I've been getting a lot of questions about the status of our Crockett park observing agreement.  Well, as of this writing we are waiting for the county park authority to review and approve the agreement.  Once approved, Tilly Smith has volunteered to manage the park and coordinate the session supervisors required by the new agreement.  Hopefully, all will be in place by early September.

Now, looking to the future, Crockett park is degenerating as a useful observing site.  Light pollution has taken most of the sky and a new housing development on the road leading to the park will make matters much worst once they become occupied.  It is clear that the sun is setting on Crockett as our major public viewing location.  For that reason the NOVAC board has voted to move the 2001 NOVA star party to Franklin Farms Park near Leesburg. We will also try to negotiate an observing agreement for Franklin, making it a regular observing site.  So, watch for up coming announcements about new observing sites and keep looking up.

19:00 Pete Johnson, President, called the meeting to order.  The prospective and new members introduced themselves.

• Pete Johnson gave a recap of the NOVAC Picnic that was held at Crockett Park on June 27.
• Pete Johnson led a discussion concerning the new observing agreement negotiations with Crockett Park.  The use of Crockett as a regular NOVAC observing site is suspended until this agreement is finalized.
• Pete Johnson encouraged all NOVAC members to subscribe to the e-mail list since this has become the primary means of communication amongst club members.
• Pete Johnson discussed a potential new observing site near Rixeyville.
• Ed Witkowski listed the upcoming public outreach events.
• Ian Keith gave the sky tour.
• For the main program Dr. Jim Thieman spoke about the Radio JOVE project.
• Pete adjourned the meeting at 20:00

August 13 NOVAC GENERAL MEETING

19:00 Pete Johnson, President, called the meeting to order.  The prospective and new members introduced themselves.

• Pete Johnson listed the upcoming star parties and astronomy events in the region including the NOVAC Star Party to be held September 30 at Crockett Park.
• Bob Parks briefed the membership on he and John Nusbaum's efforts to get a Fairfax County lighting ordinance.
• Pete Johnson gave a status on the observing agreement negotiations with Crockett Park.  NOVAC has presented our Faquier County board POC with a revised observing agreement proposal, which will be presented at their next meeting in early September.
• Pete Johnson informed the membership that the NOVAC board has decided to pursue adding Franklin Park and the Rixeyville "buffalo ranch" as official NOVAC observing sites.
• Ed Witkowski listed the upcoming public outreach events.
• Craig Tupper listed the upcoming general meeting programs.
• Craig Tupper gave the sky tour.
• For the main program, NOVAC member Ed Witkowski gave a talk about star clusters.
• Pete adjourned the meeting at 20:00

Do you have some astrophotos that you would like to share?  How about some images from the last star party you attended?  Or maybe a picture of that telescope-making project you just completed?  If you would like to see your photographs in print, mail a high-resolution digital image to the editor at mjmills@fpcc.net.

While you’re at it, why not write an article to go along with your pictures?   Describe your astrophotography methods and equipment, tell us about the star party, or explain the design of your new home-made telescope.  All submissions are welcome.  Send articles, questions, or comments to mjmills@fpcc.net.