Library News
The AAO has registered for access to the electronic versions of several journals including the Astrophysical Journal and Supplement, and Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. The latter needs a password for access, and this can be obtained from the librarian, who can also provide information about other journals available electronically. We are still receiving the printed versions of course, at least for the foreseeable future.
We have been updating our mailing list for the Newsletter, and hope that there are fewer errors now. Please let us know if the address on your copy is incorrect, or if it has been addressed to the wrong person.
A considerable number of new books have been received since the last newsletter, and are displayed on the shelves.
Sandra Ricketts
Events at Epping
The AAO welcomes two visitors in January. Dr Peter Browne has joined us from the Physics Department at Macquarie University (across the road!). At the AAO he will be working with Keith Taylor on sky subtraction until the end of June.
Wil van Breugel and his family join us for three months from a little further afield; Wil works at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. He has come to the AAO to work with Joss Hawthorn on his new Keck telescope data of high redshift radio galaxies, and to discuss TAURUS-2 observations of the same objects. His main interest is to understand new evidence for star formation along the radio jet in these objects. The AAO warmly welcomes both Peter Browne and Wil van Breugel and his family.
Lastly, Helen Johnston and her husband Alain Picard are now proud parents. Madeleine Andréa Picard was born on the 3rd of November last year.
Helen Woods
Retirement of Andre Porteners
After 20 years at the AAO, Andre Porteners retires on the 7th of February and will be very greatly missed by his colleagues here in Epping and in Coonabarabran. Andre has been a draftsman with the AAO in the Mechanical and Optical Design Group at Epping. During this time he has been involved in the design of many of the telescope's instruments, including 2dF, and seen the drafting process change from ``on the boards'' to CAD.
Andre has also been happy to give a general hand with the running of the AAO in a multitude of other practical areas. He is a member of our ``First Aid'' team, a Warden for our ``Fire'' Team and has been responsible for the ``Rogues-Board'' -- a photo gallery of Observatory staff he has regularly and keenly updated.
Andre and his wife Marianne are looking forward to devoting more time to the things they love. Andre has always liked graphic art and will continue to pursue it. Music is another of his passions, and, after acquiring a piano about a year ago, he has nearly reached his pre wife-and-children-proficiency! Andre also hopes to continue to assist his wife producing books and articles about art and crafts. He contributes to her clever and beautiful designs by doing the graphs and photographs. Finally, in what is shaping up to be a busy retirement, he hopes to continue exploring Australia. Andre, we all hope to see you under the trees for morning tea from time to time and wish you and Marianne the very best in your new life.
Greg Smith and Helen Woods