From bhavner at earthlink.net Wed Feb 4 19:57:36 2004 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA General Meeting 2/7/04 Message-ID: <006d01c3eb9c$3224bd80$42f556d1@default> SJAA General Meeting Saturday February 7, 2004 8:00 pm Houge Park Meeting Hall Saturdays SJAA meeting is a very special event. Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy, UC Berkeley will be the guest speaker. Einstein's Biggest Blunder? The Case for Cosmic "Antigravity" In 1998, observations of very distant exploding stars (supernovae) provided intriguing evidence that the expansion of the Universe is speeding up with time, rather than slowing down due to gravity as expected. New, completely independent data greatly support this conclusion, which resurrects the idea of a long-range "antigravity" effect first proposed by Albert Einstein and later renounced as his "biggest blunder." Cool Websites to check out before Dr. Filippenko's Talk: - PBS had a NOVA program titled "Runaway Universe" featuring Dr. Filippenko's research. See the companion website at: -The Santa Clara County Public Library has 3 Copies of this NOVA program currently available. Use the search keywords "NOVA Runaway Universe" to see current availability. -Dr. Filippenko's Bio Page: -Another overview of the talk: Green Lasers are still available! Daniel Stefanescu will have 8 green lasers available for sale at the meeting tonight. The unit normally sells for about $160, but Dan is able to offer the unit to club members for $120 based on volume-discounted purchasing. The laser unit is marketed as the "StarPoint Laser". Its quality optical components are manufactured in Taipei and the laser is a conventional double-crystal YAG that emits a ~4.9mW constant-wave beam at 532nm (green). It is powered by two AAA batteries; rechargeable cells are recommended for frequent users. This laser pointer also exhibits some unique refinements designed with the amateur astronomer in mind, such as: an ergonomic ABS plastic casing, an easy to find on/off button, and a lanyard that protects the unit from accidental falls during use while keeping the laser close for easy access. Picture: Bring your checkbook tonight if you are interested. Dan will also bring them to the next Houge Park Star Party if there are any left Don Machholz' Messier Marathon Observers Guides Available There will be autographed copies of Don Machholz' Messier Marathon Observer's Guide. Don's guide is a complete resource for participating in the upcoming Messier Marathon. They are $10.00 each. I will also have copies of last years lists for your inspection. See you Saturday night Bob Havner From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Feb 13 16:38:51 2004 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA Beginning Astronomy Class and Houge Park Star Party Tonight! Message-ID: A) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Observing the Planets w/ Akkana Peck B) Houge Park Star Party Tonight? C) A Star is Born! ********************************************************** A) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Observing the Planets with Akkana Peck 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. Tonight's (Friday, Feb. 13th) class starts at 7:30 PM in the hall at Houge Park. Shallow Sky Diva Akkana Peck will take us on a grand tour of the planets, giving expert advice on what to observe on each through your telescope. The Class finishes with a "Sky Tour" by SJAA President Mike Koop, pointing out how to find the constellations and planets. 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 Feb 13th Weather Permitting, 7 to 10 pm Public observing session on the grounds at Houge Park. Families welcome. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. I have been looking at the latest weather satellite picture and it looks like there is a big clearing behind this front. The big question is will the clouds clear in time? The clear sky clock shows little hope. But, with any luck, the clouds will magically part just as the Beginning astronomy class ends. Come on out and join in on the fun! Clear Sky Clock for San Jose: http://cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html?1 NRL Monterey East Pacific & US West Coast Images http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat-bin/epac_westcoast.cgi ***************************************** C) A Star is Born! Check out this cool animation captured by imagers around the nation of a star turning on. http://www.rc-astro.com/nebulae/mcneil_anim.htm On 23 January 2004, amateur astronomer Jay McNeil discovered a new nebula in Orion, near the existing nebula, M78. Here is an animation of the emergence and evolution of his find, constructed using images taken by a number of amateur astronomers over a period of time. What we are witnessing here is apparently the actual birth of a star. The young would-be star had been gathering material for untold years, shrouded in a cocoon of dust and gas. Then, in a matter of just a few months, it has burst into brilliance, lighting up the cloud around it. This cloud is changing rapidly, and professional astronomers are eagerly pursuing follow-up observations of this rare event. *********************************** 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 Sun Feb 22 18:13:07 2004 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] 2004 Shingletown Star Party! Message-ID: <007701c3f9b2$952487c0$47c8f7a5@default> ---------PRESS RELEASE------------ SSP 2004 Registration Now Open Date: Nights of June 16 through June 20, 2004. Star party closes June 21, 2004. This is the SSP's third year. It offers some of California's darkest skies and convenient easy-highway access. The star party is held on the runway of a closed airport, so there's no dirt or tumbleweeds on the setup field. This year's SSP is adding a shower truck and ice truck to its list of amenities. Just a few miles away is the resort community of Shingletown which provides full services. Beautiful Mount Lassen National Volcanic Park is 17 miles up the mountain. Registration this year is limited to 300 attendees. Find SSP 2004 at http://www.shingletownstarparty.org From pkohlmil at best.com Mon Feb 23 22:27:12 2004 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] March 2004 Ephemeris available online Message-ID: <001a01c3fa9f$3e68b760$0200a8c0@SJWSLAPTOPPK> The March 2004 issue of the SJAA Ephemeris, newsletter of the San Jose Astronomical Association, is available online here: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net Paul and Mary Kohlmiller -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20040223/fa469ec0/attachment.html From bhavner at earthlink.net Tue Feb 24 19:34:31 2004 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] ASP Big Bang to Black Holes Tool Kit Screening Message-ID: <000f01c3fb50$49895bc0$810556d1@default> Marni Berendsen is looking for 2 to 3 SJAA members to participate in an evaluation of a new public outreach program called "Big Bang to Black Holes". She is looking for amateurs that are involved in star party activities to evaluate this program. This is a good opportunity for those of you who are interested in public outreach to get involved. The event will be on Saturday March 7th from noon to 4:00. If interested please contact her by this weekend so she has time to make arrangements. Please read the details below. Bob Havner bhavner@earthlink.net On Sunday, March 7th, from about noon to 4 pm, we're going to have an amateur astronomer review of the proposed activities and materials for the next Outreach Toolkit at San Francisco State University. The working title of the Toolkit is "Big Bang to Black Holes". It is sponsored by the Structure and Evolution of the Universe Forum at NASA, http://universe.gsfc.nasa.gov/. We will have up to 12 amateur astronomers from various clubs around the Bay participating. Each activity will be explained, then the participants will answer a set of questions to express their opinions and ideas about the activity. At the end of the day we'll have a general discussion to determine the "best" activities from the amateur astronomer point of view. Qualifications: We need one or two club members who primarily/exclusively do star-party outreach - showing objects at the telescope - and who do it frequently: on average at least 8 to 10 times a year. And one club member who does other kinds of outreach as well: classroom, community group, club presentations, etc - once again, on average at least 8 to 10 times a year. Refreshments will be served and a small gift will be provided as a thank-you. Marni Berendsen Astronomical Society of the Pacific 390 Ashton Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112 USA Phone: 415-337-1100 ext. 116 Fax: 415-337-5205 mberendsen@astrosociety.org