The President’s Message
Happy Cross Quarter Day February 2nd, also Groundhog Day, the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox, the astronomical spring. Let’s hope they don’t see their shadows and the cold weather will end soon.
Due to a conflict at Hofstra, our February meeting will be February 12th at 1:30pm followed by Stars on Sunday 6-8pm. We need 5 volunteers to work the telescopes. Contact Barbara. Anyone wishing to come and just observe is, of course, welcome. Please register at https://www.hofstra.edu/physics-astronomy/observatory.html. You’ll be home by halftime.
Access to our private area of Jones Beach is questionable at the moment so you might consider getting a NYS Stargazing vehicle permit which allows access to other areas and is not limited by date or time. They may only be purchased online through March 31st for $35 and the permit will be mailed to you in 10-14 days. Go to https://parks.ny.gov/regions/long-island/default.aspx for details. After that, you’ll have to wait for Labor Day. Be warned, the beach restrooms are closed during winter months. You can read more about using the permit on our NYS Stargazing Permit page!
Thanks to Beverly, Vito and Chris for their assistance with my presentation at the East Meadow Library on January 14th.
Thanks very much to Bart Fried for his incredible stories of building public observatories, and rescuing vintage telescopes, in NYC where he is intimately involved. I don’t know how he finds the time to do all of this. It was an amazing tale, and we look forward to seeing their grand openings. In February, we’ll be discussing the upcoming Messier Marathon, among other things. You can also do some head start reading about the Messier Marathon or listen to a podcast interview with the late Don Maccholz, “inventor” of the Messier Marathon and friend of the Amateur Observers’ Society of New York.
Between now and then, make sure you look for Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3). They don’t come around often so take advantage before it’s gone.
Friends are like stars. You don’t always see them,
but you know they are always there!
Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.
Please, everyone, be safe and be careful.
Sue Rose, AOSNY President
