From the AAAP Guidestar Newsletter:

It’s been the better part of 20 years (?) since we started holding public star parties at the South Park Wave Pool.  Prior to that we held them in the former Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary near Library PA..  We whole idea was to give our South Hills members an observing site relatively close to home.  In fact, attendance at the Wave Pool has been generally good over the years, despite the all-encompassing dome of light pollution.  If you want to be part of AAAP history, make sure to attend our first club-sponsored public star parties in Mingo Park (Washington County), May 9 and 10, at the site of our future South Hills Observatory (see map on page 11).  Like Wagman star parties, the Mingo events start at Sunset and need your support in the form of portable scopes and a “welcome mat” with each scope for the visiting public.  To South Hills members:  This is your first chance to show you can put on as good a show as AAAP members from other Tri-State areas.  Non-South-Hillers are also welcome to check out the Mingo Park site, where the light pollution blob is to the north only, revealing the riches of the Southern sky.

As we pass an important AAAP milestone at Mingo Park, let’s not forget all the club members, especially Jack and Janet Greenberg, who made the South Park Wave Pool star parties possible in the first place, year after year.  Jack and Janet corresponded regularly with the Allegheny County Parks department to reserve the site, made sure local street lights were turned off, kept attendance records, etc., etc.  Without their efforts, the AAAP wouldn’t have much of a South Hills presence at all.
The Greenbergs, Mark Arelt and others were also instrumental in running and promoting the astronomy lecture series at Borders Books & Music in Bethel Park, which served as a prelude to the Wave Pool star parties.  Although this lecture series has also come to an end, we hope to restart the lectures at Mingo Park in one of the park’s outdoor pavilions this summer.  Keep your eye on future Guide Stars for the new lecture

Two Steps Forward, None Back:

• The club has purchased a 16” Autoscope from the Carnegie Science Center to serve as the new observatory’s permanent reflector.  This scope was installed in the early days of the CSC and was originally designed for computerized remote control and image transmission.  Those features never worked out very well, but the scope’s basic optics are in excellent condition (verified by Wade Barbin).  The instrument will be fixed up in the basement of South Park High pending delivery to the new observatory.  Many thanks to Mike Mettaney for helping make arrangements to store and service the scope (as well as a host of other SHO-related tasks).
   
• The design of the new observatory has moved into the formal drawing stage.  Retired architect John Keegan, who prepared the drawings for the Brashear wing extension at Wagman in 1994, is now working on the plans for the new facility.  Once these drawings are approved by Washington County, we can proceed with construction later this
   

16” Reflector Also Procured

SHO Progress Includes Major Donation and Signed Lease

By Larry McHenry:  I am pleased to announce that Washington County has signed the lease for the South Hills Observatory at Mingo Creek Park.  I would like to extend congratulations to Ed Moss and the SHO Committee members for a job well done!  Additionally, Ed and the committee are on track with obtaining the necessary funding, observatory blueprints, building permits and variances need to begin observatory construction later this summer.  In the mean time we now have access to the property to conduct public star parties.  The first public starparty at Mingo Creek will be Friday May 9th.  I’m hoping to see a number of AAAP members there to help kick off the season.  There’s maps and directions on the SHO website showing how to get there.  We have a link on the AAAP home page to the SHO page or you can use this:  http://home.attbi.com/~vmaestro/SHOproj/southframes.htm

If you have any questions about the lease, or would like to help out on the project, please contact Ed Moss at edward.moss@verizon.net.”

By John Holtz:  More good news for the South Hills Observatory (S.H.O.) project.  During Astronomy Weekend, I was handed a letter received at the club’s P.O. Box from our generous donors.  Included in the letter was a donation for $50,000 representing the final installment on the $100,000 pledge for the project.  I will send a thank you letter to our ‘anonymous’ donors.