The River Ridge Observer	
The newsletter of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society	
	march 2011	
Welcome to the March edition of The River Ridge Observer. This newsletter is meant to give you the latest and greatest news and information about CAAS and its members.
“astro-photography with an off-the-shelf dslr camera” at March 12th General Meeting
Please join CAAS at its March 2011 meeting on March 12th at 7 p.m. in the classroom on the grounds of the River Ridge Observatory.  Please email info@caasastro.org if you need the link and password to the directions.  After a short business meeting, John Reed will make a presentation on “Astro-photography with an Off-The-Shelf DSLR Camera.”  
Everyone who has followed the CAAS emails or website the past few years already knows that John Reed is an amazing astro-photographer. However, did you know John shoots those amazing photos with a store bought Canon DSLR camera?  John will present a Power Point presentation on how he uses his DSLR camera to take wide field astro-photos.  He will cover equipment, software (some of which is free) and his methods. John will also give a demonstration on the use of his new tracking apparatus.
Weather permitting we will adjourn to observing field for fun and fellowship under the stars and the First Quarter Moon!   
report from the CAAS Board meeting  
The CAAS Board of Directors met on February 12th, just prior to the February monthly meeting. 
The general topic of the meeting was River Ridge Observatory (RRO) grounds security and visitor safety with the aim of establishing a policy on who may access to the RRO grounds and buildings during non-meeting or event dates. The Board unanimously voted to change the main lock combinations. All dues paying CAAS members will be given the new combination.  The Board also voted to provide training to all members on the lock-up procedures and security policies.  The Board also left unchanged the policy that only members with “Observatory Status” may check out club owned equipment for personal use.  Also, President Jim Fisher announced the appointment of Vice-President Eric Walker as Observatory Chair.  Jim said that he will also ask Wade Van Arsdale and another non-Board member volunteer to the Observatory Committee. The Observatory Committee will be asked to develop future RRO grounds policies and make recommendations for maintenance and upgrades. The Board approved these appointments. The Board asked Jim to investigate the need for and cost of liability insurance.  Jim will make his report at the next Board meeting.  Jim – wearing his lawyer hat - asked that until a decision is made on liability insurance that no public events be held at the RRO.  If you are interested in serving on the Observatory Committee please email Jim at jrfisher7@gmail.com    
msral con 2011/ Mulberry Mountain Star Party 
Plans for the 2011 Mid-States Region of The Astronomical League (MSRAL) are coming together.  This year’s MSRAL annual convention is being held in conjunction with the fourth annual Mulberry Mountain Star Party on Friday, May 20 and Saturday May 21, 2011.  The event location is the Mulberry Mountain Lodging and Events (MML&E) resort north of Ozark, Arkansas, on Arkansas Highway 23 (I-40 exit 35) - the world renown “Pig Trail Scenic Byway.”  Located in the heart of the Ozark National Forest, MML&E boasts some of the darkest skies in Arkansas.  MML&E also offers cabins, pull-through RV sites, and improved tent camp sites with water, electricity and showers. Virtually unlimited primitive campsites are also available with limited water and electricity, with no shower hookups.  MML&E’s website is at:  http://www.mulberrymountainlodge.com   You may also contact MML&E by phone at 800-667-1919 or 479-667-1919 or email at mulberrymountain@aol.com  for further information or to make reservations.  Other lodging options are found in relatively nearby Ozark (20 minutes), Clarksville (40 mins.), and Van Buren (40 mins.). 
Our friends at Arkansas – Oklahoma Astronomical Society are hosting the event, but they are counting on our assistance and support.  Our own John Reed, Rocky Togni and Jim Fisher are slated to present papers at the conference on Saturday.  AOAS has also asked if CAAS members are interesting in volunteering to man the registration table.  If you are interested, please send an email to AOAS President Dave Grosvold at dgrosvold@aoas.org and to Jim Fisher at jrfisher7@gmail.com.
march 2011 observing highlights
All month – Saturn is in the east in the evening and by month’s end will be magnitude +0.4 and will be at 19.3” in diameter.  Venus is in the southeast in the pre-dawn sky at approximately magnitude – 4.0 all month.  
Mar 4th – New Moon
Mar 6th – Jupiter just left of the thin crescent moon in the western sky after sunset 
Mar 12th – First Quarter Moon
Mar 13th  – Daylight Savings Time begins
Mar 19th – Full Moon 
Mar 20th – Spring Equinox
Mar 20th – The Moon and Spica pair up all night 
Mar 26th – Last-Quarter Moon 
Mar 31st -  Venus and thin waning crescent moon pair up in the pre-dawn sky 

upcoming CAAS events
Mar 12th – CAAS Monthly Meeting at River Ridge Observatory, 7 p.m.
Mar 26th – Woolly Hollow State Park Star Party, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. - our first public event of 2011!
Apr 9th - CAAS Monthly Meeting at River Ridge Observatory, 7 p.m.
Apr 16th  - Arkansas Science Olympiad at UALR
Apr 29th – Star party for Japanese science students tour group at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 7 p.m.  
May 7th – National Astronomy Day at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. 
May 14th – Merit Badge University astronomy merit badge class, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
May 14th - CAAS Monthly Meeting at River Ridge Observatory, 7 p.m. 
May 20th – 22nd -  Mid-States Region of the Astronomical League conference and star party at Mulberry Mountain Lodging and Events resort, Ozark, Arkansas