Minutes of the March 2002 Meeting of the CUAS.
March 14, 2002

The meeting was called to order by President Jeff Bryant at 7:00 P.M.
There were 24 members and visitors present.

Jeff Bryant reported that he and Dave Leake setup a display at the Robeson
School Science Fair.

Mike Conron indicates that he is making great progress on the new 16"
mirror. It was decided that a truss mount scope will be built using the new
mirror. Thus, the scope can be used at the Observatory, and we can easily
transport it to other locations if desired.

Phil Wall is still investigating the 'corral' and will present more detailed
plans next month.

Mike Rosenberger reports that another pulley on the dome shutter has been
repaired.

The CUAS and UIAS are jointly sponsoring a visit by noted astronomer John
Dobson on April 6 and 7, 2002.  Several details of the weekend were discussed
and are still being finalized.  Jeff Bryant and Dave Leake are working on
the details with the officers of the UIAS.

Schedule of events while Mr. Dobson is in town are as follows:

Saturday, April 6 at 3 P.M. - Mr. Dobson will be giving a talk on "Stargazing"
at the Staerkel Planetarium.  Sponsored by CUAS.

Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 P.M. - Mr. Dobson will join the UIAS and CUAS at
the U of I Observatory for an evening of observing. If the skies are cloudy
Saturday night, this event will occur Sunday, April 7.

Sunday, April 7 at 1:30 P.M. - Mr. Dobson will talk about "Cosmology",
the study of the universe as a whole. Then, at about 3:45 P.M., will make
a presentation on "Telescope Making". These talks will be in 151 Loomis
Laboratory of Physics on the U of I campus at Goodwin and Green Streets.
Sponsored by the UIAS.


Jeff Bryant presented this month's "Astro 101" on the properties of light.

Bob Rubendunst then presented a program on collimating a newtonian scope.

Submitted by Mark Prather
Secretary