Dean called the meeting to order at approximately 7:05PM

Attendees:

Charlie Hofferber		Tricia Johnson
Dean Smith				Bob Johnson
Chris Milford
Jennifer Rogers			Jay Arnold
Ray Nemoseck			Tim Young
Paul Erickson

Dean talked about Star Station One going on at the Dakota Science Center. They have an exhibit through 20 May. Telescopes have been set up (weather permitting) for solar observing. The club is volunteering as guides and telescope operators.

May 20th is a tentative balloon launch date, the launch will be at Ray Nemoseck's.

May 26th is the next star party. It will be at the observatory, with gates open at about 10PM.

Mars is in Sagittarius, and is reaching its best apparition in the last several years. It will be at opposition June 13, in the southern sky on the Saggitarius/Scorpio border. To see detail on the surface of Mars, be patient and wait for moments of atmospheric stablity (good "seeing") to view detail. Mars will be low and close to the horizon during this apparition, so in spite of an excellent opposition (20 or so arc second disk size), viewing conditions are not optimal since it is in the souther ecliptic.

The club may have a star party for the public in mid-June to view Mars. Possible dates are June 13, June 15, and possibly a public session on June 29.

The Dakota Astronomical Society (DAS) Annual Meeting and Star Party is coming up in August. Dates are not available yet, but the club discussed plans to go. The event is held in the badlands, which features beautiful scenery, attractions to enjoy during the day, and excellent observing conditions at night.

May 26, 27 and 28 a flyby will occur of a newly discovered NEA (Near Earth Asteroid) that will be moving fast enough to possibly detect motion with the eye viewing through a 10 inch or larger telescope. It is an early morning object. The asteroid has an indeterminate light curve, and there is speculation that the asteroid may be double. For details, see the Sky and Telescope, June 2001 issue.

The next club meeting is on June 12th, 7PM at the physics building, room 114.

The meeting adjourned to the Blue Moose at about 8:30 to celebrate Dr. Young's birthday. Jupiter and Mercury were visible from the deck of the Blue Moose.