Dec. 5 (Tuesday) 6:00 PM -- Star Party at Thomas Head Elementary School on the Atlanta Highway, across from K-Mart in Montgomery.  Last year we had at least 200 students, teachers and parents, so we’ll need all of the help we can muster.  Please let me (Russell) know if you think you can help.  Susan Mallett, principal at Head, writes:

Russell, the reason we changed it to Dec 5 is that our PTA planned a PTA
meeting for that evening, and we are just combining the two events for
efficiency and, hopefully, a better turn-out.  I do hope this is OK.  We
thank you very much for your efforts in making this happen.  I look forward
to seeing you about 5:30.

Rhon Jenkins sends the following message:

I met Michele Matin this afternoon over at Opelika Middle School.  Let me give you an overall picture first.  The date and time have both changed.  The date is now Thursday, December 14 (was December 7).  The time is now 7-9pm (was 6-8 pm).  At that time, the school will be having a sort of “astronomy fair” for the 7th and 8th grade classes, marking the end of their astronomy studies in their science classes.  There will be several activities going on at one time in various locations in the school .... we would be one of them.  There is a beautiful location to set up telescopes behind the school .... two very large grassy play areas.  We can have either or both.  Ms. Matin will see to it that, insofar as possible, the lights are off (or at least minimized).  For what we want to do, the area is ideal.
Now for directions:
SHORT VERSION (FOR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH OPELIKA): go along 2nd avenue to 5th street.  Turn north on fifth, pass the “monkey park”, look up the hill and to the left, and there’s the school.
LONG VERSION: Take I-85 to exit 62 (old US 280 exit).  Turn left (coming from the south) or right (coming from the north) towards Opelika.  Before you reach the 3rd traffic light, you’ll see a sign for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail on the right.  Turn right here .... this is 6th street.  Go north on 6th street to 2nd avenue.  Turn right one block to 5th street and turn left..  You’ll have a couple of stop signs ...  you’ll eventially see Northside School on the right, followed by a small park (the monkey park) on the right.  5th street miraculously turns to Denson street here, but don’t worry .... you’re almost there.  Go another block and you’ll see a group of buildings on the left.  The first is a rec center ... the second is the school (Opelika Middle School).
A list of participating schools and teachers, with contact numbers, can be found at:
  ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/2000/00-188a.txt 
 

Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) Partial Solar Eclipse (40%)   http://www.corvus.com/xmaseclipse.htm

Nigle Hornsby writes:

I sold the 12.5" Dobson to Richard Brideau.  I purchased a Meade LX200  7" Maksutov-Cassegrain. I received it today.  I went with the 7" mainly because of size and weight. The Dobson I owned previously was heavy and difficult to transport because of its' size. I also had problems storing it. I hope that I don't regret sacrificing the "light gathering capability" of the Dobson, for something that is more portable.  I hope the "Go To" feature of the LX200 is not as complicated as it seems to be.