Beautiful Pinnacle Mountain State Park and the members of Central Arkansas Astronomical Society hosted an estimated two hundred star party guests on Saturday evening June 25, 2011– many of those returning from previous CAAS events.   The star party guests and CAAS members were treated to a gorgeous evening sky that was included the summer constellations, several satellite passes including 2 Iridium “flares,” the Ring Nebula, the Hercules Cluster, Alberio, Alcor and Mizar, and other double stars, and fan favorite Saturn.   A highlight of the evening was John Reed zeroing in on the super nova in the Spiral Galaxy, M-51 with his 18” Dobsonian telescope. .

CAAS Members in attendance included Susan Staffeld, Robert Brown, Jim Dixon, Samantha Dixon, John Reed, Chelsea Reed, Bill Sanders, Carl Freyaldenhoven, Chris Spotts, Don Lewis, Pat and Sandy Morris, Don and Carolina Ferren, and Jim Fisher.

It was a bitter sweet evening in that we saw Susan Staffeld in her role as State Park Interpreter for the final time.  Next week Susan starts a new job with the Arkansas Highway Commission and we wish her great success as she embarks on an exciting career opportunity.  However, CAAS thanks Susan for her outstanding tenure at Pinnacle Mountain and especially her enthusiastic and expert dedication to the Park’s astronomy related programs.  Well done, Susan!

The good news is Susan is a card carrying member of CAAS and we will see her at future CAAS events in her civvies.

For those who stay to the end, 11 p.m. rolled around way too soon.

—

Please join CAAS at its June 2011 meeting on June 11^th 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, Jim Fisher will make a presentation on “Seeing Doubles: Observing Double and Multiple Star Systems.”

Despite what you may think, we will NOT consume too many adult beverages before our next observing session, thus prompting double vision.  But we WILL be seeing double.  As in double and multiple stars.  Jim’s presentation will cover the science of multiple star systems, famous double stars, how to observe double stars, and the requirements for The Astronomical League’s Double Star Observing Award.

We will also have a report from the recent Mid-States Region of The Astronomical League conference along with a report from the Meeting of CAAS Board.

Clouds permitting we will adjourn to the observing field for fun and fellowship under Saturn, the gibbous moon, and single, double and multiple stars! We hope to see you there!

The CAAS Board of Directors will meet on June 11^th, just prior to the June monthly meeting, at 6p.m. in the classroom on the grounds of the River Ridge Observatory.  All CAAS members are welcome to attend this meeting, however only Board members may vote on motions before the Board.