13April 2010:

After a tenuous start to our first meeting in Room 222 of the Parnell Building, the March OGM finally was underway. The room was locked when we arrived and there were some minor audio/visual issues, but that failed to dampen the atmosphere created by a bumper attendance (photo - Jonathan Bradshaw). The Main Item talk by Tim Napier-Munn was exceptionally interesting with numerous twists in the story of the discovery of Neptune. Although the weather prevented any observing, it served another purpose in allowing an enjoyable, impromptu dinner for a large contingent at La Porchetta restaurant on Hawken Drive, St Lucia.

DSO Saturday, 17^th April 2010:

The March DSO was cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions. Let's hope that we have better luck this month. The venue is the Harrisville OATS facility on Saturday night, 17^th April. Naturally, if the weather is doubtful, contact Jonathan Bradshaw or Brent Joyce or Allan Cooney...or check for cancellation messages on the website.

Please note, there will be a different venue for the May DSO and relevant details will be provided at the April OGM.

April OGM & BFN, 24th April 2010

The April OGM will be held in our new venue Room 222 in the Parnell Building, St Lucia campus, UQ. Those members and visitors attending the March OGM enjoyed the comfort of the spacious lecture room facilities. The Main Item talk will be "Reports from the 2010 National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers (NACAA)". Congratulations to David O'Driscoll who received the Astral award for best presentation of the convention (photo - Terry Cuttle). I have pleasure in announcing that the AAQ proposal to host the 2012 NACAA in Brisbane was chosen as the successful bid for NACAA 2012; more details will be provided at the OGM.

The BFN observing session will be held after the meeting, weather permitting, a variety of telescopes will be available for viewing, but do not hesitate to bring a portable telescope or binoculars if you have them; the plan is to set up telescopes in a park (BCC lists it as Munro St Park) bordered by Coleridge St and Carmody Rd adjacent to the campus. Parking is free on Saturday afternoon/evening, but please avoid using specific sites that require a permit; see the campus map on the website for suggested parking sites http://aaq.org.au/cms/index.php/activities/meetings.html. During the meeting, Tony Dutton will provide a summary of observing targets; experienced and inexperienced members & guests will be catered for.

Members who want the AAQ logo stitched on their favourite clothing, please remember to bring their shirts, vests, etc, to the April OGM and arrangements will be made for application of the new AAQ logo.

After the OGM (and before the BFN observing session), there is free tea, coffee and biscuits in a tea room behind Lecture Room 222; the library will be available at the same time. It was gratifying to see so many attendees mixing and socialising over a cuppa after the meeting.

Membership

Welcome to our most recent new members: Peter Leate, Terry Byatt, Samantha Boswood, Mike Ford, Mark Lewis, Kaine Escott and  Charles Kimber. It was pleasing to meet some of you at our last meeting (March) and at the AGM in February; it is worth noting that Terry Byatt resides in England.

Another reminder to our non-financial members to renew their membership for 2010. Membership fees can be paid to the treasurer, Tim Napier-Munn, at the OGM, or online using the AAQ account details: BSB 014274, Acc 598680257. Remember to identify your payment online so Tim knows which member has paid.