====================================================
Watch this space for details of coming events
====================================================
Complete list of assignments, grouped by week.
See the next section for available dates.
Jul. 26 -- Saratoga Library
Aug. 3 -- Presentation Center
Available and desirable dates
See the previous section for assigned dates.
Note: Many Friday nights are assigned to SJAA public star
parties, so they are not available for schools.
Desirability is determined by the phase of the Moon. The moon is
spectacular and well-liked, very desirable for a public event.
Such dates are:
May 26-29.
Dates with no moon in the evening sky are more plentiful.
There are many star clusters, colorful double stars, etc.,
so the sky is very rewarding. Consider:
May 22-24.
Too much moon (over 75%) makes it difficult to show anything
but a few bright objects, so we try to stay away from the nearly-full
moon. It's a poor show, and not fair to the students (nor to the
astronomers). But we could use them if nothing else is available,
such as a make-up date for a clouded-out evening.
May 30-31.
Approximate starting times through the year:
The earliest practical time is probably 6:30 pm, allowing
parents to get home, eat, and get to school. That's as early
as we prefer to start. But in late spring thru early fall, the
sun sets rather late, and star parties must start late, too.
Early start in spring 2012:
This spring has an unusual phenomenon: three bright planets in the evening
sky. They do not need the full dark times that are given in the following
paragraphs; we can start about 30 minutes earlier. By the time
people have seen each planet, the sky will be dark enough for star
clusters, nebulae, etc. This will not be the case come autumn, which
will not have any bright planets.
On March 11 2012 we advanced the clocks, and start times jumped to 8:15.
By April 1, 8:30; April 14, 8:45; May 1, 9;00; May 15, 9:15;
June 1, 9:30; June 15, 9:45; July 1, 9:45; July 15, 9:30;
August 1, 9:15; August 15, 9:00; September 1, 8:45; September 15, 8:15;
October 1, 7:45; October 15, 7:30; November 1, 7:15.
DST will end on Nov.4, 2012, so the earliest start time will drop to
6:30 and will remain there for a few months.
By February 15 the sun sets later, and start time moves up
to 6:45 pm; March 1, 7:00; March 10, 7:15.
And the cycle repeats.
Back to School home page.
To top of this page.
Mail to Jim Van Nuland.
Last updated:
2012 May 21, 0119
pdt
