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Location: Chemistry/Physics Building, MUN
Time: 8:00 pm
Present: 19
Fred gave a brief report on the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Science Fair. There were 212 students with 163 projects, with the Fair taking up Friday and Saturday. Fred showed us some pictures of the Fair. The Centre has provided a certificate and a $75 award in the last few years. There were two astronomy-related projects this year, one about meteorite impacts, and the other on the rate of descent of objects through atmospheres with different pressures -- for example, a parachute on Mars. The last project was given our award for this year.
There was a brief executive meeting, and Fred showed some pictures. Although it was cloudy as usual, we proceeded indoors. The Rooms was helpful. Jason Sellars was present making astro-buttons for those who wanted them. People brought their telescopes inside the theatre. Doug gave an introduction, and Gary gave a planetarium software tour. Members were invited to talk briefly about their scopes. Afterwards, everyone mingled and asked questions amongst the scopes. Fred reckoned on about 54 visitors, which is not bad considering the event was clouded out.
Our next event at the Rooms will take place on May 28.
Robert passed around a sheet to go with his presentation. Topics covered included the planets, Comet 17/P Holmes, and the Perseids on August 12. Robert showed some pictures that he shot over the last little while. He also took some shots of the moon on IAD, and some of Saturn. Robert finished with a tour of Deep Sky objects that can be seen this month, using SkyMap.
Randy provided a documentary from the Discovery/National Geographic Channel: "Earth: The Power of the Planet: Rare Earth". The documentary made the case that a series of events and locations in stellar and planetary evolution, followed by an unlikely set of steps in evolution from single cell life, makes the creation of Earth-like planets a pretty rare event.
Randy also showed us some pictures of French astronomical cows hanging out near a small observatory. They must be related to the astrocat!
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