I accompanied Dr Salgado and Dr Miller from Norfolk State to the University
of Virginia yesterday. We spoke to several members of the astronomy
department about a possible collaboration with them in building a remote
robotic observatory on Fan Mountain.

We later toured the observatory and discussed possible sites for the NSU
telescope. Dr Salgado asked me to attend because BBAA will be an important
partner in the observatory project.

You can read all about it in next month's newsletter or you can go to the
files section of the backbayastro site and download (or read) the full
report. I've also uploaded some pictures from Fan Mountain. (Click on
photos and then open the Fan Mountain album.) I'll try to do a page soon on
our HR.Com website too.

The short version is that we got a very positive response from UVA and the
project looks like it could go forward with a funding request in January ...
then who knows. I hope to arrange an observing session at Fan Mountain
sometime this year, along with Dr Sagaldo and a few interested BBAA members,
to help evaluate the site ...

Ted

In a message dated 2/14/2003 9:06:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Lelane Arneson" <Larneson@...> writes:

I would love to be a part of Fan Mountain. Just let me know what I need to do.

That's the spirit! I hope that several members will want to get involved. First, interested parties can consider being a committee member ... Rob has asked me to chair a committee devoted to the NSU collaboration and specifically the remote robotic observatory (which will be separate from the public outreach projects, like the planet walk proposal we might pursue with Norfolk State).

Next, try to come on the observing trip to Fan Mountain when we get it organized. I want to try and pick a weekend that won't conflict with the sprng and summer star parties but that still has enough moonless hours to make it worthwhile. And of course we will have to allow for the weather, so stay flexible.

Perhaps you know a potential funding donor or a corporate entity that would offer some funding incentives (matching funds?)

Finally, its not too early to begin thinking of observing projects that might be conducted with the scope. We will be expected to submit proposals and compete for telescope time amongst ourselves and NSU students. In the beginning, we should have little competition for telescope time since NSU isn't overflowing with astronomy interest, it is hopped that we will encourage more of that over time. The best proposals will incorporate students ... from NSU, ODU, TCC or even high school. But of course the more your proposal incorporates NSU students the more favorably it will be received.

Ted

Ted,

Please keep me apprised of your and the club's efforts on this
project, and any others involving Dr. Salgado, NSU, GRBs and etc. I
would like to be as involved as my time allows in this area of
endeavor. So, let me know of future meetings, trips, discussins,
etc. if you can. Thanks!

Rob Beardsworth


--- In backbayastro@..., twforte@a... wrote:

I accompanied Dr Salgado and Dr Miller from Norfolk State to the

University

of Virginia yesterday. We spoke to several members of the

astronomy

department about a possible collaboration with them in building a

remote

robotic observatory on Fan Mountain.

We later toured the observatory and discussed possible sites for

the NSU

telescope. Dr Salgado asked me to attend because BBAA will be an

important

partner in the observatory project.

You can read all about it in next month's newsletter or you can go

to the

files section of the backbayastro site and download (or read) the

full

report. I've also uploaded some pictures from Fan Mountain.

(Click on

photos and then open the Fan Mountain album.) I'll try to do a

page soon on

our HR.Com website too.

The short version is that we got a very positive response from UVA

and the

project looks like it could go forward with a funding request in

January ...

then who knows. I hope to arrange an observing session at Fan

Mountain

sometime this year, along with Dr Sagaldo and a few interested BBAA

members,

to help evaluate the site ...

Ted

In a message dated 2/17/2003 5:55:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Rob <rbeardsworth@...>" <rbeardsworth@...> writes:

Ted,

Please keep me apprised of your and the club's efforts on this
project, and any others involving Dr. Salgado, NSU, GRBs and etc. �I
would like to be as involved as my time allows in this area of
endeavor. �So, let me know of future meetings, trips, discussins,
etc. if you can. �Thanks!

Rob Beardsworth �

I'll do that Rob. Thank you.

Ted