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Register Now!

I hope you have marked your calendar for Saturday, 6 October and informed your club members to journey into northern VA and enjoy the 2007 meeting of the Virginia Association of Astronomical Societies. As the date draws near I wanted to give you the latest on the program and schedule of events, luncheon plans, as well as further invite you to join your host, the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC), at our public observing event (StarGaze) the night of the 6th.

The location is locked down tighter than an epoxy-fouled collimation screw: C.M. Crockett County Park (map), near Warrenton, VA (map).

Note that Crockett charges $6 per vehicle entry fee.

Check-In at the Park begins at 8am followed by a Welcome, then our first speaker at approximately 9:30am. We have three speakers on the program so far, covering everything from astrobiology to big holes in the ground, and intend to have five presentations over the course of the day. Our lunch break will be at approximately noon with enough time to enjoy catered BBQ from Red, Hot & Blue (limited table availability for the luncheon; bring blanket/lawn chair).

I'm pleased to announce that we have filled all 5 speaker slots!

8:00amOn-Site Check-In (coffee/pastries provided)
9:00amWelcome
9:15amElizabeth Warner; University of Maryland: Deep Impact
10:15amGreg Redfern: Chesapeake Bay Crater
11:15amDr. Harold Geller; George Mason University: Astrobiology
12:30pmLunch (Red, Hot & Blue BBQ: 2 Meats/3 Sides/Drinks/Dessert;
limitated table availability luncheon; bring blanket/lawn chair))
2:00pmDavid Dunham: Observing Occultations
3:00pmNeil Cronin: Asteroids - NASA's Dawn Mission and an Introduction to Astrometry

And by all means, bring your observing gear. Following VAAS and enough time to have dinner on your own, our StarGaze will be a chance to hear John Wood from NASA/Goddard speak on Hubble Images (6pm) then join the many NOVAC members as they "observe, and help others to observe" with our guests from the general public.

The StarGaze hours are 3-11pm (public), but as a NOVAC guest to the VAAS session, you may stay as late as you can stand! When it's time to grab some shut-eye, Warrenton is a short drive away and Manassas is not much further. Each community offers hotel accommodations. Of course, you can stay nearer Washington D.C. if you want to enjoy visits to the museums and other cosmopolitan attractions before/after the Saturday VAAS event.

Registration is required, so please sign up online for VAAS 2007 as soon as you know that you are attending so that we can get an accurate head count. Although sign up for the luncheon is now closed, you can still register for the VAAS event, which is free.

If you have questions, please contact me by email at . On behalf of NOVAC, I look forward to you joining us for YOUR 2007 VAAS meeting!

Cheers!

Rob McKinney