MEETINGS CHANGED TO AGNES ARNOLD HALL AUDITORIUM 1, NEAR SCIENCE & RESEARCH BLDG. MAP BELOW

by Amelia Goldberg, Master Observer

Last month I briefly covered a little of the history of our greatest asset, the HAS dark site. This month, I want to discuss observing etiquette. The primary reason that Columbus was chosen for our dark site was that it was far from the lights of Houston. We wanted a “dark” place to observe. The name, Houston Astronomical Society Dark Site, was chosen for a reason. Proper observing etiquette will insure that we always have as dark a site as possible.

We have all gone through the site training. However, so much information is covered during that short training session that it is easy to miss or simply not retain a few things. Even seasoned observers need a refresher from time to time. In order for all our members to enjoy the site, there are certain rules that must be followed.

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by Rene Gedaly, President

My first year as president is wrapping up but no rest for the weary; the leadership team has many projects on deck for 2016. A friend calls me the chief idea thinker upper and delegator. That delegator part is not quite by design. As soon as I believe I’ve come up with something original I find someone else on the team has already run with it. At the risk of mixing too many sports metaphors, I’m convinced the role I truly serve is not as quarterback but as head cheerleader.

Yes, I know that sounds gender specific. It’s not. I’ve read a number of accounts in the business press of chief executives who describe themselves the same way. It’s an exciting, and sometimes scary, position to find yourself in. But it’s working. Go team!

Thanks ...

Rolling off the board this year are Secretary Bill Flanagan and Past President Bill Pellerin. Affectionately known as “the Bills,” they’re indomitable. Thank you both. On hiatus is VP John Haynes. John will continue to run the dark site orientation each month until he squeezes in time to get that online version ready. And director Mark Holdsworth joins the executive committee as Secretary. He also serves another crucial role for any organization: resident contrarian. I'm lucky to be able to draw on the differing points of view of our leadership team. 

... and Welcome

Joe Khalaf joins Debbie Moran co-chairing the Education & Outreach Committee this year. I don't mind telling you how concerned I was that Bram Weisman was rotating off as E&O Chairperson but he sure handpicked a great outreach successor. Joe and Debbie have some great plans and you've already seen email from Joe encouraging us to participate in outreach activities. Let me second that. If you are a new or returning observer, this is one of the most fun ways to develop observing chops yourself. Show up, help direct traffic to the telescopes that are set up (you don't need your own), and make sure to take your turn at the eyepiece, too. I'm always surprised by how much is visible from many locations in Houston. It's always a great time for all.

Ed Fraini joins the team next year as Vice President. Using his particular expertise, Ed will be helping the leadership draft a 21st century vision and mission statement as facilitator. Change is easy; controlled, sustainable change is what we're after and we're all looking forward to taking this next step in our development.

A fond farewell

We do have one player trading to another city: Membership Chairman Steve Fast. Steve is moving to Hillsboro, Kansas and we will sorely miss him. If you don’t know Steve personally, catch most any President’s column and you’ll see why we feel such a loss. Good luck, Steve. HAS is always your home away from home.

HAS board names International Dark-Sky Association representative

The board has joined the IDA on behalf of HAS and named Debbie Moran our representative. You’ve seen her calls to action battling light pollution in Houston. The time is now and we may not get another. Answer the call. 

Support your team

One of the chief ways we support the society is through membership dues—and what a bargain each level is. Consider re-joining as a sustaining member this year; one of six of us already do. We’ve got great plans—just see Mike Edstrom’s Observatory Corner. Major donations will be required but many of us can also help with an extra $14/year.

Say cheese

I include photos whenever I can in this column and on the website. As you see, I don’t take the best shots, so send me yours! We’d all love to see what’s going on around HAS. 

by Bill Pellerin, GuideStar editor

Object:  Mirzam, sometimes spelled Murzim, β CMa
Class:  β Cepheid Star
Constallation:  Canis Major (CMa)
Magnitude:  1.98
Period: 6 hours
R.A.:    6 h 22 m 42 s (2000 coordinates)
Dec:    -17 deg 57 min 21 sec
Size/Spectral:  B1
Distance:   500 ly
Optics needed: Unaided eye or small telescope

When your eye gets anywhere near Sirius, the brightest star in the sky (not counting our sun), you’ll be dazzled by it. Look again, and to the west-southwest, about 5.5 degrees away you’ll find the β star of the constellation, Mirzam. It’s bright, shining at a magnitude of 1.98 and you should be able to find it easily.

This star is a β Cepheid star (the designation, β CMa is simply coincidental with the β Cepheid category). Interestingly, this star is sometimes considered the prototype for the β Cepheid category of variable stars, but, more commonly, and easier to understand, the star β Cephei (β Cep) is considered the prototype. The General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS) identifies these type of stars as BCEP variables.

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