December 2013

I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and will have a happy holiday season.

From time to time I have mentioned favorably our website, http://theskyscrapers.org, and the fine work that Jim Hendrickson has done in designing, building, and maintaining it. Surely most if not all of you have looked at the site, but do you realize that it changes continuously? What you saw last year, or last month, is different from what you will see today or next month.

The home page that displays as I write this hints at the depth and breadth of information contained on the site. The rotating display highlights three articles: Dave Huestis' updated report on what to expect from Comet ISON; a pictorial review of the restoration of our Alvan Clark telescope; and a really good reminiscence by Matt White on the dawning of his interest in astronomy and a forty year odyssey that brought him back to amateur astronomy.

Hidden below the bottom of the screen (you have to remember to scroll down) are links to more than a dozen good articles by members and contributors covering a broad spectrum of topics. These range from observing related reports and articles to a really good remembrance of Carl Sagan by Mark Sweberg. All of these pieces make for good reading and most of them could have found space in published magazines.

At the top of the home page are two horizontal menus that lead to hundreds of articles. Examples are:

• Midland Mall Remembrance (what has this to do with Skyscrapers?)

• How I became an Amateur Astronomer.

• What is the connection between Skyscrapers and Cinco de Mayo?

A veritable cornucopia of information on observing, history, upcoming events, etc., may be found on the site.

To download the newsletter you have to go to the site monthly. Why not resolve to look around each month when you do your download?

Late in November the Board, Trustees, and some other members were invited to participate in an all day session to imagine Skyscrapers a decade from now. The meeting was well attended and a large number of ideas relating to where we might be in 10 years and how we might get there were put forth. Subsequent meetings will hone these ideas and a plan will be prepared and presented to the membership.

Our annual holiday dinner is on the 14th at the Community Center. This meeting is less formal and provides a good opportunity to get to know your fellow members. I hope to see you there.

Thanks for all you do for Skyscrapers.