Continued from previous message.

   39 - New York City          9 - state of Florida      
        the Bronx -   7        7 - state of Connecticut  
        Brooklyn -   10        6 - Bronx H S of Sci, the Bronx 
        Manhattan -  20        6 - Midwood H S, Brooklyn 
        Queens -      1        6 - state of Ohio       
        Staten Is -   1        6 - c'wealth of Massachusetts
  158 - 52.67% of 300 in US    5 - state of Indiana 
                               5 - state of Minnesota
    Several Intel semifinalists in the NYSkies region have astro-
related projects: 
  Keeley Boehmer, Fox Lane H S, Bedford NY
'Consequences of changing jet direction in quasar CTA102' 
  Philip Chan, Stuyvesant H S, Manhattan 
'Hybrid propulsion system using solar energy for jet aircraft' 
  Aaron Eisman, Staples H S, Westport CT
'Lightcurve of asteroid 21652 1999 OQ2' 
  Lisa Glukhovsky, New Milford H S, New Milford CT
'A rapid, accurate method of determining the distance to near-Earth 
asteroids' 
  Jason Li, Great Neck North H S, Great Neck LI
'A numerical analysis of gravitational lensing events involving large 
tidal radius or D25 isophote local group galaxies' / 
  Maria Michta, Sachem North H S, Lake Ronkonkoma LI
'Radio detection of meteors' 
  Jennifer Piscionere, Carmel H S, Carmel NY
'Using a photometric subtraction technique to probe the Deep Lens 
Survey for evidence of active galactic nuclei' 
  Eduard Reznik, Ward Melville H S, East Setauket LI
'New exact solutions to Einstein's equations' 
  Jessica Yu, Bronx H S of Science, the Bronx
'The effects of space flight on bone development in embryonic quail' 
    In January 2004 four major new projects were unveiled. I noted the 
first already in Skywatching, the replacement of all remaining 
cobrahead streetlights in the City. 
    Second is the World Trade Center memorial, 'Reflecting absence' by 
Arad. It features two reflecting pool on the footprints of the Twin 
Towers, meditation and exhibit alcoves, and a tree-filled park. 
    Next is the transit hub for several subways running thru Lower 
Manhattan. This is a series of skylighted midways connecting all 
trains in or crossing Fulton Street, from the World Trade Center to 
the [future] 2nd Avenue line. Due to its length, the plan is sometimes 
called the 'Kilometer Korridor'. 
    Last is the permanent replacement for the crushed PATH station 
under World Trade Center. The one you now avail of is a temporary one 
to be torn up after the new facility opens by end decade. Designed by 
Calatrava, it is a multi-platform stub-end edifice with a transparent 
roof for natural sky and star light. The roof will slide open each 
year during the 90ish minutes of the World Trade Center atrocity with 
accompanying release of white doves, one for each known victim. 

Astro Politics 
 ------------
     The Amateur Astronomers Association's situation went a mite 
overboard at the January 7th AAA lecture at the Museum. President 
Michael O'Gara purposefully told John Pazmino, one of the theft 
victims, to forget about club support and care. This incident was 
reported in NYSkies. 
    Mike O'Gara did in late January say that he got a response on or 
about 26 January from the AAA's building manager. He noted there is no 
insurance coverage from the manager, but he'll ask for a donation to 
reimburse the theft victims. NYSkies forwarded O'Gara's note to the 
other victims. 
    On January 19th the vaunted kickoff meeting took place to 
revitalize the club's website. Go and visit www.aaa.org to see what I 
mean. First, it convened on King Day, almost ensuring a low turnout. 
Then the present webmaster, Brian Reynolds, didn't show up. 
    Robert Little terminated his telescope workshop. Tentatively set 
for February, Mr Little advised NYSkies that there are no more 
sessions. He, with O'Gara's say-so, came to the AAA Board meeting in 
November 2003 to discuss ways to better support and publicize the 
workshop. After sitting thru a three hour session, Mr O'Gara closed 
the meeting with no workshop on the agenda. 
    There is a Board meeting on Wednesday 18 February at 19:00 in AAA-
HQ. The prime item of old business is the ByLaw reforms, neglected by 
O'Gara for over a full year by end January. He was handed a mandate, 
twice!, thru an overwhelming majority vote of the Board, at the August 
and November 2003 meetings to put the reforms to the Board for at this 
February meeting. NYSkies has a roster of Board seatholders for AAA 
members, and others, to discuss the reforms. 

NYSkies 
 -----
    Astronomers are exploiting NYSkies as a quick, handy, friendly, 
and potent source of astronomy news relating to the City. And there is 
LOTS of astronomy stuff going on around New York! Since it revived on 
28 September 2001 (it was interrupted by World Trade Center) NYSkies 
became the definitive forum and public record for matters bearing on 
home astronomy in and around New York. 
    Granted, some of the banter relates particularly to the Amateur 

 Continued in next message.

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