From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Wed Apr 2 23:55:32 2003 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Br. Guy Consolmagno Talk in Palo Alto, Sat. April 5th Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030402233243.025752a0@koopm.best.vwh.net> 2003 Walt Gill Memorial Science and Religion Lecture Presents Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J. Speaking on Heaven or Heat Death? Scientific and Religious Views of the End of the Universe Saturday, April 5, 7:30 PM. St. Ann Chapel, 541 Melville Ave. Palo Alto (at Tasso Street) A Link to Yahoo Maps: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&ed=QjWpmup_0TpPkjgvqVc86aSKvY5Y8j4R.gNhAfP5DayzlFeexs5smSM-&csz=palo+alto,+ca&country=us Br. Consolmagno, astronomer at the Vatican Observatory and curator for the Vatican meteorites, popular author of Turn Left at Orion and Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist, will address the philosophy of science and religion and the commonality between them. Br. Guy Consolmagno is a lively, engaging speaker, able to translate arcane science into relevant information for ordinary life. Slides will be projected onto the wall of the chapel, which will become our own small observatory for the evening. Beverages and cookies provided. Donations requested but not required. Bring a friend. Expect to be inspired and enlightened. Information contact Mary Coady at (650) 261-9155 From jvn at svpal.org Thu Apr 3 00:39:57 2003 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] School Star party in Morgan Hill, Tuesday Apr.8 Message-ID: <3E8BF35D.412F@svpal.org> Hi, All, I know TAC and SJAA have members in the south bay. Could some of you come to Nordstrom school in Morgan Hill, On Apr.8? It'd be greatly appreciated! Directions are given below. Write back if you might consider the event, and I'll include you on my day-of-event final status note. I also put the final status on my school page (below) by 1 pm, so you can look there, too. Or phone me here at 408-371-1307 before leaving for the school. I expect to be at the school by 7 pm. Look for my white VW bus with the outsize CB antenna on top. Thanks much! Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association School page ==================================================== 2003 Apr 8 -- Nordstrom School SSet 7:35, start 8:00 Tuesday 1425 E. Dunne Ave., MorgHill 42% moon sets 2:19 am Contact: Evonne Hyatt, 3rd. grade teacher Start in bright twilight with Jupiter, Saturn, Moon. Try for Mercury. By 8:30 pm, deep-sky objects should be good. From Hwy.101, exit at E. Dunne Ave. East. This is the Henry Coe Park exit. ENE 0.4 mi. if coming from north; ENE 0.1 mi. if coming from south; In any case, come to Murphy. Continue. ENE 0.1 mi., see school on left. Go past the school, then through a gate at the far west end of the parking area. It's difficult to open. Better instructions next time. ==================================================== From bhavner at earthlink.net Wed Apr 9 18:10:56 2003 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] A Chance to Be A Hero in Your Local Schools Message-ID: <005601c2fefe$0b5ba960$2cdefc9e@default> From: Andrew Fraknoi To: contacts@aanc-astronomy.org Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 7:11 AM Subject: [AANC Contacts] A Chance to Be A Hero in Your Local Schools BE A VISITING ASTRONOMER IN A LOCAL SCHOOL Get Free Training and Materials with Project ASTRO Project ASTRO is looking for amateur or professional astronomers who would like to work with teachers and students in 4th - 9th grade classrooms. This is a great opportunity to help kids learn science, sharing your love of astronomy with the most enthusiastic audience you can find (and sharpening your teaching or communication skills in the process.) Through Project ASTRO, you will be paired in a one-on-one partnership with a Bay Area teacher at a school near you. Together, astronomer and teacher partners attend a free two-day summer training workshop where they learn effective hands-on astronomy activities and receive a copy of Project ASTRO's rich curriculum resource book, "The Universe at Your Fingertips" (plus materials to lead hands-on activities.) The project emphasizes ongoing partnerships, not just one-time class visits. During the school year, astronomers make at least four visits to their adopted classroom at mutually convenient times. The program has been operating for 9 years in the Bay Area, and previous participants often report that it has been one of the most satisfying volunteer endeavors they have undertaken. (And our evaluator found that amateurs were typically as good or better as partners than professionals.) Astronomer applications are now being accepted for the 2003 - 2003 school year. The deadline is May 9. Space is limited to 25 partnerships. All participants must attend a hands-on training workshop, which will be held August 15 & 16, 2003, at the San Mateo County Office of Education in Redwood City. More information and astronomer application forms are available from: Kristin Nelson, Project ASTRO, A.S.P. 390 Ashton Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112; Tel. 415-337-1100 ext. 101; E-mail: astro@astrosociety.org Forms can also be downloaded from: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/bayarea/volunteer.html (Project ASTRO, a program of the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific, began with support from the National Science Foundation and the NASA Office of Space Science. It has now expanded to 12 other sites around the country and has trained over 1,200 astronomer-teacher partnerships.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20030409/e393e7b3/attachment.html From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Apr 11 12:34:08 2003 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Auction This Sunday (4/13) starting at 12 PM! Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030411123204.027e5d00@koopm.best.vwh.net> It's spring and time for the annual migration of astronomical paraphernalia from one garage to another! On Sunday, April 13, 2003, an astronomical auction and swap meet will be conducted at Houge Park in San Jose, sponsored by the San Jose Astronomical Association. We will have the auction first followed by a swap, to allow people some additional haggling time for those items which were optimistically priced by the seller in the auction, or to sell those odds and ends items which were better off being in a swap. It's an odd year, so Jay Reynolds Freeman will be our auctioneer. Those who have observed Jay's performance in previous auctions have learned to appreciate his skillful evaluation of classical astronomical items on the spot. Great entertainment for all! Doors open at 12:00 p.m. (or only slightly before) to register material for the auction, and view the auction material. The club reserves the right to accept only appropriate material for the auction so that the auction will run smoothly. A $1 donation is requested to obtain an auction bidder/seller number. The auction will begin at 1 p.m., and will run as long as needed. Seller may specify a minimum bid, which if not met, will return the item back to the seller with no commission applied. After the auction, buyers and sellers settle up using one check to (or from) SJAA and claim their items. Seller pays 10% commission, with a cap of $50 for any one item. We do not handle charge cards. After the auction, material for the swap meet will be allowed into the hall, about 3 p.m. or perhaps earlier. Each buyer pays the seller. Sellers are to keep track of their sales, and pay a 10% commission, as for the auction. There are no table fees. All commissions from the auction and the swap are tax-deductible, as SJAA is a 501(c)(3) educational organization. Do you have a large item to sell such as a telescope or more than 5 Items? Please email Jim Van Nuland at auction@sjaa.net with a description and a photo of the item or a link to your own website for some pre-auction publicity and to avoid a crush at the registration table. You might find that High End Refractor easier to sell if people can price it beforehand. We have quite a few great items already registered: 1) A 4" Jaegers Refractor with a home built equatorial mount. A fantastic scope for the Mars Opposition this summer. This scope will be at Houge Park tonight for evaluation (weather permitting) 2) A complete Celestron 8" SC set up with wedge, tripod, encoders, case, and extras 3) Framed Images donated by Sky Image Labs (http://www.skyimagelab.com) 4) ATM items: A 16" Meade Dob Tube and Base, Dob Elevation Bearings, an Orion XT 6 Base 5) Our friends at Scope City have donated a few items! (http://www.scopecity.com) See the Auction website at http://www.sjaa.net/swap.html for more items, photos and details! Don't have anything to buy or sell? We could use a few volunteers to help set up, work the auction desk, and other tasks starting at 11AM. Please contact me at koopm@best.com if you are interested. Directions to Houge Park: >>From Hwy.17, take the Camden Avenue exit. Go east 4/10 mile, and turn right at the light, onto Bascom Avenue. At the next light, turn left onto Woodard Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Twilight Drive. Go three blocks, cross Sunrise Drive, then turn left into the park. >>From Hwy.85, take the Bascom Avenue exit. Go north 0.2 miles, and turn right at the first traffic light, onto White Oaks Road. Run another 0.2 miles to the first stop sign, then turn left onto Twilight Drive. You will now be passing the park. Turn right at the first driveway, into the parking lot. See Map at http://www.sjaa.net/img/houge.jpg See you there! Mike Koop President San Jose Astronomical Association From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sat Apr 12 11:55:18 2003 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] auction pictures wanted Message-ID: Jane and I will be working on the May Ephemeris over the weekend, so this is a "last call" for articles and pictures. A few pictures or a story from tomorrow's Auction would be welcome. :) Keeping dry ... Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From bhavner at earthlink.net Thu Apr 17 20:05:22 2003 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] AANC Annual Awards for 2003 Announced Message-ID: <005301c30557$5a9ae4a0$aad6fc9e@default> The Astronomical Association of Northern California bestows annual awards for outstanding and continuous support in distinguishing and fostering amateur astronomy. The first awardees, in 1976, were Paul Zurakowsky and Herman Fast who shared the amateur award and Kingsley Wightman who was honored as the professional astronomer of the year. As the years passed we chased eclipses and discovered comets. We cheered triumphs and reflected upon tragedy on earth and in space. We imaged the moon and hunted Messiers. As the years passed, the AANC recognized special people each year. Dobson, Machholz, Berger, Medlock(s). Neall, Westfall, Ryan, Van Nuland. Vaughn, Le Clert, Borde, Striking Sparks. Gould, Stone, Jenniskens, Naeye, Sperling. Filippenko, McKay, Morrison, Reynolds. The 89 name list is inspiring and grows by four more this year. I am pleased to announce the AANC Awards for 2003. The John Hewitt Memorial Award for Amateur Astronomy goes to Marni Berendsen of the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society. Marni is past president of the MDAS, astro-volunteer, club speaker, author, outreach coordinator and more. Marni is currently working on the amateur astronomy outreach project for JPL, on the staff of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The Professional Astronomer of the Year Award goes to Steve Craig of the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco. Steve has been chairman of the Morrison Planetarium since1984, and keeps the 50-year old equipment running and thrilling thousands of visitors every year with fresh programs for young and old alike. In addition, Steve determinedly supports local and regional amateur astronomy day and night. From astronomy day activities to amateur astronomy club meetings at night and much more at the chairman's desk. The Commercial Astronomer of the year award goes to Marshall Smith. Marshall managed the Orion Telescope store in the SF Marina district fur many years and now works in the technical support department of Orion. Marshall, an active amateur astronomer himself, continues his support to amateur astronomy and astronomers through his advice, support, attendance and commercial sponsorship of club events. The Special Astronomer Award goes to Kirsten Vanstone, also of the Morrison Planetarium. Kirsten recently moved back to her home in Toronto, Ontario, where she is a member of the Toronto RASC Centre. While in San Francisco, Kirsten was tireless in her efforts on behalf of amateurs and enthusiasts who attended her classes, read her articles, and met her at club meetings and other astronomy events where she volunteered her help or represented the Morrison Planetarium. The award plaques will be dated May 10, International Astronomy Day. Astronomy Day has truly grown to an international celebration of the joy and significance of astronomy from beginnings by the AANC and EAS in 1973. Without special people like Marni, Steve, Marshall and Kirsten, astronomy would touch a much smaller universe. Please take a moment and view the whole list. At your next club meeting, star party or in your next newsletter, thank those who have received the award in the past and the congratulate these newest awardees for their continuous support of amateur astronomy! http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/AANCawards.html Jane Houston Jones AANC John Hewitt Amateur Astronomer 2002 President, Astronomical Association of Northern California -- Jane Houston Jones San Rafael, CA jane@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Apr 25 14:25:12 2003 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astro Class and SP Tonight: Observing the Planets with Akkana Peck! Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030425141905.032b3de0@koopm.best.vwh.net> Beginning Astronomy Class and Star Party Tonight! Can't tell the Encke Division from Cassini division? What are festoons and Barges? The San Jose Astronomical Association Observational Astronomy Class is here to help you! This informal monthly series will teach basic astronomy, the constellations, the movement of the sky, and the use of the telescope. It occurs every third quarter moon Houge Park Star Party Night until November. No Reservations needed and you can join the class at any time. The class is a free public service provided by the SJAA. The tonight's (Friday, April 25th) class starts at 7:30 PM in the hall at Houge Park. The Class starts off with a "Sky Tour" by SJAA President Mike Koop, pointing out how to find the constellations and planets. Next up is Shallow Sky Diva Akkana Peck who will take us on a grand tour of the planets, giving expert advice on what to observe on each through your telescope. Weather permitting, after the class we will be pointing out the constellations in addition to viewing the planets and other deep sky wonders through telescopes. Akkana's Shallow Sky Website: http://www.shallowsky.com ************************************** B) Houge Park Star Party Fri April 25th 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM Weather Permitting Public observing session on the grounds at Houge Park. Families welcome. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. Right now the Clear Sky Clock shows a clearing coming through at about 10 PM. Maybe we will have sucker holes before that. Come on out and join in on the fun! Clear Sky Clock for San Jose: http://cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html?1 Sunset: 7:52 PM Civil Twilight: 8:19 PM Nautical Twilight: 8:52 PM Astronomical Twilight: 9:27 PM *********************************** Directions to Houge Park: Houge Park is in San Jose, near Campbell and Los Gatos. >From Hwy.17, take the Camden Avenue exit. Go east 4/10 mile, and turn right at the light, onto Bascom Avenue. At the next light, turn left onto Woodard Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Twilight Drive. Go three blocks, cross Sunrise Drive, then turn left into the park. >From Hwy.85, take the Bascom Avenue exit. Go north 0.2 miles, and turn right at the first traffic light, onto White Oaks Road. Run another 0.2 miles to the first stop sign, then turn left onto Twilight Drive. You will now be passing the park. Turn right at the first driveway, into the parking lot. See Map at http://www.sjaa.net/img/houge.jpg *********************************** Clear Skies, Mike Koop President, SJAA Email any comments, questions, or flames to Koopm@best.com From bhavner at earthlink.net Sat Apr 26 00:02:13 2003 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:05 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Lick Observatory Summer Programs Message-ID: <003c01c30bc1$c5122440$c8d6fc9e@default> For a limited number of summer evenings, Lick Observatory offers two public programs. The Summer Visitors Program and The Music of the Spheres Program. The Summer Visitors Program offers public viewing through both the 36-inch refracting telescope and 40-inch reflecting telescope. Each evening also features an astronomy lecture and a history lecture. The Music of the Spheres Program is a summer concert series which benefits the Lick Observatory Visitors Program. Each evening also features an astronomy lecture and viewing through the 36-inch telescope following the concert. Ticket applications are available in May at the websites below. Apply early as they sell out fast. For more information and how to order tickets: Summer Visitors Program http://www.ucolick.org/public/sumvispro.html Music of the Spheres Program http://www.ucolick.org/public/music.html Bob Havner From bhavner at earthlink.net Wed Apr 30 19:50:26 2003 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:05 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] CalStar 2003 Message-ID: <002b01c30f8c$75267ac0$05d9fc9e@default> The Third Annual California Star Party (CalStar), hosted by the San Jose Astronomical Association, is scheduled for the nights of September 25, 26 and 27th at Lake San Antonio. Visit http://www.sjaa.net/calstar2003.html for details. Thank you, Mark Wagner SJAA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20030430/218fa99e/attachment.html From mojo at whiteoaks.com Wed Apr 30 22:39:14 2003 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:05 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] May Ephemeris available online Message-ID: Getcher May SJAA Ephemeris ratcheer: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com