Working on the Web
By Chuck Grant

   (Editor's note: As this edition went to press, the website was still experiencing difficulties. Chuck presented the following information to the board at its January 18 planning meeting. Improvements to the site will continue.)

    The trivalleystargazers.org domain hosting has been moved.  I am happy to report that we no longer have any advertising on our home page (www.trivalleystargazers.org).

   We have been experiencing increased delays and bandwidth reductions with our server sunmil1.uml.edu. With the expectation of needing faster response when we complete our site makeover I have moved most of the html and small image files to my account on my own ISP. Since most of the people in TVS with really fast internet connections have those connections through the same ISP, this should give the fastest possible response to them, and very fast response in the Bay Area.

   We hope that the problems at sunmil1 are temporary. We need that server or something like it because (1) it has a large storage space for us (1gigabyte);  (2) we have the freedom to run anything we want;  (3)  we have no limit in the total amount of data we can serve; (4) it does have a fast internet connection; and (5) and of course, it is completely free.

   Our web site content is being worked over for dead links and other problems. A preliminary version of the new calendar generator is available.

ASP and UC Extension join to sponsor astro talk

   Astronomer and popular lecturer Andrew Fraknoi will present a public program entitled " Crashing asteroids, exploding stars, and cannibal galaxies: the R-rated parts of astronomy" on March 24, 2001.

   Fraknoi will spend a full day explaining the violent nature of our universe, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the University of California, Berkeley. This non-technical, multimedia program will focus on some of the most exciting and destructive phenomena in the cosmos. Topics to be covered include:

* What killed the dinosaurs?: asteroid and comet     
   impacts
* Supernovae: exploding stars as crucibles of life   
   and death
* Black holes: collapsed stars and space warps
* Gamma-ray bursts: awesome explosions in a
   galaxy far, far away
* Cannibal galaxies: star groups that swallow
   neighbors for lunch.

     The program is perfect for anyone aged 14 or older, who interested in astronomy. No background in science or math will be assumed. Fraknoi specializes in explaining scientific ideas in everyday language, and with humor. This presentation is cosponsored by UC Berkeley Extension and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP).

   For more information or to register, see www.learningsphere.org/astronomy.htm or call UC Berkeley Extension at (510) 642-4111.

Want to sponsor Prime Focus?

   We are still in search of a firm or individual willing to sponsor the monthly production cost of this newsletter (approximately $110). For more details, write to circlewing at aol.com.

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