsure as to whether he had recorded his phone message correctly--then, the call came back from Marsden, asking many questions, in an effort to confirm the sighting. The first instrument to record the split was a 36-inch reflector at a university observatory in Germany, and Ralph was using an eight-inch, Dynamax, Schmidt-Casse. (More recently, Brian Marsden has been affiliated with the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams in Massachusetts. In May of 1993, Marsden and another orbital specialist, Syuichi Nakano in Japan, were the first to predict the splash-down of Shoemaker-Levy 9.) (Source for additional information: Sky and Telescope, Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA, July 1994, Levy/Beatty, Awaiting the Crash-Part II, pp 18-23.)

 On Monday, March the 18th, Steven O'Meara reported a second split, using the 9-inch Harvard Observatory refractor. The nucleus was now four separate chunks. (O'Meara first spotted the original split on Monday, the 8th, the day after Ralph.) (Source for additional information: Sky and Telescope,May 1976, "Comet West's Fine Performance" pp 312-321.). Ralph's Dynamax was the smallest instrument to record the event. (This was a really big deal! Since that time, several comets have been reported braking up, but before 1976, very few such events had been documented, and none buy an amateur.)

 John Martin and I had made our way out to SR-27 with a group from Motorola. I think Joe Leo was in the group, or, he intended to be. It was late February, around the 20th, and just before evening twilight when we got there. The observing site was a paved "turnout" on the west shoulder of the highway, just north of where the toll plaza for "the Alley" is today. There were about 15 of us in 4 or 5 cars. The comet was easy to find, but did not stand out well in the evening twilight. We adjourned after about an hour. (The comet passed out of sight on the 25th or 26th--everyone braced themselves for the "coming out.")

.(In the 1970s, the greater metropolitan area still had a potential for good seeing. On many nights there a was "window," or porthole, a bit more than 30 degrees across, and directly overhead, typical of sites two to three miles from the center of town. Anything crossing through that "window" was "fair game." You could see 5th magnitude stars with the unaided eye, and with an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, at 100 power, you could easily make out the three-dimensional effect of M 27, the "dumbell nebula." At 150x, in the same telescope, the 12th magnitude star, just outside the ring nebula, M 57, was fairly easy to detect, with averted vision. M 13 looked like hundreds of tiny dazzling lights, in a Cave Optical, 8-inch f/7 Newtonian, from sites little more than three or four miles from the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Of course, such visibility was only possible near the zenith, and only after 11 p.m. Given the light pollution in recent years, the marginally poor seeing conditions in the 1970s seem incidental. With the urban sprawl and the increasing sky glow, and even when viewing from relatively remote, but reasonably close in, sites, such as Markham Park, little of what could be seen then is visible now. This is true for a telescope of any aperture or design, except on very rare occasions, in the early morning hours! In 1973, when construction of the Fox Observatory began, and in spite of the city lights, the seeing at locations as far west as the "dark site" and at points north of the "alley," on State Road 27, was breathtaking! When there was no moon, it was not possible to see your hand in front of your face!)

 Rising, just before the Sun, in early March, Comet West was bright and luminous in a 5-inch RFT. The comet easily filled a 2.5 degree field, and it looked almost as it did in photographs. Even to the unaided eye, it was very broad and bright, with a 2 to 3 degree tail, easily seen, even in the morning twilight. As I recall it, I decided to set up my telescope and look for "the split" after John Martin told me of Ralph's discovery. I had forgotten this story until I spoke to Ralph in the spring of 1996. Almost 20 years had passed when he reminded me of what had transpired. (Comet West is one of those spectacles, like the first strike of S-L 9, or the first time, or any time, you see Omega Centauri, that stays with you over the years.)

   (Return to "Observing notes")  ("Comet West")

 The plan to build an observatory in Markham Park was a bold venture from the beginning. When the first proposal was sent to the County in 1973, there was only $300 in the club treasury. However, by mid 1976, with cash donations and a $5,000 bond floated by the Kornfelds and Dr. Fox, a tidy sum was available for construction. On 7-5-76, with completion of the job in sight, it was estimated that $14,890.50 would be expended. (Yet another donation by the Kornfelds ($3,500) on July 2nd of that year brought the amounts contributed to the building fund very close to $15,000. (When the observatory was officially opened on 3-20-77, the total expense entered into the ledger was $14,643.60.)

 With out of pocket expenses, and with building supplies donated by local businesses, the total investment was considerably more. Donations of time and materials from friends of club members and from members of the community that could not be counted accurately, pushed the club's share to approximately $20,000. (The County and the Parks Department would eventually invest another $20,000. This figure includes the clubroom, which was not completed until long after the initial construction phase.)

 With realization of the plan in sight, the club, as a non-profit (501) organization, needed to amend the Articles of Incorporation in order to abide by the tax code and protect the club's assets. (The amendment was drawn up 1-18-76; approved by the membership 2-24-76; filed 3-19-76; witnessed 4-28-76; and filed 4-29-76. The Certificate of Amendment was issued in two parts by the Secretary of State, Bruce Smathers, on the 30th and 31st day of April 1976.) The amendment stated that if the SFAAA were ever to be disbanded the residual assets of the club would, by a two-thirds majority of the membership at the time, be donated to another South Florida astronomical association. (A second equipment inventory, identified as the initial inventory, was filed on 7-25-76. The value of equipment owned or operated by the club was placed at $24,425. Bob Sickels' radio telescope had been added to the list since the first inventory was taken.)

 Apparently, a related amendment to the Bylaws was prepared, but not enacted, on January 19 of the same year. It was not until April of 1978 that words to the same effect were added to the Bylaws, with one variation-- disposition would be determined by a majority vote of the entire membership (Article XI). To further comply with the code and insure protection of the assets, an article (VI) was added creating a panel of three trustees to serve staggered terms of three years. The trustees shall be elected by the membership, and the purpose of the panel is to preside over the property of the association. (Article VI of the Bylaws states that it shall be the responsibility of the trustees to maintain an inventory of all association property, and no one can remove said property from the observatory without notification and consent of at least one of the trustees. Also, a trustee may serve as a director or other officer during his or her term, and under Article V--Government, a second director was added to the board. (With the 1978 changes, the number of articles was increased from eleven to twelve.)

 As regards any decision to put off amendment of the Bylaws, it turns out that it was good idea to do so until after the observatory was up and running. The meeting schedule is also spelled out in the Bylaws, and there were many changes during the first years of observatory operation. (The 1978 amendment was voted on and became effective 4-27-78. An amendment to the Bylaws, begun in April of 1989, with final changes and approval in November of that year, granted more flexibility as to the potential recipients in the event of the association's dissolution. The residual assets of the club would be turned over to another Florida astronomical association, thus excluding the word "South," and increasing the size of the pool of candidates.)

  (Return to the "Guide")
 

The Project Draws to a Close: A Time for Celebration (1976-1977)
 A telescope committee was formed to put together a 12-1/2-inch, Dall-Kirkham, Cassegrain. Barry Perlman influenced the decision to build a reflector as he wanted to do photometric work. Barry was chairman of the telescope committee and John Martin was vice chairman. The mirror set came from Coulter Optical and cost $350. The mirror cell and some of the other parts were purchased from Kenneth F. Novak and Company.

 The telescope was put together entirely by club members and families of club members during 1976. The tube assembly was a Surrier truss design, made from aluminum stock. The father of one of the club members (Linda Beurle) also the proprietor of a sheet metal shop, donated the materials, and welded the assembly together. The aluminum cage, by itself, weighed 30 to 40 pounds!

 The optical components were installed, and assembly was completed, at the Wylie Nursery in Davie. Purchase of the optics and the other parts for the Cassegrain was financed by Barbara and Frank Kornfeld. Barry Perlman and Walt Golden had constructed the control console for the photometer in the fall of 1973. (The piers were poured, and the work on the reflector and the refractor was completed in the late months of 1976 through mid February of 1977.)

 The height of the pier for the refractor was calculated by John Martin. With a flat roll-off roof, the measurement had to be exact! The telescope had to fit under the movable part of the roof when it was in the closed position, but the pier still needed be of sufficient height to allow viewing near the horizon. To accomplish both feats, the declination axis would have to be turned to the horizontal position, when the roof was closed. (From the time the Fox family moved to Miami, in the late 1960s, until it was permanently installed in the observatory, in 1977, the Brandon Refractor was stored in the Joe and Sylvia Fox'es spare bedroom.)

 On Sunday, March 20th, 1977, at 4:30 p.m., one year behind schedule, the Fox Astronomical Observatory was dedicated. The Brandon Refractor, with its P-38 mount and asbestos covered aluminum tube, was in its present position. A few feet west, stood the Kornfeld Cassegrain, on a fork mount purchased from the Museum of Science, by Barry Perlman, in 1973. (Barry paid $35 for the mount, and the clock drive was purchased from a commercial source.)

 At the dedication, Vice Mayor Virginia Young, Sheriff Ed Stack and Mrs. C. Robert Markham were part of the group representing the County. Benefactors, dignitaries and SFAAA officers spoke, then a deed to the building was turned over to Ken Jenne, representing the citizens of Broward County, by Bob Sickels, on behalf of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association. The invocation was delivered by Reverend Marvin E. Purser Jr., and the Sheriff led the pledge of allegiance.

 Lyndon V. Allwood, Chairman of the Broward County Democratic Screening Committee, and an SFAAA member, was chairman of the dedication committee. Mr. Allwood introduced the program, and Ken Jenne, Chairman of the County Commission, gave the welcoming address. Other addresses and remarks were delivered by Mary and Charles Wylie, Bob Sickels, Dr. Joseph Fox, Gladwin Comes, director of Buehler Planetarium, Frank Kornfeld, John Leban, Chairman of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee and Sheriff Ed Stack. (Other members of the dedication committee were Frank and Barbara Kornfeld, Bob and Dorothy Sickels, and Mary Wylie.)

 After Mrs. Kornfeld christened the observatory, addresses were made by Dr. Edwards, president of Broward Junior College, Mrs. Kathleen Wright, Chairman of the Broward County School Board and James Maurer, Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools. After a few members of other clubs spoke, Ken Jenne officially transferred the observatory and the grounds to Bob Sickels and the SFAAA.

 The ceremony was brought to a close with a few remarks from representatives of the Broward County Parks Department. Those who were there will remember seeing Jack Horkheimer ("The Starhustler") and Art Smith, both of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium. During the afternoon, refreshments were served, telescopes were set up, and when it was dark, pictures of the Moon and Jupiter were taken. (Jim Dailing, an employee of Motorola and relatively new to the area, was in attendance. Jim and his wife, Mary Lou, and five children moved to South Florida from Glen Ellyn, Illinois and settled in Plantation in 1972. Jim did not find an opportunity to join the club until 1985, but was curious about the goings-on and paid a visit, as others of us have done over the years. Jim took his three boys, Phillip, Steven and David to the festivities.)

 Several months before the dedication, Bob Sickels found a less-than-wholesale source for two 12-volt DC boat winch motors. The motors were needed to hoist the dish for the radio telescope; however, they were purchased on 10-26-76, and the dish wasn't going up until late in 1977. In the meantime, the winch motors were used to open and close the observatory roof. One was used to open the roof and the other to close it. To provide the "juice," John Martin obtained a 12-volt, 20-amp, DC transformer that was being scrapped by his employer. (Because the motors were not installed until one month later, the roof was hand cranked to the open position for the dedication ceremony.)

 A few months after the dedication, probably in May or June 1977, the "book drawings" were discontinued, except on an occasional basis. The club was moving on to other things and many had lost interest in the idea. After the award of more than 150 books, the idea had worn itself out.

  (Return to the "Guide")   ("The Project Draws to a Close")
 

Adjusting to Observatory Life (1978-1980)
 When the observatory became operational, meetings continued to be held at the planetarium, but within a year of the christening, it was decided, they would only be held twice each month, on the second and fourth Thursday. A third meeting, on a floating Friday night, was intended for observing sessions at the observatory. (The change to the Bylaws, in April of 1978, made the new schedule official.)

 The change was made because someone from the club had to be at the observatory on public nights, every Saturday. With the clubroom not yet under construction, and no adequate meeting place at the park, going back and forth, twice each week, and coming up with programs for gatherings at both places, was a major undertaking.

 Early in 1979, because of conflicts with the scheduling at Buehler, the time and place for the club's regular meetings was changed again. Future meetings would only be held once each month. For the balance of 1979 and all of 1980, meetings were held at the Fox Observatory, on the second Saturday, in conjunction with the open house. Viewing sessions were elective, and the open house and meeting nights were adjusted to avoid the light of the Moon. ( For most of 1979 and a short time in 1980, the start time for meetings was 7:30 p.m. However, in March of 1980, the schedule for open house/public nights was reduced to every second and fourth Saturday, and the start time for the club meeting was moved to 9:30 p.m., after open house.)

 On Thursday, February 5, 1981, at 8:30 p.m., the regular club meetings returned to BCC, Davis Campus, building 75, room 102, just north and west of the planetarium. Thereafter, meetings were held on the first Thursday at 8:30 p.m. After a short stint in room 102, on May 7, of that year, the club's regular meetings returned to the planetarium. (This would be the last time either schedule, open house or club meeting, would undergo adjustment until March of 1991.)

 For Your Information (how it was done): The Articles of Incorporation brought into law January 25, 1966 stated, the first annual meeting was to be held on the first Monday in March of that year, and thereafter at a date determined at the option of the board. To that end, the Constitution and Bylaws, written in March of that year, decreed that regular meetings would be held on Wednesdays, and the annual meeting would be held on the second Wednesday in February. In the 1978 revision of the Bylaws, the day for the annual meeting was stated as being the second regular meeting in February, by then, a Thursday. In effect, this and going from meeting weekly to meeting twice-monthly moved the annual meeting from the second week to the fourth week. (On reading this, I wondered if there were an oversight in the 1978 amendment or if any meetings were actually held on the fourth Thursday? Possibly, the change in the wording from "second Wednesday" to "second regular meeting" should have been stated as 'second week," or "first regular meeting," thus designating the annual meeting to be in the same week as before.) Whatever the intent, the day for meetings, annual and otherwise, was soon changed again!

 Sometime in early to mid 1979, the day and time for all regular meetings was changed to the second Saturday, and the annual meeting became the regular meeting in February. (This was done by vote of the membership, and the Bylaws were not subsequently amended to reflect the change. With the disposition of assets attended to, and with the possibility of further changes in the schedule, the membership put off any further amendment until a later date.) The only annual meeting affected by this change was held in February of 1980. This is because the association moved back to the BCC campus, and resumed having Thursday night meetings, just in time for the annual meeting on February 7, 1981. (This final change in the meeting schedule was not formally added to the Constitution and Bylaws until November of 1989.) (For more information on this, see A Schedule of Meetings, Appendix IV.)

 While the club was still meeting at the observatory (Dec. 1979), and to lighten the load further, and gain more breathing room, the membership decided to cut back on the nights the observatory would be open to the public. A memo released on March 19, 1977 said the observatory would be open every Saturday from 7-10 p.m. (Looking back: In the minutes for the regular club meeting on January 24, 1974, just before the expanded version of the observatory proposal was forwarded to the County, Barry Perlman mentioned, and it was stressed, that the number of public nights should be carefully considered. The club should not commit to more than it can do!) Four and sometimes five Saturdays a month probably seemed doable at the beginning of the project. (I was only an occasional visitor at the time; however, making as many as 9 or 10 trips a month for meetings and public nights seemed a staggering responsibility.) On December 8, 1979, a vote was taken, and, on March 8, 1980, the schedule for public observing was changed to the second and fourth Saturday.

 To have finished the project, and then managed to open the observatory to the public on a regular basis was remarkable, and all of this was accomplished with only 45 members. A surprisingly large percentage of the membership formed the core group. By any minimal estimate there were more than 20 key players, and, at any given time, seven or eight were active in leadership roles--finance, materials acquisition, planning, code compliance, design, contracting and construction. Without the technical and trade skills of some of the members and their ability to call on outside tradespersons and civic leaders none of this could have happened. (Of particular note were: Walt Golden, Herb Harris, George Johnston, Jeff Lichtman, Joe Leo, Jack Finnigan, Joe Taylor, Ted Rosz, John Martin and Barry Perlman. Possibly, most important were the abilities of Bob Sickels and Lyndon Allwood to work with local officials, and get the community interested in the project.)
 

Radio Astronomy at the Park (1977-1980)
 On August 4, 1977, five months after the dedication and the beginning of public viewing, Bob Sickels' filed a permit with the County to put up a dish antenna for a radio telescope. The antenna was erected on or about August 9, but was still being revised as late as January 28, 1978. It took almost a year to build the receiver and get it working. The north wall of what was then called the backroom (now the storeroom) was eventually hidden by racks of electronic equipment. The 25-foot parabolic dish antenna was mounted 100 yards east of the observatory, where the pine trees are today. An underground cable connected the antenna to the building. The system was operational early in 1979, at a frequency of 612 MHz.

 In 1978, Dr. Fox became the 24th president of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association. He also served as director-at-large for the years 1980 through 1983, and probably 1979. Until that time, it was his practice to present programs and leave club business to others. Between 1970 and 1980, Dr. Fox presented more than 50 programs. Some of his topics were stellar evolution, spectroscopy, photometry, black holes, time keeping and the AAVSO.

 Also in 1978, a vintage--1923, Zeiss mount, once owned by boat racer, Gar Wood, became available for the 6-inch Brandon Refractor. When the new mount was installed, the P-38 mount was stored, on the roof, over the restrooms, It remained there, in the open, and without cover, until it was finally and unfortunately discarded sometime in the 1980s. Two brass counterweight assemblies, for the optical tube, and a Zeiss rack-and-pinion focuser came with the new mount. (The focuser and counterweights were installed with the upgrade. The asbestos covering, Dr. Fox put on the tube in 1958 or 1959, was removed by Barry Perlman, either, at that time, or in 1980 or 1981.)

 Later in the year, Broward County voters approved a parks bond that eventually brought funds to Markham Park and Fox Observatory. In return for supporting the bond issue, the construction of the clubroom was added to the plan to develop the park. Up to that time, the club members thought they would eventually have to come up with the wherewithal to turn the "back porch" into an enclosed room. (The sidewalk, leading up to the building and angling off to the east patio, was added by the County in 1978, but that money was allotted before the bond issue.)

 Also in 1978, Herb Harris, following Barry Perlman's design, built an observing platform for the Cassegrain. It was replaced with two movable, steel staircases in 1980. Later in the year, a work area with machine tools was created in the backroom, on the south wall, opposite Bob's equipment, and 20 folding chairs were purchased for membership meetings. (The chairs were purchased with a donation by the Kornfelds, but with limited floor space, they could not be put to much use until the clubroom was completed in 1989. However, after 1978, most membership meetings in the month of August, when the planetarium was closed, were held at the observatory.) Also in 1978, a star chart was put up in the observatory, but it began to fade and was taken down in 1980. (Herb Harris moved to Tamarac from New York and joined the SFAAA on July 24, 1975. In 1978, he was elected to serve as the club's secretary. Herb left the club sometime after 1985, and, as of December 1995, could not be located, but was still believed to be living in the area.)

 During 1978, Ron Simpson, an industrial engineer and a club member, upgraded and improved the roof-drive system. Ron removed the old system and installed a reversible DC motor and shock absorber system. The shock absorber was intended to relieve stress on the chain, but eventually, in 1988, it had to be removed because it kept breaking down. (On completion of the upgrade, in 1978, Ron cautioned that no one should be in the observatory when the roof was being moved, and the operator should stand well off to the side, away from the controls and the chain!)

 On November 3, 4 and 5, 1978, the club hosted a Stellathon. The event was sanctioned by and held in cooperation with the Marks Astronomical Society of Palm Beach, the event's founder. Jeff Lichtman and Ralph Boyd were the co-chairmen, and it was a big success. There were presentations by club members and other amateurs from the South Florida area. (Noted Planetary observer, Donald Parker, was one of the guests.) On the first day, telescopes and other equipment were set up for judging in the afternoon, and remained in place for viewing that night.

 The SFAAA and Fox Observatory hosted the event again in 1981. This time, the meet ran from the 30th of October through the 1st of November. Clubs from all over the state were invited, and another highly reputed planetary observer, Jeff Beish, an often mentioned associate of Don Parker's, was in attendance. (Both men were and are from the Miami area, but Jeff Beish moved to Washington DC in 1996.)

 By December of 1978, Bob Sickels was selling a variety of radio telescopes, and Advanced Amateur Radio Astronomer's Notebook, Volume II. was in publication. (Bob wrote and published this 96 page edition on his own. By August of 1979, a new version, identified as Amateur Radio Astronomer's Notebook Volume 2, 108 pages, was in print. A copy of this later edition is filed in the observatory archives.) In addition to the 25-foot dish, Bob installed an array of four, 7-foot, parabolic dishes in 1979. The array was located immediately west of the observatory, and a 470-650 MHz receiver was set up in the backroom, with Bob's other equipment. (In 1979, Bob and Barry wrote a paper on SETI, the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence, and sent it to a number of observatories working on related projects. The plan was to share information with other interested parties, and look for signs of other civilizations. The "search for intelligent life" was just one of the tasks intended for the equipment at the park.)

 One project, in the realm of radio astronomy, did not require the use of the 25-foot dish antenna or the 4 by 7 array. Using small, long-wave receivers, manufactured and sold by Bob Sickels, the only international amateur experiment to study solar flares was headquartered at Fox Observatory. "Project Flare Watch," instituted in 1979, led to the discovery of a reversing effect in the ionosphere at 38-40 KHz. The reversal had not previously been reported, possibly because of a lack of interest in low frequency phenomena. (Barry and Bob were the project's co-directors.)

 The number of X-rays hitting the "F" layers of the atmosphere is increased at times of peak solar flares, as was the case in 1979. An unusual indication in the data (pen graphs) was noted by Barry Perlman, while working at the observatory. Participating stations (Bob's customers) were queried for information recorded during a specific period of time--early in February of 1980 (Feb. 3 through 9).

 When the data came in, the reversal was verified. A preliminary report was issued on December 11, 1980, and the results were published in an internationally distributed newsletter, dedicated to that kind of work. (Bob Sickels, dubbed the reversal the "Perlman Effect.") Twenty one stations from as far away as Australia, S. Africa, Europe, and South America took part. (The data tapes from the reporting stations were still on display in the backroom/storeroom of the observatory at the end of 1998. The receivers used for this project worked with an antenna made from a single run of wire, as long as you could make it.)

 For a time, part of the backroom was set up as a darkroom, with enlarger. It was upgraded in 1980, but was minimally utilized. In 1979, a meteorite display was set up in the hall near the restrooms, and in 1981, it was upgraded. In this period, a 4.5-inch f/20 solar telescope was constructed, and groups from local high schools and the Discovery Center visited the observatory. (On March 24, 1979, a third equipment inventory was taken totaling $36,951. The new inventory included the solar telescope and the Zeiss mount. The red, Schott glass, optics for the solar telescope were donated by Jesse Knight. George Johnston donated the mount, originally made by Jeff Lichtman.)

 During March, April and May of 1979, the 12-1/2-inch Dall-Kirkham was upgraded. The mirror was dismounted and sent away to D. L. Clausing (Dudley LeRoy Clausing) to be re-aluminized and overcoated. After the mirror returned home, the work to complete the upgrade was done under the direction of Ron Simpson, the observatory's mechanical engineer.

  It was decided, to replace the rather cumbersome Surrier-truss with a fiberglass tube. Jack Finnigan (treasurer) and Barry did most of the work to mount the optics in the new tube. Then, Finnigan and Ralph Boyd (president for 1979) came up with (made) a German equatorial pipe mount to replace the Museum of Science fork mount. Ron Simpson made the adapter plate and the gears for the new configuration. This completed parts one and two of the upgrade. A new clock drive was to be installed at a later date. (On 5-5-79, Jack Finnigan purchased two cans of bug spray for use at the observatory--cost: $5.24.)

 In the fall of 1979, Barry Perlman put together a new format for the newsletter. It was entitled Observatory News, and the intent was to bring everyone up-to-date on what members were doing and on the changes and additions to the observatory. Announcement of completion of the radio telescope, installation of the solar telescope, the upgrade to the Cassegrain, the return to the area of the Kornfelds and the meteorite display were some of the subjects reported on. There were numerous photographs, a used equipment exchange and an article on Ralph Boyd's photometric experiments. There was also a writeup on a blink comparator designed and built by Ron Simpson. (After a few issues, Barry had to suspend publication efforts due to other, more pressing, matters.) (It had taken more than a year to get the 25-foot radio telescope up and running. As luck would have it, during the fall of 1979, Hurricane David damaged the antenna, bringing an end to its operation.)

 In 1980, the tile for the observatory floor was received from the Parks Department and installed by club members Ray Lamb and Ron Simpson. During the year, Bob and Barry upgraded the work area in the backroom with fluorescent lights and a drop ceiling. Also in 1980, a bookcase, chart table and storage cabinet were built by Herb Harris. Early in the year, the club looked for a computer, on which, to record membership lists and club business. In April, Jack Finnigan successfully negotiated the donation of a Computer Automation Model 216 to the club by his employer, Motorola, Inc.

 Also, in 1980, a plan was formulated to replace the damaged and missing ceramic tiles in the Kornfeld Garden. During the first three years of observatory operation, the gnomon and surrounding mosaics fell into a state of disrepair. One of the things adding to the deterioration of the gnomon was its use by dirt bikers as a takeoff ramp. With the removal of the fence in 1983 or 84, cars and other vehicles were allowed to run over the planetary and zodiacal symbols. Another factor in the destruction and the most likely reason for removing the fence was the use of heavy duty tractor mowers by the Parks Department. (On September 13, 1980, a mall show was staged at the north end of the Hollywood Fashion Center. Telescopes, photometric equipment and slides were displayed.)

  (Return to the "Guide")   ("Radio Astronomy...")
 

Civilization Comes Closer (1980-1983)
 In the fall of 1980, the time had come for the Sickels family to leave the area. Bob and Dorothy sold their business here, and moved to Fort Pierce, shortly after September 13. Bob and Dorothy's participation and leadership, over the years since 1972, helped shape the future of the SFAAA. They almost never missed a meeting! (In his last years in Fort Lauderdale, Bob had eight, 7-foot, antennas in a phased array on the roof of his shop. With this telescope, Bob picked up and recorded signals from three pulsars.)

 Before they left, the membership voted to make Bob and Dorothy honorary members in recognition of their many contributions. (Bob continued his business, "Bob's Electronic Service" after moving to Fort Pierce, and the Sickelses periodically visited the club in the 1980s. On at least one occasion, April 7, 1983, Bob presented a program on radio astronomy.)

 On January 10, 1981, caretakership of the Kornfeld Bond was officially transferred from Bob Sickels to Ralph Boyd and Jack Finnigan. An amended version of the trust agreement had to be enacted, relieving Bob as "Keeper of the Trust Property," and adding Jack Finnigan as successor trustee. Ralph Boyd had been "Successor," and advanced to "Keeper of the Trust" (first trustee) on that date. A new safe deposit box was designated at the time of transfer.

 Between May of 1980 and late June of 1981, observatory director Barry Perlman and president Jack Finnigan waged an intense campaign to convince the Department of Transportation not to light the I-75 interchange, scheduled to go in southeast of the Park. By gathering information on solutions to similar problems in other parts of the country an impressive case was made.

 There were other factors, but the efforts by Barry and Jack were probably an important influence on the DOT's decision to leave the lighting off the plans for the interchange. The subject came up again when the Interstate and the Sawgrass Expressway were completed in the mid 1980s, but a shortage of funds led to the same result--no lights! (See files #2 and #14 in the metal file box, and folder #35, kept with the scrapbooks (observatory archives), for the series of communications with the County over the feasibility and effect of lighting the expressway.)

 In the spring of 1981 (March or April), Robert and Ethel Murzin turned two scrapbooks over to the club. One was newspaper clippings of important scientific events, taking place during 1966 and 1967. The other was photographs, newsletters and newspaper clippings, covering club activities, beginning with the very first meeting in 1965, and including the period through June 1969, with a final photograph taken in 1972 or 1973. A few photographs were missing, but the second and most important scrapbook of the two, was still in good condition, as of the end of 1995. (Robert and Ethel Murzin joined the SFAAA in November of 1966, and dropped out in December of 1974.)

 In April of 1981, the SFAAA voted to affiliate with the Fort Lauderdale Academy of Sciences. The academy was foundering, and had not met in several years. Barry Perlman, president pro tem of the academy, suggested the merger. On May 6, 1981, the SFAAA and the Academy met jointly at the Fort Lauderdale City Hall at 8 p.m.

 From the fall of 1971 to February of 1991 the club held most of its board and regular meetings, weekly, bimonthly and then monthly, on the Davis Campus, of BCC. After two years of Saturday night meetings at the observatory (1979 and 1980), the association returned to the BCC campus in February of 1981. On Thursday, May 7, 1981, at 8:30 p.m., the club resumed having meetings in the planetarium itself. Part of the program for the first meeting back in the planetarium was a presentation by vice president and program director Barry Perlman. Barry gave an illustrated talk on the club's history: "SFAAA: The First 15 Years."

 Also in May of 1981, the practice of having book drawings with club meetings was resumed, and a new drive corrector was purchased for use with the observatory's telescopes. (The book drawing fizzled out after a few months, and was held only occasionally after the summer of 1981.) The work to restore the Kornfeld Garden was still unfinished from the previous year. There was a search for a source of tiles, but the problem was to continue, unabated and without repair.

 In the spring of 1981, the recording, "Pulsar," a popular item in most areas around the country, was locally available at Peaches or through Barry Perlman. Part of the original soundtrack was provided courtesy of Bob Sickels, and Bob's share of the proceeds was donated to the SFAAA.

 On Saturday, June 13, 1981, the association staged a show (Astro-Fair) at the Lakes Mall, on US-441. Tables, easels and equipment were set up near J. C. Penny's as part of the yearly membership drive. Charts, telescopes, accessories, meteorites, murals and photographs were among the items on display. (There was a continuous slide show to catch the attention of passersby.)

 In January of 1982, a second lock was installed on the front door of the observatory. The new lock was for the door knob and required a different key. At the February meeting, Steve King began a series of brief night-sky orientation lectures, entitled "What's Up." (Steve's programs continued for more than a year, and "What's Up" became an occasional feature in the newsletter after Steve took it over in 1985.)

 At the annual meeting on February 4, 1982, the members voted to increase the dues for all renewing members from $20 to $25 ($15 without a subscription to Sky and Telescope).The increase was necessary to cover the latest change in the one-year price of the magazine, from $9 to $10, and to allow the club a few more dollars for operating expenses.

 It took a long time to get the job done, but there was always something going on. On June 6, 1982, a drop ceiling was put up in the hallway, and during the week of the 14th to the 18th, a project was begun to install a new clock drive on the equatorial mount for the Cassegrain. The project was overseen by, then observatory director, Steve King. That same month, it was announced the budget for the clubroom, yet to be built by the County, had been increased from $5,000 to $9,500, and would include lighting, air conditioning and a hidden projection screen. (However, completion of construction was still 7 years away.)

 In the fall of 1982, part 3 of the Cassegrain upgrade began in earnest. George Smoot machined and installed a larger polar shaft. A bigger drive unit, was to be installed soon thereafter. (On December 28, 1982, Frank and Barbara Kornfeld donated another $300 to the club for the observatory.) It was March of 1983 before George Smoot and Manny Demelo, assisted by Barry Perlman, received and installed the new clock drive.

 On April 9th 1983, the club held a mall show at the Hollywood Fashion Center. Jack Finnigan (secretary) had looked into other sites and recommended the fashion center for its cost effectiveness. Two days prior to the mall show, April 7, Bob Sickels paid the club a visit. He traveled from his home in Fort Pierce to present a talk and slide show on the history of radio astronomy. (At the time, Bob was the secretary of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers.)

 The night after the mall show, the observatory was swamped with visitors, and on the 23rd, Astronomy Day, the turnout was one of the biggest yet. (As it turned out, the Cassegrain was not operational for the event. Part three of the upgrade was still underway.)

 During the peak construction years, interest in the club brought the membership up to 60 or 70. However, in the 4 years from 1980 through 1983 the roster dropped off to about 40 members. A factor in the decline may have been the change in the outlook of club members after the construction years were over. With the work of maintaining and operating the observatory at hand, the glory was over and the toil had begun.
 

Sawgrass Mills, Weston and the Interstate on the Horizon (1983-1984)
 In the late 1970s and early 1980s, most cities in the US were changing to high pressure sodium street lights, and to a significant increase in light pollution. Good fortune and determined efforts kept the light scatter from the "Sodium Demon" to a minimum. However, successful efforts to limit light on the Interstate in 1980 and 1981, did not bring to an end the assault on the skies around the park. The continuing development of the surrounding land was a growing problem, and an insult to the dark adapted eye. Even so, the skies were and still are better for viewing at the Park than in most backyards in the area.

 On June 2, 1983, one of the members removed the mirror from the 12-1/2-inch Cassegrain, and hand carried it to a local professional "mirror maker," to be refigured. The mirror was to be reshaped to a Classical Cassegrain, a figure affording performance superior to the Dall-Kirkham.

 On Saturday, September 10, 1983, several club members conducted a class on the care and feeding of astronomical telescopes. The public was invited to attend, and a viewing session followed the demonstration. The use of setting circles, "star hopping," polar alignment and converting to sidereal time were some of the topics discussed. (Manny Demelo newsletter--folder #26, and Jack Finnigan's minutes)

 The refiguring of the "Cass" took longer than expected, but in December, the mirror returned home. It was then sent away to be aluminized and overcoated.

 Also in December, Joe Leo was a victim of car theft, and so was the association. Joe was the club's secretary the previous year, and the minutes of the meetings for the years 1977 through 1982 (and possibly 1976) were in his car when it was taken. Neither the car nor the minutes were ever seen again.

 The freshly aluminized 12-1/2-inch mirror was received, and reassembly of the Cassegrain was accomplished in April of 1984, by George Smoot and Manny Demelo. Ten months had elapsed since the mirror was first sent away, and efforts to align the Cassegrain in the months that followed were not very successful. In May, George Johnston contacted a local professional optician, hoping to get information that would improve the collimation technique. (The performance of the Cassegrain had been a source of disappointment and much discussion for several years, and this would not be the last attempt to gain a better result.)

 On January 5, 1984, club member, Dave Barstow requested that he be allowed to set up four-30-foot "radio dishes" near the observatory, and he wanted to install the related electronics in the observatory. Barstow had started and organization called South Florida Astronomical Research Institute, Inc. The plan, as explained to the board, was to make the facility accessible to students of the four universities in the area. This idea did not pan out because security could not be maintained, and there was no place to put the receiving equipment? (At the time, Bob Sickels' receivers, installed in 1978, were still occupying the only available work space--the backroom.)

 In May of 1984, Dave Barstow announced that he had access to word processing services. A newsletter could be sent out for the cost of paper, labels and postage. On May 3rd the membership voted to accept the offer.

 In the mid 1980s, development of the area around the park continued to be a threat. With the peak years of construction, Project Flare-Watch and the transparent skies of Markham Park fading into the past, many of the core members were moving away from the area or dropping out of the club. New technologies, special filters and CCD imagers, were beginning to become commercially available, but nothing compares to a dark sky.

 During this period, the issue of the Sawgrass Expressway came up. The potentially devastating effects of high pressure cluster lights were discussed on several occasions. In May of 1984, a plan was formed. Barry (vp/program director), Jack (secretary), Steve (dir-at-large) and Bruce Haigh (treasurer) each took on special assignments. Steve and Barry would talk to the Parks Department about relocating the observatory, Jack and Steve would try to get the support of environmental groups, and Bruce was to arrange a meeting with the engineering group (PRC: Planning Research Corporation) hired by the state to oversee the project.

 Steve contacted the ELC, Environmental Leaders Council, and scheduled a meeting between members of the Council and representatives of the SFAAA for May 7th. At the meeting, Jack Finnigan and Steve King presented the club's position in two parts: Jack discussed previous lighting problems and the outcomes. Steve detailed the current situation with regard to the Sawgrass Expressway and the proposed lighting. At the end of the session, the Council passed a resolution to help the SFAAA in any way possible.

 Bruce was successful in setting up a meeting between the board of the SFAAA and Bob Etelstein and Joe Roles of PRC. On May 22, everyone was there: Barry, Jack, Bruce, Steve and George Johnston. Jack Finnigan presented documentation on alternatives applied successfully in other parts of the country, but the representatives of PRC were resistant to any suggestion to use low pressure lights, mounted at lower heights. However, the PRC was concerned and requested an estimate of the cost to improve light rejection at the observatory (domes, filters, etc.). Further, they recommended the club look for a new location. (There was no action on the request for a list of costs to 'shield' the observatory, and an opportunity for possible financial help may have slipped away. Regarding the possibility of moving the observatory, the thought of having to travel an additional 20 miles, round trip, for public nights, club meetings and other activities usually brought an end to any discussion along these lines.)

 A good deal of preparation went into presenting the club's point of view to the DOT and to PRC. In the end, the decision was, as mentioned in an earlier section, a matter of funding. What seemed a losing battle, hinged on a budget crisis, and led to the desired result--no lights on the expressway! (Looking back on it: If a deal had been struck to compensate the club for the expressway lights, any agreement might have been canceled or vacated by the DOT when it became apparent no lights would be put up, or, it might have been too late to take the promise back--the money might have already have been spent!)

 On June 30, 1984, a mall show was held at the Hollywood Fashion Center. A second 1984 mall show, to be held at the Galleria, was looked into by Jack Finnigan but as it often does, time ran out. In this era membership lists were being printed by SFAAA secretary, Jack Finnigan, on his employers computer (Motorola, Inc.). The club's solar telescope, on loan to SCAS, was returned on 12-10-84, by Bill Douglass.

Two of the Club's Mentors Pass and Halley's Comet Returns (1984-1987)
(The "Halley roller coaster," or just an anomalous dip?)
 In 1984, the record shows, the number of dues paying members rose significantly and then dropped off in 1985 to the lowest level in many years. Large groups from the club were making numerous trips to Mahogany Hammock (a preferred site) for observing sessions, and everyone was preparing for the return of Halley's Comet. However, the 1985 roster did not reflect the participation. The available copies of the roster for that period indicate there were only 32 members in 1985, a considerable decrease from the number listed in the prior year (45-50). Subsequently, the number was more than doubled in the following year (65-70). (In apparent conflict with these numbers, according to the newsletter, 23 new members joined the association during just the months of October and November of 1985.)

 Investigation reveals several causes for the wide disparity in the data. There were times in the history of the club when dues lapsed, and members who had dropped out continued to be shown on the list of active members. In this regard, there was a "catching up" in May of 1985, and it seems to have been taken to the extreme. Some who paid late or who probably should not have been removed from the list reappeared in May of 1986. No list or ledger entries are available for the 12 months following "the purge of 1985." Consequently, those who were dropped off and any new members did not show up on a corrected list for many months. All this had little to do with participation, but the variations in the head count required looking into in order to form a more accurate account of the period.

 What we know for sure is that in 1984, 1985 and 1986, there was an unusually large turnover in the membership. Many who joined did not renew after their first year, and there was only one list of members available for each of the three years. With the membership list overdue for a "purge" in 1984, then cut to the extreme in 1985, and with many new members for 1985 not showing up on a released list until the following year, it is estimated that a dozen or more new members came and went without having their names appear on a formal list of the membership. (With the help of Jim Dailing, Lou Huey and Steve King, it was possible to find the names of ten of the lost members.)

 Striking the names of spousal members from the list in 1985, contributed to the apparent fluctuation, and it is likely that some of the new members shown as joining in 1986 actually joined in late 1985. None of this explains the overall dramatic increase in the number of members during the 3 year period!

.One of the more obvious explanations for the large turnover was the upsurge in public interest related to Halley's Comet. In the fall of 1973, when Kohoutek approached, regular association meetings swelled to 200% of membership--Halley's Comet was a much bigger deal than Kohoutek, and apparently had a similar effect on participation! In 1984, 15 to 18 new members joined the association, only four or five of which renewed there memberships in 1985. Large turnover or not, the membership count did not fall below 60 again until 1994.

 Sometime in 1980 or 1981, Dr. Fox and his wife Sylvia moved to Funston Street in Hollywood. Early in 1982, Sylvia passed away, and on January 14, 1985, Dr. Fox followed his wife of more than 50 years. Dr. Fox dedicated his life to education and to the study of astronomy. His date of birth is August 29, 1904. The Foxes were survived by two sons, one was named Richard, the other is unknown.

 Members of the SFAAA attended the memorial service, and in February, Jack Finnigan and George Johnston prepared a commemorative plaque for display in the observatory. The plaque was to be mounted in a plastic case on the north wall, near the piers for the two telescopes. The whereabouts of the plaque is unknown, as of this writing. (Dr. Fox'es estate left three Brandon eyepieces, a Barlow lens, a refractor tail assembly, one set of star charts and 13 astronomy books to the association.)

 In February 1985, Southern Cross Astronomical Society held its first Winter Star Party at Mahogany Hammock. The event was the brainchild of Tippy D'Auria. The first three Winter Star Parties were held at Mahogany Hammock in Flamingo Park. In the years to follow, the event moved to Fiesta Key (WSP-5), then Spanish Hammock (WSP-6), before moving to the Boy Scout camp and then next door (on the south) to the Girl Scout Camp. The latter two sites were at mile marker 32, north of Key West.

 The problem with roof leaks came to a head in 1985, and again in 1986. In early February of 1985, the Parks Department agreed to have a contractor re-roof the observatory within two weeks. However, other priorities prevented action from being taken. In July, Jack Brewer, of the Parks Department, said (apparently in a memo to the board of the SFAAA) "School repairs first--Do not know when we can start the roof repair on the observatory."

 The club was left the task of resolving the dilemma on its own. The situation lingered, and efforts to do a thorough job were hampered by many problems. A lack of funds and the other activities of everyone involved prevented a speedy solution. (The treasury in the mid 1980s normally ran a balance of from $450 to $700, and the "other activities, had to do with "the return of the comet." The association and the observatory were overwhelmed by visitors, and by requests for information on Halley's Comet.)

 The planetarium was asking for help with special presentations, and two or three times each month, SFAAA members were meeting in mass at remote sites on Alligator Alley and at points farther south, including Mahogany Hammock, in Flamingo Park. The best comet viewing locations were being sought with a vengeance. Everyone wanted to go where the sky was the darkest and the mosquitoes were the fewest.

   (Return to "Observing notes")   ("Halley's Comet...")

 At the business meeting on April 4, 1985, Jack Finnigan returned the $5,000 construction bond to Barbara Kornfeld. Also, in April of that year, George Smoot, a Motorola employee and an SFAAA member since 1982, was appointed to the Science Advisory Board of Motorola, Inc. George was a club member until 1986 or 1987, and visited club meetings up until 1992. His expertise in CCD imaging and other scientific areas had been a matter of record for many years. In September of 1995, George moved to Phoenix, Arizona and continued working for Motorola.

 In February of 1985, Bob Sickles asked the club to break down his radio dishes and the racks of electronics, still in the backroom. Jack Finnigan took on the task, and Bob offered to pay the club $30 for the assist and the return of his equipment, according to the secretary's minutes (3-7-85). (What actually came about is uncertain. Stubs in the treasurer's checkbook indicate that on 2-28-85 Bob donated, or paid, $100 to the club for what was identified as electronic equipment.)

 On June 6, 1985, after a two-year hiatus, Frank Kornfeld attended the regular club meeting, and donated $100 for the purchase of equipment. Frank had just undergone hip surgery, and he and Barbara were getting ready to make their yearly summertime trip back to their home in New York. (During the years from 1975 to 1985, Frank and Barbara Kornfeld donated a total of over $10,000 to the SFAAA. Without their support, the history of the association might have followed an entirely different course.)

 In September of 1985, there was talk of converting the Kornfeld Cassegrain, by then, a Classical Cassegrain, to a Newtonian. Possibly, because of preoccupation with Halley's Comet or the tendency for things to fall by the wayside, this never happened. (With higher than normal turnouts, sojourns to the swamp and the roof leaking, there was more than enough to do!)

 On November 16, 1985, hundreds of visitors came to an open house at the observatory to see the comet. Many arrived before dark. Most had no idea what they were there to see, while some with more experience, brought their own telescopes. Club members and visitors set up more than 50 telescopes on the patio and grounds east of the observatory. Parking was a nightmare--traffic was lined up onto SR-84--the media recorded the event. Ed Wimmers and a Dade County high school group brought a Celestron C14 (14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain), and some visitors stayed until after midnight.

 When it was over, the Parks Department estimated that more than 3,000 onlookers had streamed into the park. The staff (i.e., volunteers) for the event included Ron Beauregard, George Johnston, Bob Higgins, Tom Peters, George Smoot, Bruce Haigh, Vic McKeighan, Jack Finnigan: with two-way radios, Barry Perlman: with a bullhorn, Joe Leo, Warren Silverman and Dan Fuller The latter two acted as parking attendants. Most of the volunteers set up their own telescopes. They were scattered from the south shore of the lake to the south boundary of the Kornfeld Garden.

 The observatory director was Manny Demelo, and the line at the Brandon Refractor was, at times, three hundred deep. Lines "snaked" everywhere, amongst the bevy of telescopes. (Ten years later, George Johnston was noticeably excited while recalling what had happened. He said, the turnout was beyond anything that could have been imagined or prepared for--cars were lined up to the campsites and backed up onto SR-84.)

 During the fall of 1985, the club put on numerous Halley's Comet seminars for the public. On a few occasions, the crowd exceeded one hundred, and, unfortunately, some had to be turned away. (Information on the visit of Halley's Comet can be found in the Secretary's minutes for 1985 (obs. archives), and in the fall 1985 newsletters: metal file box--folder 30, also in the obs. archives.) Steve King, the newsletter editor from 1985 through 1987, kept copies of most of the newsletters and memos from that era. Folder #30 is dedicated to Steve's collection of papers spanning the period from December 1982 through August 1987.)

 In December of 1985, it was announced that the Cassegrain was in good working order. It had been reworked mechanically, and alignment was finally deemed satisfactory. A larger star diagonal and low power eyepieces were next on the list of improvements.

 After purchase of a 2-inch diagonal in March of 1986, it was apparent the optical train of the Cassegrain did not provide enough backfocus; the telescopes secondary had to be moved to allow for the light path of the new diagonal.

 In 1985, Gladwin Comes, an honorary SFAAA member and director of Buehler Planetarium for the past 16 years, learned he had cancer, and on June 29, 1986, he passed away. Gladwin Comes was a friend and a supporter of the club for almost all of the 16 years of his directorship. After Gladwin Comes became ill, Holt Hardner, chairman of the BCC science department, became acting director.

 In the summer of 1986, water damage caused the ceiling of the storeroom to cave in. The leak was repaired, and new dry wall was put up in August. The ceiling was repaired in September. (Between the spring of 1985 and late summer of 1986, the roof, either the stationary part or the movable part, was repaired three or four times.

 Most of the work on the roof was done in August of 1986 by Manny Demelo, Bruce Haigh, Bob Higgins, Vic Mckeighan, George Johnston and George Smoot. This wasn't just a "patch job;" new 90-lb paper with a textured and reflectorized surface was used to cover the entire stationary part of the roof. (Until the problem was solved, for a certainty, several members were asked to store documents, normally kept at the observatory, in their homes. A few such items were returned in 1996, during the research for the history project.)

 In October of 1986, the roof-drive broke a shaft during a Saturday open house (not a fun time). Gene Baughman, a member since 1985, had a new one made. The system was overstressed and the damage was caused by rocks that had accumulated in the tracks. Also in October, Ron Beauregard a machinist by profession, worked on the tail end of the Cassegrain to provide more backfocus when using the two-inch diagonal.

 In February of 1987, a 6-month long planetary photo contest was completed. First place went to a photograph of Mars by Tom Peters. Lou Huey, Ron Beauregard, Dick Tice and Ray Masone were awarded honorable mention. (The previous summer, June 1986, an inaugural astrophoto contest was concluded. There were three categories Dick Tice won the basic, Bob Higgins: advanced, Vic Mckeighan: comets.)

 In June of 1987, Barry Perlman, Adjunct Professor at BCC and planetarium specialist at Buehler, left the area to take a job, as director, overseeing the final stages of construction and start up of the Space Theater Planetarium, in Jacksonville. (The Space Theater, is a 60-foot facility, one of the largest in the United States.) During Barry's absence from the area, Dr. David Menke was brought in to be the new permanent director of Buehler Planetarium. Dr. Menke acted as a consultant from July of 1987, making monthly visits from Connecticut, before assuming full-time responsibility for direction of planetarium operations in January of 1988.

 In August of 1987, the roof-drive broke down with the roof in the half open position. At the meeting on August 6, Rex Huss, the observatory director recruited members to go to the observatory and help push the roof to the closed position. (Ron Beauregard recalls that he or one of the other members pulled the roof shut using a rope tied to a car or truck on this and other occasions.)

 In September of 1987, Ron Beauregard installed a new drive motor on the Cassegrain (on order since January), and Ed Batoff, a member since 1976, donated a 13-inch Dobson to the club. It was at the observatory and working by October 1st. A problem with the roof-drive that had been causing repeated malfunctions was repaired in late September by Ron Beauregard. (The rubber coupling kept breaking.) In the meantime, a recent leak repair effort of the roll-off roof had proven unsuccessful. (In the fall of 1987 (9-3-87), Arnold Pearlstein, SFAAA member and Buehler Planetarium staffer, started a long run as writer of the Sun Sentinel weekly series "The Stars This Week.")

 Also in September, Jack Finnigan had hip surgery, a major operation by any account, but he did not let it keep him down. He was back as club secretary for the October 1st meeting. (Jack was back at his post in time to write up the plan to fix the leak in the roll-off roof.) At the meeting a star party was announced, to be held Saturday October 3rd at Bear Island, on "the Alley." (During the period from 1985 to 1988 many star parties were held at Mahogany Hammock, Duck Key-mile marker 6, Fish-Eating Creek, Bear Island and the sod farm on SR-27, just north of the Palm Beach County line. And with all that, the club found time for two mall shows a year!)

 Because the foundation for what is now the clubroom was poured during the initial phase of construction, it was possible to roll the observatory roof back, to the open position, creating a covered area, free of ants and stickers. With too little space for meetings, inside of the observatory, the roof was opened and the folding chairs, purchased in 1978, could be set up on the bare slab, outside. However, only a few formal meetings (mostly in 1979 and 1980) were held at the park until well after completion of the clubroom in 1989. (Because the planetarium was more comfortable and more convenient, most meetings were held at Buehler until 1991.)

  (Return to the "Guide")   ("Halley's Comet...")
 

The Builders Move On (1987 to 1991)
 By the mid to late 1980s, personal decisions, retirement and work relocation resulted in most of the members of the "observatory crew" (core members) moving out of the area or dropping out of the club. (For some of the members, and with the completion of the observatory, the agenda was becoming too technical.) Art and Mary Jane DeLaurentis dropped out in the fall of 1977. The Wylies were less active in club events after the dedication, and dropped out by the end of 1978. Some of the younger members of the team, Charlie Helwig and Walt Zalph left at the same time to attend college. I wondered what had become of Charlie and Walt. As I recall, Charlie wanted a degree in astronomy, and Walt was set on becoming a lawyer In 1997, Ralph Boyd reported that Walt graduated from Georgia Tech, with a major in computer programming, and went to work for IBM in Boca Raton. Walt may have been relocated to the Atlanta area by IBM in 1993 or 1994. As of November 1998, no information on where Charlie is or what he is doing has turned up.

 Jeff Lichtman left Bendix Avionics, near Executive Airport, and moved to Windsor Locks, Connecticut to work for Pratt and Whitney/Hamilton Standard in 1979, and John Martin dropped out of the club in 1981. However, John kept in touch with Bob and Jeff, and remained in the area until leaving Motorola, and moving to Pennsylvania, in July of 1988. (John was determined to get away from the crowded conditions of South Florida.) Mollie O'Donnell moved to North Carolina sometime during the 1980s.

 Bob and Dorothy Sickels relocated to Fort Pierce in 1980. Barry Perlman was less involved in the club after 1984, and moved to Jacksonville in 1987. Ralph Boyd, originally a resident of North Miami, left the club in 1986, but now lives in Fort Lauderdale, near Markham Park. Ralph holds a degree in physics, and his major interest is photometry and variable stars. During the early years, he used an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain and a photometer, of his own making, to do his work. Ralph rejoined the club in 1997, with the intent of restarting his work on variable stars, using the CCD imager and the C14.

 Jeff Lichtman lived and worked in Atlanta in the mid to late 90s, and moved to Orlando in1999. Jeff rejoined the SFAAA in 1997, and between visits, keeps in touch by  e-mail. For a time, spring 1992 through the end of August 1997, John Martin was back in Fort Lauderdale to work for his former employer--Motorola. George Johnston dropped out of the club in the fall of 1989, and Joe Leo left in 1992. (George and Joe continue to keep in touch, and occasionally, they attend meetings together.)

 In 1987, a plan to promote the construction of the Zev Buffman Amphitheater at Markham Park came into being. Of course, there was to be a lighted parking lot. Stirred by the threat of more light pollution, the April meeting brought talk of moving the observatory to Secret Woods (east of US-441, near SR-84) or to Everglades Holiday Park (near SR-27 and the entrance to Alligator Alley), possibly, at the expense of the Buffman project. However, for the convenience of the members and the visiting public, the club decided to keep the observatory in Markham Park. (Potential security problems at a more remote site, and the extended drive for meetings and a night of viewing overcame any enthusiasm to move the facility.)

 The Markham Park Citizens Advisory Committee/Board was formed, and meetings and discussions went on from February until August. Steve King was appointed by the County to head the committee and Jack Finnigan addressed the various groups on the subject of light pollution and how the additional lighting might affect the observatory. In the end, state authorities proclaimed that no private business could be conducted in the park, under the provision of the land grant. (As late as January of 1988, efforts were still being made by the promoters to bring the amphitheater to the Park.)

 Problems continued to plague the Cassegrain in January of the new year. Someone overtightened the clutch and stripped the right ascension drive gear (three teeth were gone). The Cassegrain was down for the count again. ("If You Don't Know What You Are Doing, Don't Do It!") These thoughts were shared with the membership by "the management," Messrs. Huss and Beauregard, at the January 7 meeting.

 In January and February of 1988 the drive system for the roll-off roof was reworked again. The rubber coupling (that kept breaking) and the springs, put on by Ron Simpson in 1978 (a.k.a. the shock absorber system), were removed by Ron Beauregard. By February the 4th, the Parks Department had cleaned and painted the building. The job was done in time for a visit by a Girl Scout troop on the 20th. (In March, microswitches were added to the roof-drive to improve safety and guarantee shutoff in time to avoid damage when the roof is opened or closed.)

 On March 3, 1988, Wayne Davidson became an Honorary Member (#10). The club was always looking for better viewing sites, and Wayne made the remoteness of his ranch available to the club for dark-sky observing. The Davidson Ranch is located 26 miles west of the toll booth on Alligator Alley, just beyond mile marker 51. The observing site is on the south side of "the alley, but the turnoff is on the north side, just inside of Collier County. To reach the site, exit "the Alley" just before the bridge over the canal, and swing to the left under the bridge ending up on the south side. The site is on the dirt road, next to the canal, about one mile south of the bridge. When you hear two or three of the club members talking about going to the WD Ranch, they are talking about the Davidson Ranch. (The first organized star party at the WD ranch was held on May 7, 1988.)

 The association received a letter from David Menke in April of 1988, and the association president, Joe Leo, read it to the membership at the regular meeting on May 5th. The planetarium was having a new Zeiss projector installed, but the letter was concerned with another topic--the association's use of the planetarium for meetings. Dr. Menke wanted to meet with the board to discuss related issues. It is not clear when the meeting and subsequent communications took place, but the possibility of support of the planetariums observatory operations by club members, in lieu of rent, was one of the topics. (During this period, the Ruiz Observatory, part of the planetarium complex, was closed, and some of its equipment, in need of repair. At some point, the possibility of SFAAA members helping with refurbishment of observatory equipment became part of the deliberations.)

 At the June 2nd meeting, it was announced that Steve King had donated an air conditioner to the club for use in the lab (a.k.a. storeroom). The one that was previously in use had broken down. At the same meeting, it was announced that the second star party at the WD ranch would be held on June 4th. (Small contingents have gathered at the Davidson Ranch, on a periodic basis, in the years since.)

 Not to be left out, the roof was leaking again, and in July, George Johnston, the observatory director, attended to the repairs. The good news was, Bob Higgins had finished his CCD imager, and at the August 4th meeting, demonstrated it to the group. The gain was 10,000X--it was said to be equal to anything comparable on the market.

 In August of 1988, Barry Perlman finished the job in Jacksonville and returned to South Florida. He rejoined the club in September, and worked at Nova University until May of 1989, and then became director of Ken Mattingly Planetarium at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School. At the same time, he was a part-time instructor at BCC. In August of 1994 he left Ken Mattingly to instruct at BCC full-time.

 In September of 1988, it was time to work on the Cassegrain again. At the membership meeting on the 1st of the month, it was decided to have the mirror aluminized and overcoated one more time. The mirror was removed from the optical tube by Tom Peters and sent to P. A. Clausing. At the same meeting, it was announced that Nick Lawrus was taking on the task of putting out the monthly newsletter.

 At the end of the September, Mars was to be at its closest point to Earth. On the 22nd, there was a special public viewing with over 500 in attendance. For the occasion, eleven club members set up their telescopes on the observatory grounds. The event had been suggested by Arnold Pearlstein in June. Arnold was on the Buehler Planetarium staff, and had joined the club the year before. A committee was appointed to promote the event and enlist the help of other club members. The "Mars Committee" was made up of Arnold, Joe Leo and George Johnston.

 At the club meeting on October 6, 1988, the membership had its first chance to see the newly renovated planetarium. J. C. Moritz, Buehler Planetarium liaison, demonstrated the new Zeiss projector and other equipment. (Between January and September of 1988, when the planetarium was being renovated, club meetings were held in one of three places: Fox Observatory, the BCC cafeteria or in a BCC classroom.)

 The Cassegrain and the "roof leak," each, having had their turn in recent months, it was time for another round of problems with the roof-drive. The chain on the drive system broke, and some of the wheels needed replacing. George Johnston asked for volunteers to help complete the job over the weekend of the 8th and 9th of October. Joe Pasint completed the necessary repairs on October 15.

 At the November 3rd meeting, it was announced that the mirror for the Cassegrain was on the way home, and a motion was made to restore the Brandon Refractor. Because of the work still to be done on the Cassegrain, and with the roof-drive acting up, it was decided to start the restoration sometime after the first of the year or whenever the Cassegrain was back on line.

 In late November (1988), with the mirror for the Cassegrain and all the needed parts on hand, Tom Peters took the tube assembly home and installed new baffles and a new backplate--some machining was necessary, and the spacing between the secondary and primary required special attention. Vic McKeighan, Tom's partner in the project, helped Tom remount the Cassegrain... and talk of restoring the refractor was on the table again.

 This time, the discussion included the possibility of replacing the Brandon, or, restoring it and building a second refractor, possibly as large as 10 inches in aperture. But it was decided to look for a large reflecting telescope to replace the Kornfeld Cassegrain. (Tom felt the Cassegrain was finally working satisfactorily, but by that time, the consensus was the Cass'es days were numbered.)

 The year could not end without yet another round of repairs to the roof-drive system! It was just after Thanksgiving, and the chain was jumping the sprocket. George Johnston and Joe Pasint took on the task of putting it back in working order one more time. (Joe also installed a new drive motor, a deadman switch and stop-limit switches to prevent damage from impact. The repairs and upgrade must have "taken" this time, as there was little said of such difficulties in the years that followed.)

 There were several contacts between Dr. Menke, or members of his staff, and the board of the SFAAA during the period from April of 1988 to April or May of 1989, regarding support of the Ruiz Observatory. The association was unsure as to what it could do to help, but during that period, repair of the Cave 12-1/2-inch Newtonian reflector, and other equipment was completed by at least one SFAAA member. Ron Beauregard and Dr. Menke took the big reflector and the 4-inch refractor down. Then, Ron took everything, including the equatorial mount, home and "freed it up." When I asked Ron about the project, he said, "it (the mount) was rusty and seized up." (The environment in the dome had been dark and musty during the previous few years--more conducive to rust than to resilience.) Ron finished the oiling and cleaning, then collimated the optics of the reflector. On returning the equipment to the observatory, he reinstalled the mount and the two instruments.

 The 12-1/2-inch Newtonian had been installed in the observatory in 1983 or 1984 by Barry Perlman. Barry equipped the big reflector with a 60-mm finder and a 4-inch Unitron refractor as a guide scope. (Barry refers to the 4-inch refractor as a guide scope, and Ron describes it as an independent scope, sharing the same mount.) The original telescope, was a medium sized refractor donated by John Ruiz of Danamora, New York and Sunrise Golf Village in February or March of 1972. John Ruiz was a member of the AAVSO and visited SFAAA meetings in 1972 and 1973. The value of his gift to the junior college was set at $10,000.

 In the years since 1965, several efforts have been made to put out a monthly newsletter. Several names have been tried, and an emphasis has been placed on the participation of the members. From 1985 through 1987, Steve King published one of the more successful newsletters, under the name SFAAA Newsletter.

 Another successful publishing effort came in 1988 and 1989. In December of 1988, Nick Lawrus, the newsletter editor, since the summer of that year, gave the newsletter a new name--The Astrograph. Such information as the schedule for open house nights, other club activities and related activities of the members was included. In the May issue, there was mention of Barry Perlman having been elected the first president of the Florida Rocket Society, at the meeting in Titusville on January 14, 1989. When the September issue of the newsletter came out, the masthead had been changed to The Meridian. The change was made to avoid conflict with another publication previously named The Astrograph.

 During the early months of 1989, there was talk of replacing the 12-1/2-inch Cassegrain with a "show instrument," but there was only $800 in the treasury, not enough for such an ambitious undertaking. At the February 23rd meeting, the members agreed that seeking corporate sponsorship to help purchase the new telescope would be the best solution. No motion was made, but the subject was on the table, and something was going to happen.

 In March of 1989, another attempt was made to repair the mosaics in the Kornfeld Garden. Jack Finnigan took on the task of getting new tiles to replace those damaged over the years. Jack was unable to get the needed materials, and, for a time, it seemed the only way to restore the sundial was to start over. (On March 2nd, George Johnston volunteered to provide a projector for slide shows at the observatory.)

 The record shows that on or shortly after April 6, 1989, the County started enclosing the "back porch." It took several weeks to get the walls and roof up, including installation of an air conditioner. (However, pictures taken by David Silverstein indicate that only the two by four frame was in place as of 6-5-89.) Club members applied the exterior plaster in November, and work details continued with the finishing touches until the spring of 1990.

 It had been a long wait, but the building was finally complete! However, it soon became apparent that dust coming up from the cement floor was going to be a problem. To solve the problem, Lou Huey convinced the Scarsdale Carpet Company to donate a carpet and pad. Lee Poulin did the installation, and a $900 receipt was issued for the donation. (At the same time, negotiations were still going on to work out an arrangement that would allow the club to continue having meetings at the planetarium.)

 In May of 1989, the club submitted a list of SFAAA members who were available to operate the Buehler/Ruiz Observatory on a volunteer basis. Ron Beauregard, Jack Finnigan, Doug Jones, Joe Pasint, Phil Hauger and Dan Reifler were the volunteers. SCAS was also asked to provide an operator on scheduled occasions. It was a long way from home for SCAS members, and efforts by both clubs to support the planetarium/observatory seemed to fizzle out. (It is said that, on occasion, club members showed up to operate the equipment, and no one from the planetarium staff came to open the observatory.)

 In July of 1989, with the "back porch" beginning to look like a room, Barry Perlman came up with a series of drawings depicting possible upgraded versions of the observatory. A dome and more floor space would make it possible to have a larger telescope and more work space, but that would have to wait! There was a new threat to the skies over Markham Park. The land east of the observatory was being considered for nighttime recreation, and light pollution was again part of the formula. A pool and tennis complex were proposed, and Sylvania Metalarc lamps were to be used. The consensus was, the intense light would make nighttime observing nearly impossible. (Jim Clark, Director of Parks and Recreation, told Jack Finnigan that it might be a good idea to look for a site outside of Markham Park. Jack proposed a site in Holiday Park to the membership in January of 1990, and it was to be voted on in February.)

 Originally, the State and County agreed the park would be maintained as a natural habitat, but that part of the agreement seemed to be in jeopardy. However, a well thought out presentation, sent to Jim Clark, helped dissuade further action on the plan. For the time being, the land nearest the observatory would remain undeveloped. (The presentation was the work of Jack Finnigan, Tom Peters, Vic McKeighan, Louis Huey, Douglas Jones, Nick Lawrus and Joe Pasint.)

.In the August 1989 issue of The Astrograph, the last issue under that masthead, Nick Lawrus, the editor, published a story written by club member Phil Hauger. Research on copies of the newsletter turned over to the archives by Nick, in late October of 1997, uncovered the following excerpt.

 At about 1:30 a.m. EDT July 3, 1989, Tom Peters, Vic McKeighan and I gathered in Tom's driveway to view the occultation of 28 Sagitarrii. Tom lives in an area of Davie that is pretty good for observation, since it is unencunbered by street lights.

 Serious doubts as to whether or not we would be able to see anything went through my mind, because it almost totally overcast. However, luck was with us, and the clouds blew over, revealing a slightly hazy sky. We felt that this was very lucky, since the weather had been terrible the previous two weeks. A quick look through my scope showed the star approaching the outer rings of Saturn. The atmosphere was very stable, and at 350x, there was none of the usual boiling effect.

 Time to start observing was near and Vic had not arrived. I feared that he would miss the initial crossing.  However, he got his scope set up just in time to see the first blink of 28 Sagittarii. As the star started crossing behind the outer rings it flickered erratically. At times it would blink from its full 5.8 magnitude to nothing in a couple of seconds. This had to be the "F" ring, the "A" ring and the Encke division. Initial contact occurred at about 2 a.m. EDT. Rivalling Halley's Comet, this event turned out to be one of the most spectacular happenings that I have ever seen. Every time the star varied we would "oh" and "ah." The three of us constantly compared observations. We would ask, "gone? Can anyone still see it?" I wish that I had a tape recorder to capture the excitement of the event.

 Once 28 Sagittarii reached the Cassini division, it glowed brightly. Then it entered the "B" ring where it blinked out and stayed extinguished for awhile. Some of the wildest activity occurred in the "C" ring, where the star blinked from on to off in a matter of about a second.

 Now our first big surprise! When the star entered the void area between the rings and the main body of Saturn, we expected it to glow bright and steady. To our amazement, the star blinked frequently for about 20 or 30 seconds. This seemed to indicate the presence of some inner ring matter that was invisible in our telescopes, probably the "D" ring.

 Our next big surprise came at about 2:50 a.m., when 28 Sagittarii started to go behind the main body of the planet. We fully expected it to blink off abruptly. What we saw was a wild erratic variance for several seconds before disappearing. We attributed this to Saturn's upper atmosphere.

 My eyepiece started dewing up, so I took the time to clean it while the star was occulted. I didn't mark the time, but at approximately 4:20 a.m., the star appeared abruptly and glowed steadily. This was in marked contrast to its earlier disappearance. It was at this point that Tom managed to take a couple of pictures.

 Unfortunately, cloud cover rolled in and shut off our view for the rest of the night. But we still felt fortunate that we were able to see what we did. My only regret is that I didn't prepare for a more scientific observation, to gather more meaningful data than we did. I am sure that professional astronomers must have accumulated a great deal more. It is this type of event that makes this hobby so exciting!

  (Return to "Observing notes")   (28 Sagittarii)

 In October of 1989, with a new regime guiding the fate of the organization, the Bylaws were amended to allow the residual assets of the club to go to any Florida association, North or South, in the event the SFAAA was disbanded. The amendment, also made official, the 1979 change in the frequency of the meetings, to the first Thursday of each month. Further, the amendment stated that the annual meeting to elect officers would be the regular meeting in February. Also: Article VI was changed to say the approval of two trustees was required to remove property from the observatory. Previously, Article VI stated that only one trustee was required for approval. This revision to the Bylaws was the work of club president Jack Finnigan, with support from vice president Vic McKeighan. The amendment officially became effective, by vote of the membership, on 11-2-89. A copy of this latest amendment to the bylaws is included in Appendix VI.  (Although Article VI first became effective in 1978, having three trustees to watch over the club's property appears not to have been a firm practice before 1986.)

 In November, Bob Higgins presented a slide show on his trip to Kitt Peak, and Joe Pasint was elected to fill the vacancy left by George Johnson as director-at-large. During the month, with the work on the exterior walls of the clubroom completed, the entire outside of the observatory was painted, and the color was in the range between off-yellow and beige.

 At the January 1990 membership meeting, Vic McKeighan demonstrated his SpaceCommander Digital Setting Circles. (During the research for the history project, I noticed that unlike the events of 1985 and Halley's Comet, most of those interviewed seemed to have difficulty remembering the late 1980s and 1990. What they could recall did not seem to bring pleasant memories. It may be just my slant on it, but it seems that all the roof problems and the growing light pollution made this an especially trying time!)

 On March 1, 1990, Jack Finnigan, the recently reelected president of the association resigned his post due to illness. In his letter of resignation, Jack said he hoped to return to the board at a later time.

 In April, Tom Peters fabricated a new finder for the Kornfeld (30 cm) Cassegrain. Also in April, several troops, making up almost 600 Boy Scouts, camped at the park, and many visited the observatory the evening of the 27th. Scouts were arriving on foot, in waves of 50 and 100 throughout the evening.

 Later in the year, another source of light pollution loomed on the horizon. To provide security and convenience, entrance lights and high intensity cluster lights were to be installed in or near the campsites, north and west of the observatory. The entrance lights were scheduled to go up in the summer of 1990, and the cluster lights, the following winter.

 At the May 3rd meeting, an observatory committee was formed to consider the "safe-keeping" (safe from light-scatter) of Fox Observatory, and to look at the possibility of eventually relocating it to a darker sky. Jack Finnigan, Bob Ireland, Yerby Land and Steve King met on June 7, and came up with the following suggestions: Work with the Parks Department to lower the elevation of lights to be mounted on poles at campsites, add switches to lights, move the patio to the west side of the observatory and plant screening trees on lake shore large enough to block reflections off the water. Members were to seek the help of County Commissioners, Broward County Schools Science Department and various conservancy organizations, such as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and the Audobon Society.

 With regard to a new site, the following criteria were established: (a) reasonable access to members and public. (b) Security during observing sessions. (c) Observatory security, if one is built. d. Low horizons. e. Dark skies in all directions. The membership was asked to make suggestions, and possible sites for relocation were cited: (a) West side of Markham Park. (b) North of Holiday Park and west of US 27. (c) WD Ranch. (d) Inside fence at Holiday Park Sewage Plant.

 Once more, the glare of civilization was not to come to the grounds of Markham Park, and any thought of relocating died out. The club has always been involved with the local schools and scouting organizations, and Markham Park is ideal for security and community access. Of course, the decline in seeing brought about by surrounding development has been more than enough of a problem. Added to this, the periodic threat of significantly worsened situation, within the park, tends to wear at the most optimistic of attitudes.

 Sometime in 1990, the Parks Department decided to evaluate the club's participation at Markham Park. The show of activity as recorded in the sign-in log indicated the observatory had been visited by thousands of young people and adults in the years previous, as it has by thousands more in the years since.

 With the lease up for renewal in September of 1999, it is important that records of special events be kept, and that membership and visitor logs be filled out. The activity recorded on public nights and at membership meetings plays a role in maintaining the association's standing with the Parks Department and the citizens of Broward County. (In August of 1990, another leak developed in the roll-off roof. Lee Poulin, a member since September of 1989, did the patching this time.)

 In the closing months of 1990, ABC Distributing, Inc. made a donation of $6,000 in the name of Louis Huey, an SFAAA member and officer for many years (1986 to 1998). The donation was a retirement gift to Lou, a business associate of some 25 years, from Marvin Leiberwitz, and Mike and Debbie Nunez, the co-owners of ABC. The money was given with the specific requirement that it go toward a telescope for the observatory. In January of 1991, the club appointed a telescope committee to find a suitable replacement for the Kornfeld Cassegrain. The committee was chaired by Vic McKeighan. Tom Peters, Phil Hauger and Louis Huey, all officers and past officers, completed the list. The task was to find the best possible scope for the observatory.

 The last few meetings to be held at Buehler were counting down while the search for a new telescope was going on. At the business meeting on February 7, 1991, it was announced that further meetings at the planetarium would be charged at the rate of $200/hr. The club could not afford such costs--the long relationship with the planetarium was coming to an end). So with the "back porch" closed in, air conditioned and ready to use the association moved its meetings to the observatory on March 7, 1991. No further meetings would be held at Buehler, after that date.

 (In February of 1991, the dues were increased from $30 to $35, including a year's subscription to Sky and Telescope. The subscription price of the magazine increased to $18 for members of organized clubs. Over the years since the club's founding, there have been several one, two and three dollar increases, but the club has usually absorbed the cost rather than increase the dues. The previous increase in S and T rates, to $16, in 1988, was absorbed--this time an adjustment was unavoidable.)

 In March, Vic McKeighan worked out a deal with the Celestron Rep., Terry Moore, and a C14 was delivered to the observatory by truck on Saturday, April 6, 1991. The instrument came complete with a tripod and four eyepieces. There were a few problems to work out, but the C14 was on its tripod and working the very first night.

 It became apparent the roof would not clear the telescope on the existing pier. A plan was undertaken to shorten the pier and modify the adapter plate. The following Saturday, Lee Poulin and Vic removed the mounting bolts, and Lee cut 8 inches off the pier with a masonry saw. Vic installed a prototype of his "SkyCommander Digital Setting Circles" on one fork of the C14, and Tom Peters machined the adapter plate to fit the Celestron wedge. With the pier cut down and the adapter plate modified, the trio used new bolts to secure the base of the telescope to the pier.
 That evening, Saturday the 13th, was a public night, and 40 to 60 visitors and members showed up to see what the new instrument could do. (In the weeks that followed, and on behalf of the club, Vic sold the tube assembly of the Kornfeld Cassegrain to Tom Dobbins for $700.)

 There was a formal christening for the new instrument on Saturday, June 15th. By that time, word of the new acquisition had gotten around, and approximately 100 members and guests were in attendance. At the gathering, it was announced that Mike and Debbie Nunez, of ABC Distributing, Inc., were also in attendance, and they were to be made honorary members number 11 and 12. Lou Huey was also honored, and received a gift from the club.

  (Return to the "Guide")

Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1991 to 1994)
 In November of 1991, Frank Kornfeld advertized his 6" Quantum/OTI Maksutov in The Meridian. It had many accessories and was up for sale at $1,000. In December, Lee Poulin, a professional roofer and SFAAA vice president/observatory director, fell from a roof, fracturing his pelvis, and was out for about one month (a remarkable recovery). A few months later, in March of 1992, Charlie and Mary Wylie contacted the club. The Wylies had not been heard from in some time, and wanted to make a donation to the club. One of the items was their 12-1/2-inch Newtonian reflector. The donation also included eyepieces and an 8-inch mirror and tube assembly. In May, the club voted to make the Wylies honorary members (#13 and #14).

 (In 1995, Herb Knapp, observatory director, and David Goldstein, club president, came across the Wylie telescope, less its optics, in the observatory storeroom. Herb set up the tube and its mounting on the knoll just west of the observatory. A few months later, Herb painted the entire assembly, including the mount, and Steve Wells provided the lettering on the tube, identifying the site as that of the "Fox Observatory.")

 In February of 1992, Barbara Kornfeld passed away. Barbara Kornfeld and her husband, Frank, played a strong roll in the construction of the observatory, and furthering the goals of the club. Many people's dreams came true because of their financial support and their determination.

 Also in February, it was learned the Federal Government was the new owner of the WD Ranch and would turn it into a preserve after November of 1993. In appreciation for providing a dark sky viewing site and for supporting the club, a commemorative plaque was presented to Wayne at the regular meeting, May 7, 1992.

 At the same meeting (May 7), Walt Fisher, Lt. Col. Ret., announced his resignation from the club for reasons of age and health. Walt and his wife, Valerie, joined the club on May 11, 1972. Walt's participation in SFAAA activities spanned almost 20 years to the day. His was the second longest continuous membership, as of December 1996, and he was the first to reach 20 years, continuous or cumulative. When Walt dropped out, he offered the club copies of Sky and Telescope,dating back some forty years, but there was no place to store them.

 In August of 1992, Tom Peters and Phil Hauger repaired the roof. There was evidence of termites and wood rot. After repair was complete, Tom recommended resealing the entire roof to prevent future leaks and damage.
 On October 24, 1992, a scheduled turnout of 100 members of the Sierra Club visited the observatory. They were there to see a slide show and do some star gazing. On Saturday, February 27, 1993, 100 Boy Scouts showed up for a scheduled viewing. Even if you take away the return of Halley's Comet in 1985 and the near approach of Mars in 1988 or the 600 Boy Scouts in 1990, these were not record turnouts. In the early years, there were similar numbers, and on one occasion, in the winter of 1978-1979, more than 200 young people and their parents, representing two scout troops, were in attendance.

 In 1992, Art Smith, past president of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and friend of the SFAAA passed away. Art's knowledge and leadership helped steer the helm at SCAS for many years. During his years in South Florida, Art ground many mirrors, collected Clark refractors and was well known for his fascinating stories. Also among his achievements, in the 1940s and 1950s, Art was an advisor to President Truman, owned a radio station and was a licensed pilot.

 Art was a major force in popularizing astronomy in South Florida. In the 1960s, he organized the startup of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium. After its completion early in 1966, Art lectured at the planetarium, and was in charge of the Weintraub Observatory, on the roof of the adjacent building. (Art was a guest speaker at SFAAA meetings as early as 1967, and a photograph of him can be found in the "Construction Years Scrapbook"--Book #4. This photograph was taken at the dedication of Fox Observatory on March 20, 1977--next to that of Jack Horkheimer, "The Starhustler," also in attendance.)

 Over the Christmas holidays, in 1992, a reunion of past SFAAA members was held at the observatory. Many of the members involved in the construction of the observatory, 15 years earlier, were in attendance: Art and Mary Jane DeLaurentis, Jeff and Diana Lichtman, Bob and Dorothy Sickels, Charlie and Mary Wylie, Russell Peecook, George Johnston, Joe Leo, John Martin, Vic McKeighan, Warren Silverman and Barry Perlman. Jeff was in the area visiting relatives, and decided to organize a gathering. An effort was made to find as many of the early members as possible. (Also, in December of 1992, past president, Steve King was seriously injured in a bicycle accident. Steve sustained a broken collar bone, several fractured ribs and a punctured lung. Steve seemed to be recovered at an interview in December of 1995.)

 In March of 1993, Jack Finnigan passed away after fighting a long battle with lung cancer. Jack was an engineer at Motorola and had joined the club in 1977. On February 4, the club voted to purchase Jack's camera, oculars and eight-inch, Optical Craftsman, Newtonian reflecting telescope). Vic McKeighan picked it up intending to take it to the Winter Star Party, to sell for the club. However, it needed restoration before it could be shown to anyone. After painting and refurbishing, Vic stored Jack's scope in the observatory storeroom. It stayed there until it was purchased from the club by one of the members. (At the May 6, 1993 meeting, David Goldstein suggested keeping two of Jack's eyepieces to use with the 14-inch Celestron. Andy Malmed made a motion to do so, and the motion was passed. The remainder of Jack's eyepieces were to be sold with the scope.)

 John (Jack) Finnigan Jr. (1935-1993) was a major influence on club activities for almost two decades. He worked on telescope committees and equipment upgrades, and he worked to keep the park as dark as possible. Jack served as an officer in 11 of the almost 16 years he was a member. He was elected president three times, treasurer twice and secretary for six consecutive terms from 1983 through 1988.

 At the June meeting in 1993, David Goldstein, a member in 1984 and a member again as of December of 1992, had an announcement to make. It concerned the WD Ranch, one of the club's most popular dark-sky viewing sites. David encountered a Park Ranger on a recent visit to the ranch, and was told the club could no longer use the site for observing sessions... "the federal government had taken possession, and Wayne Davidson is out of the picture." Lou Huey investigated, and at the September meeting, reported that the club still had access to the site! Small groups still drive out "the Alley," and set up their telescopes on the dirt road, next to the canal.

 On September 22, 1993, Bob Sickels passed away (1921-1993). Bob had a strong technical bearing (Purdue University), and was a force in club activities. With a loyal following, he and Dorothy helped keep the club on course during most of the 1970s. A memorial gathering of friends, family and club members was held at the observatory the Sunday after Christmas 1993 (the 26th). The passing of Jack Finnigan was remembered along with that of Bob Sickels. (One of Bob and Dot's dreams was for Fox Observatory to become a science center. Dorothy Sickels resides in Fort Pierce, and keeps up with club activities through the newsletter.)

 Photographs of Bob, Jack and the gang, taken in the construction period, were brought out and stories were told. Jeff organized the gathering and Barry had commemorative plaques, with pictures of Bob and Jack, made for the occasion. At present, both plaques are mounted on the north wall of the clubroom, having been on the south wall until July of 1997. (Art and Mary Jane DeLaurentis, Mrs. Finnigan and Jack's daughter, Dorothy Sickels, Arnold Pearlstein, John Martin, Jeff and Diana Lichtman, Ralph Boyd, George Johnston, Joe Leo, Lee Poulin, Vic McKeighan, Herb Knapp and David Silverstein were among those in attendance. Mrs. Finnigan drove to Ft. Pierce and brought Dorothy Sickels down for the services.)

.In January of 1994, after a 14 year hiatus, the news of an upcoming event motivated my return to amateur astronomy. A Jovian comet, Shoemaker-Levy 9, had splintered into a string of at least 15 or 16 large chunks, some over a mile in diameter. In July of 1992, it had passed within 21,000 kilometers of its captor, and its fate was sealed. It was predicted that it would traverse millions of miles in the next 6 months, only to end its life in a series of collisions with the "King of Planets." I wondered how the scientists could be so exact about the point of impact, but they had been making such predictions since long before my time, and they were usually right!

 Today's computers make pin-point accuracy even more common. There were few such devices when Mars was at it nearest opposition, in 1956, but the calculations were right on. Unfortunately, for South Florida's amateur astronomers, mother nature and the carelessness of man prevailed over that event.

 To add to the doubts, there were reminders of the less than impressive visit of "the comet of the century" (Kohoutek), in 1973. Many scientists and soothsayers were embarrassed by that event, but in recent years, the predictions have been more cautiously worded, and the success rate has improved.

In February of 1994, I began restoring the neglected but indestructible remains of the equatorial mount that was made for my 4-inch refractor, in 1957. It needed scaling to bear metal, new bearings, a clock drive and hours of polishing on the original 5-inch, hand tooled, 1956, O. Magnusson, brass setting circles. (The setting circles were the centerpiece of the mount.)

 The finished product would include all of the original components, with a few improvements. I would attempt to overcome any weakness, but I would not abandon any part. However, wherever possible, I would replace fittings and hardware with brass or stainless steel. The legs of the tripod were made of one-inch water pipe, and it would take a magical pattern of trusswork to dampen the vibration.

 The project was eventually finished, but not in time for the "killer comet." However, another telescope was on standby, and ready for the event. The day for the final approach of  S-L 9 came in mid July, and no one was really prepared for what was about to happen!

 The anticipation before the first impact was similar to waiting for Neal Armstrong to make his first step on the Moon. However, there was still an inkling of skepticism. No one could be sure there would be anything to see!

 Hundreds of onlookers and dozens of telescopes filled the Kornfeld Garden the week of July 16, 1994. (The first night, counting visitors and club members, there were 350 witnesses to the event.) There had been a lot of press on the pending bombardment, "The Big Bang," and several highly regarded local planetary observers had become a source of information and a focal point for the media.

 When the time for the "crash landing" came, the hurricane season was well underway, but the rainy weather abated just long enough to reveal the spectacle. I was watching and waiting, as the devastation from the first impact came around the edge, and into view. I was using an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, and it was still twilight. The extent of the devastation was unimaginable! There was a gaping scar in the "gas giant." Even at a distance of 400 million miles, it looked almost three-dimensional. The first fragment, "A," was less than a mile in diameter, but the resulting firestorm annihilated an area of more than 30,000 square miles.

 I paused for a moment, and thought of the gargantuan proportions of what was happening. This was a signal event in the natural world, and with larger fragments yet to strike, it was going to be a week to remember. The chances that such an event would coincide with a civilization capable of predicting and detecting it were infinitesimal. The scope and irony of the thing seemed to take on an almost biblical proportion! (The largest fragment, "G," was little more than a mile across, but yielded a force equal to six million megatons of TNT--two hundred million times greater than the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombs combined--"big boy" and "little man.")

 It seemed unlikely anything like this had happened in this part of space in many thousands of years. In the end, 21 chunks of rock, dust and ice, pierced the Jovian atmosphere. It was said, the entire population of Earth would have perished within a few months, if any part of the comet had hit here! (A few months earlier, there was talk that the impact might cause Jupiter to fuse and become a star. However, members of the scientific community short-circuited that speculation--Jupiter's mass was too small by a factor of four for such a thing to happen!)

 (Days before the event, a noted professional astronomer packed up a 14-inch Celestron and went to an island off the east coast of South Africa. He was probably hoping to catch the first glimpse recorded by an Earthly station. I had imagined his ordeal and loneliness, hoping that he would be in the right place, and have enough batteries. I wondered if there would be a contest between him and the local experts--Messrs Parker, Beish and Hernandez. It seemed unfair that he would jump-the-gun by making the trip east. As it turned out, the local experts, were among the very first to report the initial impact. Jeff Beish would be the first to report seeing the expanding shock wave from impact "A." The Drawings and CCD images of Hernandez, Beish and Parker, as published in Sky and Telescope magazine, attested to the enormity of the event (S and T, October 1994, pp 24 and 26).

 In the closing days of the bombardment, the weather worsened, and Jupiter soon passed behind the Sun. Hoping to see some remnant of the event, I wondered if the surface would be "healed over" when the planet emerged in the early days of 1995. It was said, the impact sites might be visible for months or even years. (When Jupiter came into view in the early morning hours of January 1995, there was little more than a grey "dinge" over the region of the "onslaught.")

 (Rarely mentioned facts: On March 25, 1993, the four person team of Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker, David Levy and Phillipe Bendjoya (the forgotten man) co-discovered P/S-L 9. The discovery plates were taken two days earlier, on the 23rd. Source for additional information: Sky and Telescope, July 1994, Levy/Beatty, Awaiting the Crash-Part II, pp 18-22)

  (Return to the "Guide")  ("Shoemaker-Levy 9")  or   (Return to "Observing notes")
 

The New Technology: A Saving Grace (1991 to 1995)
 In the April 1991 issue of The Meridian, just after the C14 was purchased, Bob Higgins noted that the association finally had a scope suitable for CCD imaging. With the ever-increasing skyglow, the CCD's light gain and high tech approach to subtracting unwanted light-scatter had the potential of setting the clock back 20 years. CCD capability would make the observatory more "user friendly." More viewers would be able to see what there is to see, especially those unable to negotiate the viewing stairs because of size, age or disability. Being able to display images on a monitor without the climate or the mosquitos detracting from the experience would be a most welcome improvement. (The need for this capability had also been commented on by newsletter editor, Nick Lawrus, in the September 1989 issue of The Meridian, the first issue to be known by that name.)

 It took two years to get started because of finances and decisions as to just what should be done, but during 1993 and 1994, Bob Higgins devised, assembled and tested an imager for the C14. Steve Wells worked on the drop mirror, and Herb Knapp cut a window in the north wall of the observatory. (With a clear view of the telescope and the imager, the operator can spend more time working at the monitor in the relative comfort of the air conditioned clubroom.)

 In October of 1994, the CCD camera (imager) was in place and working. It had taken eleven months to complete, and all that remained was installation of a monitor and disc drive. Changes to the camera and monitor continued during 1995. (In the months that followed completion of the C14's imager, Bob conducted a "CCD workshop." The members taking part included: Rolando Branly, Jim Dailing, Chuck Faranda, Lou Huey and Steve King. Most of the group were able to build their own imager and get them working by mid 1996.)

 With this new system, multiple viewers can simultaneously see what the telescope sees without waiting in line. One telescope can be dedicated to direct viewing while the other picks up and displays, for all to see, the image of a distant galaxy, star cluster or nebula. In addition, when the weather prohibits direct viewing, images stored in memory can be brought up on the monitor. (With this additional feature, scheduling and transporting school and scouting groups need not turn into a disappointment when South Florida's unpredictable weather takes a turn for the worst.)

 On October 8, 1994, the CCD camera was dedicated to the memory of David Mark Silverstein (1956-1994). David Silverstein was a club member for several years before having a fatal heart attack on April 19, 1994. David was known for his sense of humor and his active interest in astronomy and astrophotography. Three of David's pictures appeared in Astronomy  magazine (Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, WI): One, a time-lapse of the progress of the eclipsing Moon was taken in December of 1992, and the other two, of the launch of the Hubble repair mission, February 3, 1994, were published posthumously in the November 1994 issue, page 90 (Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, WI). At the dedication ceremony for the CCD camera, the club presented a $700 savings bond to David's wife, Susan, and a plaque, in David's memory, was put up in the clubroom.

 In January of 1995, Ron D'Oria fell from a ladder, fracturing his right leg. The recovery period was prolonged, and Ron was still recuperating in the early part of 1996. However, he was getting around much better, at the WD Ranch, when Comet Hyakutake came to visit in March of 1996.

In April of 1995, Bob Higgins and Rolando Branly drafted and submitted a proposal whereby, if accepted, the SFAAA would become caretaker and principal operator of the objective from the U. S. Naval Observatory's 26-inch Photographic zenith tube (PZT-7). According to the proposal, the objective would be installed at Markham Park, in the configuration of a sidereostat. A clock-driven, polar mounted optical flat, 30 to 40 inches diameter, would be used to pick up and present solar, lunar and planetary images to the stationary objective, which was to be mounted in a tube or shaft of the club's making.

 The objective was being sought by various high ranking educational and research facilities around the country. The presentation, prepared by Bob and Rolando, was precise and thorough, but the competition had considerable depth and resources to draw on. It was close, but the award went to the Palomar Institute for Research in Astronomy, Vista, CA (June 27, 1995). The decision was based on the availability of staff, facilities, and funding, as well as location and user access. (It was later learned, the Palomar group also volunteered to demolish the building the zenith tube was housed in. It appears, this offer might have influenced the decision.)

 On June 26, 1995, Frank Kornfeld passed away. The Kornfelds, Frank and Barbara were a major source of financing during the construction years. They loved to travel, and lived to be well into their 80s, missing very little in their lifetimes.

 In July of 1995, the first article in the series that became this document appeared in The Meridian. The completion of the project in 1997, marked the 30th anniversary of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc. Members of the club, past and present, provided information and documents contributing to the series of articles and to the overall project. A total of seventeen articles appeared in the newsletter in 1995 and 1996, and release of the orientation package and this expanded document took place in the early months of 1997.

 Between August of 1993 and July 1995, the Brandon Refractor was restored by Tom Peters, a club member and restorations expert. The club voted to put the job of refurbishing the entire instrument, including the Zeiss mount, in Tom's hands on August 5, 1993. Everything was dismantled, and the objective was sent to D & G Optical to be refigured and recoated. After completion of the task, D & G mounted the refinished objective in a new aluminum tube, with light baffles. In the course of testing and reworking the lens, Barry Greiner, of D & G, known for high quality refractors, found a few scratches and a zone, but was able to restore the affected surface--R4. On completion of the task, Barry commented on the quality of the Brandon objective--better than 1/20 wave for spherical aberration.

 When the lens and tube returned home, and everything needed to complete the job was in hand, Tom refurbished the mechanical parts, made a new finder, with rings, and completed reassembly of the various components. (Machining or replacement of several pieces, within the mount, was necessary, and the new finder was born from Tom's inventory of spare parts. As part of the project, Tom mounted the two Zeiss counterweight assemblies, which he had removed from the old tube, on the new tube.) With the assistance of Herb Knapp, Tom returned the completed instrument to its pier on July 2, 1995, and on July 6, it was fully operational. (In addition to the countless, meticulous hours put in by Tom, the sum of $905.65, plus several dollars in unaccounted for finishing touches, was invested in the project.)

 A dedication ceremony, in recognition of completion of the project and of Tom's efforts, was held at Fox Observatory on 9-16-95. Approximately 25 members were in attendance. It can be difficult to organize the setting up and catering of such gatherings, but club president, David Goldstein did an excellent job, and it all went very smoothly.

.(With achromats, the characteristic color shift makes the interpretation of color less accurate, but it may also have a desirable affect on contrast. Whatever the exact reason, the attributes of an f/15 achromat can be starkly beneficial on some objects, especially on Jupiter, and the Brandon Refractor seems remarkable in this regard. It may be that the master lens maker designed his refractor with Jupiter in mind: The Great Red Spot appears almost ruby-red at its core, and is engulfed by luminous aquamarine gas clouds. The surrounding multicolored bands of hydrogen, ammonia and methane stand out in almost three-dimensional relief. (1995)

  (more Jupiter)

 There has been some uncertainty as to the exact size of the objective lens of the Brandon Refractor. It is often referred to as being 6.5-inches (16.51 cm). Up until the 1960s, the stated size of refractors was usually taken as the outside diameter of the lens elements, not the clear aperture. With regard to the Brandon objective, it is 6.5 inches overall, and 5.9 inches clear.)

  (Return to the "Guide")   ("The New Technology...")
 

Comet Hyakutake, the 30th Anniversary Celebration and the FAA Tower Hearing (1996)
 On January 12, 1996, Joel Runes, the club secretary passed away from a heart attack, He was at work when it happened, and had returned from seeing the launch of the space shuttle--Endeavor the night before. Services were held at the Star of David Funeral Home, on Bailey Road, at 11:45 a.m., Sunday the 14th of January. Members in attendance included Kathy Malone, David Goldstein and Herb Knapp. Joel Runes was in his early forties, and though not in the best of health, worked many long hours every week.

 On January 25, 1996, the association observed its 30th anniversary, and the possibility of having a day of celebration was considered. Ordinarily, the year of recognition would have been 1995. To make up for the oversight, it was decided to commemorate the occasion by acknowledging the events of both years. The following announcement was posted on the club bulletin board in late January:

An Announcement
The 30th Anniversary of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association is at hand (January 25, 1996). The activities of 1995 and 1996 commemorate the occasion. Several projects have already been started or completed. Everyone is invited to see the work that has been done. The CCD imager, the restoration of the Brandon Refractor, the renovation of the observatory, the history project and preparations for Comet Hale-Bopp are part of the new look.

 At the annual meeting on February 1, Bob Higgins reminded the membership that a Doppler radar site was being considered for installation near Markham Park in the not-to-distant future. The proposed site was at the north end of the park, and it was thought, there might be some effect on the performance of the CCD imager. And if lights were installed on the tower, to warn aircraft, there might also be a line-of-sight effect on visual observations. Bob undertook an investigation. He wanted to know the pattern, emission strength and frequencies involved.

 Also before the group at the February meeting was the election of officers for the new year. The nominating committee was led by Bill Weaver, and the slate was approved as follows:

President:  Steve Wells
Vice President/Program Director: David Goldstein (David advised the membership that he might be moving back to Germany during the year.)
Vice President/Observatory Director:  Herb Knapp
Treasurer:  Jim Dailing
Secretary:  Milton Chernin
Newsletter Editor:  Bill Weaver
Director-at-Large/Trustee:  McKeighan-97, Weaver-97, Lou Huey-98

 During the period from February 12 through 18, 1996, the 12th annual Winter Star Party (WSP-12) of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS) was held. The location for the 1996 gathering, and for the several years previous, was the Girl Scout Camp (i.e., Camp Wesumkee) at West Summerland Key (mile marker 34-1/2).

 At 7:00 p.m. on March 7, 1996, the board met and decided to open the observatory to the public every Saturday instead of every second and fourth Saturday. This was the first time since March 8, 1980, that public nights were scheduled on a weekly basis. The regular meeting was held immediately following the board meeting, and there were several topics of discussion. Vigorous debates and a lot of excitement developed over the FAA's plan to put a Doppler site somewhere in the area. The "Feds" seem to favor Markham Park for the 14-story tower, with strobes and supporting complex. There was to be a public FAA Tower Hearing Wednesday, 3-13, and some of us planned to go. Later, the upcoming comets and work on the club's CCD camera were discussed. Steve Wells, club president, mentioned that Jeff Lichtman had called and was working on two plaques: one to be presented to the club, the other to Dorothy Sickels.

 Steve suggested there might be a "gathering," possibly on a Saturday in April or May, at which, Jeff could make his presentation. Steve suggested a barbecue or other astronomy day event, but there did not seem to be much interest. Otherwise, the meeting was the most active and rousing in many months. Russell Peecook, past member and designer of the Kornfeld Garden, was in attendance, and told the group stories about the zodiacal garden. Russ also suggested putting the newsletter "online." The idea was approved by the membership in attendance, and after the meeting, Russ and Bill Weaver, the newsletter editor, got together to formulate a plan. (Russ, a graphic designer, also discussed restoration of the Kornfeld Garden with observatory director Herb Knapp.)

 During the meeting there was more talk of club members attending the FAA hearing for the proposed Doppler site, on March 13. The March meeting continued until 11 p.m., and discussions were still going on at 11:30. David Goldstein, the club's program chairman for 1996, was not present. Members of the group theorized that he and his family might have already left for Germany. The deliberations over comets and the Doppler tower were such that there would have been no time for a program.
 

The FAA Tower Hearing: March 13, 1996
 Thunderstorms are the spawning ground for extreme variations in airflow. A family of meteorologic phenomena referred to as "windshear" comes from this. When there is a sudden change in head wind, tail wind or downdraft it can be very difficult to make a safe landing. A plane can literally be blown into the ground while it is making its final approach. When windshear is severe, in excess of 30 mph, it is called a microburst, and it is extremely dangerous. As it happens, the potential for this type of phenomenon is high in South Florida. This is because we have 80 to 100 days of thunderstorms in an average year.

 Doppler radar systems are the best predictors of these type phenomena and 45 such sites are scheduled to be installed around the country. The Doppler system planned for this area employs a 25-foot parabolic antenna housed in a protective dome 140 feet above the ground. The system works by putting out a high energy pulse, and it spends 98% of the time listening to the atmospheric reflections of its own emissions. The signal is radiated on a frequency of 5600 to 5650 MHz at 250 Kw. (The proposed site is one mile northeast of the observatory, on county property, and the dome will be marked with one or more red aircraft warning lights. According to the presentation, there are to be no white strobe lights.)

 On March 13, several members of the SFAAA attended the FAA Doppler Tower Hearing held in the Grand Ballroom of the Sunrise Hilton at 3003 N. University Drive. The meeting began promptly at 7:30 p.m., and 60 or 70 citizens, representing various facets of the community, faced the four FAA board members (From left to right: Rich Williams, Regional Associate Program Manager, Laura Breeding, Facilities Engineer, Jerry Schwartz, Environmental Specialist and Master of Ceremonies, Jim Mantak SRI, Environmental Engineer.) In attendance, from the association, were Mike Anderson, Gary Bloom, Carlos Cuadros, Jim Dailing, Chuck Faranda, Clayton Hall, Bob Higgins, Herb Knapp and Steve Wells.

 The event had been publicized a month in advance in the Herald  and Sun Sentinel. However, the issues had received minimal coverage, and in the course of the hearing, some of the speakers pointed that out.

 At the outset, the FAA board presented a brief program explaining the need for a windshear detection system, and the proposed site was just outside of the northeast corner of Markham Park. The presentation was brief and understandable, though not in great depth. Then, it was the public's turn to speak. A large group representing residents and neighbors interested in health risks, another large group representing the radio control hobbyists (three clubs) and the group from the SFAAA kept the discussion going until 11:30.

 The first to speak were public officials, City of Sunrise Council members and candidates for public office. They were well prepared, but several seemed to be making a political appeal, apparently hoping to be remembered at the next election. (There were eventually 30 speakers, not counting additional comments by those who made multiple trips to the dais.)

 Before the program began Bob Higgins was given the information he had requested the month before, and he quickly evaluated its depth and accuracy. It was an impressive package of over 100 pages, but did not cover the question of potentially hazardous radiation, and it was written using average power values rather than peak values. When it was his turn to speak, Bob detailed the shortcomings of the report, and suggested that more information was needed. He also suggested alternative locations, among them an ocean-going platform.

 Jim Dailing spoke shortly thereafter, and further shaped the debate by reminding the panel that when you do not know the long-term effects of an experiment you need to go back to the drawing board. Jim worked for Motorola for 40 years and his specialty was statistics. Jim seemed to be in his element while relating several anecdotes on what can happen when you rush into a project without enough information.

 Others from the SFAAA who spoke were Chuck Faranda, Clayton Hall and Steve Wells. Most of them came back and addressed the gathering a second or third time. Bob hit on the possible health risk and the lack of concrete data from the FAA. He also suggested alternative sites, one being off the coast and another the Davie landfill. Other speakers picked up on the offshore sight, and the FAA board admitted they had not thought of it, but said it would be put on the agenda for study.

 On hearing mention of an ocean site for the third time, Rich Williams, of the FAA contingent, said such a site would require a long extension chord, and in another response, he said one reason for not using the landfill was that driving the pilings to get a solid foundation might carry toxic waste down to the aquifer. Other than these comments, the board seemed sincere, and responded to or noted the opposing arguments, for 4 hours. Several speakers from the public side suggested the decision had already been made, and the hearing was just a formality. (While the board, hence the FAA, had many reasons for preferring this site, they said the final decision had not been made!)

The SFAAA had the best presentation, but the radio control group, fielded more than 15 speakers. Time and again they came forward to challenge the wisdom of putting the dome just .4 miles from their flying area of 25 years. (Several of the radio control pilots pointed out that, if because of signal interference, control of a model plane weighing 5 to 10 pounds and traveling at speeds of over 100 miles per hour was lost it could become a missile of destruction.)

An elderly lady in the audience reflected on her annoyance by saying that while public safety was the most important issue, hobbyists with model airplanes and astrologers had the most to say. She, or another with the same opinion, went on to say the 800 elderly members of the City of Sunrise Citizens Committee, her group, would have all been there if the hearing had been properly publicized.

 One excuse offered for eliminating other sites was increased cost. (One minute it had to be done regardless of the cost, the next, the other sites and alternatives were too costly.) There were several other contradictions from the board, and one local resident came to the microphone no less than four times to point out that the FAA needed to think more about the possible solutions. Reflecting on the contradictions voiced by the board and their seeming leaning toward this site he said "common sense tells me this does not belong near people." (It was a member of the public named Sultan or another speaker of a similar frame of mind who pointed out that he was hearing the board say they wanted to set the thing down in a heavily populated area because their wasn't enough money to put it anywhere else.)

 On one of his trips to the microphone, Mr. Sultan, distinguished looking and well dressed, said there was yet another park in the area, bringing the total to three within a mile of the site. He also made the point that making decisions some times requires tradeoffs, and the public should come first!

 Steve Wells, our club president, invited the board to visit the observatory, and told of the background and purpose of the association. He said the association and the observatory served the function of educating the public on the subject of astronomy. Steve, and later, Jim Dailing, mentioned the EM sensitivity of the high tech equipment used with the observatory's telescopes.

 It was apparent the board was previously aware of the radio control airplane club's activities, but had no knowledge of the SFAAA's presence in the park. This made our appearance at the hearing seem more important. Later, one of the residents of the area, commented on how it was the FAA did not know we (SFAAA/Fox Observatory) were located in the park and might be affected. She, Maxine Marshall, was from the Echo Club, and came to the microphone three times (ECHO: Environmental Children Helping Out). Mrs. Marshall's 10 year old son was with her, and she wanted to take him home. She challenged the decision to install the system in her community. Her point was well made, and as the evening went on, it became more apparent there had not been enough study to make a well informed decision.

 Laura Breeding (FAA), like Rich Williams, was from Atlanta, said there was nothing to worry about, that there was a mountain of data showing that little or no risk existed. However, the oversights indicated the investigation was not yet thorough. (The board was patient and cordial, but the apparent shortfalls in the plan were not confidence builders!)

 One young woman who's daughter had leukemia, had become an activist against environmental hazards, and came forward to speak on a cleaner, safer environment. She encouraged the board to make a decision weighted heavily in favor of public health considerations.

 Chuck Faranda, a club member and a resident of Weston, delivered a poignant message on the natural environment of the park and its intended use as a recreation area. He contrasted this with the potential environmental hazard and incompatible (ugly) appearance of the radar dome and tower.

 One elderly woman said she would not be their 10 years from now, but if anything went wrong the members of the board would have the consequences on their "bond." Several of the residents who felt a demon was being set loose in their backyard excoriated the board for trying to push the project through regardless of public risk. This seemed to be an overreaction; however, no one on the board or in the audience wanted this device in their neighborhood.

 Not to leave any point out, Bob Higgins, Jim Dailing and Clayton Hall spoke one last time when the conference room was nearly empty. Bob said the non-thermal, low level effects of long-term exposure were a serious issue, and the related health problems might not be known for many years. The board acknowledged this, but seemed not to have a plan to allow for it or to make a public health determination. Bob closed by saying it was best to err on the side of not being exposed. (After the hearing ended, and we were in the hallway, on the way to the parking lot, Bob said, the proposed site was probably far enough away, the observatory would not be affected.)

 Late in the hearing, one of the Radio Control hobbyists said he did not think the FAA would come up with the $200,000 to move the landing site, and there was no place else to go. In the closing moments, Jim Dailing made the same point with regard to our options, and Clayton Hall mentioned that moving the site was not possible for us because the observatory served the public, and a more remote site would not be practical for travel.

 By the evenings end, the great majority of what was said by the audience was against the project. While many of the complaints seemed to be based on unfounded fears, there were technical points that made it clear, more study was needed.

 Whatever the decision, the installation is supposed to be completed in 1999, and the best guess is, the Doppler tower, as proposed, should not be a threat to the activities and the work being done at the observatory. (Several copies of the final environmental assessment package, EAR 22, were requested and a letter was sent to the FAA outlining the association/observatory's concerns and history of service to the community.)

  (more tower hearing)
 

Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2, formerly known as C/1995 Y1)
 Three days after the FAA hearing (3-16-96) a large group from the club met at the WD Ranch for an observing session. I was late in arriving--I could not get to the observing site until just after 11:30. Bob Eck and Mike Korvela were leaving as I drove in. The session was called to observe Comet Hyakutake. It was cool and damp, with periodic formations of cirrus cumulus clouds. Even so the beehive, Omega Centauri and the comet were easily visible. The group remaining at the ranch included Ron D'Oria, Chuck Faranda, Bruce Haigh, Eddie Huffman, David Lord, Vic McKeighan, Tom Peters, Paul Schofield, Lee Sessoms, Steve Wells, myself and two others I did not get to meet.

 I finally had a chance to look through Tom Peters' 16-inch Ritchey-Chretien. Omega Centauri was rising, and about one hour from the meridian. A million tiny lights filled the field, at 120x. Later, we looked at a galaxy in Canes Venatici or Coma Bernices that reminded me of NGC 891 in Andromeda. It was edge-on, with a dust lane covering its entire length--(Probably, NGC 4565 in Coma Bernices: See Sky and Telescope, July 1994, page 116, or Astronomy: Observer's Guide 1996, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 104). The 16-inch Ritchey was pointed high overhead, and little or no effort was needed to see the galaxy in all its photographic splendor and detail.

   (Return to "Observing notes")   (NGC 4565, Omega Centauri)

 Then it was on to what everyone was there to see. Hyakutake, a comet with a one million year period, passed its closest to Earth in late March. Hyakutake was easy with the unaided eye at magnitude 3.5 to 4.0. In 7x50 binoculars, the tail seemed to be split into two segments. Even when the clouds got in the way it glowed like a headlight in a fog bank. (On the 24th, Hyakutake was only 9.3 million miles from Earth. This comet was like no other, rising along the meridian from the south, before 2 a.m., then crossing the pole to the northwest, into the evening hours, and on into the sunset.)

 Speaking of fog, the party began to break up when the fog rolled in around 1:30. For awhile the mist came and went, but I finally gave up and left about 2:30. Steve, Bruce, Vic and Ron remained. Bruce Haigh had his camera mounted piggyback on a C8, and was taking pictures of the comet at 150-mm f/4, on Fuji HG400. Unfortunately, the clouds periodically obscured the view, preventing exposure times of more than 10 or 15 minutes. (However, Bruce's photographs were exceptional.)

 I stopped off at the observatory on the way east. It was about 3 a.m.; Carlos Cuadros and Herb were still on duty. The seeing was about one magnitude poorer than at the ranch. However, there were fewer clouds and no fog. Carlos was able to see the two sections of the tail with his binoculars, but I could no longer see them, even though I knew exactly where to look. I don't think Herb could see them either. (Steve Wells reported a naked-eye-sighting of the comet, from downtown Boca Raton at 3 a.m. on the morning of March 20th.)

 During most of the week leading up to the 23rd of March, the seeing was poor. However, occasional glimpses of the comet, revealed that it had brightened quickly, and was hurrying past Arcturus. It traveled through Ursa Major, and crossed the meridian a few degrees above the North Star. The comet's path seemed to form an arc as it swept from early morning into the late evening. (Hyakutake traveled from south, near Ophiuchus, to north, and then crossed just above the pole to the northwest, ending up in the constellation Perseus.)

 On Saturday the 23rd, the view from the observatory was not good, but patchy openings in the sky around 11:00 p.m. rewarded those determined enough to hang on until the wee hours. The following night, Sunday, the 24th, the seeing was better, and a group of about 200 local citizens and club members were in attendance. Telescopes were set up on the grounds, around the observatory, and the hopes of seeing the tail were realized.

 On Tuesday night, the 26th, Bob Higgins and his family took to the road in search of a good viewing site. Also with Bob were George Smoot and a fellow worker from Motorola. George was in town from Phoenix for a business meeting. (George and Bob were coworkers at Motorola in the 1980s, and George introduced Bob to the SFAAA in 1983.)

 Bob led his group out to a recreation area near mile marker 35, on "the Alley." (On a clear night, the sky, that far west of town, is good for magnitude 6.0 or better. Unfortunately the spring had been dry and a fire was consuming a large portion of the Big Cypress Preserve, north of "the Alley" and the site.) Bob said, the smoke from the fire eventually swallowed up the comet, but not before he and his contingent observed 20 to 30 degrees of the comet's tail majestically sweeping through the Big Dipper. (The comet's total luminosity was equal to or greater than the first magnitude during most of the week. Earlier in the year, it was suggested that with Earth between the Sun and the comet, there might be a period when only the coma (head) could be seen. A comet's tail always points away from the Sun, thus, in theory, being more difficult to see when Earth is between the two.)

 Also on the 26th, Steve Wells was at the WD Ranch, to photograph the comet. Steve reported that computer measurement indicates the visible portion of the tail was as much as 40 degrees in length. Steve tried exposures up to 10 minutes and found that one minute at ASA 200 and 75-mm f/2.8 got the best result. (A report from Hawaii stated the tail could be seen sweeping across 90 degrees of jet black sky.)

 On Saturday, the 30th, anticipated as the last good night to see the comet, this side of the Sun, about two hundred students and adults visited the observatory. However, there were no more than 35 or 40 present at a given time. Judy Marburger brought a class from a local high school. Herb Knapp (Obs. Dir.), Barry Perlman, Jim Dailing, with his grandson, and myself were there as well.

 Herb closed the observatory roof at about 8:00 p.m., in anticipation of rain. It was fully overcast, but many of us hung on and others came and went throughout the evening. There was a partial "burn-off" shortly after 9:00 o'clock. The sky was only minimally transparent, but the best of it lasted about one hour, and allowed the 13-inch Dobson to be turned on the comet. Another visitor (Judy Marburger) and I were using 6x35 and 7x50 binoculars. Stars to about magnitude 8 could be seen, and the tail of the comet could just be made out, but we could not begin to discern its full length. In the Dobson, the coma looked as though there were a 7th magnitude star at its center. During that "one-hour window," Hyakutake periodically showed itself to the unaided eye, but for most of the group, averted vision was necessary.

 Also on Saturday, there were a few visitors to the observatory with interests other than the comet. Two club members brought medium sized, general purpose telescopes, and spent most of their time looking at the Moon. There was little else to see for an instrument more powerful than binoculars. Jim Hynes brought an 8-inch f/6 equatorial Newtonian to the site, and another visitor set up a C8, on a Great Polaris mount. Both instruments were battery driven. (Jim Hynes had visited the observatory several times in the past, and on the following Thursday, attended the monthly meeting and joined the club.)

 While all this was going on, Herb was busy, giving instruction to young novitiates. Herb has an easy rapport with young people that seems to somehow maintain order without exerting any force or losing a sense of humor. (The seeing Saturday night was poor, but Sunday night, the 31st, was much worse; there were heavy showers across the area for most of the evening. By the 30th, predicted by the experts to be the last night for good viewing, the Moon was about 8 days old and more than 40 degrees southeast of the comet. However, it was getting brighter, and becoming more of a nuisance.)

 Herb Knapp manned the observatory every night for several weeks, while hundreds of visitors came and went. Some groups and individuals arrived as late as 3:00 a.m. Among those who visited, there were students and teachers from all levels of the educational system. (During the last week, Lon Hill, a club member and an astronomy professor at BCC, brought a group from the junior college.)

 The portion of the comet's journey easily visible to the unaided eye lasted more than 30 days. In 1983, another comet passed as close to Earth as Hyakutake, but none in memory has put on such a show. To put the visible part of the comet's tail into perspective, we can say that stellar dust is all around us, and that comets, if we had the vision to see it, leave a trail through the heavens wherever they go, and for as long as they last. (A footnote: On one occasion, someone at the observatory joked that after S-L 9, Hyakutake must be some kind of omen--the end is near.)

  (more Dark Site)   (M 31, M 33, M81, M 82)

  (Return to the "Guide")  or  (Return to "Observing notes")   ("Comet Hyakutake")

When March ended, the signatures in the visitor log were totaled. Not everyone signed in--on one occasion, 125 scouts paid a visit, with only a few making an entry in the log. Whatever the discrepancy in the numbers, there were more than 900 signatures.

 Russell Peecook helped Bill Weaver get the newsletter online (http://members.aol.com/SFAAA) in time to put out the March issue, late in the month. Herb Knapp was beside himself when he told me about it. He said, the page banner, created by Russell Peecook was beautiful. (Many thanks go to Russell for providing the artwork, and for jumping in and helping bring up the site. Having a "Web page," with an "e-mail link," is a big boost to the club in terms of access by potential members, and by past members, scattered across the country. (In March there was also talk of a new remote observing site on the Micosugee Indian Reservation, but, as of 12-31-97, that is yet to pan out.)

.On April 3rd, 1996, at 6:30 p.m., the Moon rose fully eclipsed. The sky remained relatively dark until about 7:53, when totality ended. By then the comet was near the horizon, and getting more difficult to locate. This brief respite from the light of the Moon was one last fleeting opportunity to see the comet at its best before it passed behind the Sun in late April.)

  (more lunar eclipse)

 On Thursday, April 4th, at 7:30 p.m., just before the club meeting began, several of us gathered amidst the mosquitos on the north side of the observatory. The sky was unusually clear, and the Moon was just beginning to rise. Skyglow was a problem, and while the comet was only about 20 degrees above the northwest horizon, it was still visible to the unaided eye. In the days previous, binoculars easily revealed several degrees of the tail.

 During the meeting, it was decided to hold an Astronomy Day/Anniversary Celebration on May 18. Later, Bruce Haigh, Lou Huey, Vic McKeighan and Steve Wells showed the rest of the group photographs they had taken of the comet. The pictures were excellent--this was an outstanding comet for CCD and photographic work. (Chuck Faranda captured the comet's image with his CCD camera and 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, and Bill Weaver made Chuck's version a centerpiece in April's online edition of The Meridian.)

 As late as Saturday, April 20 (National Astronomy Day), the comet was still putting on a show. Steve Wells, David Lord, myself and about 12 or 15 visitors were at the observatory with Herb to see the occultation of the Hyades by the Moon. Between 7 and 9 p.m. the two-day-old crescent passed through the middle of the cluster. It was impressive in small binoculars, but only a few stayed to see the Lyrid meteor shower that followed.

 Motorola, had its 25-year anniversary celebration in the park that day. They were quite a way east of the observatory, but it took several hours for all the cars and the smoke from the 8:00 o'clock fireworks to clear. A few members of the throng showed up at the observatory, looking for a place from which to watch the fireworks.

 Before the end of the month Steve Wells composed a letter to be sent to the Kiwanis Club of Hollywood, c/o Steve Davis. The letter was a donation request, and explained the purpose and objectives of the observatory and the SFAAA. The Kiwanis conducts a drive every year, ending the last week of March. The purpose of the drive is to screen requests and make donations to worthy causes. The Kiwanis Club, known for its interest in organizations serving the needs of youth, was considering making a contribution to the SFAAA to be used to operate the observatory. (Association president, Steve Wells forwarded a presentation to Steve Davis, president of the Hollywood branch, at the end of March, and a $100 donation was received in mid May.

 Also in April, Roy Goderstad completed his cookbook CCD camera. Roy gathered the parts for the kit, and put the unit together entirely on his own. Bob Higgins had discussed various techniques and problems with Roy, but the project was an independent, though lengthy, success from start to finish.

 Throughout April and May, Russell Peecook continued to come up with innovations and recommendations for the "Web page:" weather services (satellite images from Purdue University's "Thunder" program) and a monthly calendar of astronomical events from JPL/NASA. Installation of the extra "goodies" was completed before May 11.

 In the weeks prior to May 18, and the 30th Anniversary Celebration, notices were released to the local press, and Herb Knapp, in his capacity as observatory director, invited everyone who visited the observatory to attend the festivities. The preparations were underway... the public and all members past and present were invited. Many phone calls were made, and the newsletter spread the word. Hopefully, no one would be missed! Herb and Steve Wells put up a banner in the observatory, and a program was prepared for the event.
 

A 30th Anniversary Celebration: Astronomy Day 1996
 (On May 18, 1996 at 2:00 p.m., the SFAAA formally celebrated its first 30 years. The schedule of events, information from the official program and a few of the day's activities are included here.)

Schedule of Events:
Solar observing with the Brandon Refractor
A variety of telescopes will be set up on the patio during the day and evening
A cold cut (pot luck) buffet and soft drinks
Hubble Space Telescope Presentation by Jim Stryder of U.S. Aviator
SFAAA History Project by Gary Bloom of SFAAA
Presentation of the Robert M. Sickels Memorial Plaque
CCD demonstration
A few surprises (ongoing projects, equipment upgrades, etc.)
 

Our Special Guests (some of those who made this day possible)
 These are the names of some of the past and present members who have had a significant impact on the success of the SFAAA and Fox Observatory. Other names could be added to this list, but these will stand to represent the members who have led the association over the past 34 years. Most of those named hoped to be here today, but a few could not make it because of prior commitments. (Changes have been made to bring this information up to date as ofÝ12-31-00.)

1.  Lyndon Allwood: During the construction of the observatory, Lyn worked on fund drives, and provided the finesse and experience to work with representatives of county government. Lyn was Chairman of the Fox Observatory Dedication Committee in 1977, and he was Chairman of the Broward County Democratic Screening Committee during the 1970s. Lyn is retired, and still lives in the Ft. Lauderdale area with his wife. (Lyn could not be here today because he and his wife are at Morehouse College in Atlanta for the graduation of their grandson, Steven Allwood. In a letter posted on the clubroom bulletin board, Lyn sends his best to Jeff Lichtman, Dorothy Sickels, Barry Perlman, Mary and Charlie Wylie and to the club.)

2. Ron Beauregard: Ron served as president, observatory director, newsletter editor, director-at-large, trustee and secretary during the period from 1984 to 1994. On many occasions, during the years of his membership, Ron packed up and went to the observatory to enact repairs. The upgrading and renovation of telescopes at the Fox Observatory, and at the Buehler/Ruiz Observatory, on the BCC/Davis Campus, are among his credits.

3.  Ralph Boyd: Ralph has been a member for a total of 13 years, and he was president in 1976, the year most of the observatory construction was completed. On Sunday, March 7, 1976, at 6:30 a.m., Ralph was waiting for Comet West to come out from behind the Sun. Unknown to those awaiting the reappearance, the comet had ventured too close to its keeper, 18.3 million miles, and on that morning, Ralph was the first amateur to report having seen the breakup of the nucleus. Ralph detected the split with the smallest telescope to be credited with a first sighting (i.e., an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain). (Ralph was elected club president again in 1979, and rejoined as of 1997.)

4. Jack Finnigan: Jack served as an officer in 11 of the almost 16 years he was a member. He was president three times, treasurer twice and secretary for six consecutive terms from 1983 through 1988. During the 1980s, Jack took part in or led committees engaged in the task of keeping light pollution in the park to a minimum. (Jack passed away in 1993, after fighting a battle with lung cancer.)

5. Irv Flamenbaum: Irv was a member from 12/1/75 until 12/1/97, with the longest continuous membership in the club's history--22 years.

6. Bob Higgins: Bob has been a member since 1984, and he has been the scheduled speaker or has provided supporting information to others so inclined many times. During 1993 and 1994, Bob designed and assembled the CCD camera now attached to the 14-inch Celestron. With Bob's technical background behind the project, changes to the camera and monitor continued during 1995 and 1996. The CCD's high tech approach to subtracting unwanted skyglow has, to some extent, set the clock back 20 years.

7. Lou Huey: Lou was club treasurer for more than 6 years from 1987 to 1994. Lou, through a retirement gift from a business associate, donated the Celestron 14, presently in the observatory, to the club in 1991. From 1995 through 1997, Lou served as trustee, and was in charge of the observatory's inventory. Lou passed away in 1998, and bequeathed the club a 16-inch Meade LX-200, to be housed in a dome west of the original observatory building.

8. George Johnston: George donated his time and professional expertise as an electrician to the construction project in 1976 and 1977. George held office 12 times, twice as president, in the more than 15 years of his membership. Though no longer active, George occasionally attends meetings, and contributed to the history project.

9. Steve King: Steve is still active in the association and was an important contributor to the history project. Steve has served in office 10 times in 15 years of membership. He was president in 1983, and edited the club newsletter during 1985 through 1987. In 1985 and 1986, Steve also served as program director. (Doing both jobs was a sizable task indeed!) During the mid and late 1980s, Steve also took part in or led committees engaged in the task of keeping light pollution in the park to a minimum.

10.  Herb Knapp: Herb has been observatory director since February of 1994 and he has cleaned up and restored the facility while extending the hours the observatory is open to visitors from twice a month to every Saturday night. During the visits of Comet Hyakutake in 1996, Herb kept the observatory open almost every night, sometimes all night. On some nights, visitors arrived as late as 3:00 a.m.

11. Joe Leo: Joe served as an officer for 11 terms in the 17 years of his membership. He was the first observatory director in 1977, and in the 1980s, he served as secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor, president and director-at-large/trustee.

12. Jeff Lichtman: Jeff was the president in 1975, director-at-large 76, observatory crew 76, 77 and executive vice president/program director until his work took him out of the area in 1978. Jeff now lives in Atlanta, with his family. Jeff wanted to be here today, but could not make it. (Jeff donated a radio telescope, of his own design, for use at the park, and rejoined the club in the fall of 1997.)

13. John Martin: John was on the observatory committee, the telescope committee and was exec. vice president in 1976. John also contributed significantly to the history project.

14. Vic McKeighan: Vic has served in office 11 times in 15 years, once as president and three times as observatory director, the most demanding office on the slate. Shortly after the C14 was operational, in 1991, Vic donated and installed a prototype of his "SkyCommander Digital Setting Circles." In 1996, Vic served his seventh year as a trustee.

15. Russell Peecook: Russell designed and created the Kornfeld Zodiacal Garden in 1975. Russell and Dorothy Sickels completed the installation over the two or three week period prior to the dedication of the site in March of that year. In March of 1996, after a long absence, Russell provided the ideas and artistry to help Bill Weaver, our newsletter editor, put The Meridian  online in 1996. Russ also designed the page banner, for the "Web site." (http://members.aol.com/SFAAA)

16. Barry Perlman: Barry has been an officer 8 times during his membership, and during the construction years, he served on more get-it-done committees and projects than anyone else in the club. Barry has belonged to the association for 23 years. Barry donated a Quorum Wefax weather satellite receiver to the club in 1997.

17. Tom Peters: In 1995, Tom completed restoration of the Brandon Refractor and the Zeiss equatorial mount. It was an arduous task well done. Tom joined the club in "the year of the comet," 1985. He served as executive vice president/program director in 1989 and 1990, and as trustee from 1988 through 1993, and is still an active member.

18. Ted Rosz: Ted donated the labor and know-how to build the observatory, up to the tie beams, in 1976. Ted joined the club in 1967, and still has the 8-inch reflector he built as a club member, but has not been to a meeting in recent years.

19. Bob and Dorothy Sickels: Bob and Dorothy were active members and officers during the construction years. They were equally involved in club activities, and served on many committees and held nearly every club office. They ran fund drives and construction projects to help get the observatory built. Bob Sickels gave the club a sense of direction, and provided the leadership needed to get the job done. Bob passed away in September of 1993.

20. Charles & Mary Wylie: Charlie and Mary are charter members from the first meeting November 3, 1965. Charlie was treasurer in 65,66,67,68,69, director-at-large 71, president, 72 and executive vice president 74. Mary Wylie was club secretary in 1971 and 72, and executive vice president in 1973. Mary, a retired teacher, enjoyed presenting programs during the early years. The Wylies were extended honorary life memberships in 1992.

 (The balance of the official program consisted of references to the history project and excerpts from other parts of this manuscript. A master and several copies of the 30th Anniversary Program can be found in file #32 in the observatory archives.)
 

(The Celebration)
 The festivities began on schedule at 2:00 p.m. It was 85 degrees, and fully overcast, but there was no rain. The turnout was less than expected, but the event was a big success. There were approximately fifty members and guests during the day, and twenty to thirty more in the evening. Because of poor atmospheric conditions, throughout the day and night, the telescopes were not brought into action. However, there was enough food for more than one hundred. (The mosquitos paid a visit around 8:00 p.m., but they did not stay long.) At one point, there were 5 presidents, 7 vice presidents and 6 treasurers in the clubroom, as follows:

Joe Amick--vice president 1971;
Ralph Boyd--ex. vice president 1975 and president 1976 and 1979;
Milton Chernin--secretary 1996;
Jim Dailing--treasurer 1995 and 1996;
Art DeLaurentis--treasurer 1973 and president 1974;
Bob Higgins--newsletter editor 1990 through most of 1993;
Lou Huey--treasurer 1987 through 1993 and part of 1994,  trustee 1996;
George Johnston--treas. 1975, sect. 1979, 1980, pres. 1981, 1982, exec. vice pres./prog. dir. 1983, 1984, vice pres./obs. 1988, director-at-large 1985, 1986, 1989, trustee 1987;
Herb Knapp--vice president/obs. dir. 1994 to present;
Barry Perlman--vice president 1972, treasurer 1974, vice president/obs. dir. 1978, 1980 and exec. vice pres./prog. dir. 1977, 1981, 1984, 1991.
Bill Weaver--president 1993 and newsletter editor 1994 to the present;
Charlie Wylie--treasurer 1965-1969, pres. 1971, ex. vice pres. 1974;
Mary Wylie--secretary 1971 and 1972 and ex. vice president 1973.

 (The association's then current president, Steve Wells, could not attend because his mother had recently returned home from the hospital.)

 All those mentioned, except Joe Amick and his wife Phyllis, were in group photos taken by Jim Dailing. After several pictures, Jim swapped places with Chuck Faranda to be in one of the photos. (Copies of the photos were on display at the observatory from August of 1996 until February of 1997. Photographs of the event are now kept in the SFAAA Photo Album, Book 2.)

 Between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. there was a presentation on the club's history by Gary Bloom, and special mention was made of the years in office of those present. George Johnston was recognized for having served 12 years as a club officer--in almost every position on the slate. Barry Perlman was recognized for having served on the most committees, and for having 21 years of total service, as of that date, 5-18-96, longer than anyone else. It was also mentioned that Ralph Boyd had been the first amateur anywhere to sight the breakup of the nucleus of Comet West in 1976.

 At the close of the program, a commemorative plaque, prepared by Jeff Lichtman, in remembrance of Bob Sickels, was presented to the association. (Later in the day, Art DeLaurentis made the comment that "there would be no observatory, if it were not for Bob Sickels.") Herb Knapp mounted the plaque on the clubroom wall (southwest corner) that very afternoon. On the plaque, is a 10x10 color photograph, with blue sky in the background, taken from the foot of the ladder looking up, while Bob was working on the 25-foot parabolic antenna of his radio telescope. Jeff took the picture of Bob and the "dish," in the field east of the observatory, sometime in 1978. (Herb moved the plaque to the north wall in July of 1997.)

 After the history program, Jim Stryder talked on the "Hubble experience." Earlier, Jim set up a display (in the observatory) of many of the latest pictures from the space telescope. Jim gave several encore presentations during the day and evening, with complimentary literature and pictures. (Jim's pictures and talks were real crowd pleasers.)

 The CCD camera and the monitor were at the center of attention for much of the day. The Sky software was demonstrated, and images previously processed by the C14 and CCD were brought up on the screen.

 During the afternoon, Chuck Faranda and Bob Higgins worked on a problem with the initial power up status of the new slewing electronics for Chuck's Losmandy G11 mount. If the power supply is turned on after the computer, the circuit providing power to the stepper motor does not initialize correctly, causing the unit to overheat. The solution for now is to pay attention to which unit is turned on first--the power supply, then the computer. (Before he started troubleshooting Chuck's electronics, Bob passed out copies of the CCD images of Comet Hyakutake that he made a month earlier. Also, Chuck recently replaced the 2-3/4-inch needle bearings in the Losmandy with 4-1/4-inch (the C14 mod), and he is pleased with the results. However, he uses the mount with an 8-inch, Schmidt-Cassegrain, and says the mount was just fine before.)

 Ralph Boyd spent a good part of the day with Bob Higgins and Herb Knapp catching up on the latest techniques for variable star observing and measurement. Ralph had to check in at home before evening, but came back about 8:30 with the records of his photometric work in the 1970s. The discussion resumed, and was still going on at 10 p.m.

 Just before evening, Russell Peecook and Herb Knapp discussed the plan to restore the Kornfeld Garden. Russ arrived late because his mother is recovering from a recent illness. She seems to be doing well, but Russ is staying close to home for awhile. He missed the Wylies and some of the others, in the early afternoon, but he did get to see Art.

 Later, Bob Higgins, and then David Lord, concluded the days events by projecting slides of astronomical objects on the outside wall of the observatory. The slide show went on until after 10:00 p.m., and David gave a brief talk on each of the constellations shown.

 Before saying goodnight and goodbye, around 9:00 p.m., Art DeLaurentis mentioned that he still had the 8-inch Newtonian he constructed during 1972 and 1973. He said it took a year to get the job done, and that Charlie and Mary Wylie helped him grind the mirror.

 We were fortunate to catch Art for this gathering. The DeLaurentises weren't to be in the area much longer. Mary Jane has already been transferred and moved to Texas by her employer, IBM, and Art is trying to sell his plant rental business and the family home, before joining Mary Jane in Austin. Art hoped to have all the details attended to by the fall.

 It was a reunion for those who were members in the 1970s. For awhile, before the Wylies left for home, George Johnston, Charlie, Mary and I discussed the incredible world class rock collection the Wylies have amassed during the last 20 years. Charlie and Mary have searched the country-over to bring together a collection that would surely rival anything found in the most prestigious museum.

 Other members and guests included Debbie Winter, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Winchell and their friends Carol and Jeff Young, Clayton Hall, Gunther Freund, Bradley and Jeffrey Higgins, Jon Faranda, Mary Huey and new member, Frank Spampinato and his family. (Some members and guests left before their names could be taken down. For the record, let us know if you're name is not mentioned.)

[End of report on the 30th Anniversary Celebration!]
 

  (Return to the "Guide")   ("30th Anniversary")
 

 In May of 1996, Sky and Telescope increased its subscription price to $27 for club members and $36 for regular subscriptions. At the June 6 meeting, it was suggested that the regular membership dues be increased to $42 for S and T and $40 for Astronomy. The options were considered and the club treasurer, Jim Dailing, was asked to contact both S and T and Astronomy for the best deal. Jim found that Astronomy is still $20 dollars to members of organized clubs; however, a spokes-person for Sky and Telescope asserted that the rising cost of high quality paper necessitated the increases of the previous two years.

 The July meeting was canceled because it fell on Independence Day, but the need for an adjustment to the membership fee was the first order of business on the August agenda. At the August 1st meeting, it was decided to increase the associate membership fee to $20, with $40 and $47 being the total, with a year's subscription to Astronomy or Sky and Telescope magazine, respectively. The fee for patrons was left unchanged at $55, and includes a subscription to Sky and Telescope.

 In late August, Bob Higgins repaired the CCD camera and installed a new motherboard and 486 microprocessor, provided by Chuck Faranda. This upgrade increased the speed and reliability of the system an order of magnitude. In the same time frame, Dennis Clift, a recently joined member, donated a new monitor for the CCD, and mounted it in the observatory.

 (August was a month for upgrades): Vic McKeighan donated a new chip to be used in his "SkyCommander Digital Setting circles." The new chip allows the system, as installed on the C14, to be used with an AC adapter, thus eliminating the need to change batteries. (Vic's latest contribution to the club and the observatory comes with a cable that will allow "Sky for Windows" and "Guide," CD ROMs provided by Chuck and Herb to augment the system by interfacing with the "SkyCommander."

 At the September meeting, a plan was submitted to control and protect the observatory's equipment from damage by forgetful operators. (Only those members previously checked out and qualified should have independent access to the observatory and its equipment.) On three occasions, during previous weeks, someone left for home with one or the other of the telescope drives turned on. Putting a timer that automatically shuts off power to the pier, after a preset period, was discussed as a possible safe guard. (During the month, Herb Knapp worked with the Park officials to arrange a working relationship between the club and Markham Park's publicist. Future club activities would have the benefit of being publicized along with the Parkas other activities. There should no longer be a "scramble" to publicize an SFAAA event.)

.The upcoming lunar eclipse (Thursday, September 26) was also discussed, and it was decided to hold an open house at the observatory, with a contingent of club members to support a presentation by Arnold Pearlstein, at Fern Park. At the same meeting, John Larbig donated a 4" telescope and eyepiece to the club. Subsequently, a motion was made and passed to make John a member for 1996. Another new member, one of only a few months, Gunther Freund, donated a VCR to the club. (At months end, Steve Wells, Ron D'Oria, Eddie Huffman and David Lord were among the club members with Arnold for the eclipse at Fern park. A crowd of more than 300 showed up at the observatory to see this, the last full lunar eclipse of the century.)

  (more lunar eclipse)

 At the October 3 club meeting, a motion was made to change the Constitution and Bylaws to redefine regular membership. In Article IV, section 1, the phrase, "Dues shall include the group subscription cost of the magazine Sky and Telescope" was to be deleted, and a line was to be added to define patron membership as one to include an increase in the dues and a subscription to Sky and Telescope magazine.

 All dues paying members would still be able to get either S and T or Astronomy magazine, through the treasurer, at the discounted club rate, but there would no longer be separate categories for associate memberships (without) and regular memberships (with) the magazine. All memberships will be either "regular" or "patron." (During October, the possibility of creating a computer file of the Constitution and Bylaws to include these changes was discussed, but it was decided not to take action to change the Constitution at that time.)

(The Final Assessment of the Doppler Tower: November 1996)
 Late in October, the outcome of the FAA's search for a Doppler radar site was announced. The project's first-choice-location, discussed during the March 13, 1996, hearing survived the process. The tower is to be constructed on Florida Department of Transportation property, along the Sawgrass Expressway, just outside of the northeast corner of Markham Park, and approximately one mile from the observatory. The Environmental Assessment Report (EAR 22: 295 pages, revised October 1996) and a copy of the FAA's proposed action memorandum, dated Oct. 31, 1996, were sent out on November 15, 1996, with copies going to requesting SFAAA members. The final assessment covered the effects of the "DOT site" and the "Sunrise site," farther to the east. The attached FAA memorandum named the DOT site as the location, with roadway access through the park, and with utilities installed underground. Further, the report states that a 100 kw propane backup generator will be installed on the site, but there was no further information on the start and completion dates.

 The final data showed that, in the case of the Sunrise site, the peak power density of the Doppler equipment, to be installed in the tower, would be similar to the threshold of the CCD imager at Fox Observatory. The report stated that if there were any effect on the observatory's equipment, the FAA would provide RF shielding to mitigate, to insignificant levels, the electromagnetic interference (page 61, EAR 22). Further, the report stated only a single red light would be affixed atop the tower. The height of the tower will be 131.5 feet, and their is to be no other lighting on the structure itself. However, ground level lighting will be in place. No mention was made of whether the ground level lights would be pointed skyward, or whether the wisdom is, "more is better." (The Sunrise site is farther from the observatory than the DOT site--1.43 standard miles/7600 feet east. According to the maps and photographs with the EA report (EAR), we should not be able to see the tower, at the DOT site, from the observatory.)

 In the case of the DOT site, another section in the report states that the potential exists for RF interference affecting the CCD, and if needed, the FAA will provide the necessary shielding materials (page 63, EAR 22). With regard to the radio controlled aircraft clubs, the FAA's test found no ill effects. However, some transmission towers in the area will be affected! Hopefully, the FAA is, as a matter of policy, staying on the safe side and covering all possibilities with regard to the observatory's equipment. (The details on both sites are included here because the information on the two was somewhat commingled.)

 Keeping up with the progress of the project, with consideration for the possibility of having to request the promised materials seems a reasonable thing to do! The FAA memorandum, included with the report, mentions the equipment at Fox Observatory on page 4 under "Mitigation Measures." (The memorandum states that shielding materials will be provided by the FAA if deemed necessary by said organization!)

To obtain copies of the final environmental report (EAR 22, 295 pages) or the PEIS, from 1991, address inquiries to:  SRI Project 7346; Vitro Corp. Contract # VC-SC-85968.:

    Jerome Schwartz, Environmental Specialist
    Wind Shear and Weather Products Team,  AND-420
    Federal Aviation Administration
    800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
    Washington, D. C. 20591

(This also appears to be the address for the materials promised in the event of an EMI problem with the CCD imager. The Doppler tower was operational early in 1998 and no problems have been encountered.)

[End of FAA results]
 

   (Return to the "Guide")   ("FAA Tower Hearing")
 

On The Subject of the Brandon Refractor
 Whether applied to deep sky objects or planets, the performance of the Fox Observatory's 6-inch refractor often exceeds other instruments of similar and larger size. An example: On Saturday night, 11-9-96, a group of us were at the park, when club member, Nick Lawrus, showed up with a few of his favorite oculars. Of particular note was a 40-mm König with a 60 degree apparent field of view and 95% light transmission. In the 6-inch refractor, this eyepiece, and its 2-inch format, yields 57X and 1.1 degrees of sky. This combination of telescope and eyepiece made it possible to, with averted vision, just barely make out M 110/NGC 205, magnitude 10.8, when it was near the meridian.

 NGC 205 was mentioned in Part I as the third member of the Andromeda trio of galaxies, and as a test for a 4-inch refractor, near the downtown area, in 1956 and 1957. While this faint, structureless, 10' by 5' oval could be seen in the 6-inch refractor, neither the 13-inch Dobson nor the C14 could reveal it. The turbulence and skyglow, though not significant, were too great an affront to the larger instruments. Of course, under better seeing conditions, the Dobson and the C14 will reveal much fainter objects than the refractor. (Chester Brandon's one-of-a-kind telescope has earned a reputation as being both a semi-apochromat and a flat-field refractor. The Brandon Refractor, with its inherent advantage in imagery, contrast and definition, is one of the most remarkable instruments, of its size and kind, currently in operation.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (NGC 205: 1996)
 

Revisiting the Celestron 14
 On Saturday, December 14, 1996, Herb Knapp, Ed Ramos, Dennis Clift, myself and several others were at the observatory. Late in the night, we used Herb's 32-mm König to view the Orion nebula through the 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. It was a better than average night, and good things were about to happen...

 After a brief but successful effort to align the secondary mirror of the C14, several eyepieces were brought out to analyze the improvement in performance. The renewed sharpness, coupled with the König eyepiece and the 5th magnitude seeing raised the level of anticipation to a "10."

 It was midnight, and the nebula was on the meridian. It was a dazzling thing to see! Using the König, we could make out at least 6 or 7 minuscule points of light nestled in the gas clouds surrounding the 6 readily visible stars of the trapezium. The "nestlings" were blinking on an off like tiny celestial beacons. I had only seen this phenomenon once before, while looking through an exceptional 17-inch Dobson, at the Winter Star Party in 1995 (WSP-95).

 These pinpoint, beacon-like stars (brown dwarfs) are fainter than magnitude 13.5, and they cannot be easily seen using a 12-1/2-inch or smaller scope, even at an exceptionally dark site, such as WSP! (An optical test: For those with access to a 20 to 24-inch Newtonian, try to find the eight known stars within the trapezium itself. It may require the light grasp of a 25-inch mirror at a remote location to see the eighth star.)

 Everyone was jubilant over the sharpened image, and the discovery of "Orion's nestlings." Some of us had not seen them before. Like the sighting of NGC 205, a month earlier, this was a milestone for the observatory--we were reclaiming the "celestial canopy." Sightings like this are commonplace at darker sites, but with the continuing decline in the seeing conditions near the city and at the park, this was an exciting and hope-inspiring experience. (Dennis Clift said he could see 14 of the diminuitive brown dwarfs.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Orion Nebula--the "nestlingsss")

 Operational access to the Brandon Refractor and the Schmidt-Cassegrain requires a working knowledge of the equipment, and a cautious regard for the possibility of doing harm. For example: Before using the CCD imager, the water, for cooling, must be hooked up and turned on! When closing up the observatory, the position of the telescopes should be set to allow them to clear the roof, the power to all instruments should be turned off, and the refractor and the Schmidt-Cassegrain should be inspected for moisture on the exposed optical surfaces. No lens should be covered with an airtight cap when it is wet or recovering from the cool night air! (As regards the problem with leaving the power to the telescope drives turned on and going home, in December, Dennis Clift installed a two-hour timer on the pier for the Brandon refractor.)

 If inspection reveals condensation on the exposed surface of a lens, it may be best to briefly use the hair dryer, in the observatory desk, set on low, and held at a distance of about two feet, to dry it off. In a pinch, hanging a fluffy towel over the open end of the tube will draw off moisture and allow the lens to "breathe." Such measures help prevent the formation of fungus on and between optical surfaces. (Any club member who wishes to learn to operate Chester Brandon's telescope or the C14 is encouraged to schedule a training and certification session with the observatory director. A list of those certified will be maintained by the observatory director, and the names will be on record at the Park Ranger's station, just south of the observatory. Only those whose names appear on the list may checkout the keys!)
 

One Last Trip to the WD Ranch Before the New Year (1996)
 Just after Christmas, a small group of us met at the WD Ranch. Only a few brought telescopes, and they ranged in size from John Larbig's 80-mm refractor to Tom Peters' 16-inch Ritchey-Chretien. Tom was trying out his new "SkyCommander, Digital Setting Circles," made by Vic McKeighan. As usual there were more than a few mosquitoes, but the temperature was mild, and sixth magnitude stars were clearly visible.

 Using Bob and Robin Eck's fine 8-inch f/7 Newtonian, detail in M 81 and M 82 could be easily seen. Turning the scope on Perseus, Bob pointed out a small cluster of stars within one of the members of the double cluster. At about 10:00 p.m., Bob turned his 8-inch Newtonian on Saturn before it set. (During the evening, I found M 1 and M 33 for the first time in many years. These objects, so difficult near town, were easily visible, using 7x50 binoculars.)

 Everything went well, and for most of the evening, Tom searched out faint "globulars" with the digital setting circles. The party began to break up just before 1:30 a.m. Mars was rising in the east, and as the fog closed in, most of the group began to pack and head for home. The last views of the night were of Mars rising over the pine trees through John's and Tom's scopes--not much could be seen.

  (Return to "Observing notes")   (Dark Site)   (M 1, M 33, M 81 and M 82--1996)
 

Hale-Bopp (C1995 O1): The Super Comet (1997)
 At the March 6, 1997 club meeting, a member, who chose to remain anonymous, donated $500 to fund a project to buy and install a "smart" drive corrector on the C14. As designed, the periodic error correction (PEC) of the C14 makes long exposure photography and long exposure CCD imaging virtually impossible. The unit was ordered the next day, and in place before May 1. (Because of coincidence with the Winter Star Party, the February meeting was canceled, and the March meeting became the annual meeting. There were 30 members in attendance, the slate of officers was adopted, and Herb Knapp reported that 2100 visitors signed in during 1996. Because it is difficult to get everyone to sign the visitor log, the actual count is usually much greater than what is recorded. The total visitorship for the year was one of the largest ever--estimated at between four and five thousand.)

 Rising more than an hour before the Sun, during February, Comet Hale-Bopp easily dominated the morning sky. During most of the month, it was 15 to 20 degrees north of due east, in Cygnus, and reached magnitude -.7 by the 26th. In March, Hale-Bopp moved farther north, out of Cygnus, and over into the evening sky, passing between Pegasus and Lacerta, then on to Andromeda. By months end, it reached magnitude -1.8, and began to move from Andromeda to Perseus. (At 25 miles across, the size and splendor of Hale-Bopp is unequalled in the last 400 years. Most comets (e.g., Halley's or Hyakutake) are only 5 or 6 miles across.)

 Another unique feature of this comet was that for a short time, when it was approaching perihelion (the point in its nearest to the Sun), it could be seen in both morning and evening twilight. As Earth progresses in its orbit, some comets pass between it and the Sun. If the geometry and relative distance are right, the parallax effect may provide an opportunity to see a very few comets twice each day. (In the early evening, we are almost 8,000 miles off to the side from our pre-dawn viewing position/angle. Given these circumstances, and if a comet follows the right path, the shift in apparent position may be sufficient to create this rare spectacle.)

   (Return to the "Guide")   or   (Return to "Observing notes")   ("Hale-Bopp")

.Coincident with the best time to see the comet, in mid month, on March 17, 1997, Mars was at opposition. Because of the eccentricity of its orbit, Mars was closest to Earth three days after opposition, on the 20th, and the coincidences didn't end there! The 20th was also the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the observatory, on the 22nd, Hale-Bopp was its closest to Earth, and on the 23rd, there was a partial (92%) eclipse of the Moon at 10 p.m. The public was invited to a special showing--"see the comet, and stay for the eclipse," with lectures and slide shows in between. (During March, there were more than 2,000 visitors to the Park, and on the 23rd, in spite of heavily overcast skies, a crowd of more than two hundred turned out for the big event. The cloud cover was too dense to see through, but the scheduled program went on as planned. Arnold Pearlstein spoke on comets and other phenomena, Jim Stryder presented another chapter of the "Hubble adventure," and David Lord narrated a constellation show, with a repeat performance for "late comers.")

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (lunar eclipse--1997)

 During the week of opposition, it was difficult to make out fine markings on the Martian surface; however, the week following (esp. 3-28) brought a remarkable display of detail. A dark but very narrow ring could be seen encircling the North polar cap (i.e., Lowell's band), and markings less distinct than Solis Lacus and Juventae Fons could be made out at 250x, in a 6-inch telescope, without filtering. (At opposition, Mars was 14.2 arc seconds across, at magnitude -1.3. At its close opposition, in 2003, it will be 25 arc seconds, at magnitude -2.8. When Mars is its closest, a 70x telescope will reveal a disc the size of the Full Moon, as seen with the naked eye.)

  (more Mars)

 During June, the refractor objective was cleaned, and Tom Peters lubricated and adjusted the sticking worm gear assembly of the Zeiss mount. A few weeks later, with the new drive corrector, for the C14, in place and working, Herb Knapp put on the finishing touch by adjusting the polar axis to within a hair of perfection. Long period photography and CCD imaging was within reach.

 On June 30th, the club received a package from Dorothy Sickels. A letter, enclosed, dated 6-24-97, donated a copy of A Brief History of Time... (by Stephen Hawking), and a very special copy of Introduction to Observing and Photographing the Solar System (by Dobbins Parker and Capen--Willmann-Bell 1988), with inside-cover inscriptions by members of SCAS, entered on the event of Bob Sickels' 68th Birthday in January of 1989 (including Tippy and Patty D'Auria, Barb Yeager, Don Parker, Bob Grant, Duke Dayton, Joan Moritz, Ed Rock, Mike Mooney, Bob Ward and Richard Katt). The latter book was a birthday present from Dorothy to Bob.

 During the late spring and early summer, Chuck Faranda and Herb Knapp reroofed the movable and fixed parts of the roof. Tom Peters supplied the materials, and when the job was done, Herb speculated it would be good for another 15 years. The project was a success, but one of the main beams in the movable section was water damaged and needed replacement. By that time, the summer was sweltering, and it was decided, the last part of the job could wait for a cooler opportunity. Moving inside to the air conditioning, Herb Knapp cleaned out and remodeled the storeroom.

 At the August 7 meeting, Herb Knapp announced that a telephone would be installed in the observatory very soon (for local calls only), and the installation charges and the first nine months of service would be accounted for in advance. Herb also mentioned that Home Depot was making a sizeable contribution in materials with which to refurbish the Kornfeld Garden and do other work.

 For many years, Fox Observatory operated without a telephone to the outside world. Through the diligent efforts of Herb Knapp, and with donations from members and visitors, a hard-wired phone, with an answering machine, was installed on August 13, 1997. The first recorded message, encouraging one and all to visit the observatory or leave a message to request more information, was provided by Nick Lawrus. Also during the period, Nick set up the library, and took pictures of Jupiter and the Moon through the recently upgraded and polar aligned C14. The finished 8x11 prints were up on the clubroom wall for the July and August meetings. In mid August, Ralph Boyd rejoined the club, after a twelve year hiatus. He also donated back issues of Sky and Telescope for the years 1968 through 1986.)

 After the September 4th club meeting, Herb Knapp dismounted the roof-drive reduction assembly, and Tom Peters took it away to replace a damaged shaft. There had not been a problem with the drive system in many years, but it was apparent that trouble was around the corner. And with Hurricane Eric brewing south of Cuba, it seemed an ideal time to head off the inevitable. (One of the topics at the September meeting was the planning of an Astronomy Day Celebration for November 15. Also, Bill Weaver and Herb Knapp volunteered to provide and install a new air conditioner in the store room. The installation was completed over the following weekend.) (After the September meeting, there was a rumor going around to the effect that the unusually poor seeing might have been related to the recent purchase of new telescopes by several club members.)

 On Tuesday, September 9, Jeff Lichtman, on vacation from his home in Atlanta, visited Fox Observatory. Jeff had completed his new book, Amateur Radio Astronomy Systems, Procedures, and Projects, and stopped by the observatory to present a copy to the club. John Martin, a longtime friend of Jeff's, and a fellow observatory builder from the 1970s, missed seeing him by just a few days. John completed his contract of almost five years at Motorola on August 29, and headed home to Little Meadow, Pennsylvania on the 8th of September. Jon Faranda, Herb Knapp, Buddy Shelton, Jay Trzeciak and this writer were at the observatory to greet Jeff. What followed was a four-hour stroll down memory lane, during which, Jeff recounted several amusing stories about the construction years, and put names on many of the previously unidentified faces in the two archival scrapbooks dedicated to that era.

 During the evening, we learned that Jeff has become caretaker of Bob Sickels' book, Amateur Radio Astronomy Notebook, Volume 2. Bob produced the latest version in 1992, and Jeff has taken on responsibility for updating and keeping it in print. Jeff said he planned to donate a copy and a radio telescope to the club and the observatory, in the near future. Before the night was over, Jeff renewed his membership, and was invited to speak at the upcoming Astronomy Day Celebration.

 (Trivia: (1) Jeff was the first person to call the observatory, just 20 minutes after installation of the phone was complete on August 18th. (2) The 42-inch pier, at the south end of the east patio, was originally intended to support Jeff's 4-1/8-inch f/15A. Jaegers refractor, circa 1977. (3) The time capsule, buried in the Kornfeld Garden, under the symbol for the Earth, contains an audio cassette recorded by Jeff, with comments by himself, Barry Perlman, Joe Fox, and Bob and Dorothy Sickels. The time capsule is due to be opened on March 21, 2175.)

 During October and early November, Herb and John Glowa restored the sundial symbols. The new concept (chatahootchee river rock and trinity-white patching cement) is both attractive and maintainable. In the late days of the month, past newsletter editor, Nick Lawrus, turned in ten past issues of the Meridian, eight of which were not previously accounted for in the archives. The years covered were 1988 and 1989. An archival report, mentioning Nick's contribution and other additions for the year, was posted on the bulletin board on November 6th.

.A rare moment of good seeing came on November 11, 1997, the night before the occultation of Saturn by the Moon. With the Moon nine days old, the edges of eight or nine craterlets could be seen on the floor of Plato, using a six-inch telescope, at 155x. Even with a thin layer of cirrus clouds forming after 9:00 p.m., the customary glow that usually appears around Jupiter and Saturn, most noticeable at high power, did not show up. (In light polluted areas, turbulence shows itself as an illuminated area around bright objects. In relatively dark skies, the "glow" is not as apparent, but faint objects that should be visible cannot be seen through the swarm of rapidly moving particles. Light pollution probably gets more than its share of the blame, when even a dark sky would not reveal the desired result.) On this particular occasion, while viewing from the city, the sky appeared transparent and unusually dark, even at 70x per inch of aperture.

 (Over the years, I have noticed that during the fall, lunar and planetary markings and double stars are easier to see and resolve. Possible explanations for the good seeing and fine detail follow: (1) Part of the reason is the occurrence of the fall "stress peak," accompanying the geocentric "mid point," which occurs on Nov 6/7. The three or four week period encompassing this event seems to foster the best air cell stability of the year in the Northern Hemisphere ("downunder," the corresponding day is May 6) (2) When observing the Moon, there is another event contributing to the improved visibility this time of year. When the moon, in its path around the Earth, moves away ("escapes") from the Sun, the Sun's gravitational pull slows the Moon's orbital speed, and pulls it closer to the Earth. Thus, the total force pulling the Moon toward the Earth, is greatest, during the illuminated phase when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon. In general, this effect is most significant between first quarter, about day 8 or 10 into the cycle, up to a few days before the last quarter. Further, this effect is greatest when the Earth and Moon are closest to the Sun's huge mass, in the late fall. So, given all this, if the Moon is just past first-quarter, day 8 through 10 (the time for the ideal shadow angle on Plato's craterlets), sometime in the comparatively stable period, from early October to mid November, when the Sun has its greatest effect on the Moon's attempts at "escape," the Earth and Sun will be closest together, and there will thus be a greater potential for seeing fine detail than for the same days of the lunar cycle at any other time of the year. In November, the moon will typically be about 221,000 miles from Earth when it is at full phase! Of course, factors like local weather and sunspot activity can negate any potential for good seeing!)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Plato)

  (more Jupiter)

  (Return to "Optical testing...")

 On November 14, Jeff Lichtman arrived in Fort Lauderdale to attend Astronomy Day, the 15th. He was hand carrying a folder of pictures, intended for the archives (some were from the construction years). The day before, on the 13th, he forwarded a 1.4 GHz., hydrogen line receiver, specially made for the observatory. In the same shipping carton, was a copy of Bob Sickels" book. (Learning of Jeff's plans in advance, Nick Lawrus donated a computer, and Bruce Burke found a donation of a 10-foot cable-TV dish (i.e., Ron Adams), which he picked up and transported to the observatory on October 25th. The week of November 10, the slab for the pier and dish was poured and pictures taken. (The building materials and the willpower were provided by Nick Lawrus, Buddy Shelton and Ed Ramos.) The work to complete the installation continued through the end of the year.)

 For Astronomy Day, November 15th, approximately 400 to 500 were in attendance, with a tally of more than 300 signatures, and most of the visitors arriving after dark. Among the guests, were members of the original observatory crew, George Johnston and Joe Leo. There were special programs and slide shows, with club members setting up telescopes for public viewing. (The program was planned and coordinated by Herb Knapp, with speakers: Jeff Lichtman--radio astronomy, Lon Hill--meteorites, Arnold Pearlstein--a slide show and comet photos, Fred Caldwell--microphotography and Jim Stryder--Mars missions.)

 Early in the afternoon, Barry Perlman presented the club with 500 photographs taken by David Silverstein, and given to Barry by family friend, Jenny Tartaglia. The subjects vary widely from aerial shots of cloud formations, beautiful sunsets, David's equipment, nights at the observatory, a fireworks display, a rare picture of the clubroom, taken during phase-2 construction in 1989, a fire truck and crew extinguishing a small blaze in the woods. There are also shots of the Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, star groups and nebulae. Others were taken at the Finnigan-Sickels Memorial in December of 1993. There is a series of the space shuttle--Discovery and of the 1992 lunar eclipse, as seen from Fern Park. Both of the latter, mentioned earlier in this account, were published in Astronomy magazine. Of the 500 photos, 100 have been selected for display at the observatory, the balance to be stored in the archives. (Barry, now in his 22nd year of membership, also presented the association with a new, still-sealed-in-the-box, Quorum, Wefax Explorer, 3 receiver, UHF, weather satellite system, valued at $1,500.)

 Astronomy Day was a great success, and on this and other occasions, dedicated members and friends of the club, those already mentioned, and of special note, Dr. Lon Clay Hill, Professor of Astronomy at BCC; Arnold Pearlstein of The Sun Sentinel's "The Stars this Week" and director of the Space Place Planetarium for Miami-Dade County Schools; Jim Stryder, of US Aviator, and David Lord of SFAAA put on many interesting and informative presentations.

 With the shift in the jet stream (i.e., El Niño) and the eruption of the volcano on Montseratt, the seeing during most of the year was poor. However, repairs and upgrades on the observatory and its equipment made 1997 one of the observatory's best years, and brightened the outlook for 1998 and beyond. The telephone for the clubroom, the new air conditioner for the store room, progress with roof repairs, the new drive corrector for the C14, the library, the radio telescope, repair of the gear for the roof-drive, adjustment and lubrication of the gear box on the Zeiss mount, the new weather satellite receiver, and the donation of materials and the work to recreate the symbols in the zodiacal garden brightened the outlook for the future. (This was all made possible through the generosity of the membership and local merchants, in particular, a large donation, for the C14 drive corrector, from a member who chooses to remain anonymous, the local Home Depot, Barry Perlman and Jeff Lichtman, both members of the original observatory crew--1976-77. These and other projects were completed through the considerable efforts of Herb Knapp, Ed Ramos, Tom Peters, Bob Higgins, Chuck Faranda, Bill Weaver, Nick Lawrus, Buddy Shelton, Tom Kneisel and John Glowa.)

 Attendance for the year was very good. Important events were publicized, and the public was always welcome. In addition to the regular gatherings, special telescope viewings for school and scouting groups were scheduled and carried out with the help of volunteer members, such as Ed Ramos, Robert Young and Norman Mandel. Of course, Herb Knapp was always there to operate the observatory and answer questions. (There were an estimated six to seven thousand visitors at the observatory during 1997, and at year's end, the SFAAA had 85 members, 45 of which were new initiates. Like everything else about 1997, these were record numbers. To close out the year, for the planetary alignment, on December 2nd, there were more than 500 in attendance, including a crew from CNN. Channel 7 was there the night before.)
 

El Niño: An Ill Wind (1998)
 The January meeting was delayed until the second Thursday, 1-8-98, because New Year's Day fell on the first Thursday: If all goes well, we have a second ten-foot dish lined up to add to the array for the radio telescope. Lee Sessoms donated $250 to the treasury for the betterment of the equipment and the facilities. Norm Mandel donated four folding chairs for club meetings and public nights. We now have 5 working computers, with two more coming. The additional work stations will be set up like a computer lab for visitors to use on Saturday nights.

 It rained all day, and there was a thunderstorm during the meeting, but 22 or 23 members were in attendance, and a slate of officers was nominated. President: Steve Wells or Chuck Faranda; Secretary: Bill Weaver, Executive VP/Program Director: Rolando Branly; Observatory Director: Herb Knapp; Treasurer: Jim Dailing or Buddy Shelton. A plan was laid out to improve the C14 for photography and CCD imaging. To improve accuracy and image quality an off-axis guider is needed. Parts for the project were to be acquired at the Winter Star Party, or bought from vendors up to $600. (In the meantime, work began to make photo/CCD albums of the work of members interested in same.)

 On February 5, with 22 members present, the annual meeting was held, and the slate of officers was presented by the nominating committee (i.e., Bill Weaver, Herb Knapp, Steve Wells). Additional nominations and discussion from the floor filled the remaining offices as follows:

President: Chuck Faranda
Vice President/Program Director: David Lord
Vice President/Observatory Director:  Herb Knapp
Treasurer:  Buddy Shelton (Jim Dailing assisting)
Secretary.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Newsletter Editor:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg.: Jim Dailing, Ed Ramos
Trste.:  Steve Wells-98, Jim Dailing-99, Ed Ramos-2000, Lou Huey--98 (inventory)

 Before the elections, the outgoing treasurer, Jim Dailing, reported that 2 new members and 5 former members paid dues in January, bringing the membership to 87. The treasurer also reported the balance in the treasury, as of 1-31-98, was $2,848.87. The treasurer's efforts to find suitable insurance reveals that property loss coverage is expensive ($500). The subject was discussed, and the additional policy will not be bought at this time.

 Other subjects at the Annual Meeting included, the off-axis guider project and the photo albums. Arno van Werven completed an album of his astrophotos and Gary Bloom put together an album of David Silverstein's photos and one depicting the club's history (i.e., SFAAA Photo Album). Many photos are coming in with 180 pictures mounted in the SFAAA Album, as of 2-9-98. As regards the off-axis guider, none of the parts needed to help defray costs and get the project off the ground were found at the Winter Star Party! Efforts to find the needed parts continue. (Shortly after the annual meeting, a second club photo album was added, yielding a set to be identified as SFAAA Photo Album Book 1 and Book 2.)

 Near the close of the meeting, the photo albums were brought out, and ideas put forward as to a permanent display. Outgoing president, Steve Wells, volunteered to make a special angled shelf, on the north wall of the clubroom, that would allow the albums to be opened up and viewed in place. Steve constructed and installed the shelf the following week. It is sturdy and attractive, with a carpeted surface--just what was needed. (On February 26, members gathered at the observatory with their telescopes to see the partial solar eclipse. Photos taken by Nick Lawrus have been added to Photo Album, Book 2.)

 By the March 5th meeting, there were four photo albums, along with books and other information, produced by club members on display. The shelf and albums are on the north wall, and the material initially put on display was as follows: SFAAA Photo Album, Book 1 (1971 through 1992) and  Book 2 (1993 through 1999). Subjects cover the history of the association, dedications, memorials, star parties, mall shows, astrophotography, repair and installation projects, public nights, reunions and astronomy days. Other albums include photos by David Silverstein, Nick Lawrus, Chuck Faranda, John Larbig and Arno van Werven.

 There are also historical documents and other information on special subjects, such as telescope optics and radio astronomy. The documents on display, in addition to these books, include: "Welcome to Fox Observatory" (1 page, 1999); SFAAA Orientation Package  (25 pages, 2000); "The Story of the Brandon Refractor" (2 pages, 1998); "The Perfect telescope" (25 pages, 1999); Amateur Radio Astronomy Systems, Procedures, and Projects, by Jeff Lichtman--1997; and Amateur Radio Astronomy Notebook, Volume 2, by Bob Sickels--1992. (Anyone with photos, Xeroxes, newspaper articles, transcriptions or books that apply to the history and activities of the SFAAA and its members is encouraged to add copies or originals to the library.)

 During February and March, Tom Kneisel, Buddy Shelton, Norm Mandel, Ed Ramos and others continued the effort to get the radio telescope working. An unidentified noise problem slowed progress until late February, but there was no lack of enthusiasm, and the problem was resolved by reconnecting a lose wire. Ed Ramos also announced the opening of a new WEB site: http://sfaaa.org. This site is larger than the original and contains many past newsletter articles, with a special interest in anything having to do with quality outdoor lighting. (At the March meeting, in order to fill out the seven member board, for voting purposes, a motion and a vote of those present modified the February election to include Jim Dailing and Ed Ramos (previously elected as property trustees--non voting offices) as alternate directors.)

 By the end of March, the Quorum-Wefax weather satellite receiver was installed and operating, and work continued to perfect the radio telescope. The electronics for the radio telescope were working, but there was a mechanical problem with the antenna. The pickup, or horn, as it is called, was loose and could not hold an exact position. This made aiming and holding a focus on a specific point in the sky difficult. Regarding the weather satellite receiver as of the first week of April, it was programmed for all of the currently active weather satellites. Bruce Burke and Bob Young had everything working the first week of April. (At the April meeting we learned the bad beam in the roof had begun to settle and needed serious attention, The goal was to get it fixed sometime during April, hopefully before a planned Astronomy Day event to be held at the observatory on May 2nd.)

 During the work to replace the bad beam, Herb uncovered gaunt evidence that the roof would have to be almost entirely rebuilt. Soon after the beam repair, the movable part began leaking again--this time, the framework for the shakes failed in the southeast corner. It would be a major job, and an effort will be made to get help from the County, but the club may have to look for a big contributor in the public domain to see it through.

 For National Astronomy Day, more than 100 visitors attended David and Noah's constellation show and Jim Stryder's video of the recent solar tornado. Jim also had "stills" of "Path Finder" and the tornado, with a simulated Martian landscape, and a model of "Explorer" was set up near the edge of the lake.

 On May 5th, Wayne Davidson passed away. Wayne was in his 80s and died of complications after heart surgery. He was cremated on May 5, 1998, and a memorial service was held at the "WD Ranch" Saturday morning, 5-9-98, between 10 and 2 p.m. Members of the club, and local and state officials were present (a total of 200), and a fly-over was made to scatter the ashes. Wayne is survived by two daughters, Diane and Bunny, one son, Wayne, 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

 Wayne moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1947, and along with his connection with the SFAAA, supported more than 75 youth organizations. He was involved with scouting groups, air patrol, Jr. Fliers, Civil Air Patrol, hunting and fishing clubs, and was president of the Broward Center for the Blind. In his working career, Wayne was an interior decorator, specializing in luxury yachts, and at one point, redesigned a room in the White House. He hunted and fished from Australia to Zimbabwe, and was a delegate to the Everglades Coordinating Council for the Broward County Airboat, Halftrack and Conservation Club. The lease on the WD ranch that he held and maintained for more than 30 years, covered over 30,000 acres of primitive grasslands and swamp.

 One of our members had a close encounter of the extragalactic kind in May. On Saturday, the 9th, supernova 1998bu (magnitude 13.5) was discovered by Marco Villi in Italy. Interestingly, Chuck Faranda, SFAAA club president, had taken images of the same region on May 2. The star showed up at magnitude 16.5, and Chuck reported it to Brian Skiff at Lowell Observatory. Brian passed the info and the images on to the IAUC. (Chuck used a 10-inch Meade LX200 to record the event.)

 Also during May, Dade Roofing Supply (Tom Peters) donated a personal computer to the observatory, bringing the total to 9, with 6 on line. Early in the month, President Chuck Faranda began a campaign to enlist the County to help with the major repair of the roof and other projects. At first, there was resistance and criticism of the club's efforts to maintain the observatory. There was a discussion over the building not being up to code, and the Parks Department possibly  shutting the operation down rather than renewing the lease. However, the County Commission and the Parks Department decided the project was worthwhile, and opted to help restore the roof and the outside area. (The frequent change of park directors, 5 in the last 6 years, might be a factor in a communications breakdown between the club and the County. Whatever the problem is, the club needs to stay in closer touch with the Markham Park administration office.)

 At the June 4 meeting, it was decided, the club would join the IDSA--International Dark Sky Assoc. Also in June, with the observatory approaching the final year of its lease, it was decided to remind members, supporters and civic leaders of the SFAAA's long standing contribution to the local community. The intent was to show what the SFAAA has done, and what the plan for the future is.

 The plan, as it was proposed, called for the clearing of the thicket behind the observatory, and the landscaping of the surrounding area. Clearing away the underbrush helped reduce the mosquito population, and gave the site a more finished look. The week of July 13, the County and Markham Park replaced the Mansard roof with grey asphalt shingles. They also installed new double doors through which to greet the public, and before the end of July, the brush west of the observatory was cleared away. (With the membership and the County working to make the facility more presentable, and closer to code, the observatory was easier to operate and maintain.)

 In July, the radio telescope was sent to Jeff Lichtman, in Atlanta, for repair. The problem was fixed, and the unit was returned in late July, but a loose wire in the A/D converter kept the system from being operational until the third week of October.

 Louis W. Huey, member, officer and benefactor of the SFAAA passed away at 9 a.m. Friday 7-31-98, at the age of 69. Lou had waged a battle against lung cancer since being diagnosed at the beginning of 1997. Lou joined the SFAAA the 8th day of March 1986, and became the club treasurer the following year. From that time forward, Lou was active in the club's decision making process. He held the office of treasurer for seven years, up until 1994, then became trustee and guardian of the club's inventory.

 The week of his passing, Lou made arrangements to donate a 16-inch Meade LX200, observatory class, Schmidt-Cassegrain to the club. Initial discussions with president Chuck Faranda, observatory director Herb Knapp and newsletter editor Bill Weaver, regarding Lou's intentions and expectations as to how everything would be done, began the weekend of July 25. (This bequest comes with the stipulation that the instrument be housed in an observatory with a dome.)

 Throughout his membership, Lou promoted the improvement and enhancement of the Fox Observatory. His contributions and participation mark him as one of the club's leading benefactors in its 35 year, 792 member history. Lou is survived by his wife, Mary, 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. To the members of the SFAAA, Lou was a sincere and good friend, and he will be missed! (Approximately 300, including officers and members of the SFAAA, attended the memorial service at Boyd's Funeral home, in Pembroke Pines, at 4 p.m., Sunday August 2nd. The family requested that money for flowers be donated to the SFAAA for construction of the new observatory.)

 At the August 6th club meeting, with 35 members present, President Chuck Faranda spoke on Lou's passing and on the bequest of an LX200-16. Mary Huey was in attendance, and told of Lou's last few days. Then, Bob Higgins made a few touching comments about Lou's friendship and what he had done for the club in human terms, even more than the significant financial contributions. Bob mentioned that the club would not have a dark site if it were not for Lou's acquaintance with Wayne Davidson.

 Lou, a retired Metro-Dade detective and an avid astrophotographer, was also an author, successfully self-publishing a novel, The Saga of Hank's Creek. A copy is on hand at the Fox Observatory for checkout. Lou is listed along with the club's other benefactors in Under Southern Skies. Lou was born on March 2, 1929. (A footnote: Lou's knowledge of the club's record keeping was instrumental in completing the history project in 1996.)

 Late, during the August meeting, with the atmosphere in the room at a fever pitch, in anticipation of the new telescope, Bob Higgins presented a computer generated layout of an attractive and respectable installation with a supporting work area and access for the public. The problems of getting approvals and the money to do the job were discussed through the remainder of the meeting and afterwards. Chuck estimated that a well equipped observatory, with control room and a 16-foot dome, could require a budget approaching $40,000 to $50,000. (Adding a dome to the existing structure would require compliance with the current building codes. The existing building is "grandfathered," but its manner of construction and facilities would not be allowed today--the restrooms would have to comply with current ADA handicap specifications.)

 Also in August, a new director for Markham Park, the 5th since 1993, was appointed. This one is also an amateur astronomer, and on learning of the change in administration, Herb Knapp promptly invited him to join the club.

 The plan for the new observatory began to form at the September 3rd membership meeting: Club treasurer, Buddy Shelton, reported $2,000 in the fund so far. Among the donations, in the name of Lou Huey, was $1,000 from ABC Distributing of Miami. Another $1,000 came from friends who donated funds to the club in lieu of flowers. Club president, Chuck Faranda, will approach Rolando Branly about drawing up an institutional prospectus to find grants to finance the project.

 Chuck appointed Nick Lawrus, Bob Young and Gary Bloom to be in charge of PR, as regards a possible fund drive. Nick is working on a tape that Chuck could take with him. Gary Bloom has completed a two page handout regarding the fund and the club. The building committee is: Lee Sessoms Paul Schofield, Tom Peters, Bob Higgins and Buddy Shelton. (Addendum: With Bob Young's guidance and direction, the club will have an exhibit for the Broward County Pioneer Days Celebration, Oct. 17 and 18, at the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood. The address is 751 Sheridan Street, just west of the intracoastal waterway.)

 There were concerns that the LX200 drive and mount might be marginal or inadequate. Members brought up stories of problems indicating that some of the "16s" did not work correctly as received. However, the feeling is that any problems can be fixed by club members or the unit sent back, (Addendum: After the meeting, a discussion ensued amongst Chuck, Paul, Tom, Nick, David, Herb and Gary Bloom concerning possible problems, and whether we can apply and maintain this telescope. Some members feel this telescope is too much optically, and too little mechanically (and too expensive to install) for the Markham Park site!)

 Remaining at issue, the new observatory may have to be a separate building to meet the code, and not have to "upgrade" the roof and bathrooms of the original building. Defining the new installation as a dedicated structure with restricted access (i.e., no public traffic) for producing CCD images, via closed circuit, to the clubroom is one of the possibilities.

 Other topics discussed at the September meeting: Through the efforts of observatory director, Herb Knapp, a star party site, north of Orlando, is in the offing. A small contingent will go there soon to try it out, with a more formal gathering intended for the future. The site is 380 acres near the Ocala National Forest, and Herb says the area is very "dark." Also, the motto-track for the C14 is still being shipped back and forth. It was supposed to be returned to the vendor once and for all, but the manufacturer is trying to fix it! And Buddy Shelton, David Lord and Gary Bloom were appointed to a committee for an Astro-Day event November 14. A motion was made and passed to make Mary Huey and her family honorary lifetime members (#15). A light pollution committee (The Committee for the Enhancement of Outdoor Lighting) was formed to investigate the new light polluter about 1/2 mile east of the observatory; Nick Lawrus, David Lord and Lee Sessoms were suggested for the committee. (None of the committees were formed by vote--just get it done!).

 Under the heading of old business Chuck discussed his trip to Kitt Peak, and was generally disappointed with the program and the seeing there. He also mentioned that an LX200-16, on site, in Arizona, had serious mechanical problems. The meeting was adjourned about 9 p.m., but the debate went on till 11 p.m.

 Soon after the September 3rd meeting, with plans and a blueprint of the proposed site (courtesy of Paul Schofield) layout in hand, members of the board decided to order the LX200, with the intent of locking in the current price. On October 5, Chuck Faranda ordered the telescope from Meade--the plan was moving quickly.

(The night of nights and the week of weeks--October 1998)
 The weeks of October 5 and October 12, revealed rare good seeing in the area, and especially at the park on Saturday night, the 10th. There were comments that Jupiter was Hubble-like on that occasion. The good seeing lasted less than an hour, but it was stupendous--9.5! Nick Lawrus was there to say goodbye, and presented his 8 and 12 mm Brandon oculars and a 40 mm Plössl to the club. David Lord, Paul Schofield, Gary Bloom, Herb Knapp, Professor Lon Hill (with students from Broward Community College), Noah McBurnett, Arno van Werven and Dennis Clift were among those present. (It was Nickís last night before he and his wife moved to California for work.)

[From the log--this was a week long event, so I will begin five days before the trip to the park.) On 10-5-98, from a viewing site in the city, after seeing a vague gray line that seemed as though it might be the Encke division (in retrospect, the "Encke minimum," a graying of a region of the "A" ring, just inside the "Encke division, or gap"), briefly flickering in and out on several nights, the week of 9-30/10-1, the .2 arc-second gap might have been in view (a crisp line) for a few seconds, about one hour before Saturn crossed the meridian. I was using a 17 mm Vixen eyepiece on a 1.8x Televue Barlow, at 147x, on a Lumicon/E&W, 1/16 wave diagonal, and also at 213x with the Barlow in front of the diagonal. The telescope was an Astrophysics 6.1-inch f/9 apochromat. (Because Saturn is a high power object, and because a relatively low power was used, it would seem to suggest such minute detail could not have been seen, but on checking the October 1998 issue of S and T, referenced in the previous paragraph, I learned that Saturn was at opposition two weeks later, on October 23rd, and the disc was 20" for the first time in 21 years, since Feb. 1977. (re: Robert C. Victor, S and T, February 1977, page 290.)]

 Supporting information: According to another S and T article by Thomas Dobbins and William Sheehan, November 2000, pages 117-121, Saturn would have been ideally positioned for best viewing early in October of 1998. The Dobbins/Sheehan article points out that viewing fine detail on Saturn is most desirable in the weeks previous to, and following, opposition. The viewing at opposition is less ideal because the sun is striking the "particles" in the rings at a 90 degree angle, and there is a resultant loss of contrast (more glare) due to lack of shadows, which would only be present when there is a slight angular displacement between us, the Sun and the ring system.

[From the log: 10-10-98 (Saturday night): I and my telescope were at the park with Paul Schofield and the gang, and for a 30-45 minute period, with Jupiter passing through the meridian, the festoons, red spot and white spots were extraordinary. It seemed that Paul's 7.5 mm Ultrascopic (186x) provided the crispest, most transparent, view. It was the best view I had seen of Jupiter since looking through Dr. Frank Denniston's f/9 12-1/2 inch Springfield reflector in 1958. (The October 1998 issue of S and T, page 93, with the foldout "folded up," facing page 90, third paragraph, bottom left-hand column indicates, Jupiter was at opposition 2 weeks before, on 9-16.)]

 More related information: Fred Schaaf's October 98 article--a must read, page 90-95 (S&T), left hand column, says (summed up) October provides the crispest viewing of the year, in most parts of the country, and November brings increased cloud cover. (From the observations made, and the articles mentioned, we might conclude that such fine seeing is much more rare than might be imagined--maybe only once or twice in a decade, or a lifetime! That night and that week in October of 1998 were extraordinary for good reason, and those who were there, were fortunate to be at the park, on the "night of nights."

 Factoring all this together, October 1998 was an opportunity that may only come once in a complete revolution or more of Jupiter and Saturn. I hope that doesn't mean it will be 21 years before we see such things again, but it may be so, and those who were there will always remember that night.

 (The reason I had enough information and enough determination to track this information down is, that by some good fortune, I was in place to observe both events and remembered how remarkable Saturn looked at 400x, in an 8-inch Schmiudt Cassegrain, as it approached the meridian, at 20 minutes before midnight (EST), on February 1, 1977. February is not blessed with October's sometimes near perfect weather, but that night was dead calm as the "one-of-a-kind moment" came and went.)
 

 (Return to "Observing notes")  (Jupiter and Saturn, the best ever--1998)

 (more Jupiter and Saturn)

 On October 16, 17 and 18, the club set up an exhibit for the Broward County Pioneer Days Celebration, at the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood (751 Sheridan Street, just west of the intracoastal waterway). Herb Knapp tended the booth and passed out club literature. With awards being given for historical contribution to Broward County, the SFAAA won three ribbons: Blue (1st) for nature, red (2nd) for education and white (3rd) for service. There was also a sizable trophy for first place in the scrapbook division (USS-2, SFAAA Photo Album, Book #1 and Book #2). The inscription on the trophy reads: The Broward County Historical Commission Presents The Gladys Walker Scrapbook Award For Special Contributions to the Preservation Of The Heritage of Broward County--1998. Representatives of the Youth Group: Noah McBurnett, Brendan McCarthy and Jason Seldin assisted Herb Knapp, Bob Young and Bill Hodges in transporting, setting up and operating the exhibit. (The effort was guided by Bob Young, also a member of the Historical Commission, and the trophy and ribbons were on display in the clubroom as of 10-31-98.)

 Just before the November 5 meeting, efforts to organize a star party that had been going on for some weeks came together. A site 40 miles north of Orlando had been sought, and efforts by Herb to get a commitment and nail down two time slots in 1999 for star parties, had succeeded. A trial date, for a few club members, was reserved for April 23 and 24. The official dates for the "real deal," the first All-Florida Star Party, was set at November 5, 6, 7, 1999. (Also at the November meeting, Noah McBurnett mentioned being invited to participate in a science fair for higher grades, to be held at the University of Florida in April of 1999. Noah's area of special interest is cataclysmic variables.)

 For the November 14 Astronomy Day Celebration, there were approximately 200 visitors. Most came from Mike Armenio's classes from Dade Junior College, but Judy Marburger's seniors from Cooper City High School put in a good showing too. The newspapers did not publicize the event, but the parks department, Herb Knapp and Bob Young got the word out. The crowd started to build earlier than for the previous year. By the 2 p.m., starting time there were close to 100 guests and members milling in the observatory and outside looking at sunspots. About 3 p.m., Bob Young rode a bicycle to all the camp sites, and invited everyone to come by and see what was going on. From the start, Buddy Shelton and Bill Hodges had solar filters in place on their 8-inch telescopes, as did the Brandon Refractor. (The solar filter for the refractor was a donation from club member Bob Young.) The "reps" from Nature Company arrived just after dark and set up an ETX and an 8-inch Meade Schmidt-Cass. (Judy Marburger's class had an extra credit project. They were to ask questions of the observatory staff, gathering information in several categories, with a form to fill out and turn in on the following Monday. Brendan McCarthy helped Judy with the answers for the master copy.)

 The photo albums and history book were on display, with posters set up on the patio promoting the youth group and the activities at the observatory. The youth group did a fine job on the displays and with their part of the program.

 The program started on schedule at 6:00 p.m., with David Lord as MC. First up from the "youth group," with a talk on cataclysmic variables, and the nature of time was Noah McBurnett. Then, Jeff Lichtman spoke on the history of radio astronomy at the park. (Jeff and Ed Ramos got the radio telescope in full operation, for the first time. They logged permanent recordings of the sun and "Cas A" on the computer.)

 At 7:15, Lon Clay Hill, professor of astronomy at BCC, delivered a talk on meteorites: "When Sky Meets Earth." Then Pam O'Leary explained the mythology behind the naming of some of the constellations, followed by David Lord on Quality Outdoor Lighting. Later, David delivered, a "followup" on the constellations, that went on until after 9:00 p.m. (Although the students had been there since 2 p.m., most of them hung on until nearly 10. By 9:30, there were several small groups setting up chairs and visiting in forums--they had seen heard and done about everything.)

.All scopes were trained on Jupiter and Saturn by 6 and 7 p.m. respectively. The seeing was mediocre at first, but was upgraded to good, an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, by 8 p.m., with Saturn, Jupiter, M 31, the double cluster and M 57 the prime targets. (By 9 the seeing was better still, perhaps an 8.5. It was too late to benefit Jupiter, but Saturn was razor sharp by 9:30.) Even the C14 saw full service. Dennis Clift came in from Jacksonville, and Barry Perlman arrived about 7:30 p.m. from Hollywood. (November 14, 1998, Astronomy Day Celebration)

  (More Saturn)  (Maxwell's Gap)

  or  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Jupiter: 1995, 1997, 1998: October and November)

  or  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Saturn, Jupiter, M 31 and M 57: 1998)

 With problems in the early stages, Ed Ramos was very happy to get the radio telescope on the air. As a matter of fact, we were all thrilled to finally see success, and it would not have been so if Jeff Lichtman had not been there to make the final settings. (During the previous week, Ed rebuilt the positioning motor for the antenna. It had been a close race, with the motor's inner workings nearly ruined by the recent rains.) (After returning home to Atlanta, Jeff called (November 27) to report that he is working on a calibrated noise source for the radio telescope.)

 At the December meeting (12-3-98), Buddy Shelton reported that we only had $2,600 in the fund drive account, and Chuck said he had received a letter from a higher-up in the Parks Department, stating that there would be more lights, possibly a baseball field in the upcoming years. Chuck also said we had been offered a commercial contract to extend the lease, and that it required we collect admission and share 20% with the park. Chuck informed the official that we were a non-profit organization, and would be in violation of our charter if we attempted to charge admission. He suggested we continue to run the operation and they maintain the building as part of the written agreement.

 Chuck announced that the association was entering negotiations with the county pending the new lease, and there would be a meeting with the Parks Department Monday the 7th at 3900 SW 100th Ave. Davie, at 2 p.m. Gary Bloom suggested we might ask the park for a spot in the Northwest corner of the park for the LX200-16 to avoid the lights of the ball park. Further, This writer suggested finding a benefactor, such as Wayne and Marty Huizenga, known for their charitable works, to aid in the solution of our financial, political, construction and light pollution problems. (Bruce Haigh spoke on the success and importance of what we have done and are doing. He made good points about holding on and continuing to offer the programs and opportunities that we currently provide.)

 During this, the last meeting of the year, the coincident scheduling of the local Air Show with National Astronomy Day in May was a hot topic. The conclusion was that we should not do anything out of the ordinary, until the fall. And because of the club's proposed sponsorship of the All-Florida the Star Party on November (5, 6, 7), next year, we may have the Astronomy Day celebration in October (i.e., Saturday the 16th--the first quarter of the moon).

 With fewer natural spectacles, the total visitorship for 1998 was less than the year previous. There were about 4,000 to 5,000, down from 6,000 to 7,000 in 1997. The seeing was poor most of the year, and there wasn't much going on (e.g., comets, alignments, etc.) to make the papers and draw the crowds. However, with the lease negotiations underway and the new telescope on order, the year ended with an eye to the future.
 

The New Lease and the LX200-16 (1999)
 In the January issue of Amateur Astronomy magazine, Lee sessoms had an article on his struggles to reduce light pollution (e.g., Albertson's parking lot) in his neighborhood. Lee's efforts are considered a model of how to negotiate with businesses and other entities in a diplomatic and productive way. Also in that issue, this writer had an article on resonant imagery, a function of the added diffraction characteristic of obstructed optics, versus the lesser diffraction characteristic of unobstructed optics.

 At the Annual Meeting in February, it was decided to lower the club's sights as to the specifications of the new observatory. To significantly reduce the cost, and get the project going, a temporary dome was proposed. The new goal was set at $10,000. However, the feeling is still held by many that the SFAAA will, at some time in the future, build a larger and more sophisticated structure to house the LX200-16. Also at the meeting, the election of officers was held, and it was decided to retain the previous year's slate. Norman Mandel, elections chairperson, spoke on behalf of the 1999 election committee.

The board of directors for 1999 (varied slightly from 1998):

President: Chuck Faranda
Vice President/Program Director: David Lord
Vice President/Observatory Director:  Herb Knapp
Treasurer:  Buddy Shelton
Secretary.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Newsletter Editor:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg:  Jim Dailing and Ed Ramos
Trste:  Steve Wells--99, Jim Dailing (inventory)--00, Ed Ramos--01

 During February, a small observatory dome, intended for the new observatory, was donated to the club. After a brief deliberation, it was decided to sell the dome to an interested party for $800. The money from the sale was added to the fund for the observatory project. The new total in the treasury for the project was $3,500.

 In March, Mary Huey presented a check to the association to cover the purchase of the new telescope, and a remittance for the new instrument was made. At the membership meeting, following a discussion concerning installation expenses, the goal for the construction fund was adjusted slightly upward to $12,000 to cover the cost of the slab, tie downs and electrical work.)

 On March 31, a Meade 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, the Huey Telescope, was delivered. To begin the process of making space, the store room was inventoried. The reason for the inventory: There were thoughts that an auction might help dispose of unwanted goods, with the revenue put toward the LX200 observatory project. (As it turned out, the auction did not materialize.) Bob Higgins checked out the new LX200-16, and Chuck Faranda and Buddy Shelton took component parts home for temporary storage.

 The next day, at the April 1st membership meeting, there was mention of the "unpacking" the day before. Herb Knapp also announced that Jeff Lichtman, back in Atlanta for the time being, wished to buy the various parts and whatever can be found of the 12-1/2-inch Wylie/Stephens Telescope for $400. Jeff planned to restore this part of the club's history to its original state of grace. Eventually, the mirror and the original focuser were found, but the drive motor and finder could not be located. (Other notes: Noah McBurnett participated in a science fair for higher grades at the University of Florida, April 7-9, and was awarded first in his class--Earth Space Science. Noah also won first prize at the county level, and placed third at the University of Central Florida. The preliminary star party to be held at the site north of Orlando, scheduled for April 23rd through 25th, was postponed. It was said that there was too much to do to satisfy the proprietors of the site and too little time to do it in. That meant the anticipated larger gathering planned for November 5, 6 and 7 was on hold as well.)

 During the early months of the year, and under the leadership of president Chuck Faranda, the club continued negotiating with the County for the new lease. In May and June the results of the final negotiations were on paper. When the final draft is in the club's hands it will be submitted to a lawyer to assess and comment on. Club treasurer, Buddy Shelton, had someone lined up to review the document.

.Because of poor weather, the opposition of Mars, April 24th, with the nearest point (16.2 arc-seconds) reached May 1st, was less rewarding than expected or hoped for. Because the orbits of Earth and Mars are relatively similar the window of opportunity is critically narrow. Mars is in a good viewing position for a remarkably small percentage of its 25-1/2 month synodic period (i.e., time between oppositions). As a consequence, even short spells of bad weather are crucial. Hopefully, the seeing will be better during the summer of 2001! (The "red planet" is on its way to its closest opposition of the cycle, in July and August of 2003--25 arc-seconds.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Mars--1956, 1976, 1997 and 1999)

On May 1st, a special Mars program, created by Jim Stryder, was presented at the observatory, and 100 visitors and members were in attendance. The event was a success, in large part, because it was well covered in the Miami Herald. Jim Stryder could not attend because he was in California looking after his elderly father and mother. Jim, a key player, in the success of weekend programs and special events at the observatory is expected to be away for an extended period. (Also in May, Cindy Mothner brought in a donation of $1,000, and a light shield was erected on the north end of the patio to make the area near the lake-shore as dark as possible. During May, former club president, David Goldstein, visited from Germany, and said, the seeing was worse there than here!)

 At the June 3rd meeting, the membership learned there was $4,500 in the fund for the new observatory. Buddy Shelton announced that another Satellite dish has been donated to the club and that Jeff Lichtman will prepare the needed interface to turn the system into an array. On June 6, the three piers, intended for use with Schmidt Cassegrains, or other scopes with adaptable mounts, were poured. The job was done on the same day Buddy picked up and delivered the recently donated satellite dish. Noah and Arno did most of the work on the piers, with Chuck Faranda supervising, and Herb Knapp and Bob Young running errands and looking on.

 As is often the case, cleanup projects, especially of outside areas, take time, but the Markham Park crew cleared away the last remaining thicket from the north end in mid June. This may be the first time that everything inside and out has been in place, cleaned up and working. If only the weather were as cooperative! (The seeing was poor throughout the spring and into the summer. La Niña proved to be as unfriendly as El Niño.)

 During June and July, the membership was asked to consider having future copies of The Meridian "delivered" on the "WEB"--ideally there would be no more hard copies. There was a lack of interest in this idea, seemingly because the majority is still not "linked up." Eliminating some of the postage and reproduction costs of the hard copy would save money and make the editors job less labor intensive, but the time was not right. Beyond that, it is good public relations to have copies of The Meridian to give to weekend visitors at the observatory.

 In July, Buddy Shelton's lawyer reviewed the new lease as proposed, and suggested a few changes. The deal went together quickly, and the signing of the lease was August 9. Because the new lease was more conducive, and because the stipulations were acceptable to all concerned, it was decided not to wait until the September anniversary date. The new lease period is 10 years, as the club requested, and it expires August 8, 2009. (Buddy Shelton, a key player in the negotiation of the new lease, and in the bookkeeping and decision making for the LX200 project, up to this point, will be going to school on meeting nights for some time to come (5 years), and will most likely not continue as club treasurer.)

 At the August 5th meeting, it was decided to buy something like a 10 to 12-foot Ashe Dome for the new 16-inch telescope, and to start processing the paperwork as soon as possible. When the construction begins in earnest, Lee Sessoms will be in charge, and do all the related record keeping. (During August, Noah and another member found donations of three more computers, and Ed Ramos upgraded at least one of them to 1.2 gigabytes. Subsequently, Herb, Noah, Arno van Werven, Bob Young and Ed worked to reorganize the clubroom, and make the computer stations more versatile and user friendly.)

 At the September 2nd meeting, plans for Pioneer Days Celebration and Astronomy Day were discussed. Pioneer Days is November 6 and 7, while the date for Astronomy Day was set at November 13, with a visit at the observatory by a group of planetarium directors the evening of November 6. (In late September, with tropical storms and hurricanes reducing attendance on meeting nights and weekends, there was an article concerning the yet-to-be built observatory for the LX200-16 and the new lease in the Sun Sentinel: According to the article, the lease had been approved and the SFAAA would turn ownership of the new observatory over to the county. The club would maintain the entire site, to include the new observatory, with a responsibility for the first $1,000 of repairs. Also in September, the club fell heir to 3 computers, one of which was acquired by Noah McBurnett.)

 The September 1999 issue of the newsletter, The Meridian, disclosed that Chuck Faranda's CCD image of Supernova 1998bu (May 9, 1998) had appeared in Scientific American. The accompanying article, "Boom or Bust," on Supernovae and "standard candles," with Chuck's image, appears on page 34 of the October issue. On October 4, local television Channel 10-ABC aired an interview with Chuck. Adding to the accolades, the Broward County Commission proclaimed Monday, October 18, 1999, Chuck Faranda Day.

 In the absence of the president and treasurer, acting secretary Bill Weaver presided over the October 7 membership meeting, reporting about $1,000 in the general fund. The diminishing balance was discussed, including ways to raise money and encourage members to renew on time. Steve Wells made a case for one of the rechargeable batteries provided by Herb, including a switch and red LED. Herb says he has 600 batteries, and we could sell them at the observatory to raise money.

 Bill Weaver reported that we presently have 85 members, and that Steve Wells had lined up an anonymous contributor who will match up to $1,000 of donations, in $100 increments, until February of 2000. Steve has become the matching funds administrator for the offered contribution. At present there is approximately $5,000 in the LX200-16 construction fund account.

 Lee Sessoms reports that we can probably get the new observatory building, with a 10-foot HomeDome," approved by the county, with the help of Engineer Joe Reiff--P.E. A meeting with John May of Plan Review--Structural for Broward County, Building and Permitting Division revealed that a site plan designed and certified by a structural engineer would suffice in place of doing the testing needed to meet the Dade County Product Approval Code.

 It was also put forward again that a goodly sum, and labor, could be saved if the club forgo, the mailing, or part thereof, of the newsletter. The WEB version would be the replacement for those who do not elect to receive the hard copy. Those interested in continuing to receive the hard copy should notify Bill Weaver or put their name on a list at the observatory.

 David Lord mentioned the need for full accounting on all donations and on meetings and start and finish dates for the construction project. Lee is documenting everything he is doing in a very professional looking package/folder. The folder will eventually end up in the archives. (The subject of the board of directors for the year 2000, including the loss of Buddy Shelton as treasurer and the lack of a formal recording secretary was discussed.)

 The attendance at the observatory, on public nights, during the period from June to October, was much less than in past years. With three hurricanes and poor seeing for 4 or 5 months everyone was waiting and hoping for better weather in the fall. On October 23, 60 to 70 visitors showed up for the constellation program, and to look through the Brandon Refractor. The moon was 98% full, and the mosquitos were as big as humming birds, but it was still a good night for viewing. (The heavy rains and flooding related to Hurricane Irene spawned a fresh batch of mosquitos.) It got better as the night went on, and the steadily improving views of Jupiter and Saturn encouraged Lon Hill's BCC group, along with several members and visitors, to hang on until after 1 a.m. (Those of us thinking of the upcoming Astronomy Day event, set for November 13th, hoped the seeing would improve still more, and that the mosquitos would subside in time.)

 On November 4, with President Chuck Faranda presiding, and 14 members present, including long timers Tom Peters, Steve King and new member Seth Gersten, the membership meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m., and began with the reading of unofficial minutes by Gary Bloom. With personal decisions during the week, Gary announced an intention to put his name in nomination as secretary, with Bob Young coming forward to replace Buddy Shelton as Treasurer. Possibly, most of the rest of the slate for 1999 will carry over into the year 2000, except for Chuck Faranda. The annual meeting will be moved to March 2, because of the coincidence of the February meeting date with the Winter Star Party. Chuck formally announced he would not be able to carry on as President in 2000, and appealed to the group and the membership to take part in the new board.

 Lee Sessoms showed the group a preliminary site layout for the new observatory, drawn by Paul Schofield. Paul passed out copies to the group. Lee said the slab and dome should come in at about $12,000 to $15,000, and that we have sufficient resources in the fund to pour the slab now. However, we do not have the necessary technical information to proceed. HomeDome is dragging its feet on delivering the needed calculations. A motion was made to begin the project and open a discussion on exactly what to do first. The motion was passed unanimously and the subject of how to tie down the structure. Bob Higgins suggested a more attractive variation of the slab, and leaving the hedge off the finished product. The group decided to proceed with the slab as proposed, but leave the landscaping until the last stages of the project if there were any landscaping needed at that time.

 The necessary calculations for a 15-foot dome are in hand, but the less evolved unit and the reluctant engineering department of HomeDome, Inc. may present a stumbling block to getting the site plan approved promptly. Lee will work on this. The group approved proceeding with same unanimously. The limiting factor that prevents us from having much latitude is the codicil that the observatory will be in the category of a shed, and as Lee pointed out, if the club tries to step up to a 15-foot dome, with the more readily available engineering information, the structure will not  qualify as a shed, which is what facilitates the project in the first place.

 Chuck told the group of his success with the purchase and application of a Connectix Digital Color Quickcam VC for $20. Chuck displayed a good color picture of Jupiter he had taken with the new camera. He used a Meade 90 mm ETX, and the picture looked more like it was taken with an 8 or 10-inch instrument. Chuck also mentioned that his son Jon is diligently applying himself at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and says hi!

 David Lord reminded us that approximately 100 visiting planetarium directors, in conference at Buehler Planetarium, will be at Fox Observatory Saturday night, November 6, while the Pioneer Day Exhibition and our participation in same are going on. It will be a very full and intense weekend for the crew at the observatory and the Pioneer Days Exhibition. David appealed for help!

 At the conclusion of the meeting, a video tape of Chuck's interview with Channel 10--ABC, visa vis the discovery of 1998bu, followed the adjournment of the meeting. Chuck's adventure will be talked of for years to come. At the end of the tape, there were congratulations and applause for Chuck!

 On Saturday, November 6th (9-5) and Sunday the 7th (9-4), 1999, the club set up an exhibit at the 27th Annual Pioneer Days Celebration at Vincent Torres Park, in Lauderdale Lakes at 4331 NW 36th St. (1999 is the 84th year of incorporation for Broward County.) Herb Knapp and Noah McBurnett tended the booth and passed out club literature. For the second year running, the SFAAA won three ribbons: Blue-1st for "nature" and for "service," and red-2nd for "technology." Once more, the club received the Gladys Walker scrapbook award. The inscription on the trophy reads: The Broward County Historical Commission Presents The Gladys Walker Scrapbook Award For Special Contributions to the Preservation Of The Heritage of Broward County--1999. (Herb Knapp and Bob Young transported and set up the exhibit. The effort was guided by Bob Young, also a member of the Historical Commission, and the trophy and ribbons were on display in the clubroom the evening of 11-6-99.)

 The evening of November 6, 100 planetarium directors from all over the world visited Fox Observatory. Dr. Menke of Buehler Planetarium was hosting the International Planetarium Directors Congress Conference, and planned the outing. The visitors came in two waves, the first at 7 p.m. was larger than the second at 9 p.m. There were directors representing every part of the globe, from as far away as China (Bejing), Czechoslovakia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Germany, Hawaii and Louisiana. Fortunately, the mosquitos were on hiatus for most of the evening--the sky opened for the first group, but not the second.

 Dr. Menke and other members of the planetarium staff came with the group, and David Lord of the SFAAA presented one of his constellation slide shows. Between light showers, Bob Young and Ed Ramos made the Brandon Refractor a gathering point, while other visitors observed Jupiter and Saturn through Paul Schofield's superb 6-inch Newtonian reflector, set up just north of the observatory. Later, Paul commented that the visitors had very interesting stories--planetarium directors and staff members from China, Japan, Spain and all parts of the US, engaged Paul in conversation. (One man said, the astronomy club in his area had 500 members but did not have anything like the Fox Observatory. The members of the contingent from Japan and Berlin, Germany told Paul and a few other members of building their own telescopes, and mentioned the names of opticians and optical companies unknown to most of us.)

(Astronomy Day--November 1999)
 For the big event, November 13, there were lectures, slides shows, commercial displays and member telescopes set up for viewing in the afternoon and evening: Solar viewing from 2:00 p.m. till after 4, and lunar viewing from 6 p.m. till 9. David Lord spoke on constellations at 6:30 p.m. Lon Clay Hill, Professor of Astronomy--BCC, spoke on the possibility of life on Mars at 7:00 p.m. Jeff Lichtman of Radio Astronomy Supplies of Roswell, GA took over at 8:00 p.m. Jeff spoke on the conversion of a NASA site to an astronomical research institute (Mt. Pisgah, a 200-acre site, north of Atlanta, in North Carolina). Also at 8, there was viewing of Jupiter, then of Saturn from 9 till 12. Pam O'Leary spoke on fall constellations and light pollution at 8:45. (By 3:30 p.m., Jeff Lichtman had the Stephens/Wylie telescope disassembled and tied to his car for transport to Atlanta the next day. After the loading operation was done and out of the way, Buddy Shelton, Arno van Werven, Ed Ramos and Jeff aligned the antenna for the club's radio telescope, only to find the motor drive was malfunctioning, because of rust and accumulated moisture, related to the rainy season and Hurricane Irene.)

 During the evening, the sky was clear, and the seeing gradually improved to a "7.5," on a scale of "10." Seth Gersten set up his 12-1/2-inch Galaxy/Dobson north of the observatory, and Paul Schofield had his 6-inch equatorial Newtonian reflector just to the east of Seth. Representatives of Nature Company set up an 8-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain on one of the new piers, with an ETX nearby, while others set up binoculars on tripods around the observatory.  (more on observing conditions in the next three paragraphs)

 A total of about 80 visitors, including longtime member Barry Perlman, attended the event, with Ed Ramos, Jeff Lichtman, David Lord, Noah McBurnett, Arno van Werven, Bob Young and Gary Bloom answering questions and operating the equipment. Jim Dailing and Buddy Shelton visited during the afternoon, but could not stay for the evening's activities. (During the evening, a representative of Baker Concrete spoke to Herb Knapp, and offered to donate the slab for the new observatory. Also, two matching-funds donations were turned in, one by Bob Young, the other by Gary Bloom, totalling $200 to be matched by the anonymous contributor.)

  The nights of 11-14 through 11-16 provided some of the best seeing of the year--an "8"  on a scale of "1-10." The timing was excellent! Jupiter and Saturn were just past opposition, and the moon was at first quarter. With 80 visitors for the Leonid meteor shower on the 17th and 18th, it was a week to remember in a year of lagging attendance, poor weather and not much of celestial interest happening, at least not much when compared to the spectacular comets and alignments of 1997 and 1998. (Jeff Lichtman called the author during the week to report on the progress with the restoration of the Wylie/Stephens telescope. The load was ungainly, but he said it took only 11 hours to drive back to Atlanta. He started to work immediately, documenting and photographing each step, the results to be included in SFAAA Photo Album, Book 3. (Jeff is working on a receiver to include the second antenna in a radio telescope array.)

 The morning of November 26 (3 a.m.), after Thanksgiving Day, Arno and Herb were closing the roll-off roof, and the drive chain broke. Fortunately, they were able to enact repairs and get the roof closed for the night. The public night of November 27th, Ed Ramos and Gary Bloom cleaned 14 of the observatory's 19 eyepieces, and Ed labeled the carrying cases to show the various focal lengths. A magnification chart has been made up and added to the back of The Meridian Notebook, showing the power of each eyepiece, in each of the three main telescopes. While the eyepiece cleaning operation was going on, Bob Young arrived and told Herb a contribution of labor to run the electrical wiring for the new observatory had been promised by the IBEW. (The week of 11-29, the seeing for planetary viewing was at least as good as the better nights earlier in the month.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Some of the best seeing of the year--1999)

 At the December 2 meeting, Steve Wells brought up the need to get more mention in the newsletter and elsewhere for the matching funds contribution, if we are to take full advantage of the offer of up to $1,000. Gary Bloom made the point that this offer of a matching contribution is extraordinary, and we should take advantage of it. Steve and others present mentioned that finding a contribution in the community (an interested party or associate of one of the members), or two or three members going together to come up to $100 would also meet the requirements of the offer. (After the meeting, Steve taped a reminder of the $1,000 offer on the clubroom door.)

 Bob Higgins mentioned a picture of the first-quarter moon in the January issue of Sky and Telescope taken through Connectix Color Quickcam VC, the unit discussed by Chuck at the last meeting. Along those lines, Gary Bloom mentioned that the very  fine images of Jupiter by Maurizio DiSciullo of Coconut Creek in Sky and Telescope for the last two months might prompt us to contact him regarding a program at a future meeting or just to suggest he stop by and visit the observatory.

 In reflecting on the days weeks and months in the past at the observatory, David Lord mentioned that possibly 10,000 visitors had looked through his 14x70 Fujinon Binoculars. David commented that dividing the cost of the binos by the number of users made purchase of the Fujinons a very cost-effective investment.

 Club member, William Macklin, had a special reason for attending the meeting. He wished to present the association with artifacts, once belonging to Dr. Joseph Dennison Fox. Mack has belonged to the club for about one year. He and his wife Robin had visited the observatory Saturday night the 27th of November, just previous to the December meeting. During the course of a conversation with Herb Knapp and Gary Bloom, Robin and Mack put together the story of how they came to buy their home on Funston Street in Hollywood. It seems, the Macklins knew and lived across the street from Dr. Fox during the last few years before his passing, January 14, 1985. In November of that year they bought the Fox home, fully furnished. There was a lot of work and cleaning out to do, but several artifacts were saved.

 By asking a few questions (out of curiosity) as to whether the Dr. Fox they knew was the same one who donated the 6-inch refractor and helped guide the club in the early years, they added another piece to the story of the Fox Observatory. Interestingly, they found several pieces of Melmac dinnerware in the house. Those who have read Part I of this account will recall that Dr. Fox gave Melmac dinnerware to Chester Brandon in 1958, as part of the compensation to acquire the 6-inch refractor. (At the meeting, Mack presented the club with a large right angle prism, a large double convex lens, a plano-convex lens, a copy of the program from the Fox memorial service, January 20, 1985 and Dr. Fox'es doctoral diploma from law school in 1968. There were also pictures of Dr. Fox taken in 1985. Mack is getting one of them enhanced for inclusion in the SFAAA photo albums. (After the meeting: Seth Gersten donated a copy of Astronomy, A Physical Perspective by Marc L. Kutner.) (The Saturday following the December meeting, 12-4-99, Chuck Faranda forwarded E-mail to the observatory stating his intention to resign immediately from the office of president. (December 11: Photo Album, Book 3 was added to the library.)

 With the grounds looking its best in many years, with the LX200 construction fund in place, the new lease and the new 16-inch telescope in hand, the year ended with a bright outlook. And while the poor weather weakened attendance, the shows by Herb, David and the Youth Group drew approximately 4,000 visitors during the year.
 

Y2K: The Jinx is Broken, but La Niña Lingers (2000)
 Jim Stryder is back in town, and he will be here till May. His latest astronomical feat is a display based on the Hubble Heritage series and the first pictures after the December-99 repair mission. Hubble is now operating with the latest changes, and the resolution and contrast of deep space objects are even more spectacular than the earlier series.

 On January 18, 2000, the "millennium quilt," (presented by the Broward County Historical Commission) representing the municipalities, schools and organizations of Broward County was unveiled. Beginning in August of 1998, the quilt required the work of more than 1,000 pairs of patient and dedicated hands. The brain child of Barbara Poleo, special projects coordinator for the historical commission, the quilt required 16 months and 125 patches, from 29 municipalities and dozens of local clubs, schools and organizations. The quilt is 8-1/2 feet high by 10 feet wide, and was designed by Jan Miller.

 The quilt was first displayed at the Broward County Governmental Center at 115 S Andrews Ave., and will be shown at schools and historical centers around the county during 2000. Glenda Irvine directed the work of 30 volunteers, ranging from 16 to 80 years of age, in bringing all the patches together. Irvine sewed the separate pieces together on her quilting machine, with patches representing individuals important to the history of the area in each of the four corners, and with cutouts of each community accurately shaped and set in the center.

 On January 20th, 100 visitors saw the eclipse of the moon from the park. The following week, on Friday the 28th, 600 boy scouts lined up, arriving in groups of 100, to look at Saturn and Jupiter. Noah McBurnett and new member, Adam Wagner, assisted Herb with greeting and with answering questions posed by the visiting throngs. (It looks as if the dry-spell in attendance of recent months may be at an end.)

 During the last few months of 1999 and the early months of 2000, Paul Schofield, with his 6-inch Newtonian and Seth Gersten (12.5 inch f/4 Galaxy) have been joined on the grounds north of the observatory by Fred Lehman with a 12-inch Meade Schmidt-Cass. Public nights: With Jim Stryder displaying the latest from Hubble, along with David Lord's weekly constellation tours, plus Paul, Seth and Fred setting up their scopes near the lake shore, visitors and members alike are being treated to a first class show. (In January, Susan Silverstein contacted observatory director Herb Knapp to discuss the possibility of donating David's 11-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cass to the club.)

 The annual meeting, scheduled for February 3rd, was postponed to Thursday, March 2nd, because of coincidence with the Winter Star Party for 2000, held the week of January 31 to February 5. At the annual meeting, the following officers and directors were nominated, and the slate was voted into effect.

The board of directors for 2000:

President: Steve Wells
Vice President/Program Director: David Lord
Vice President/Observatory Director:  Herb Knapp
Treasurer: Bob Young
Secretary.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Newsletter Editor:  Bill Weaver
Director. at Large: Chuck Faranda, Buddy Shelton
Trustee:  Gary Bloom--00, Chuck Faranda-01 and Buddy Shelton-02  (inventory)

 During March, new member, Larry Phillips started regular Saturday night setup of his new Celestron 6-inch f/8 refractor. The optical design is unique in that the air spacing of the achromat is increased from the norm of about 1/8-inch to about 6 inches (i.e., a semi-dialytic system: separated, or widely spaced, elements). This improves color correction in what is a relatively short focal length for the aperture. This instrument is getting good reviews and is enjoyable to look through. The price tag is in the range of $1,300, delivered--a remarkably thrifty package, including a German equatorial mount and clock drive. (Also present on a fairly regular basis in the late winter and spring, was Bill Hodges with his 8-inch f/6 Newtonian.)

On April 1, 2000, Jim Stryder conducted a Solar Seminar. Jim put on one of his usual excellent presentations, with plenty of posters and written material to hand out to visitors. A large group of Girl Scouts was expected and scheduled during the day and evening, but they had to leave before the solar observing got under way. Jim was still on station and talking to visitors (100 or more for the day) for two evening shows put on by David Lord. There was a second show after 9 p.m., and Bill, Paul and Larry had their scopes set up for viewing. (The effort to discover new celestial territory continues even though the seeing, courtesy of peak sunspot activity and La Niña, is still poor.)

 The bugs were minimal at first, but became rather annoying as the evening went on--after 9 p.m. Adam, Arno, Bob Young and Herb manned the observatory and its telescopes, while Steve King, Becky Coretti, Lon Hill, Gary Bloom and Adam's brother, Brian, visited with the regulars and observed through all the scopes. One of the projects for the evening was splitting the primary pair of double-double, 5.6/6.0 magnitude, zeta Cancrii--.81", epoch 2000. The feat was accomplished using the Brandon refractor and Paul Schofield's fine 6-inch f/6.7 Newtonian reflector. The "AB" pair, magnitudes 5.6 and 6.0, was resolvable at as low as 220x and as high as 505x in the reflector. The "AB" component has a 60 year period, and the "C" component, also a pair--separation .2", magnitude 6.3, is 6.0" from "AB", and at .2" separation, "CD" is out of the reach of most scopes. The "AB" pair will open over the next 20 years, becoming resolvable in scopes down to 4-inches in aperture, by 2012.

  (Return to "Observing notes")   (zeta Cancrii: April 2000)

 At the April membership meeting, there was a discussion as to how to put the LX200-16 into operation as soon as possible. The project had been delayed long enough, and it was decided to erect a temporary dome west of the present observatory. Bob, Chuck and Steve reported seeing a suitable dome at WSP 2000, and Bob said he would look for one to be used with the new scope.

 A motion was made to install the pier and procure a suitable portable dome. The total assembly would be broken down after each evenings viewing and stored in the observatory building. Some degree of finish of the platform area, circumscribing the pier, would be achieved by the use of patio stones. (Chuck Faranda confirmed that the county was moving forward to fund some portion of the construction visa vis a grant.)

 .Paul Schofield went to the observatory last night (Friday April 23, 2000). It was a last minute thing--he didn't want to waste a good evening. Paul was the only one there, except for the mosquitos, and the seeing wasn't too bad. He wanted to check out double star 78 Ursa Major, because Sissy Haas mentioned it in her latest article on double stars in S and T, May 2000, pgs 112-114. 78 UM is 1.5" separation, and the two components are magnitude 5.5 and 7.7. In the article, Sissy said she could only resolve it in her club's 11" refractor, and that somebody out west split it with an 8" reflector. Paul figured that if he could split Zeta Cancri at  .81", 78 UM shouldn't be too tough. Paul tried 200x first, and could not resolve the pair. However, a 6 mm Abbe-ortho with a 3x Barlow for 505x, did it very cleanly. Paul reduced the power once he knew what to look for, and could still split it at 337x (9mm ortho with 3x Barlow). It could still be seen coming and going down to  233x (13mm Televue Plossl with 3x Barlow), but nothing under that. Paul looked at a few other doubles and clusters before calling it a night. (Paul notes that it was darker than usual at the park, without people and cars, coming and going, and he says he uses the orthos for difficult tests, because they produce the darkest background.) (Three weeks later, on 5-13, Paul repeated the experiment, when other club members had their telescopes at the park. Paul was again successful with his 6-inch Newtonian, but because of poor seeing conditions, efforts to resolve the double in a 12-inch Schmidt-Cass., set up nearby, failed.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")   (78 UM: April/May 2000)

 On May 28th, Jim Stryder returned to Colorado with his parents. The day before Mike Smith, of SCAS, helped Jim put on a presentation, including a viewing of solar prominences. It was Jim's last show of the year, and Mike brought his C8 and Thousand Oaks, 1 angstrom, filter. Bill Hodges set up his 8-inch f/6 Newtonian on the north side of the observatory. The following Monday, Memorial Day, the 29th, Arno, Herb and Noah poured the foundation for the temporary mounting place for the LX200-16. It took 6-1/2 hours and 60 bags of cement to complete the job, and several trips had to be made, during the day, to get more "mud." (During May, Susan Barnett became the new head of Buehler Planetarium. Also in May, Gary Bloom opened a new web site (A Science Archive), featuring SFAAA history, with pictures and articles on telescopes optics and cosmic evolution--email.)

 In June and July, the trench was dug, and the cable laid, to make the radio telescope into an array. Meanwhile, Jeff Lichtman, in Orlando, was upgrading the electronics. On July 10, Arno and Herb hauled in the bags of cement, and completed the foundation of the second dish.

 In August, the temporary dome for the LX200-16 was delivered and set up. Also an almost anonymous benefactor (Mike something) gave the club an exceptionally nice Meade 12-inch f/6 Newtonian (circa 1986), with a heavy duty mount (e.g., 4 inch bearings), photographic guide telescope and motor driven tangent arm. The telescope is designed around the formidable Cave Astrola Deluxe specifications, with options to match. Also during August, and to help the dwindling general fund, one member (treasurer: Bob Young) donated $500. To beef-up the war chest, Chuck Faranda helped a novice, who lives in the area, set up and learn more about his new Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain. Chuckís efforts brought the club a $250 donation.

 The weather continues to be abysmal. Nonetheless, some of the members are trying to keep a positive and, sometimes, whimsical attitude toward the miserable "seeing" conditions. An example: On September 9, Paul Schofield e-mailed Gary Bloom regarding the possibility of going to the observatory and setting up his 6-inch Newtonian reflector that Saturday night:

Hi Gary,
I have not received my new eyepieces as of today, but I wouldn't have been able to do much with them anyway... I'm going to have to take my scope to a shrink! It's starting to feel rejected, and I haven't been talking to it enough lately, let alone looking through it. Maybe tomorrow night, if the weather cooperates, Ill get to the observatory. If I do anything I'll let you know. Hope for good weather!

 On October 14 and 15, the club participated in the 28th annual Pioneer Days Celebration, at Pioneer Park, 425 N.E. 3rd Street, Deerfield Beach. The club's exhibit included: telescopes, the history project and photo/CCD albums of several members. Herb Knapp, Bob Young, Adam Wagner and Noah McBurnett tended the booth and passed out club literature. Two telescopes were set up in front of the exhibit. The club's new 12-1/2-inch f/6 Newtonian was on display, and Bill Hodges' 8-inch f/6, with solar filter, was pointed at the Sun for the entirety of the two-day event.

 Saturday was a pleasant, breezy day, and the temperature was in the low 80s. During the day, Herb met a photographer from the Miami Herald, and arranged for a photo shoot, at the observatory that evening. When everything was shut down for the day, Herb, Bob, Adam and Noah returned to the observatory to greet the Herald's photographer, visitors from the Pioneer Days Celebration and other Saturday night visitors. Herb brought the big 12.5-inch Newtonian back to the observatory to be set up for the photo shoot. (Sunday was less breezy, but the temperature was in the same range. After the long weekend, everyone was glad to pack up and go home for a few days rest. The crew worked many long days and hours to cover the event.)

 On November 18 and 19, the annual Astronomy Weekend was held at the Fox Observatory. Saturn was visible in the east by 9 p.m., and Jupiter was up by 10, with a Leonid meteor shower, related to Comet Tempel-Tuttle, in the wee hours. Saturn was at opposition the 19th, with Jupiter on the 27th.

 For the biggest event of the year, there were slide shows and telescopes were set up for viewing in the afternoon and evening. There was solar viewing during the day, courtesy of Bill Hodges and his 8-inch f/6 Newtonian. Just after dark, David Lord spoke on the fall constellations and Lon Clay Hill, Professor of Astronomy--BCC, spoke on the likelihood of life on Mars.
 

.Later, Paul Schofield and Bill Hodges, with their 6 and 8-inch reflectors, entertained visitors with views of Jupiter, Saturn and the Andromeda Galaxy--M 31. Between 9 and 10 p.m., the seeing was a bit better than fair (7.5), on a scale of 1 to 10. Bill and Paul had remarkably good images of Saturn at 300x to 505x, and for a brief instant, at about 10 p.m.--"Maxwell's Gap" was visible at approximately 250x. The "Encke minimum" was easier than on most occasions, but the "Encke gap" was not seen. (Approximately 200 visitors and members attended on Saturday, with Ed Ramos, David Lord, Noah McBurnett and Adam Wagner answering questions and operating the Observatory's equipment.)

  (Return to "Observing notes")  (Maxwell's Gap: November 2000) and (Saturn: all)

 The year closed out with a solar eclipse on Christmas day--Herb Knapp, Adam Wagner, and new member, Richard Davis, were at the observatory to welcome visitors. With some of the poorest seeing in many a year (an effect of peak sunspot activity), and with fewer natural spectacles, the total visitorship for the year was less than 4,000. However, with a new carpet for the club room (donated by Home Depot in October), a temporary pier and dome for the LX200-16 completed, and with many shows and tours by Arno van Werven, Herb Knapp, Bob Young, Ed Ramos David Lord, Noah McBurnett, Jim Stryder and Adam Wagner, the year went well.
 
 

A Retrospective
 It has taken many years and many efforts to bring the observatory to its present level of performance. In the years following the completion and dedication of the observatory, the association's members operated, maintained, renovated and restored the building and the equipment. Many times, the forces of nature acted in opposition to the association's best efforts. (During 1994, more than 90 inches of rain fell on most of Broward County, and by the end of 1995, the total precipitation for the two years rose to almost 180 inches.) Even so, and for all of the years since 1977, operation of the observatory has been rarely interrupted for problems related to some breakdown. Every effort has been made to keep the facility on line for weekend and mid-week scheduled-by-request visits, from local school and youth groups.
 
 

The Future (2001 and beyond)
 Over the years since the dedication, in March of 1977, the SFAAA and the observatory have been host to thousands of visitors. (It is estimated that 100,000 visitors have passed through the observatory.) Such organizations as the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Discovery Center, Hollywood Hills Methodist Church, Nova Eisenhower Elementary, Morrow Elementary, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High, BCC astronomy classes, the Secret Woods Society, Florida Trails Association, MENSA, the Sierra Club and other groups, families and individuals spending the night or evening at the park, have paid a visit. (Cub Scout troops 118, 707 and 813 have made many visits.)

 In the past, the public has, through announcements and articles in the Sun Sentinel, Sunrise Times, Sun Tattler and Miami Herald, been invited to special showings and astronomical events, such as the approach of Halley's Comet, eclipses of the Moon, the opposition of Mars, the crash of Shoemaker-Levy 9, the approach of Comet Hyakutake and the 30th Anniversary Celebration in 1996. This year, Hale-Bopp was the big attraction, bringing several thousand new visitors to the observatory.

 For many visitors, a trip to the observatory and viewing the heavens may be the first and possibly the only chance they will have to observe through a large astronomical telescope. While affording this opportunity to the public, the Fox Astronomical Observatory and the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association maintain a commitment to community service. To this end, the observatory and the association are dedicated to education and to the pursuit of new discoveries.
 

 (The total number of members, since the club's founding in 1965, is 849, and because the record for some of the early years is incomplete, it is possible that as many as 10 or 12 members have not been accounted for. The years affected are: 1965, 1966, 1969 and 1974. If you are out there let us know!)

*      *     *
 

  (Return to the "Guide")   (end historical account)

  (This way to the "library index")
 

  (This way to SFAAA)   (the web site of the SFAAA)

  (This way to The Meridian) (the newsletter of the SFAAA)
 
 
 

Appendix I

An Archival Report
 

The Archives: (12-31-00)
 As the result of gathering data for the history project a large amount of new information has been deposited into the archives. Many have contributed, and the coming forward of the following members, past and present, has brought about a significant amassing of newsletters, programs, meeting minutes and photographs. They are: Mary and Charlie Wylie, Bill Weaver, Barry Perlman, Russell Peecook, Steve King, Herb Knapp, Bob Higgins, Lou Huey, Jim Dailing, Nick Lawrus and Jeff Lichtman. In the initial phase of the project, these members came up with 174 copies and originals of documents dating back as far as January of 1966 (newsletters: 84 + 60; minutes: 75 + 15 + 36). (Quantities underlined were added by the author as they became available. Other items turned in include: notebooks, memorandums and scrapbooks.)

 (A note: Prior to the opening of the observatory, in 1977, regular meetings were held every week, and board meetings were fewer, or they were only held once each month. Some counts are estimated, and the error factor may approach 10%.)

 There have been approximately 372 board meetings and 848 regular meetings (combined in 2000, with minutes having been taken down on 700 to 800 occasions. Also, an effort has been made to produce a newsletter or a program notification on approximately 218 to 248 occasions, as of 12-31-00. In some of the early years, one or two newsletters and a biannual schedule were all that was sent out. (In 1967 and 1968, each member was sent or given a monthly calendar of events. The monthly calendar had an entry covering each of the four or five weekly meetings along with astro data, news notes, and updates on the activities of some of the members.)

 Here is what is on file as of 12-31-00: The total number of newsletters and program notices on hand is 154. In October of 1995 there were 10. The total number of meeting minutes accumulated and represented in some form is approximately 322. In October of 1995 there were 196 in the observatory and 75 in the hands of the treasurer (total: 271). (The minutes for approximately 235 meetings, 1976 to 1983, are permanently lost.) There are 350 meetings unaccounted for, and there may be meeting minutes still in the hands of past members, relating to 25 or 30 meetings. (Even one newsletter or the minutes for one meeting would be an important find!)

 (Regarding the minutes, for 1996 and 1997, what transpired at meetings was reported on in the monthly newsletter, The Meridian. (Copies are kept in file #26.) A more extensive report appears in the SFAAA Orientation Package and in the larger history document, Under Southern Skies, all on file at the observatory.)

 Of all the described documents produced over the 35 years (996-1098), the archive now has 452, up from 206/281, with approximately 350 unaccounted for, and 235 counted as lost (total ever produced = 1,061+/-, as of 12-31-00). Copies of some of the missing documents may still be within reach!

 An additional note: In the mid 1980s, with so many roof leaks, some of the members were asked to take scrapbooks and other papers home to protect them from water damage. If there is anyone out there with any club documents, held for safe keeping, please turn them in! Any personal documents held, and wished returned, will be copied and given back. None, so entrusted, has been damaged, lost or misplaced since this project began! (With regard to material deposited in the Archives, every item is identified as to what it is and where can be found. Please use the source catalog at the end of Appendix IV to locate and return documents.)

 To complete the task and fill in the years for which the minutes are missing, Lou Huey and Jim Dailing came up with 15 years of checkbooks and ledgers, including donations, expenditures, Sky and Telescope subscriptions and dues for the years 1975 through 1983. Each record was researched, and the data added to the manuscript.

-------------

  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix I)
 
 
 
 

Appendix II

Project Flare-Watch
 

(See the observatory director for this section.)

-------------
 
 
 
 

(Appendix III)
 

The Membership and the Observatory: A Pictorial
Photographs from 1971 were taken by an unidentified club member, and have become the property of the association archives. Photographs of the dedication in 1977, and others in 1974, 1978 (Bob and the radio telescope) and 1983 were taken by Jeff Lichtman. Photographs of the 1977 dedication, Project Flare-Watch and the mall show at Hollywood Fashion Center were provided by Barry Perlman. An 8-1/2 by 11 of the gnomon, taken in 1975, was provided by Russell Peecook. Photographs of  Brian Norcross, the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts in 1989 and 1990, and of the night sky were taken by David Silverstein. The Christening of the C14: June 15, 1991 was provided by Mary Huey for Louis Huey, and The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers, August 8, 1992 and The 15-Year Reunion: The Sunday after Christmas 1992 were taken and provided by Jeff Lichtman. Herb Knapp provided photographs of the 1993 memorial service for Bob Sickels and Jack Finnigan. Other photographs of the Sickels/Finnigan memorial service were taken by Jeff Lichtman and David Silverstein. The Memorial/Dedication of the CCD for David Silverstein: October 8, 1994 and The "Cookbook" CCD Imager Workshop: 1995 were taken by Steve Wells. Jeff and Alan Lichtman in the Kornfeld Garden in September of 1995 by Alan and Jeff Lichtman. Photographs of the 30th Anniversary Celebration: May 18, 1996 were taken by Jim Dailing. The opposition of Mars, Hale-Bopp and the lunar eclipse: March 23, 1997 were taken by Steve Wells. Photographs taken by David Silverstein were provided by Susan Silverstein/Jenny Tartaglia and Vic McKeighan. Photographs of the Kornfeld Garden were taken by Ed Ramos. The installation of the radio telescope and the early work on the Schmidt-Cass. piers was taken by Nick Lawrus and Ed Ramos. Photographs of Astronomy Day--November 1997 were taken by Buddy Shelton, Photographs of the gathering for the solar eclipse of February 26, 1998 were taken by Nick Lawrus. Repair of the Mansard roof: July 1998, by Bob Young. Lou Huey: July 1998, by Mary Huey. The Pioneer Days Celebration: October 1998 was taken and provided by Bill Hodges. The Huey Telescope--LX200-16 by Herb Knapp. The completion of the fixed piers: June 1999, by Herb Knapp and Gary Bloom. Hurricane Irene: October 17, 1999, by Herb Knapp. The Observatory, Inside and Out: October 30, 1999, by Gary Bloom and Herb Knapp. Pioneer Days Celebration: November 1999, International Planetarium Directors Congress Conference: November 6, 1999 and Astronomy Day: November 13, 1999, by Gary Bloom. Restoration of the Wylie/Stephens Telescope: November 1999 to 2000, by Jeff Lichtman. Millenium Quilt 2000, by Herb Knapp's sister, :Lorraine Stevens. "Just Another Saturday Night"--May 2000 and Solar Day: May 27, 2000 by Herb Knapp. The Pier for the LX200-16: June 3, 2000 and Buzz Aldrin at Buehler Planetarium: June 2000, by Herb Knapp. The Temporary Dome for the LX200-16 and the 12.5-inch Equatorial Newtonian: August 2000, by Bob Young. Pioneer Days: October 2000 and Astronomy Weekend 2000: November 2000, by Gary Bloom.
 

Table of Contents--Book 1
A star party at the Wylies': 1971
The Gnomon, by Russell Peecook: March 1975
A Time for Celebration--The Dedication Ceremony: March 20, 1977
The Brandon Refractor (1949) and the Zeiss mount (1923)
(Together at Last: 1980)
Erection of the 25-foot Parabolic Radio Antenna: 1-8-78
Project Flare-Watch: 1980
A Mall Show: April 9, 1983
Photos of events of 1974 and 1983
Dr. Joseph Dennison Fox (1904 to 1985)
Wayne Davidson of the WD Ranch: Honorary member, March 3, 1988
Public nights: 1989, 1992 and 1993
Girl Scouts at the Park: November 1989
Boy Scouts at the Park: February 1990
The Christening of the C14: June 15, 1991
The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers: August 8, 1992
The 15-Year Reunion: The Sunday after Christmas 1992
The Memorial for Bob Sickels and Jack Finnigan: December 26, 1993
 

Table of Contents--Book 2
The Memorial/Dedication of the CCD for David Silverstein: October 8, 1994
The "Cookbook" CCD Imager Workshop: 1995
Jeff and Alan Lichtman in the Kornfeld Garden in September of 1995
The 30th Anniversary Celebration: May 18, 1996
The opposition of Mars, Hale-Bopp and the lunar eclipse: March 23, 1997
Restoration of the Kornfeld Garden: October and November 1997
Installation of the Radio Telescope and the Schmidt-Cass. Piers: Nov. 1997
Astronomy Day: November 15, 1997
In and Around the Observatory in 1997
Solar Eclipse: Fox Observatory: February 26, 1998
Wayne Davidson (1915/17 to 1998)
Chuck Faranda and Supernova 1998bu: May 1998
Mars Day: July 4, 1998
Repair of the Observatory's Mansard Roof: July 1998
Lou Huey (1929 to 1998)
Pioneer Days Celebration: October 1998
Astronomy Day: November 14, 1998
The Huey Telescope: LX200-16: March 1999
The Completion of the Fixed Piers: June 1999
Hurricane Irene turns the Kornfeld Zodiacal Garden into Kornfeld Island (October 17, 1999)
The Observatory, Inside and Out: October 30, 1999
(closing out the century with a new look)
Pioneer Days Celebration: November 6/7, 1999
International Planetarium Directors Congress Conference: Nov. 6, 1999
Astronomy Day: November 13, 1999
 

Table of Contents--Book 3
Millennium Quilt 2000
The Quilt for the Broward County Historical Commission: January 2000
The Restoration of the Wylie/Stephens Telescope by Jeff Lichtman:
November 1999 to  2000
"Just Another Saturday Night"--May 2000
Solar Day: May 27, 2000
The New Pier for the Meade 16-inch LX200: May 29 and June 3, 2000
Buzz Aldrin at Buehler Planetarium: June, 2000
Erecting the Pier for the Second Radio Telescope Dish: July 10, 2000
The Temporary Dome for the LX200-16: August 25, 2000
The 12.5-inch Newtonian Reflector: August 2000
Pioneer Days Celebration: October 14 and 15, 2000
Astronomy Day: November 18 and 19, 2000
 

"The Story of the Brandon Refractor"
"SFAAA Orientation Package"
 

Other Albums
David Silverstein (1989 to 1994)
  (Sun and sunsets, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pleiades, Orion, Cygnus, 8-inch S-C and fireworks)
Arno van Werven
  (Sun and sunsets, Moon closeups, Jupiter, Saturn)
Nicholas Lawrus
  (astrophotography and atmospheric phenomena)
Chuck Faranda
  (roll-off roof observatory)
Chuck Faranda
  (1998bu)
John Larbig
  (astrophotography)
 

Historical Documents and Other Information
Amateur Radio Astronomy Systems, Procedures, and Projects (Jeff Lichtman--1997)
Amateur Radio Astronomy Notebook, Volume 2. (Bob Sickels--1992)
Under Southern Skies: 1950 through 2000 (160 pages, G. Bloom--2001)
SFAAA Orientation Package (23 pages, G. Bloom--2001: copies available)
  (A copy is included at the back of Photo Album, Book 3)
The Meridian Notebook (SFAAA newsletters from 1998 forward)
  (Includes a copy of the "The Perfect Telescope" and the observatory eyepieces)
"Welcome to Fox Observatory" (1 page--2001: copies available)
"The Story of the Brandon Refractor" (3 pages--1999: copies available)
  (A copy is included in the The Meridian Notebook)
"The Perfect Telescope" (33 pages, G. Bloom-2001: copies available)
  (A copy is included at the back of The Meridian Notebook)

-------------

  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix III--historical)
 
 
 
 

Appendix IV

Membership Records and Archival Catalog
 
 

SFAAA Officers and Committeepersons in Chronological Order
 As the association has grown, new offices have been added and a few of the existing offices have undergone changes in responsibility and title. For example: the 1st vice president, became the executive vice president, then it became the executive vice president/program chairman and eventually it became vice president/program director.  After 1989, it appears the director positions were not filled, or that director and trustee positions were considered to have been roughly interchangeable.

 An additional note: Occasionally, a club member was nominated and elected to an office they did not desire or were not able to serve in. In some cases, an office holder may not recall holding such office. In other situations, a research error may have been made or there were several versions of what happened. While making a continuing effort to respect privacy and respond to those who wish anonymity, as many of the electees as possible have been listed. If research is still going on or is incomplete this symbol (*?) appears next to the entry affected.

1965 (20 charter members)
Pres.:  John Gallagher
1st Vice Pres.:  Joseph Cardin
2nd Vice Pres.:  Harold Pender
Treasurer.:  Charlie Wylie
Secretary:  Anita Haack

1966 (24-30 members)
Pres.:  H. G. Perry
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Joseph Cardin
2nd Vice Pres.:
Treas.:  Charlie Wylie
Secrty.:  Vicki McGraw  (acting)

1967 (30 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Joseph Cardin
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Mollie O'Donnell
Vice Pres.:  Harold Pender
Treas.:  Charlie Wylie
Secrty.:  Kay Ellington

1968 (43 to 52 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Joseph Cardin
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Frank McCarthy
Vice Pres.:  Bob Berentsen
Treas.:  Charlie Wylie
Secrty.:  Jerome Stone
Asst. Secrty.:  Vicki M. McGraw
Dir. at Lrg.:  H. G. Perry
Alt. Dir. at Lrg.:  Mike Cipoletto
Historian:  Ethel Murzin

1969 (43 to 49 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Joseph Cardin
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Frank McCarthy
Vice Pres.:  Mollie O'Donnell
Treas.:  Charlie Wylie
Secrty.:  Diann Post
Dir. at Lrg.:  H. G. Perry
Alt. Dir.:  Robert Murzin

1970 (36 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Wendell Marsh
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Ken Ellington
Vice Pres.:  Ray Megna
Treas.:  Vicki McGraw
Secrty.:  Kay Ellington
Dir. at Lrg.:  H. G. Perry
Alt. Dir.:  Joseph Cardin

1971 (29 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Charlie Wylie,
Pres.:  Mollie O'Donnell
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Joe Carr
Vice Pres.:  Joe Amick
Treas.:  Wendell Marsh
Secrty.:  Ethel Murzin (vacated after 7-20-71/illness; Mary Wylie: acting)
Dir. at Lrg.:  Charlie Wylie
Audtng. Cmte. (1970: prior year): Jerome Stone

1972 (48 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Mary Wylie, Vicki McGraw, Ted Rosz
Pres.:  Charlie Wylie
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Mollie O'Donnell
Vice Pres.:  Barry Perlman
Treas.:  Vicki McGraw
Secrty.:  Mary Wylie
Dir. at Lrg.:  Ted Rosz
Prog. Comte.:  Mollie O'Donnell, Barry Perlman, Roy Lurcott

1973 (39-43 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Mollie O'Donnell, Barry Perlman, Art DeLaurentis
Pres.:  Bob Sickels
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Mary Wylie
Vice Pres.:  Walt Golden
Treas.:  Art DeLaurentis
Secrty.:  Wayne Darland
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Stephan Thompson (The Eyepiece: first issued July 19.1973)
Dir. at Lrg.:  T. Frank Cheaney
Prog. Comte.:  Barry Perlman, Mollie O'Donnell, and Mary Wylie
Audtng. Cmte.:  Wayne Darland
Memshp. Cmte.:  Barry Perlman and Charlie Wylie (appointed by pres. for 6 mons)

1974 (41 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Mollie O'Donnell (Chr. Lady.), Shula Raney, Charlie Wylie, Mark Hamilton, Wayne Darland
Pres.:  Art DeLaurentis
Ex. Vice Pres.:  Charlie Wylie
Vice Pres.:  Wayne Darland
Treas.:  Barry Perlman
Secrty.:  Mary Jane DeLaurentis
Constrct. Cordntr.:  Bob Sickels
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Stephan Thompson
Dir. at Lrg.:  Bob Sickels
Audtng. Cmte. (For 1973):  Barry Perlman and Wayne Darland

1975: (43 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Jeff Lichtman
Ex. V. P./Prog. Chr.:  Ralph Boyd
Vice Pres.:  Stephan Thompson
Treas.:  John Caldwell (rsgnd. 7/31/75) George Johnston
Secrty.:  Dorothy Sickels
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Stephan Thompson (resigned from office early in the year)
Dir. at Lrg.:  Mollie O'Donnell
Constrct. Cordntr.:  Bob Sickels
Fund Chr.:  Bob Sickels
Bldg. Fund. Cmte.:  Bob and Dorothy Sickels, John and Sandra Caldwell (Pres.)
Chr. Tscpe. Cmte.:  Barry Perlman
Vice Chr. Tscpe. Cmte.:  John Martin
Book drawings:  Walt Zalph

1976: (49 to 51 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.: Bob Sickels, Charlie Wylie, Arthur DeLaurentis
Pres.:  Ralph Boyd (Ralph resigned late in the year, and Bob Sickels served the balance of the 1976 term.)
Ex. V. P./Prog. Chr.:  John Martin
Vice Pres.:  Bob Sickels
Treas.:  Lyndon Allwood
Secrty.:  Walt Zalph
Dir. at Lrg.:  Jeff Lichtman
Constrct. Cordntr.:  Bob Sickels
Fund Chr.:  Bob Sickels
Observatory Crew:  Rick Adams, Ralph Boyd, Paul Daniel, Charlie Helwig, George Johnston, Sylvia and Charles Lawson, Joe Leo, Jeff Lichtman, John Martin, Rae Parnell, Barry Perlman, Robert and Dorothy Sickels, Mike Smith, Joe Taylor and Walt Zalph
Chr. Tscpe. Cmte.:  Barry Perlman
Vice Chr. Tscpe. Cmte.:  John Martin
Tscpe Cmte.:  Walt Golden

1977 (51 to 53 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Bob Sickels
Ex. V. P./Prog Dir.:  Barry Perlman
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Joe Leo
Treas.:  Sylvia Lawson
Secrty.:  Charles Helwig
Dir. at Lrg.:  John Martin
Constrct. Cordntr.:  Bob Sickels
Observatory Crew:  Rick Adams, Ralph Boyd, Paul Daniel, Charlie Helwig, George Johnston, Sylvia and Charles Lawson, Joe Leo, Jeff Lichtman, John Martin, Rae Parnell, Barry Perlman, Robert and Dorothy Sickels, Mike Smith, Joe Taylor and Walt Zalph
Chr. Ded. Cmte.:  Lyndon Allwood

1978 (41 to 45 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Joseph Fox
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  Jeff Lichtman
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Barry Perlman
Treas.:  Ralph Morris until April (In April, Jack Finnigan took over the position until the next election)
Secrty.:  Herb Harris
Asst. Prog. Dir./Dir. at Lrg.:  Bob Sickels
Dir. at Lrg.:  Jack Finnigan

1979 (43 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Ralph Boyd
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  Mike Smith
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Bob Sickels
Treas.:  Jack Finnigan
Secrty.:  George Johnston
Dir. at Lrg.(2):  (Unknown, but Joseph Fox was a logical successor.)
Codrctrs.--Project Flare Watch:  Bob Sickels and Barry Perlman
Property Trustee (3):

1980: (39 to 41 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  Jack Finnigan
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  Chuck McRae
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Barry Perlman (Bob Sickels listed in the newspaper as volunteer observatory director, 7-17-80, gone to Fort Pierce 11-80)
Treas.:  Mike Smith
Secrty.:  George Johnston
Dir. at Lrg.:  Dr. Joseph Fox, Frank Kornfeld
Codrctrs.--Project Flare Watch:  Bob Sickels and Barry Perlman
Property Trustee (3):

1981 (43 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  George Johnston
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  Barry Perlman
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Ray Lamb
Treas.:  Mike Smith
Secrty.:  Joe Leo
Dir. at Lrg.:  Dr. Joseph Fox,  Frank Kornfeld
Property Trustee (3):

1982 (39-43 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  George Johnston
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  Joseph Taylor
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Steve King
Treas.:  Mike Smith
Secrty.:  Joe Leo
Nwsltr. Ed.:  George Johnston-May; Barry Perlman--April, June, December
Dir. at Lrg.:  Dr. Joseph Fox, Frank Kornfeld
Property Trustee (3):

1983 (35 to 39 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  George Johnston (*?)
Pres.:  Stephen King
Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir.:  George Johnston
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Manny Demelo
Treas.:  Mike Smith
Secrty.:  Ray Lamb resgnd by 4/7/83 (Jack Finnigan acting as of 4/7/83 and was elected to finish term on 5/5/83.)
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Barry Perlman: February and August/September, Steve King: March and April
Dir. at Lrg.:  Dr. Joseph Fox, Frank Kornfeld
Property Trustee (3):

1984 (45-49 members)
Nmntg Cmte.:  Bruce Haigh, Joe Leo, Warren Silverman
Pres.:  Warren Silverman
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  George Johnston
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Barry Perlman until after mid 1984, David Goldstein filled in until 10/84, and joined the military late in the year)  (*?)
Treas.:  Bruce Haigh
Secrty.:  Jack Finnigan
Nwsltr. Ed.:  None till the fall: David Goldstein: September, Joe Leo: November and Warren Silverman: December
Dir. at Lrg.:  Stephen King, Joe Leo
Property Trustee (3):

1985 (32 to 50 members: There was an unusually large turnover in membership during 1984, 1985 and 1986. See more on this in the text for 1984 and 1985. On disc, search for: roller coaster.)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Steve King, Joe Leo, William Pyne
Pres.:  Bruce Haigh
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Steve King
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Ron Beauregard
Treas.:  Joe Leo
Secrty.:  Jack Finnigan
Nwsltr. Ed.: Warren Silverman: January, Steve King: from February on, with contributions by Vic McKeighan
Dir. at Lrg.:  George Johnston, Warren Silverman
Property Trustee (3):

1986 (65 Members)
Nmntg. Comte.:  Vic McKeighan, Rex Huss, Bob Higgins, Richard & Faith Tice
Pres.:  Bruce Haigh
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Steve King
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Vic McKeighan
Treas.:  Joe Leo
Secrty.:  Jack Finnigan
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Steve King
Dir. at Lrg.(Trustee):  Ron Beauregard (86-89), George Smoot (85-88) served from 2/86 to 4/86, George Johnston, served from 4/86 replacing George Smoot.
(Having three directors at large was probably an attempt to put the trustees office in place. The trustees were to be elected for staggered, 3 year terms. Trustees and directors were listed separately in 1987. There is more on this in the text for the years 1978 and 1989. On disc, search for: Article VI)

1987 (60? members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  George Johnston, Warren Silverman, Tom Peters
Pres.:  Ron Beauregard
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Richard Tice
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Rex Huss
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Jack Finnigan
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Steve King, with contributions by Ron Beauregard, Faith Tice and Richard Tice
Dir. at Lrg.:  Bruce Haigh, Steve King
Prop. Trste:  Vic McKeighan (87-90), Ron Beauregard (86-89) George Johnston (85-88)

1988 (61-62 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Joe Leo, Sy Weiner, James Van Dyke
Pres.:  Joe Leo
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Arnold Pearlstein
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  George Johnston
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Jack Finnigan
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Joe Leo and Ron Beauregard until mid year, Nick Lawrus from 9/1/88
Dir. at Lrg.:  Warren Silverman
Prop. Trste.:  Tom Peters(88-91), Vic McKeighan(87-90), Ron Beauregard(86-89)

1989 (61 to 62 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Steve King, Bruce Haigh, Vic McKeighan
Pres.:  Jack Finnigan
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Tom Peters
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Vic McKeighan
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Steve King to 9/89, Douglas Jones after 9/89
Nwsltr. Ed./Dir. at Lrg:  Nick A. Lawrus
Dir. at Lrg.:  George Johnston to 9/89, Joe Pasint after 11/89)
Prop. Trste.:  Warren Silverman (89-92), Tom Peters (88-91), Vic McKeighan (87-90)

1990 (67 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Warren Silverman, Barry Perlman and Ron Beauregard
Pres.:  (Jack Finnigan until 3/1) Phil Hauger from 3/1/90 to 2/91
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  (Nick Lawrus, declined) Tom Peters (acting)
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Vic McKeighan
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Ron Beauregard
Nwsltr. Ed.:  (actng) Phil Hauger until April; Bob Higgins after April
Dir. at Lrg.:  (After 1989, it appears the director positions were not filled, or that director and trustee positions were considered to have been interchangeable.)
Prop. Trste.:  Joe Leo-93, Warren Silverman-92, Tom Peters-2/91

1991 (61 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  David Silverstein, Bill Kornegay and Dan Riefler
Pres.:  Phil Hauger
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Barry Perlman till 8/91, Andy Malmed thereafter
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Lee Poulin (Lee fell from a roof fracturing his pelvis in December of 1991. Lee was recuperating from a hip injury for about a month before being reelected as observatory director in 1992. The other officers and members kept the observatory open to the public until Lee's return.)
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Ron Beauregard  (Bob Higgins stood in 1/3/91)
Newsltr. Ed.:  Bob Higgins
Dir. at Lrg.:  (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Tom Peters-94, Joe Leo-93, Warren Silverman-92

1992 (61 to 65 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Warren Silverman, Vic McKeighan, David Silverstein
Pres.:  Vic McKeighan
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Andrew Malmed
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Lee Poulin
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Ron Beauregard (Bob Higgins acting: 4/2 and 5/7) (David Silverstein acting 7/2 and 8/6) (Ron Beauregard resigned 9/3) (Cynthia Mothner from 9/3)
Newsltr. Ed.:  Bob Higgins
Dir. at Lrg.:  (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Phil Hauger-95, Tom Peters-94 , Joe Leo-93

1993 (65 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  David Silverstein, Bill Weaver, Alberta Gerum
Pres.:  Bill Weaver
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Andy Malmed
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Lee Poulin until June
Asst. Obs. Dir. :  David Goldstein (after 5/6/93, and became observatory director in June)
Treas.:  Louis Huey
Secrty.:  Cynthia Mothner
Asst. Secrty.:  C. J. Hall
Newsltr. Ed.:  Bob Higgins to 4/93 (C. J. Hall 5/93 and 6/93. The newsletter was not produced for most of the rest of the year.)
Dir. at Lrg.:  (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Phil Hauger-95, Vic McKeighan-96, Tom Peters-94

1994 (57 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:
Pres.:  David Goldstein
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Steve Wells
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Asst. Obs. Dir.:  Clayton J. Hall
Treas.:  Alberta Gerum (Louis Huey acting till 8/94)
Secrty.:  Cynthia Mothner
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver  (non-voting office)
Public Relatns.:  Steve King
Dir. at Lrg.:  (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Bill Weaver-97, Vic McKeighan-96, Phil Hauger-95,

1995 (55 to 60 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Bill Weaver
Pres.:  David Goldstein
ice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  Steve Wells
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Assist. Obs. Dir.:  Derek Mellen
Treas.:  Jim Dailing
Secrty.:  Joel Runes
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg.:  (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Lou Huey (inventory)-98, Bill Weaver-97, Vic McKeighan-96

1996 (63 to 67 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Bill Weaver
Pres.:  Steve Wells
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  David Goldstein
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Assist. Obs. Dir.: none
Treas.:  Jim Dailing
Secrty.:  Milton Chernin
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg. (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Vic McKeighan--96, Bill Weaver--97, Lou Huey--97 (inventory)

1997 (varied between 73 and 85 members, with 45 new members)
Nmntg. Cmte.: Bill Weaver
Pres.:  Steve Wells
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.: (at large)
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Assist. Obs. Dir.: (at large)
Treas.:  Jim Dailing
Secrty.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg. (See 1990)
Prop. Trste.:  Lou Huey-97, Vic McKeighan-97, Bill Weaver-97

1998 (85 to 90 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.:  Bill Weaver, Herb Knapp, Steve Wells
Pres.:  Charles Faranda
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.:  David Lord
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Assist. Obs. Dir.:  (at large: Robert Young, Norm Mandel)
Treas.:  Buddy Welton (Jim Dailing assisting)
Secrty.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg.: Jim Dailing, Ed Ramos
Prop. Trste.:  Steve Wells-98, Jim Dailing-99, Ed Ramos-2000, Lou Huey--98 (inventory)

1999 (85 to 95 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.: Norman Mandel, elections chairperson
Pres.: Charles Faranda
Vice Pres./Prog. Dir.: David Lord
Vice Pres./Obs. Dir.:  Herb Knapp
Assist. Obs. Dir.: (at large: Robert Young, Norm Mandel)
Treas.:  Buddy Shelton
Secrty.:  (acting: Bill Weaver)
Nwsltr. Ed.:  Bill Weaver (non-voting office)
Dir. at Lrg.:  Jim Dailing and Ed Ramos
Prop. Trste:  Steve Wells--99, Jim Dailing (inventory)--00, Ed Ramos--01

2000 (80 members)
Nmntg. Cmte.: Bill, Weaver, Norm Mandel
President:  Steve Wells
Vice President/Program Director: David Lord
Vice President/Observatory Director: Herb Knapp
Treasurer: Bob Young
Secretary: (acting) Bill Weaver
Newsletter Editor:  Bill Weaver (Steve Wells started phasing in with the November issue)
Dir. at Lrg:  Chuck Faranda, Buddy Shelton
Prop. Trste:  Gary Bloom--00, Chuck Faranda (inventory)--01, Buddy Shelton--02
 

2001 (80+ members)
Nmntg. Cmte.: Bill, Weaver, Norm Mandel
President:  Steve Wells
Vice President/Program Director: Noah McBurnett
Vice President/Observatory Director: Herb Knapp
Treasurer: Bob Young
Secretary:  Jon Ziverts
Newsletter Editor:  Steve Wells
Dir. at Lrg: Chuck faranda, Buddy Shelton
Prop. Trste: Gary Bloom, David Lord, Bill Weaver
-------------

  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix IV--officers and committeepersons)
 
 
 
 

SFAAA members in alphabetical order
 During the early years, some individuals were shown on membership lists, but never actually became dues paying members, or, were periodic in their dues paying and participation. However, if the available information indicated the club considered them members, they are shown as such. While some came and went others were more zealous, and paid there dues more often than the usual twelve-month cycle. In the early years, with the balance in the treasury occasionally running low, it was considered beneficial to everyone's interest to renew early. In the 1970s, with fund drives and the observatory construction project at the focus of club activities this was common practice.

 If a member occasionally allowed his or her dues to lapse for more than a few months, but was reasonably consistent over the period of their membership, they are included here as having continuous service. However, in a few instances, if a member periodically lapsed or dropped out for more than 6 to 9 months they may be shown as being members two or three, and in one case, four separate times. Interestingly, one member was listed for 6 years, but only paid dues for the last year, and then dropped out at the beginning of what would have been the 7th year.

 In some cases the names of spouses are listed separately. This is because both names were listed, or, one or the other or both served as an officer. Occasionally, a spouse would become inactive after a few years, and the other would continue to attend meetings for several years more. For purposes of this document, it is considered that both continued to be members. However, because of variations in the data and the potential for a few inconsistent entries the indicated start and finish dates for a husband and wife are not always same.

 Occasionally, with the reduction of the data, a best-guess had to be made. If there is conflicting information as to when someone joined or left the association, the earliest likely start date and the latest likely leave date are shown. There are 851 all-time members as of 4-25-01. (Active spouses are counted separately. An asterisk after a name and date indicates the member is deceased. An asterisk with a "?" (i.e., *?) means information is needed.)

Robert Abbot  9/8/87 to 1/90;
Gloria Abbot (and Robert)  9/8/87 to 1/90;
Geraldine Adams (family)  5/21/84 to 5/85;
Rick Adams (obs. crew 76)  10/30/75 to 10/77;
Marjorie Adams  (visitor in 72);
Fernando Aguilera  8/2/92 to 8/93;
Lon and Victoria Alexander (student)  6/96 to 6/97;
Paul Alexander Jr.  10/00 to 10/01;
Louis J. Alfonso  (Patron 97-99)  4/7/90 to 4/93 and 7/8/94 to 4/99 and 5/00 to 5/01;
Lyndon V. (Lyn) Allwood (Treas. 76, chr. ded. cmte. 77)  4/7/74 to 4/84;
Amateur Astronomy magazine  99;
Joe Amick (Vice Pres. 71)  before 4/6/66 to 6/17/72;
George Amon  10/00 to 10/01;
Reratta Anatti  1/97 to 1/98;
Michael (Mike) Andersen  3/7/96 to 3/97;
Richard Andrews (Patron 97)  6/97 to 6/98;
Joseph Angell  (Patron 98-99)  3/98 to 3/99;
Jair Armatrading (Patron 97)  3/97 to 3/98;
Bill Arrants  12/22/84 to 12/85; (*?)
Christina Arrants  12/22/84 to 12/85; (*?)
John B. Ashe  11/8/88 to 11/90;
Ray E. Astrip (Artrip)  8/90 to 8/91; (*?)
Paul Aversa  9/94 to 9/95;
William A. Axsom  1/5/78 to 1/80;
Dave S. Ayala  9/27/86 to 9/87;
Ivan and Dawn Ayala (Patron 97)  4/97 to 4/98;
Michael Bacon  (student)  2/3/93 to 2/94;
Kenneth Bailey  before 3/29/67 to after 1/74; (*?)
H. Y. Barnes  9/3/76 to 9/78;
Charles J. Barney  3/16/86 to 3/87;
John Barron  2/96 to 2/97;
Dave Barstow  5/3/83 to 5/85;
Donna Barstow  5/3/83 to 5/85;
Joe Bass  12/13/73 to 12/75;
Edward L. Batoff  4/16/76 to 4/79 and 2/1/80 to 2/81 and 12/28/82 to 1/85  and 3/4/87 to 3/90;
Willard (Gene) Baughman  9/7/85 to 9/91;
Dave Baum  6/8/84 to 6/87;
Isabel M. Beach  5/8/95 to 5/96;
Jeffrey Beall  8/24/96 to 9/97;
Ron Beauregard (Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 85, Dir. at Lrg. 86/Trste. 87,88, Pres. 87, shard Nwsltr. Ed. 2/88 to 8/88;
Secrty. 90,91 and 2/92 to 9/3/92 then rsgnd. position)  5/21/84 to 6/94;
Greg Bechel  7/16/89 to 8/91;
Nancy Beer  9/98 to 9/99;
Wayne Behrel (Behrle)  6/6/72 to 6/73; (first meeting 5/25/72)
Donald H. Behrman  12/10/78 to 12/79;
Lucy P. Belk  2/2/92 to 3/94;
Michael and Mary Bennefield  3/99 to 3/00;
Inaka Beoza  8/98 to 8/99;
Bob Berensten (Vice Pres. 68)  by 3/8/67 to 69;
Laurel Berez  11/96 to 11/99;
Harold Berger, M.D.  11/1/89 to 11/90;
Duncan Berges (Patron 00-)  1-00 to 1-01;
Matt Berkman  8/98 to 8/99;
Chris Bergman  4/20/72 to 4/75;
Stephen and Joan Berkowitz  1/99 to 1/00;
Al Bersok  before 1/68 to 11/68, 69 or 70;  (*?)
Linda Beurle (became Adams in 77)  11/13/75 to 11/78;
Jerry Bifulco  7/14/77 to 7/78;
Terry Blalock  9/20/81 to 9/82;
Michael Blatt, M.D.  12/6/73 to 12/77;
Gary Bloom (Patron 98-01) (history project, 1995 - 1996 and through 2000) (Dir. at Lrg. 00)  6/1/95 to 7/01 (visitor 74,76,79,80,86 and 94);
Robyn and Noel Bloomfield  4/99 to 4/00;
Corey Bohling  3/98 to 3/99;
Hector L. Bombino  10/14/77 to 10/78;
Edward Boss  11/17/85 to 5 or 11/89; (renewed 5/88) (*?)
Fred Botner Jr.  12/94 to 1/98;
Ralph W. Boyd (Ex. V. P./Prog. Chr. 75, Obs. Crew 76,77, Pres. from 2/76 to 11/76 and 79);  10/25/73 to 10/84
and 9/85 to 10/86 and 9/97 to 9/98;
Richard Boyd  2/7/74 to 2/75;
Jim Bracken (Patron 99-00)  4/99 to 4/00;
Rolando M. Branly (Patron 96-98)  7/2/93 to 6/98; (at meetings as early as 4/3/93)
Allison Breittholz  6/95 to 6/96;
Drew Breittholz  6/95 to 6/96;
Joe Breno  5/4/94 to 5/95;
Douglas Brown  3/98 to 3/99;
Jackie Brown  5/3/83 to 5/84;
Lawrence Brown  4/22/78 to 4/79;
Greg Browning  1/2/77 to 1/78;
Tom Brzuszek  1/16/79 to 1/80;
Darlene Buckle  5/96 to 5/97;
Robert Bunch  67 to 70; (visitor and guest speaker during the late 60s. A young amateur from Peoria, IL. The son-in-law of Charlie and Mary Wylie. In the late 1960s the Bunches made yearly visits to see the Wylies, and during their stays, they attended SFAAA meetings.)
Raymond W. Burbank  6/6/81 to 6/82;
Bruce A. Burke (Patron 96-99)  8/7/96 to 6/99;
Cynthia Burke (Patron 96-99)  8/7/96 to 6/99;
Frank Burleigh  74 to 75;
Allen Burrows  4/23/73 to 4/75;
Melvin Burrows Jr.  4/23/73 to 4/74;
Marilyn Burrows  4/23/73 to 4/74;
Philip (Phil) Busey   9/94 to 9/96 and 5/97 to 5/98;
Dennis Bushong  10/2/87 to 10/88;
Pat Butler (Patron 97-98)  12/97 to 12/98;
Jeff Byrd   2/13/82 to 2/83;
Laura Byrd  2/13/82 to 2/83;
Sergio Caballero  4/74 or 4/10/75 to 4/76;  (*?)
Peter Cadden (Buehler Planetarium technician)  12/2/82 to 12/83;
Larry Cafiero  12/16/85 to 12/87;
Ronald M. Cahill  3/11/76 to 3/77;
Frederick M. Caldwell  12/97 to 12/98;
John Caldwell (Treas. 2/75 to 7/31/75) 2/14/74 to 3/76 and 2/9/80 to 3/82 (shown on membership list from 2/76 to 3/77, but not in the ledger);
Sandra Caldwell  2/14/74 to 3/82;
Collin Campbell (Patron 00-01)  11/00 to 11/01;
Joseph Campbell  5/3/93 to 5/94;
Dan Campese  2/99 to 2/00;
James J. Cannon  3/24/77 to 3/84;
Jan Cannon   7/5/79 to 7/80;
Joseph Cardin (Charter Member/Board, 1st Vice Pres. 65, Ex. V. P. 66, Pres. 67,68, 69, Alt. Dir. 70) (Joe Cardin was the only member to be president for three consecutive terms. Joe left the club in 1972 because of poor health.)  65 to 12/72;
Curtiss L. Carr (Ex. V. P. 71)  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 72;
Herbert Carrion  (Patron 96-98)  11/96 to 1/99;
Bill Carroll  12/97 to 12/98;
Don and Rosemary Castille  9/94 to 9/95;
Joseph Castro  8/2/92 to 8/94;
Paul Ceparano  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;
Maryanne Cerra  7/13/86 to 7/87;  (on list until 2/20/88)
David Chaiten  12/9/79 to 12/80;
Irma Chaiten  12/9/79 to 12/80;
Bryant Harris Chalkiadi  4/96 to 8/99;
William Chambers  11/14/93 to 9/97, 6/99 to 6/01;
Carlos Chavez  10/7/82 to 10/83 and 4/84 to 4/85;
T. F. Cheaney (AAVSO) (Dir. at Lrg. 73)  before 7/21/72 to 10/25/75;
Ben H. Chen  9/8/86 to 10/94;
Milton Chernin  (Patron 96) (Secrty. 96)  2/1/96 to 2/97;
Richard Chisholm  before 1/68 to after 11/68 or 69; (*?)
Richard R. Chmelik  69 or 70 to 71; (*?)
John Chonka  12/90 to 12/91;
Jane Chunn  7/9/90 to 7/91;
Michael Cipoletto (Dir at Lrg. 68)  before 1/68 to 71; (*?)
Christopher H. Clark  4/16/86 to 87;
Costas Christoulaleis  1/10/95 to 12/95;
Ken Clifford  1/3/93 to 1/94;
Dennis Clift  8/96 to 9/99;
Chuck Coates  11/30/77 to 11/78;
David Cohen  9/8/88 to 9/90;
Gloria Cohen (New York City resident) 1/3/74 to 1/77;
Jay and Sharon Cohen (Patron 99-00)  3/99 to 3/00;
Lester Cohen  12/16/85 to 12/86;
Alfredo Colon  3/97 to 3/98;
Gladwin (Jim) Comes (Hon. Mem. 6/15/72 to 6/29/86*);
Henry Cordova  9/98 to 9/99;
Becky Coretti  11/99 to 11/00;
Jorge F. Cossio  1/3/93 to 4/96;
Joseph Costello Jr.  9/94 to 10/96; (not on membership list for end 1995, but shown in checkbook as paid in October of that year.) (*?)
Allen Cox  (Patron 99-00)  3/98 to 3/00;
Jayson Crandall  (Patron 99-00)  10/98 to 10/99;
Charles Crape  (Patron 97-98)  9/97 to 9/98;
Jim Creveling  4/18/94 to 4/95;
Norvel Crim  12/16/85 to 12/86;
Ronald Crolla  3/3/77 to 3/78;
Carlos J. Cuadros  (Patron 99-00)  3/3/93 to 4/01;
Ronald (Ron) D'Oria  (Patron 00-)  11/1/99 to 11/1/00; 8/3/93 to 11/01;
James L. (Jim) Dailing (Patron 95-00) (Treas. 95,96,97, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 98,99)  2/12/85 to 12/01;
Raymond Dallas  10/25/73 to 10/75;
Paul Daniel (Obs. Crew 76)  5/20/76 to 4/78;
Wayne Darland (Secrty. 73, Vice Pres. 74)  8/31/71 to 9/11/75 and 78 to 79;  (*?)
Gregory Damiani  2/96 to 2/97;
Bernard Daoust  6/21/82 to 6/84;
Manuel I. Dasneves  4/7/90 to 4/91;
Wayne Davidson (Hon. Mem. 3/3/88) 3/3/88 to 5-5-98* (attended a few meetings);
Carlin Davis; (visitor in 72)
Edward Davis  2/98 to 12/99;
Richard Davis  (Patron 00) 11/00 to 11/01;
Nell Davis  (Patron 99-00)  1/99 to 1/00;
Terry and Carol Davis (Patron 96-00)  11/96 to 3/00;
Greg Davison  (Patron 99-00)  1/99 to 1/00;
Kent Dazey; (visitor in 72)
Arthur (Art) S. DeLaurentis (Treas. 73, Pres. 74)  9/11/72 to 9/77;
Mary Jane DeLaurentis (secrty. 74)  9/11/72 to 9/77 Art and Mary Jane moved from Boca Raton to Austin Texas in mid 1996;
Carolina Delon (Patron 00-)  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
Manuel (Manny) Demelo (Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 83) 6/6/81 to 6/98 (16 years and 6 months of membership as of 12/31/97.);
Henry Deprisco  8/8/88 to 8/89; (on list until 11/12/89)
Dennis DeSimone  11/9/89 to 11/9/90;
Mark Diamond  6/96 to 6/97;
Harry Dillard  6/96 to 6/97;
John Dinda  5/4/84 to 5/85;
Joseph Dischinger (Patron 96-97)  2/96 to 2/97;
Maurizio (Maurice) Discivillo  3/2/92 to 3/94;
Roy Dobbin; (visitor in 72)
James Donelson  6/7/87 to 6/7/89 (on list until 9/1/88);
Joe Donohue  2/17/79 to 2/80;
Joseph Dorsey  before 5/30/86 to before 2/20/88; (not in checkbook) (*?)
John Doryk  5/17/82 to 5/83;
Anita Drage  7/3/83 to 7/85;
Steve Drage  7/3/83 to 7/85;
Warren Dresher  1/3/93 to 12/95;
Doug Drovin (Provin?)  12/16/85 to 2/88; (on membership list until 9/1/88) (*?)
Louis J. Dudich (Patron 00-)  11/00 to 11/01;
Robert N. Duke  6/95 to 6/96;
Scott Dunphy  6/14/86 to 6/87;
Georges Durand  8/98 to 8/99;
Ranjan Durara  5/3/93 to 5/94;
Bob Eck (SCAS)  12/24/90 to 2/96;
Robin Eck (SCAS)  12/24/90 to 2/96;
Dan Eisenstadt  12/6/73 to 12/77;
Chad Ellington (son to Ken and Kay: student)  3/14/87 to 3/90;
Kay Ellington (Charter Member, Secrty. 67,70)  11/65 to 72 and 5/14/86 to 5/87;
Ken Ellington (Charter Member, Ex. V. P. 70)  11/65 to 72 and 5/14/86 to 5/87;
Alex Enciso and Lina Cardenas  (Patron 00-01)  11/00 to 11/01;
Carol Epp  8/10/75 to before 7/22/76; (moved to Gulf Coast area);
Robert C. Epp  8/10/75 to before 7/22/76; (moved to Gulf Coast);
Allan Epstein  10/9/89 to 10/95;
George Erkes  4/2/92 to 4/93 (on list until 12/3/93); (*?)
Steve Erlewine  2/96 to 2/97 (attended meeting in Dec. 95);
Joe Evans  2/98 to 2/99 (and 11/99 to 11/00); (*?)
Michael C. Evans  1/21/86 to 1/87;
Merlin Eveleth  3/97 to 3/98;
Harold Fahnert  5/11/72 to 5/11/73; (moved away before 1/1/73)
Fransisco Farach (Franach?)  3/3/88 to 3/90; (*?)
Charles Faranda Jr. and Jon Faranda (Patron 99-00) (Pres. 98,99) (Dir. at Lrg. 00)  2/9/89 to 4/01;
Dr. Alex Farkas   before 11/9/66 to before 1/68;
Ann Fast  6/28/73 to 6/75 (dna);
Jacob Fast  6/28/73 to 6/75 (dna);
Michael Faup  10/98 to 10/99;
Mark Fearer  6/15/72 to 6/73; (last meeting 2/22/73)
Sally Feinman  12/17/80 to 12/81;
Stephen Feinman  12/17/80 to 12/81;
Robert Fennell  5/17/82 to 6/88;
Anthony Ferrer  11/20/75 to 11/76; (*?)
Tony Ferreira  11/6/88 to 12/90; (probably Anthony Ferrer) (*?)
Lisa Ferrier  12/00 to 12/01;
Urbano Figueroa  5/97 to 5/98;
Charlotte Filip  11/1/99 to 11/01/00;
Jerry Fincher  4/16/86 to 11/90;
Jack Finnigan (I.E./Motorola) (Dir. at Lrg. 78, acting Treasurer after 4/78 and all of 79, Secrty. after 4/7/83, through 88, Pres. 80,89 and 2/1/90 to 3/1/90)  7/14/77 to 3/93*; (a member for 15 years and 7 months.)
Jeff Fisher  6/22/78 to 6/79 and 1/9/89 to 1/90;
Ray Fisher  1/9/89 to 1/90;
Walt Fisher, Lt. Col., Ret. (and Valerie) 5/12/72 to 5/7/92 (first to reach 20 years continuous membership.)
Valerie Fisher  5/11/72 to 12/22/84; (*?)
Irv Flamenbaum (Isadore)  12/1/75 to 12/97 (In January of 1996, Irv became the first member over 20 years continuous membership--22 years as of 12-1-97);
Barbara Flynn (Patron 97-98)  4/97 to 4/98;
Dr. Jim Fotopoulos  8/14/72 to 8/75;
Dr. Joseph D. Fox, LLD (Hon. Mem. 71 or 72, Pres. 78, Dir. at Lrg. 79,80,81,82,83) first attended between 3/69 and 12/70 to 1/14/85* (first program on or before 2/9/71, honorary member before 2/8/73);
Sylvia Fox  71 to 82;
Brian Franklin  2/98 to 2/99;
Rob and Teresa Freeman  10/00 to 10/01;
Gunther Freund (Patron 96-97)  5/96 to 6/98;
Edward Frisbee  12/8/80 to 12/81; (visitor on 9/17/80)
Mary Frisbee  12/8/80 to 12/81;
Harold Frish Jr.  7/24/72 to 7/73; (earliest meeting June 29, 1972)
Russell S. Frish  7/24/72 to 7/73;
Carl Froling  3/22/80 to 3/81;
John Frusciante  11/17/85 to 11/86;
Daniel Wm. Fuller  7/3/83 to 7/89;
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Furst  before 1/68 to before 11/68;
Robert R. Gale  9/13/73 to 9/75;
Philip Galletta  1/21/86 to 1/87;
John Gallagher (Charter Member/Board, Pres. 65) 65 to after 1/68;
Laurie Gansemer  12/7/72 to 12/75;
Ralph Gansemer  12/7/72 to 12/75;
Gustavo Garcia   8/2/92 to 8/2/94;
John Gauthier  4/19/67 to after 11/68 or 69;
Seth Gersten  3/99 to 3/00;
Alberta Gerum (Patron 95-00) (Treas. 94)  11/12/91 to 9/99;
Rocky Gimenez  (Patron 99-01)  4-99 to 3/01;
Chris Gibbons  4/17/75 to 4/76;
John Glowa  (Patron 99-00)  12/97 to 1/00;
Roy Goderstad  2/95 to 2/96 and 9/96 to 9/97;
Matthew Gogel  11/98 to 11/99; (*?)
Walt Golden (professor: BJC/BCC) (Vice Pres. 73, Tscpe. Cmte. 76)  5/6/72 to 76;
(Walt helped organize meetings and presented programs in the early 1970s)
Ken Goldman  11/96 to 11/97;
Steve Goldman  1/16/75 to before 7/22/76; (moved to Raleigh, NC, but paid dues and received S and Tuntil 9/77)
David Goldstein (Patron 99-00) (Acting Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. late 84, Asst. Obs. Dir. 5/6/93 and acting Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. after 6/3/93, Co-Nwsltr. Ed. after 5/6/93, Pres. 94,95. Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 96) (Buehler Planetarium Asst., 94 and 95)  3/9/84 to 3/85 (began military service in late 1984.) and 1/2/93 to 7/96; (First meeting before rejoining 12/3/92; departed for Germany 10/96; 1/99 to 1/00;)
James Goldstein  6/75 to fall of 75*; (passed away in November 1975)
William Goldstein  12/98 to 12/99;
Amparo G. Gomez  (Patron 97)  3/97 to 3/98;
Henry Gonzalez  4/99 to 4/00;
Steve Goodman  7/3/75 to 7/76;
Barry Gordon  2/24/77 to 2/78;
Ivan Gordon  5/1/91 to 6/94;
Jim Gorman  7/29/94 to 8/96, 4/99 to 4/00;
Greg Gotlin  5/17/82 to 5/83;
John Grable  10/00 to 10/01;  (*?)
Richard Grant  before 5/4/84 to 8/00;
Oscar H. (Hal) Graver  7/13/78 to 7/79;
Douglas Greer  3/97 to 3/98;
Dawn Grenier  12/97 to 12/98;
Russ Griesemer  7/98 to 7/99;
John Grossman  before 4/19/67 to after 11/68;
Don Gruneisen  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;
Mark Gualtieri  6/98 to 6/99;
Page Guynup  7/27/78 to 7/79;
Scott Guynup  7/27/78 to 7/79;
Anita Haack (Charter Member/Board, Secrty. 65)  65 to 66;
Andrea Haas (Patron 00-01)  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;
Bruce Haigh (Patron 96-00) (Treas. 84, Pres. 85,86, Dir. 87)  10/1/83 to 8-01;
Jerome Hahn  2/15/87 to 2/89; (earliest meeting before 5/30/86)
Clayton Jon Hall (Co-Nwsltr. Ed. 5/6/93, Asst. Obs. Dir. 94)  9/2/92 to 2/94 (paid dues early--2/15/93), and before 2/96 to 2/97;
Reggie Hall (Patron 97-98)  12/97 to 12/98;
Mark Hamilton (away at school: Jennings Hall, Gainesville, 75 and 76; visited summer of 75)  5/24/73 to 5/77;
Gary Hampton (AAVSO); (visitor in 72)
Ray Harmon  6/22/73 to 6/75 (dna);
Michael Harrell (Herrell)  2/4/79 to 2/80;
Herb I. Harris (Secrty. 78)  7/24/75 to 7/87;
Mike Harvey  2/4/78 to 2/79;
Andrew Harzonics  7/14/79 to 7/80;
Lisa Haugen  9/94 to 9/95;
Philip D. Hauger (acting Nwsltr. Ed. until 4/90, Pres. 3/1/90,91, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 92,93,94)  2/8/88 to 2/95;
Raymond Heaton  7/5/79 to 7/84;
Charles (student) and Aileen Helwig (Obs. Crew 76,77, Secrty. 77)  3/75 to 2/79;
Armando Hernandez  8/98 to 8/99;
Bill Hernandez  3/20/72 to 3/75;
Andren Hibbert  12/97 to 12/98;
Bob Higgins (Patron 96-00) (MSEE/Motorola) (Nwsltr. Ed. 5/90 to 4/93)  5/4/84 to 3/01;
Lon Clay Hill Jr. (Professor of Astronomy at BCC/Davis Campus)  6/4/94 to 10/99;
Chris Hinckley  7/3/93 to 7/94;
Bill and Carol Hodges  (Patron 98-99)  12/97 to 6/00;
Hugh Hoffman  3/24/77 to 3/78;
Barry Holeve  6/6/81 to 6/85;
Bruce Honig  1/4/94 to 1/95;
Don Hopkin  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;
Blake Howard  2/7/87 to 2/88;
Paul Howard  6/14/86 to 6/87;
Louis W. Huey (Treas. 87,88,89,90,91,92,93, Treas./temp. 94, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 95,96,97)  3/8/86 to 7/31/98*;
Mary Huey and family (Hon. Mem. 9/3/98);
Jeff  Huff (Patron 00)  4/01 to 4/02;
Amy Addington Huffman (Patron 95/97)  9/94 toÝ12/96;
Eddie Huffman (Patron 95-99)  9/94 to 12/99;
Leon P. Hufnagel  2/1/00 to 2/1/01;
Fred Hughes  before 3/18/76 to after 2/11/77; (not  shown in the ledger)
Jay R. Hurwitz  (Patron 98-00)  7/98 to 7/00;
Rex M. Huss (Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 87, Dir. at Lrg. 88)  11/17/85 to 12/88;
(Rex moved to Atlanta before July of 88)
Michael Hutchins  before 1/68 to after 11/68;
Jim Hynes (Patron 96-00)  4/4/96 to 1/99, 9/99 to 9/00;
Gary Iacopelli  2/12/85 to 4/89; (on list till 8/4/89)
Rick Iossi  4/13/72 to 4/73;
Robert Ireland Jr.  2/90 to 4/1/94;  (traveled to Lick Obs. in CA, 1990)
Scott Ireland  10/6/83 to 10/84;
John Irons  3/2/92 to 3/94;
Paul Jacobs  2/13/82 to 2/83;
Bill Janda  5/1/91 to 5/93;
Vicki Janda  5/1/91 to 5/93;
Charles Jaworski  10/1/99 to 10/1/00;
Dale R. Jenkins  2/13/82 to 2/83 and 4/22/90 to 4/91;
Deborah Jensen  4/99 to 4/00;
Terry Johnson  before 5/30/86 to before 2/20/88; (not in checkbook) (*?)
Angela Johnston  2/14/74 to 8/89;
George Johnston (Treas. 8/75 to 2/76, Obs. Crew. 76,77, Secrty. 79,80, Pres. 81,82, Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 83,84, Dir. at Lrg. 85,4/86 to 2/87,2/89 to 8/89, Trste. 87, Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 88) 2/14/74 to 8/89 and 4/01 to 4/02 (15 years and 6 months of membership as of 12/31/00.);
Donald E. Jones  before 11/9/66 to 69 and 12/23/75 to 12/76; (*?)
Douglas G. Jones (Secrty. 9/89)  10/8/88 to 10/91;
George G. Jones   9/27/80 to 9/81 (on roster 8/20/80);
Jennifer Jones  1/2/93 to 1/94;
Peggy Jones  3/99 to 3/00;
David Judd  1/2/93 to 1/94;
Jonathan Kaplan  7/98 to 7/99;
Helen Kannair (Kennair)  5/9/75 to 4/78;
Dr. Gary D. Karch  11/10/77 to 12/81;
Dr. Sanford J. Karsh (MD)  1/17/81 to 2/83;
Walter Kehler Jr. (Patron 96-00)  7/8/94 to 6/00;
Rhoda Kent  8/7/87 to 9/1/93; (on list until 12/3/93)
Selwyn Kent  8/7/87 to 9/1/93; (on list until 12/3/93)
John Kernan  12/98 to 12/99;
Bob Keyes  1/90 to 1/91;
Diane King  6/30/81 to 2/96;
Steve King, JD, MA (Patron 99-00) (Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 82, Pres. 83, Dir. at Lrg. 84,87, Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 85,86, Nwsltr. 85,86,87, Secrty. 2/89 to after 9/89) 6/30/81 to 2/97, 9/99 to 9/00  (16 years of membership as of 12/99.);
Martin S. Klein  11/27/85 to 11/86;
Michael Klenetsky  8/23/86 to 7/95; (earliest meeting 6/7/86)
Michael Klepper  before 5/30/86 to 87;  (not in checkbook?) (*?)
Herb Knapp (AAVSO, Patron 96-00) (Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 94-00)  3/3/93 to 3/01;
Michael Knapp  2/2/92 to 2/2/93; (on list until 12/3/93)
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Knee  7/20/70 to 7/72;
Dr. Ronald Kolbert  3/22/80 to 3/81;
Alexander Konash  2/6/75 to 2/77;
Matthew Konash  2/6/75 to 2/77;
Ken Kopczynski  10/14/77 to 10/78;
William A. (Bill) Kornegay Jr. (Patron 98-00) 6/14/86 to 8/97 and 9/98 to 9/99; (earliest meeting: 5/7/86)
Carol Kornegay  6/14/86 to 8/97 and 9/98 to 9/99;
Barbara Kornfeld (Hon. Mem. 76)  74 to 77 and 79 to 84 (February 1992*);
Frank W. Kornfeld (Hon. Mem. 76, Dir. at Lrg. 80,81,82,83)  4/3/74 to 4/78, 79-84 and 92 (June 26, 1995*);
Michael Korvela  4/2/92 to 4/94;
Donald Kosmac  4/26/85 to 5/86;
Ken Krishnan  11/93 to 11/94;
Gregory Kruzynski (Krizensky)  8/3/93 to 8/94;
Susan Kuner  3/3/88 to 3/8/89; (on list until 8/4/89)
Steve Kupisz  10/9/75 to 10/76);
James Labella  10/98 to 10/99;
Richard Lacey  12/6/73 to 12/75 and visitor in 76 and 77;
Scott Lacey (son of Richard)  12/6/73 to 12/75 and visitor in 76 and 77; (on list for March 18, 1976 and February  11, 1977) (*?)
Ray Lahey  3/1/76 to  3/77;
Ray Lamb (Obs. Cmte. 80, Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 81, Secrty. 2/83 to 4/7/83)  11/10/79 to 11/84 and 11/7/86 to 11/87;
Yerby Land  1/90 to 1/91 or mid 91 (moved away);
Gary and Jennifer Lang  12/00 to 12/01;
Greg Lanner  10/1/83 to 10/84;
John Larbig (Patron 96-97)  9/96 to 9/97;
Michael Laszlo  10/28/91 to 10/92;
Nicholas A. Lawrus  (Patron 95-98)  (Nwsltr. Ed. after 9/1/88 and 89)  12/7/87 to 12/90 and 11/95 to 11/97 and early on 6/97 to 6/98;
Charles Lawson (and Sylvia) (Obs. Crew 76)  10/74 to 2/81;
Sylvia Lawson (Obs. Crew 76, Treas. 77)  4/16/76 to 2/81;
David Lazarus  3/99 to 3/00;
Howard Lazarus  11/96 to 11/97;
Gary M. Lazich (Asst. Curator, Buehler Planetarium, 88-92) 9/91 to 2/92; (Gary moved to work at planetarium in Jackson, Mississippi in 1992.)
Howard Leban (Hon. Mem. 5/21/75) (Leban Foundation: 2/80 to 7/3/83);
John Leban (son of Howard) (Hon. Mem. 5/21/75) (dna);
Christan LeBienvenu (Patron 00-)  3/98 to 3/00;
Laurie Lee  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 69;
Fred Lehman  3/99 to 3/00;
Howard Leibov  1/10/95 to 1/96 and 12/98 to 12/99;
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Leibner; (visitors in 72)
Neil Leibowitz  5/97 to 5/98;
Brenda Lemus  12/97 to 12/98;
Joe F. Leo (Obs. Crew 76,77, Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 77,  Secrty. 81,82, Dir. at Lrg. 84, Treas. 85,86, Pres. 88, Nwsltr. Ed. 11/84 and shared Nwsltr. Ed. 2/88 to 8/88, Dir. at Lrg./Trste 90,91,92) 5/1/75 to 5/92 (17 yrs continuous membership.);
Stanley Lev  1/98 to 9/00;
Jeffery M. Lichtman (Patron 99-00) (Pres. 75, Dir. at Lrg. 76, Obs. Crew 76,77, Ex. Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 2/78 to 2/79)  8/74 to 10/79 and 9/97 to 4/01;
Al Lidert (Patron 97)  9/97 to 9/98;
David Lindé  5/4/94 to 5/95;
Mark Lockwood  4/26/85 to 4/86;
Rupert Lona  10/4/77 to 10/78;
Diego Londono  9/98 to 9/99;
Aldolpho Lopez  10/12/85 to 10/86;
David Lord (Patron 96-00) (Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 98,99,00) (moved back to the US from the Netherlands) 12/95 and 9/96 to 9/00;
Richard Lorie (Lurie)  9/8/88 to 9/89; (purged after 11/12/89)
Ken Loukinen  10/2/92 to 10/94;
Rev. R. Keith Love  before 1/68 to after 11/68; (*?)
Rick Low (Patron 97-98)  11/97 to 11/98;
Melissa Lowry  5/4/94 to 5/95;
Robert Lowry  5/4/94 to 5/95;
Roy Lurcott  2/24/71 to 2/75;
George W. Lugg; (visitor in 72)
Bruce MacAlvanah  6/6/81 to 6/82;
Fletcher MacDonald Jr.  10/20/85 to 10/86;
William and Robin Macklin  12/98 to 12/01;
Deborah MacMillan  11/27/85 to 11/86;
Jim Maffe  11/8/76 to  11/77;
Karl L. Magleby  8/24/96 to 9/97;
William A Malam Jr. (Patron 97-98)  12/97 to 12/98;
Andrew (Andy) L. Malmed (Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 8/91,92,93)  6/1/91 to 6/95;
Kathleen Malone  7/1/91 to 7/00; (moved to California November of 1998.)
Donald M. Major (AAVSO) 68 to 7/20/72; (regular visitor and guest lecturer--During 1968, Mr. Major presented programs every other week.)
Norman Mandel (Patron 97-00)  9/97 to 8/01;
Judy Marburger  12/97 to 12/98;
Bruce Marier (Marien)  11/27/85 to 11/87;
Pat Markey  9/27/73 to 9/75;
Wendell (Wendel) L. Marsh (Pres. 70, Treas. 71) between 1/68 and 11/68 to 72;
Howard S. Marshall Jr.  11/29/73 to 11/75;
Jim and Jennifer Martin (Patron 96-97)  4/96 to 4/97;
John Martin (Ex. Vice Pres./Prog. Chr. 76, Vice Chr. Tscpe. Cmte. 75 to 76, Obs. Crew 76,77, Dir at Lrg. 77) 4/17/75 to 4/81;
Michael Marzol  7/98 toÝ7/99;
Ray Masone (Masome?) 4/86 to 4/89 (left the area: someone from the club left a message on answer machine 9/17/89); (*?)
Jerry Maye  7/26/73 to 7/75;
Steve Mayo  6/9/89 to 6/90;
Noah McBurnett  (Patron 98-99)  9/98 to 9/00;
Walter McCanliss; (visitor in 72)
Brendan McCarthy  (Patron 97-00)  9/96 to 10/00;
Francis McCarthy (Ex. V.P. 68,69)  mid/late 67 to 71 and 4/23/73 to 4/75;
Kay McCarthy  mid/late 67 to 71 and 4/23/73 to 4/75; dna
Pat McCarthy (age 9 in 68: the youngest member)  before 7/3/68 to before 7/71 and 4/23/73 to 4/75; (Attended one meeting in 1973, and attended dedication of Kornfeld Zodiacal Garden--3/21/75.)
Karen McDavitt  4/3/93 to 4/94;
Tim McDavitt  4/3/93 to 4/94;
William E. (Bill) McGoun  2/26/72 to 3/77; (worked for the Sun Sentinel and did PR work for the club.)
Vicki M. McGraw (Charter Member, acting Secrty. 66, asst. Secrty. 68, Treas. 70,72)  65 to 12/78;
Vic McKeighan (Vice Pres./Obs Dir. 86,89,90, Pres. 92, Trste. 87,88,89, Dir.at Lrg./Trste. 93,94,95,96)  9/21/83 to 3/98, 6/99 to 6/00;
Greg McMahon  9/21/83 to 10/84;
Charles McRae (Ex. V. P./Prog. Dir. 80)  1/11/73 to 1/11/75 and 3/2/78 to 7/80;
Ralph Megna (13 in 1968: 2nd Vice Pres.: 1970 at age 15--youngest officer)
(Holly Cross College, Worcester MA, 1973)  before 8/18/67 to 1/73;
Derek Mellen (student) (Asst. Obs. Dir. 95)  2/4/94 to 2/96;
Ted Melnick  1/73 to 1/74, earliest meeting 11/2/72);
Inaka Mendoza  9/98 to 9/99 (*?)
Lucia Meyers  (Patron 99-00)  2/99 to 2/00;
Arnold Michael (Patron 96)  7/29/94 to 7/95 and  2/96 to 2/97;
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Miller  7/3/83 to 7/84 (visiting before 6/1/83);
Maryanne Miller (and Robert)  11/17/85 to 11/90;
Pauline Miller (Charter Member)  65 to after 11/68;
Robert L. (Bob) Miller (and Maryanne)  11/17/85 to 11/90;
Robert R. Miller Jr.  11/27/85 to 11/86;
Elayne Millman  12/98 to 12/99;
Sacha Mirambeau  10/1/99 to 10/1/00;
Francis Moine  10/1/91 to 10/93;
Dominic Mollica  12/98 to 12/99;
Terry Mollica (Patron 00-01)  12-16-00 to 12-16-01;
Eugene Molzer  70 to 71;
Mario Monaco  4/1/85 to 4/86;
Betty Monday  10/18/76 to 10/77;
Jimmie Monday  10/18/76 to 10/77;
Jim Monroe  5/1/91 to 5/1/94;
Glen K. Moran  (Glenn)  11/9/89 to 11/90;
Kevin Moran  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Morgan  4/24/75 to 4/77;
Kenneth Morris  4/1/91 to 6/95;
Lester Morris  10/12/85 to 10/86;
Ralph Morris (Treas. 2/78 to  /78)  5/5/77 to 5/84;
R. (Morey) Morrison  3/21/75 to 5/79;
Cynthia (Cindy) Mothner (Patron 98-00)  (Secrty. after 9/3/92,93,94)  9/1/91 to 3 and 11/98 and 10/01;
Ron Moye  10/99 to 10/00;
Frank Mraz  9/99 to 9/00;
James Munson  before 1/68 to after 11/68; (*?)
Ken Murphy  9/00 to 9/01;
Ethel Murzin (Historian 68, Sectry. 2/9/71 to 7/20/71)  11/9/66 to 1/75;
Robert Murzin (Alt. Dir. 69)  11/9/66 to 1/75;
Gary Wayne Myers  12/17/80 to 12/81;
Alice Myers (and Roy)  12/17/80 to 12/81;
Kris Myers  1/3/93 to 2/94;
Roy E. Myers  12/17/80 to 12/81;
Larry Nachem  2/96 to 2/97 and 10/98 to 10/01;
Richard Nappi  4/98 to 3/01;
Nature Company  before 5/21/95 to after 5/21/95; (not in checkbook) (*?)
Paul Nawrocki  10/30/82 to 10/83;
Ivan-Ho Navarette  6/96 to 6/97;
Linda Nee  12/97 to 12/98;
Mahesh Neelakanta  5/2/92 to 5/94;
Kjell Nelin  72 to 73;
Christine Newberg  4/99 to 4/00;
Michael Nipon  7/3/83 to 7/84;
Dave Noderer  (Gold 01-02--first "gold member")  2/2/92 to 2/2/94 and 1/31/01 to 1/31/02;
Malcom A. Norcross  before 4/19/67 to before 1/68;
Ivan Nossa  11/98 to 11/99;
Debbie Nunez (Hon. Mem. 6/15/91);
Mike Nunez (Hon. Mem. 6/15/91);
Arthur O'Brien  1/4/85 to 1/86;
Elizabeth O'Brien (and Arthur)  1/4/85 to 1/86;
Timothy O'Brien  9/9/89 to 9/90;
Amy O'Conner  (Patron 99-00)  3/97 to 10/00;
Mollie (Molly?) O'Donnell (Charter Member, Ex. V. P. 67,72, Vice Pres. 69, Pres. 71, Dir. at Lrg. 75)  65 to 8/78; (moved to North Carolina)
Mary K. O'leary  3/97 to 3/98;
Pamela O'Leary  3/97 to 3/98;  (*?)
Mr. and Mrs. James K. Oppenheimer  9/17/85 to 11/91;
Gary and Mary Opper  11/98 to 11/99;
John Osborne  1/97 to 1/98;
Harry Ostroff  1/19/77 to 1/81;
Gregory Otto  3/99 to 3/00;
Christopher Pacillo  3/4/87 to 3/88;
Paul Page  3/3/93 to 3/94;
Dean Palliser  01 to 02; (*?)
Joseph R. Panzarino  4/75 to 6/80;
Fred Pappalardo  3/3/77 to 3/78;
John Pappalardo (son of Fred)  3/3/77 to 3/78;
Raeburn Parnell (Obs. Crew 76,77)  6/28/73 to 7/77;
Elena Partida  8/5/77 to 8/78;
Frieda and Stanley Pascal  10/00 to 10/01; (*?)
Joe Pasint (Dir. at Lrg. from 11/89)  12/7/87 to 12/91;
Dr. Luis Patino  5/25/72 to 5/73;
Gregory Patterson  12/90 to 1/92;
Robert Pearcy (AAVSO); (visitor in 72)
Arnold Pearlstein (Professor of Astronomy and Buehler Planetarium technician at BCC/Davis Campus--columnist for the Sun Sentinel-- "The Stars This Week" and director of Space Place Planetarium for Miami-Dade County schools.) (Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 88)  10/2/87 to 3/98; (attended meetings before September of 1987)
Joy Peecook  1/3/74 to 6/77;
Russell Peecook  1/3/74 to 6/77; (Joy and Russell lived in St. Petersburg in the Jimmy Doolittle house, in the fall of 1979. Russell returned to the area, and attended the 3/7/96 membership meeting. In the following weeks, he assisted Bill Weaver in bringing The Meridian  online. Russell also designed the banner for the "Web site.")
Harold  Pender (Charter Member/Board, 2nd Vice Pres. 65, 67)  65 to 67 (visited May 1, 1975);
Matthew Penning  6/9/89 to 6/90;
Charles Pepin  10/3/93 to 10/95;
Barry Perlman, MS (V.P. 72, Treas. 74, Chr. Telscpe. Cmte. 75 to 76, Obs. Crew 76,77, Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 78,80 and from 2/84 until late 84, Codrctr. Flare-Watch 79,80, Ex. V.P./Prog. Dir. 77,81 and Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 2/91 to 8/91) (in attendance by 11/71) 1/21/72 to 2/85 and 7/13/86 to 7/87 and 12/8/88 to 12/95 (in attendance by 9/88) and 11-15-97 to 11-98 and 4/99 to 4/00; (As of 12/31/99, Barry has almost 23 years cumulative service, the longest in the history of the club.);
Dina R. Perlman (not related to Barry Perlman)  1/17/81 to 1/82;
Herman G. Perry (Founder,  Pres. 66, Dir. at Lrg. 68,69,70)  65 to 70;
Clarisse Perry (and Herman)  65 to 70; (*?)
Lance Perry Jr. (Student)  11/3/93 to 11/94;
Dr. Julie Pestella  1/21/86 to 1/87;
Lyle T. (Tom) Peters Jr. (Patron 00-01)  11/1/99 to 11/1/00; (Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 89,90, Trste. 88,89, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 90,91,92,93, Brandon/Zeiss restored August 93 to 7/2/95) 11/17/85 to 11/95 and 7/97 to 12/01; (earliest meeting 9/7/85)
Dan Philip  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
Larry Phillips (Patron 00-01)  12/99 to 12/01;
Maynard Pittendreigh (Patron 99-00)  12/98 to 12/99;
Paul Pluchino  (Patron 98-99)  7/98 to 10/00;
Guy Pollina  12/97 to 12/98;
Ernesto Pomareda  12/8/81 to 12/82;
Daniel Post  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 70;
Diann Post (Secrty. 69)  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 70;
Lee Poulin (Vice Pres. Obs. Dir. 91,92, from 2/93 until 6/93)  9/9/89 to 9/94;
Thaddeus Pradota  10/12/85 to 10/91; (renewed 3/9/90 and 10/90?);
Stephen Press  1/14/79 to 1/80;
John Prince  1/17/81 to 1/82;
Doug Provin (see Drovin?)  12/16/85 to 2/88; (on membership list until 9/1/88) (*?)
William Pyne  3/2/83 to 3/86;
Richard H. Quadri  9/00 to 9/01;
Joe Racine  5/4/94 to 5/95;
John Ralston  10/8/88 to 4/94;
Edgardo Ramos (Patron 96-97) (Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 98,99)  11/96 to 1/00 and 5-01;
Jennifer Ramsey  12/98 to 1/00;
Shula Raney  7/5/73 to 7/74;
Ron Ratner  3/4/87 to 3/88;
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Read (Buehler Planetarium technician)  69 or 70 to 72;
James W. Reed  4/14/84 to 4/86 and 12/8/87 to 12/88;
Jay Reinfeld  6/1/91 to 7/94;
Melanie D. Reynolds  before 11/9/66 to before 1/68; (*?)
Harold Rex;  (visitor in 72)
Aileen Rhodes  4/17/74 to 4/76;
Dr. George Rhodes  4/17/74 to 4/76;
Derek Ridge  2/2/92 to 2/94;
Daniel Riefler  5/20/76 to 5/77 and 12/28/86 to 1/94; (attended meeting in 4/86 and 6/6/96; presently a member of Florida Trails Association)
Bryant Roberts (AAVSO); (visitor in 72)
Michael Robbins   6/7/73 to 6/75;
Tim Roberts   6/30/81 to 6/82;
Dom Rocchio; (visitor in 72)
Alfredo Rodriguez  1/99 to 1/00;
Rene Rodriguez  3/97 to 3/98;
Carlos Rossi  6/8/90 to 6/91;
Jeff Rosz (student: son of Ted: 15 in 68)  4/27/67 to 72;
Thaddeus (Ted) Rosz (Dir. at Lrg. 72)  4/27/67 to 72;
Ross Rowland  5/3/93 to 5/94 and 12/98 to 12/99;
Charles G. Rubin  4/6/78 to 4/81;
John Ruiz (AAVSO); (visitor 7/27/72 to 73)
Joel Runes (Patron 95-96, Secrty. 95)  7/29/94 to 1/12/96*;
Cathy Russell  7/97 to 7/98;
Mary Russell  before 3/15/67 to before 1/68;
Roderick Salach, M.D.; (visitor in 75)
Robert V. Salemme  6/96 to 7/99;
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Salgo  after 1/68 to 69 or 70;
Tom Salomone (Patron 00-)  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
John M. Sanders  5/9/89 to 5/90;
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence (Larry) Saperstein  6/5/75 to 8/78;
Patrick Scancarella  7/7/77 to 7/78;
Barry Schein  1/99 to 1/00;
Paul Schofield (Patron 97-01)  12/90 to 12/01;
Tom Schongar  3/97 to 3/98;
Norman L. Schreiber  (Patron 97-00)  3/97 to 3/98;
Robert D. Schugart (Shugart)  1/21/86 to 11/88;
Joseph Schulman, M.D.  5/9/89 to 5/91;
Jack Schultze  4/98 to 4/99;
Bill Schuster  before 11/9/66 to before 1/68; (*?)
Skip Schwan  6/21/82 to 12/85;
Samuel G. Scime  4/26/81 to 4/82;
Brian Sears  7/28/86 to 7/87;
Tom and Fran Sebors  fall 98 to fall 99; (*?)
Ken Sebring  7/15/78 to 7/80;
Herbert A. Segal  10/9/89 to 10/90;
Fran Segars  9/97 to 9/98;
Tom Segars  9/97 to 9/98;
Jason Seldin  9/98 to 9/99;
Simon Seskus  (student)  11/12/91 to 12/94;
Lee W. Sessoms  (Patron 96-00, Gold 01 to 02)  2/96 to 4/01;
Sanford J. Shaffer  10/20/85 to 10/86;
Atul Shandilya  12/00 to 12/01;
Brendan Shay  4/99 to 4/00;
Douglas Sheldrake, M.D. (Patron 99-00)  3/99 to 3/00;
Claude (Buddy) Shelton (Patron 97-00) (Treas. 98,99) (Dir. at Lrg 00.)  4/97 to 4/00;
Tom Reeves Shepherd  7/28/86 to 7/87;
Dr. Howell Sherman  2/80 to 2/82 and 10/7/82 to 10/84;
Stephen Sherman  spring 98 to spring 99; (*?)
Robert M. Sickels (Pres. 73, 11/76 to 2/78, Cnstrctn. Crdntr. 74 to 77, Dir. at Lrg. 74, Fund Chr./Construction coordinator 75/76, 2nd Vice Pres. 76, Asst. Prog. Chr. 78, Vice Pres./Obs. Dir. 79, Codrctr. Flare-Watch 79-80, Hon. Mem. 11/80)  12/20/72 to 10 or 11/80 (1921-1993);
Dorothy P. Sickels (Secrty. 75, Obs. Crew 76,77,  Hon. Mem. 11/80 till 98)  12/20/72 to 10 or 11/80;
Carmen Sidbeck  (Patron 99-00)  2/99 to 2/00;
Steve Siegel  1/10/95 to 1/96;
Eli Silk  4/24/75 to 7/77 +/-; (*?)
Paul Silliman   2/4/84 to 2/85;
Judy Silverman (and Warren)  10/1/83 to 2/96;
Warren Silverman (Pres. 84, Dir. at Lrg. 85,88, Trste. 89, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 90,91)  10/1/83 to 2/96;
David Mark Silverstein  2/9/89 to 4/19/94* (first meeting: 12/9/88);
Trevor Simington  1/99 to 1/00;
Steven Simon (Patron 99-00)  4/99 to 4/00;
Harold Simons  before 11/9/66 to after 1/68; (*?)
Ronald  Simpson, (I. E. E. E.) (Obs. Comte. 78 to 80)  7/14/77 to 6/82;
Tim Simpson  3/96 to 3/97;
James Skelly  4/5/73 to 3/76;
Brian Skiff; (visitor  10/11/72 to 12/14/72)
Gary R. Slayton  6/6/81 to 6/82; (continued to attend meetings after 6/82, and in MarchÝof 1983, offered to hold classes in astrophotography on weekends.)
Bruce (Bob) Small (AAVSO); (visitor 8/72)
David Smigel  2/2/92 to 2/94;
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Smith  10/1/83 to 10/84;
Michael Smith (Mike) (SCAS) (Obs. Crew 76,77, Ex. V.P./Prog. Dir. 79, Treas. 80,81,82,83)  11/20/75 to 11/84;
Jerry Smith  12/98 to 12/99;
George Smoot (Dir. at Lrg.: 2/86 to 4/86)  5/17/82 to 5/86; (visitor 9/92)
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sohm  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 69;
Gary and Mary Southard (Patrons 96-00)  8/96 to 7/00;
Frank O. Spampinato  5/96 to 5/97;
William A. Speer Jr.  4/7/77 to 4/78;
Helen Spindler  2/99 to 2/00;
Edward J. Stack (Hon. Mem. 76); (Sheriff and Congressman approx. 1970-1980) (dna)
David Stamatis  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
Michael Stanford  7/29/94 to 7/95;
Scott Starin (Patron 00-)  3/1/00 to 3/1/01;
David Staska  11/7/87 to 3/90;
Ken Steadman  11/13/75 to 11/76;
Linda Steadman  11/13/75 to 11/76;
Rick Steinberg; (visitor 3/2/89: introduced in minutes as a new member)
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Stephens (Charter Members)  65 to 10 or 11/67; (moved back to Michigan in the fall of 1967)
Kerry Steward  (Patron 99-00)  2/99 to 2/00;
Howard Stewart  visitor  before 1/68 to 72;
Marsha Stewart  visitor before 1/68 to 72; (Marsha and Howard Stewart are the daughter and son-in-law of Charlie and Mary Wylie.)
Ronald Stibal  5/4/94 to 5/95 and 10/98 to 10/99;
Alan Stoddard  12/98 to 1/00;
Charles Stokes (and Linda)  1/4/72 to 1/73;
Eddie Stokes (son of Charles and Linda)  2/12/78 to 2/79;
Linda Stokes  1/4/72 to 1/73;
Jerome Stone (and Mollie) (Secrty. 68)  late 67 or early 68 to 1/75;
Mollie Stone  late 67 or early 68 to 1/75;
James Stout  before 5/30/86 to early 87;  (not in checkbook?) (*?)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strasser  between 1/68 and 4/68 to 69 or 70; (probably dropped out in early 69) (*?)
Jim Stryder (U.S. Aviator: a contributing speaker at meetings and gatherings during 1995 through 2000..)
June Stuckel  5/7/87 to 5/91;
Walt Sullivan  7/98 to 7/99;
Anita and Jack Sunde  1/10/95 to 1/96;
Hylton Sutherland (Patron 00-)  12/99 to 12/00;
Rick Swanson  12/16/85 to 12/86;
Shirlene Swanson  12/16/85 to 12/86;
Jackie Swirsky  5/27/77 to 5/78;
Ron Tagmeyer  4/3/93 to 4/95;
James Tague  12/22/79 to 12/80;
M. A. Takahashi (Patron 97)  4/97 to 4/98;
Joseph Taylor (Obs. Crew 76,77, Ex. Vice Pres./Prog. Chr. 82)  11/9/66 to 11/71 and 5/20/76 to 5/83;
Jairo A. Tello  7/29/94 to 12/95;
Luis Tello  5/4/94 to 11/96 and 10/97 to 10/98;
Joseph Telxido (Patron 00-)  11/1/99 to 11/1/00;
Robert Tepper  8/9/89 to 8/90;
Adam Thanz  9/20/81 to 9/82;
Gene Tharp  6/12/75 to 6/76;
Frank Thomas  6/30/81 to 6/82;
Bruce Thompson  2/95 to 2/96;
Kerith Thompson (student)  2/2/92 to 2/94;
Judith (Judy) Thompson (and Stephan)  5/4/72 to 5/77;
Stephan Thompson (AAVSO) (Nwsltr. Ed. 73,74,75, Vice Pres. 75) 5/4/72 to 5/77; (Stephan was a math teacher at Pinecrest School, and well thought of by other club members, Stephan published The Eyepiece, an SFAAA newsletter from July of 1973 to February of 1975. Judy and Stephan moved to Tallahassee in 1977, and built an environmentally friendly home.)
Faith Ann Tice  11/17/85 to 11/88;
Richard Tice (Ex. Vice Pres. 87)  11/17/85 to 11/88;
John Tillman  69 or 70 to 71; (probably joined in 1970) (*?)
Tracy Tindal (Tindall)  11/17/85 to 11/87;
Thomas J. Todack  9/9/89 to 9/90;
Andre Tremblay  9/9/89 to 9/91;
Jay Allen Trzeciak  10/97 to 10/98;
Lucinda Turpin  10/99 to 10/00;
Stephen Turris  11/97 to 11/98;
Bruce Tuthill (Son of Roger Tuthill: Brought an early version of a hydrogen beta filter to a Saturday night star party at the observatory, for testing and demonstration, in the fall of 1979.)  1/6/79 to 1/80;
Dr. David H. Uhle  between 1/68 and 11/68 to 71;
Luis Valdez  6/2/92 to 6/94;
Jennifer Vasallo  2/98 to 2/99;
James van Dyke  10/4/86 to 10/89;
Arno van Werven (Patron 98-00)  6/96 to 12/99;
Kevin C. Vathauer  1/11/73 to 3/79 (no ledger before 3/2/78, first meeting 12/14/72);
Craig Versil  11/8/88 to 11/89;
Walter Vesny (Walter's son Rick, age 10, also attended)  before 1/68 to before 11/68;
Adam Wagner (Patron 00-01)  11/99 to 11/01;
George A. Wall  12/1/79 to 12/80;
Brian Walters  (student)  8/1/91 to 12/93;
Ciara Waunsch (Patron 00-)  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;
William G. (Bill) Weaver (SCAS, Patron 95-00) (Pres. 93, Nwsltr. Ed. 94-00; Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 94,95,96,97?; acting sect. 97-00)  3/90 to 10/01;
Jeff W. Weaver  11/17/85 to 11/86;
James (Jim) Webb  2/96 to 2/97;
Sy Weiner  10/20/85 to 3/90;
Lee Weissman  5/96 to 5/97;
Barry Weiss  9/11/72 to 9/73;
Dr. Michael B. Wellikoff (Mike)  3/12/76 to 3/78;
Sherry Wells  7/30/84 to 7/85;
Steve Wells (Patron 95-00) (Vice Pres./Prog. Dir. 94,95, Pres. 96,97,00, Dir. at Lrg./Trste. 98,99) 12/1/91 to 9/01;
(Steve renewed in May of 2000)
Dwayne Welton (Wayne?)  3/96 to 3/97;
Charles Wendall  11/8/73 to 11/75;
Don Westerdale  10/4/86 to 1/89;
Gary White  before 1/68 to 69;
Jack White  1/6/79 to 1/80;
Larry Whitmore  5/4/94 to 5/96;
Shawn Whitney  12/00 to 12/01;
David Wilderman  7/1/91 to 7/93;
Paul D. Willcox  1/9/89 to 1/90;
Henry Williams  before 4/19/67 to after 11/68; (*?)
Dr. William (Bill) Williams  6/1/91 to 6/94;
Betty Willinski  12/22/84 to 12/87; (*?)
Seymour Willinski  12/22/84 to 12/87 (*?)
Bill Wilson (son of Eleanor and Wayne)  3/24/77 to 3/78;
Eleanor (and Wayne) Wilson  3/5/75 to 3/78;
Frank W. Wilson  before  1/68 to 6/74 (Ft. McCoy FL, dna by 2/72);
John W. Wilson  11/90 to 11/91 and 4/92 to 2/96;
Scott Wilson (Patron 00-01)  11/00 to 11/01;
Wayne Wilson (and Eleanor, with son: Bill)  3/5/75 to 3/78;
Heather Wilmot  9/97 to 9/98;
Eugene Winchell (Patron 96-97)  5/3/94 to 5/95 and  3/96 to 2/98;
Debbie Winter  (Patron 00-)  11/98 to 12/01;
Daniel Wolf  11/00 to 11/01;
Lenny Wolfson  7/28/77 to 7/78;
Wong (Pa)  10/18/76 to 10/77;
Bob Wright  10/12/85 to 10/86;
Charles Wylie (Charter Member/Board, Treas. 65,66,67,68,69, Dir. at Lrg. 71, Pres., 72, Ex. Vice Pres. 74, Hon. Mem. 4/2/92)  65 to 10/79;
Mary Wylie (Charter Member, Secrty.  7/20/71 to 2/8/73, Ex. Vice Pres. 73, Hon. Mem. 4/2/92)  65 to 10/79;
Barb Yeager  fall 98 to fall 99: (*?)
Dorothy Young  11/27/85 to 11/86;
Robert Young (Patron 96-97, 99-00) (Treas. 00)  9/96 to 4 and 12/01;
Sue Young  2/97 to 2/98;
Jerry Zagacki  74 to 75;
Barry Zalph  9/1/75 to 9/77; (earliest meeting 7/16/75. at school, Durham, NC, in 78.)
Walter Zalph (book drawing 75, Secrty. 76, Obs. Crew 76,77) 11/74 to 8/77 (away at school in 78) and 3/16/86 to 3/87;
Carl Zettelmeyer 1/04/01 to 1/04/02;
Robert (Bob) Zink  6/30/81 to 6/82 and 10/30/82 to 10/83 ($20 donation on 2/28/85);
Paul Zimmerman  69 or 70 to 71 (probably joined in 1970); (*?)
Jon Ziverts  (Patron 00-)  1/1/00 to 1/1/01;

-------------

  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix IV--the membership)
 
 

A Schedule of Meetings
The first meeting: Hollywood College, 1939 Harrison St, 8:00 p.m. Wednesday November 3, 1965. Future meetings were to be held at the College on Wednesday, commencing at 7:30 p.m.

On December 8, 1965, the club moved to the Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan Association Building, Hospitality Room, second floor, Hollywood, 1909 Tyler St.

Shortly before May 11, 1966, it was decided to hold the last meeting of the month on Thursday night. (There were occasional viewing sessions (star parties) at the homes of some of the members during this period. Adam Stephens was one such host, and he set up his 12-1/2-inch, equatorially mounted, Newtonian reflector in the front yard for members to use.)

On October 15, 1968, the club moved its regular meetings to the David Park Field House on Fillmore St., and the day and time for the meetings was changed to every Tuesday from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Starting that date, classes in elementary astronomy were held for a "Junior Club" from 7:00 to 7:45, and the regular meeting started at 8:00. When the change was made, a newsletter was published (The Telescope Observer: a single letter sized page, folded in half, crosswise). The intent was to announce the move and make notice of upcoming programs. On the back page, there was a statement of goals and objectives, and the motto was inscribed: Knowledge Through Association.

Sometime between July of 1969 and April 21, 1970 (probably July or August of 1969), the meetings were moved to the Parish Hall of the Nativity Church in Hollywood, and held on Tuesdays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

In the fall of 1971, the association moved its meetings to Buehler Planetarium, on the grounds of Broward Junior College, now Broward Community College, Davis Campus. Future meetings were held every Thursday night after the 7:30 planetarium show (approx. 8:30 p.m.). (Beginning in late 1972, the first meeting of the month, a viewing session, and any meeting to be held when the planetarium was scheduled to be closed, normally in August, was held at the home of Charles and Mary Wylie, in Davie. Everyone was invited to bring their telescopes, and the Wylies set up the 12-1/2-inch Newtonian reflector, purchased from Adam Stephens, for members to use.)

In April of 1978, the schedule for regular meetings was changed to the second and fourth Thursday, at Buehler Planetarium, 8:30 p.m. Once each month, a "floating Friday" was designated as a viewing session at the association's newly completed observatory in Markham Park (The Fox Astronomical Observatory).

Early in 1979, the time and place for the meeting was changed again. Future meetings would only be held once each month. For the balance of 1979 and all of 1980, meetings were held at the Fox Observatory, on the second Saturday, in conjunction with open house. (Until March 8, 1980, the start time was 7:30 p.m., on which date, the open house nights were cut back to the second and fourth Saturday, and the start time for the club meeting was changed to 9:30 p.m.)

On Thursday, February 5, 1981, at 8:30 p.m. the regular club meetings returned to BCC, Davis Campus, building 75, room 102, just north and west of the planetarium. Thereafter, meetings were held on the first Thursday at 8:30 p.m., and on May 7, of that year, the club's regular meetings returned to the planetarium.

Between January and September of 1988, while the planetarium was being renovated, club meetings were held at one of three places: Fox Observatory, the BCC cafeteria or a BCC classroom.

On March 7, 1991, the association moved its meetings from the planetarium to the recently completed clubroom, on the north side of Fox Observatory. The day for the meetings remained the same, but the start time was changed to 8:00 p.m.

At the membership meeting on March 5, 1998, the start time for the meeting was changed to 7:30 p.m.
 

(From the founding of the organization in 1965, and up through 1996, any meeting that fell on a legal holiday was canceled or rescheduled for a later date. In the first 30 years of the association, this happened on 18 occasions, mostly (10 times) on Thanksgiving Day.)

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  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix IV--a schedule of meetings)
 

The Newsletter
 In many of the years, since the founding of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association in 1965, efforts have been made to publish and distribute a monthly or periodic newsletter. Its main purpose was to inform the membership of the dates and the programs of upcoming meetings. Between 1977 and January of 1989 it was often identified as SFAAA Newsletter  or Fox Observatory Newsletter. The newsletter was usually printed on one or both sides of one or more 8-1/2 by 11 or 8-1/2 by 14 sheets. Some of the more successful efforts have been mentioned in the text and all are listed here:

A monthly calendar showing programs for the club meeting on the front and a varying format of information on the back side, or cover, was mailed out in 1967 and 1968. Joe Cardin, a printer by profession, was the club president in those years, and enjoyed producing a wide variety of constellation cards, stationary and newsletter formats. The size, color and decoration changed periodically, and sometimes the cover was astronomical data and sometimes it was club news. There were numerous variations, and the size, attributes and format were periodically changed.

The Telescope Observer:  October 1968 (H. G. Perry)

The Eyepiece:  July 1973 to February 1975 (edited by Stephan Thompson). Issues were sold for 25 cents, and the profits were deposited in the observatory fund.

Observatory News:  fall 1979 to spring 1980 (Barry Perlman)

A Newsletter  or Observatory News or Fox Observatory News:  From the spring of 1981 until January of 1985 several individuals shared the responsibility for getting out or contributing to the newsletter. In this regard, Barry Perlman, George Johnston, Steve King, Manny Demelo, Joe Leo and Warren Silverman were notable contributors.

SFAAA Newsletter: February 1985 through mid 1987 (2-85 to 7-87) (Editor: Steve King). Steve sustained an effort to put out a comprehensive newsletter while serving as Vice Pres./Program Director and on occasion, acted in the club's behalf with regard to lighting problems in and around the Park.

The Astrograph: December 1988 through August 1989 (Editor: Nick Lawrus). Nick took over the newsletter in the summer of 1988 and gave it a new name in November or December of that year. In September of 1989, The Astrograph  became The Meridian, and has grown and become more successful in the years since. (The editors have been: Nick Lawrus: 89, Phil Hauger: 90, Bob Higgins: 90-92, Bill Weaver: 94-99) (The name was changed to The Meridian  after eight months because there was another Astrograph  already in publication.)

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  (Return to the "Guide")   (appendix IV--the newsletter)
 
 

Source Material and Catalog of Archival Documents
 This section is a catalog of the existing archival information. Some original material may still be in the hands of club members, but some items were turned over to the author for deposit into the observatory archives during 1996. As of this edition, not every item is cataloged; however, most important documents have been identified here. Original items, received on loan, were copied for deposit, and returned to the lender.

 Data search: To find information in the text or locate original documents in the archives or elsewhere, search for a key word. Example: for information on light pollution at the park, one possible search-word, or key-word, is "light." (Searching for key words, such as, anniversary, bylaws, trustee, inventory, incorporation, parks department, county, dark site, public night, roof, FAA tower, paint, president, proposal, newsletter, director and trustee will provide related information.)

 Scrapbooks are identified as 1 through 5,