Minutes of the monthly meeting of Sangamon Astronomical Society held July 20th, 2006 at 7:00 PM at Morgan Stanley.

The members of the Board of Directors are:

Larry Hardy
Mike Robertson
Ray Watt
Jim Rosenthal
Glenn Cunningham

Updates

SAS discussed the C.H. Lanphier Dome project at this meeting. The group has come to an agreement with a land owner for an acre of land near Pleasent Plains Illinois. The deal involves what is called a "Dark Sky Easement". This is only the second time in Illinois history that such an agreement has been done. The group will have a 20 year lease to build on a one acre plot of un-farmed land. The "Dark Sky" part of the agreement states that no new lights shall be built near the facility. The club should be ready to start construction in the next two weeks.

Tonights discussion topic was CCD cameras for the new observatory. This discussion brought up many points of view into which CCD camera we should consider and how the camera should interface with the telescope both now and in the future. This was a good first step discussion with more discussion needed in the future.

Next months discussion topic: TBA

Treasury Report:  Jim Rosenthal handed out the Treasures report for the entire year up to this point.

Planning and Grants:  No Report.

Observing Program:  No Report.

Light Pollution Committee: No Report.

Public and Private Events: SAS's Annual Summer Outing will be July 28th and 29th at the Jim Edgar Pather Creek State Park. Everyone is asked to bring their own food and drink.

Star Party: Registration for the IDSSP 2006 is now up to 60.

Presentation

Ray Watt showed the club a 6 inch Criterion Dynascope that was donated to the club earlier this year. The scope originally belong to Albert Halcli who was an avid amateur astronomer here in Springfield. When Mr. Halcli passed away, Mrs. Halcli contacted the club and said that her husband would have wanted the scope to go to good use. Over a period of several weeks this spring and summer, Don Jardine, Ray Watt and Gary Woerner worked on refurbishing the scope.  It is now ready for use at our public star parties. We believe this scope is from the 1970's.

The meeting was adjourned at 9pm.