[SJAAboard] Star Party report, late April, 2008

[Jim Van Nuland]

Hi, Craig,

   I don't know if a formal meeting with minutes will be generated, 
but in case it is, here'e my report.


   Cumulative list of school events for 2007-8 school year

   April's late sunset requires that we start astronomically early, as 
elementary school students can't be up until 10 pm on a school night. 
  So we start at 8:00 with a bright twilight sky, and show the moon, 
Mars, and Saturn, perhaps also a double star.  Then after about 9:00 
when the sky is dark enough, we move to deep-sky objects.

   In practice, this doesn't work as well as I'd hoped.  The kids make 
a round of scopes, and start for home.  Parents often have younger 
ones who can't be kept up late.


Completed events as of April  18

     Total  Good Part. Cloudy Cancel
     sched  sky  succ.  fail  at noon
Jul   1     1     -     -     -
Aug   3     3     -     -     -
Sep   2     1     -     -     1
Oct   9     4     2     1     2
Nov   9     7     -     2     -
Dec   4     2     -     -     2
Jan   6     3     -     1     2
Feb   8     7     1     -     -
Mar   9     7     1     1     -
Apr   7     6     -     -     1 Partial month
-----------------------------------
Tot  58    41     4     5     8


Coming attractions as of April  5

     Total  Firm Makeup  Negotiating

Apr   1     1     -     -       Partial month
May   3     3     -     -
June  1     1     -     -
...
Aug   1     1     -     -
Oct   3     3     -     -
Nov   1     -     -     1
2009
Mar   2     -     -     2
-----------------------------------
Tot  12     9     0     3


-- 
Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association
<http://www.sjaa.net/school/indexs.htm> School star party site