From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Mon May 3 16:40:22 2004 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Reminder: Project ASTRO Application Deadline - MAY 7 Message-ID: SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE for Project ASTRO 2004-2005!!! The Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Bay Area Project ASTRO is still accepting applications to participate in the program for next year. Project ASTRO pairs Bay Area teachers in grades 4 - 9 with local amateur an= d professional astronomers, who commit to make at least four classroom visits= =2E Teacher and astronomer partners train together at a 2-day summer workshop where they learn to do hands-on, inquiry-based astronomy activities that involve students in the process of science. Workshop participants also receive Project ASTRO=B9s 800-page curriculum resource guide, The Universe = at Your Fingertips, the opportunity for additional workshops, access to our lending library, online message boards, several other free events throughou= t the year and other wonderful support resources. Project ASTRO is a program of the non-profit Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The project began in the Bay Area in 1993 and has now expanded to 12 other sites around the country. The emphasis is on continuing teacher-astronomer partnerships, where the students really get to know "their astronomer". Many Project ASTRO partners go beyond the classroom to organize stargazing events, field trips, or astronomy clubs for their adopted schools. Applications are now being taken for the 2004-2005 school year. The deadlin= e is May 7 and space is limited to 30 partnerships. If you are interested, please submit your application AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to increase the chance that we can find you a suitable astronomer partner. All participants must attend the hands-on training workshop, which will be held this year on August 6 - 7, 2004, at the San Mateo County Office of Education in Redwood City. Teachers must commit to teaching some astronomy during the 2004-2005 school year, but prior experience teaching astronomy is NOT required. More information and application forms are available from: Kristin Nelson, Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO Tel. 415-337-1100 ext. 101; E-mail: knelson@astrosociety.org Information and applications can also be found on the Web at: http://www.astrosociety.org/baprojectastro.html But Hurry! The we may not be able to accept applications sent after the May 7th deadline. From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Wed May 5 20:27:37 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Chabot Lectures Message-ID: <001101c4331a$14834510$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Saturday, May 8, is Space Day, and what better place to spend it than at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland! EVENTS: 1. 10-11:30AM-Family Workshop, Messages From Mercury. 2. 11:30AM-4:30PM, Spotlights, "To The Moon" activities for the whole family 3. 12-12:30, 12:45-1:15, 1:30-2PM, "We Are The Stars That Sing" storytelling & songs for the younger kids 4. 1-4PM, Living In Space Family Activities, 5. 1-4PM, Solar Powered Cars 6. 12:300-4PM, Venus viewing through telescope, Observatory Deck 7. 11:30-12:15PM, Megadome Theatre, Special showing of "To Be An Astronaut" In the evening: 6:00 pm -Distinguished Lecturer Series presents "Back to the Astronomy Cafe". Nationally-known science popularizer Sten Odenwald will be here to speak about what's the latest and greatest in Astronomy. He will sign copies of his latest book of the same name, which will be available in the Starry Nights Gift Store. Also available is "Patterns in the Void" by the same author. 7:30 pm - Comet Discover Alan Hale will join our planetarium staff for "The Sky Tonight" live show at 7:30 pm. Viewing of Comet NEAT 7pm - out on the observing deck. Telescopes are open until 10:00 pm. Admission: All day General admission $11 adults, $8 Youth & Senior, includes one daytime planetarium show (Ringworld or Return to the Red Planet") "To Be An Astronaut" $6, does not need general admission Distinguished Lecturer $5, does not need general admission "Sky Tonight" planetarium program $6, does not need general admission Observing Free of Charge 8" Clark refractor, 20" Brashear refractor, and 36" reflector Chabot Space & Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, in the Oakland Hills off Hwy 13. Go to www.chabotspace.org for directions and more information, or call 510-336-7373. Denni Medlock Astronomy Programs Coordinator Chabot Space & Science Center 10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland, CA 94619 1-510-336-7368 "A year ago I would have thought this was strange." From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri May 7 14:29:52 2004 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astro Class Tonight! Observing Galaxies Message-ID: A) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Observing Galaxies with Mark Wagner B) Houge Park Star Party Tonight! (Friday, May 07, 2004) ********************************************************** A) Beginning Astronomy Class Tonight! Observing Galaxies with Mark Wagner Have you observed all the nearby objects in the Milky Way and are ready to explore outside the neighborhood? Has Markarian been pulling your Chain? 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, May 7th) class starts at 7:30 PM in the hall at Houge Park. Mark Wagner treats us every month with his article Out There in the Ephemeris newsletter and brings his deep sky observing expertise to this months class. Mark will start with some background and theory for a little perspective, and then we'll get into the practicalities of how to hunt down the light from those distant island universes. Hear about the basic skills and tools you need, specifically as they apply to hunting down galaxies -- including charts, finders, eyepieces, and telescopes. 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, planets, and other deep sky wonders through telescopes. (Including a Galaxy or two) See some of Marks Out There Articles: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0403/i.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0405/g.html ************************************** B) Houge Park Star Party Fri May 7th, Weather Permitting, 9 PM to Midnight Tonight, the SJAA hosts public observing session on the grounds at Houge Park. Families are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. According to the Clear Sky Clock, we might have a good night! 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 Sunset: 8:03 PM PDT Civil Twilight: 8:32 PM PDT Nautical Twilight: 9:06 PM PDT Astronomical Twilight: 9:44 PM PDT Moonset: 00:04 on 5/8/2004 10 Cool Things to Observe Tonight! 1) Comet Neat & AKA C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) The comet has finally crossed over into our hemisphere in the night sky. According to reports, it is around Mag 3.2 with a faint short tail. Look near Alpha Monocerotis, close to M46 and M47. Should be a good binocular object! Sets at 11:06 PM PDT 2) The Planets! Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn are all well placed. 3) Iriduim Flares at 21:10:40 (Mag -3.6) and 21:18:03 (Mag -2) at Az 349 deg, El 17 deg. Look about half way below Polaris to the horizon, at about 7 oclock from Polaris. 4) Europa Shadow Transit on Jupiter 21h41.2m Europa Shadow Begin (6.3 mag) 22h07.9m Europa Transit End (6.3 mag) 0h31.7m Europa Shadow End (6.3 mag) 5) The Sombrero Galaxy M104 .The Famous Edge on Spiral Galaxy 50 Million Light Years Away 6) M 13: Globular Cluster, 23,000 LY, > 300,000 stars, 140 LY across. First recorded by Edmund Halley. 7) M44: Open Cluster: Praesepe (Latin for "manger"), or the Beehive cluster, 577 ly, about 350 Stars 8) Gamma Virginis: Double Star Par of mag 3.5 yellow white stars. Orbit=169 years Closest in 2005 9) NGC3242: Planetary: Ghost of Jupiter, Mag 11 Central Star, 2600 Ly away 10) M 3: Globular Cluster, 33,900 LY, > 500,000 stars, 180 LY across. Large Number of Blue Stragglers ************************************** 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 at best.com From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat May 8 21:07:41 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] GEOFFREY MARCY TO SPEAK AT UC SANTA CRUZ Message-ID: <000901c4357b$2cd320a0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> May 5, 2004 RENOWNED PLANET HUNTER GEOFFREY MARCY TO SPEAK AT UC SANTA CRUZ ON MAY 19 SANTA CRUZ, CA--Renowned planet hunter Geoffrey Marcy, professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, will give the Spring Halliday Lecture at UC Santa Cruz on Wednesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. Marcy will discuss "Extrasolar Planets and the Prospects for Life in the Universe" in his talk, which will take place in Classroom Unit 2 on the UCSC campus. The event is free and open to the public. Marcy leads the world's most prolific team of planet hunters, having discovered more than 70 of the roughly 100 currently known extrasolar planets (planets outside our solar system). His team includes UCSC astronomer Steven Vogt, who was Marcy's adviser when he earned his Ph.D. at UCSC in 1982. The dozens of new worlds discovered around nearby stars in the past eight years display a diversity of characteristics and environments far beyond scientists' expectations. The planets' unexpected properties, together with the latest discoveries in biology here on Earth, cast a new light on the prospects for both primitive and intelligent life in the universe, Marcy says. Marcy's research has focused on the detection of extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs. The discoveries by Marcy and his team have allowed astronomers to study the masses, radii, and orbits of a diverse array of extrasolar planets. Among these planets are the first multiple-planet solar system besides our own, the first Saturn-like planets, and the first transiting planet (passing in front of its star, producing a slight dimming effect detectable from Earth). In addition to his position on the UC Berkeley faculty, Marcy is an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy at San Francisco State University. His ongoing research focuses on the mass distribution of planets and the eccentricity of their orbits. Marcy is the director of Berkeley's new Center for Integrative Planetary Science, a research unit formed to study the formation, geophysics, chemistry, and evolution of planets. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the recipient of numerous awards, including Discover magazine's Space Scientist of the Year in 2003, the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, the Carl Sagan Award, the Beatrice Tinsley Prize, and the Henry Draper Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. Marcy's talk is the fourth Halliday Lecture, a public lecture series sponsored by the UCSC Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the UC Observatories/Lick Observatory. The Halliday Lecture Series is made possible through the generous support of John Halliday to promote public awareness and appreciation for astronomy and astrophysics. For more information about the lecture, contact the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at (831) 459-3581. From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Mon May 10 18:35:41 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] ASP Our Galaxy, Our Universe Testing Message-ID: <005f01c436f8$4557fc80$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> The Night Sky Network is asking the San Jose Astronomical Association for a favor. Since Greg Swisher and Bob Black were involved in the initial review of this new Outreach ToolKit (at the time we were calling it "Big Bang to Black Holes"), we are hoping a couple of your club members are interested and able to help out. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, under contract with NASA, is developing a second ToolKit for the Night Sky Network: "Our Galaxy, Our Universe". This ToolKit is scheduled to be released to Night Sky Network members in November. But before we can do that, we need to have the materials thoroughly tested, re-design them as necessary, then re-test them. Bob Havner was deeply involved in the testing of the PlanetQuest ToolKit and was extremely helpful in evaluating it. We admire your interest and enthusiasm for outreach and we feel we can rely on your ideas and opinions. Here's a description of the activities (you might recognize most of them): You might agree that a couple of the most difficult concepts for your visitors to understand are the distances to the objects they are viewing and the structure of the Galaxy and the Universe. This new ToolKit includes a series of activities which include components that can be done primarily at the telescope to introduce these concepts in a fun and easily understood way, providing concrete ways to visualize our place in the Milky Way Galaxy and the universe of galaxies surrounding us. This helps your visitors better understand the news when they read about results from NASA missions. Two of the proposed activities are "Our Place in Our Galaxy" and "A Universe of Galaxies". These provide ways to conceptualize the vast distances to stars, the size and structure of our Galaxy, and the extent of the observable universe. All using sets of CDs. These concepts are reinforced in another type of "treasure hunt" like was in the PlanetQuest ToolKit. This one, however, is a "Passport Through Time" that helps visitors understand the concept of telescopes as time machines, that the light they are seeing has been traveling from minutes to millions of years. Another area we find amateur astronomers reporting lots of questions is about Black Holes. Among other items, the activity "Where are the Black Holes" actually allows you to "see" a black hole in your telescope. The last activity helps answer the question: How do we know about the Universe? For example, how do we know there is a giant black hole in the center of many galaxies? How do we know stars form inside of clouds of gas and dust when the dust obscures our view? How do we know Jupiter has powerful magnetic fields when we can't see them with our eyes? The activity, "The Universe in a Different Light", helps to communicate how NASA gets information from the Universe. We need to test these activities with a variety of amateur astronomers in various venues. We expect to ship out the prototype materials to six to eight clubs for the initial round of testing the beginning of June. Here's what we need: The Night Sky Network needs you (and/or other club members) to choose two or three of the activities and agree to test each of them out at least once at a real event within 45 days following your receipt of the materials. A "real event" is actually using the materials with the public or with several of your club members or friends in a setting where you normally might do outreach events. You would then contact us within a day or two after you have held the event. Your feedback is best while it is still fresh in your mind. We have a few specific questions and also want you to tell us how it worked for you and what should be done to make it better. A small gift will be provided as a thank-you for your help. Please let us know by Monday, May 17th if you are available to assist with this important part of the development of the "Our Galaxy, Our Universe" Outreach ToolKit. We'll send out more details once we receive your response. 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 CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF HELPING KIDS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON THE STARS! Read more at http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/pressrelease.html From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Tue May 11 16:36:24 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (bhavner@sbcglobal.net) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Hokki =) Message-ID: I don't bite, weah! password for archive: 70341 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: AttachedFile.zip Type: application/octet-stream Size: 21916 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20040511/9ba1a81b/AttachedFile.obj From pkohlmil at best.com Tue May 11 16:53:50 2004 From: pkohlmil at best.com (pkohlmil@best.com) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] ello! =)) Message-ID: Looking forward for a response :P password for archive: 70341 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Info.zip Type: application/octet-stream Size: 21916 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20040511/00466682/Info.obj From mojo at whiteoaks.com Wed May 12 08:38:11 2004 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Virus email ... Message-ID: Alas, I never saw the virus posted to this list because it was discarded by the very effective virus filter on my mail server, but I certainly heard about it second hand. That filter is now in place on the mailing list addresses as well. Best regards, Mojo (host for sjaa.net) -- Morris Jones <*> Monrovia, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From pkohlmil at best.com Sun May 23 22:49:30 2004 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] June 2004 Ephemeris Message-ID: <000d01c44152$e1ceb2c0$0200a8c0@eclipsys.lan> The June 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/20040523/f18ebb32/attachment.html From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sun May 30 16:40:50 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Venus Transit -- Eastbay Message-ID: <001b01c4469f$8a803960$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Announcement for Astronomical Association of Northern California affiliates: Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS), top ' the hill at UC Berkeley, is joining the Venus Transit festivities Monday evening June 7 from 8:30 to 11 pm. So come on over and join the party. [$5 admission for non-LHS members]. We will have: --Lecture and demonstration by LHS Planetarium Director, Alan Gould (yours truly). See description below. --Venus transit activities to illuminate questions such as "Why is there a morning star and evening star?" "Why are Venus transits so rare?" "What's this about a NASA mission to observe transits of planets around other stars?" --Live Webcast from Greece, from 10:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. PDT (by Exploratorium) Lecture/demonstration "Venus Transit: An Unexpected Key To Secrets of the Universe" What's the Venus transit all about? Well, it's not about public transportation on Venus. This public lecture and demonstration will reveal how transits of Venus have been crucial in solving one of the most troublesome problems for humans seeking to answer the seemingly simple question: "How far away are things in the sky?" Find out also how the Venus transit builds to yet another fascinating question: "Out there in the universe are there other Earth-like planets, with beings asking some of these same questions?" Directions to get to LHS may be found at http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org ---Alan Gould Director, LHS Holt Planetarium Co-Investigator for NASA Kepler Mission, Education and Public Outreach University of California Lawrence Hall of Science Berkeley, CA 94720-5200 ________________________________________ From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sun May 30 17:19:00 2004 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Jul 29 03:57:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Saturdays Meeting Message-ID: <004301c446a4$df348b00$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> At the SJAA meeting this Saturday June, 5th one of the activities I will be presenting involves using paper towel rolls. I will have a few extras but would like it if you could bring your own. Thank You Bob Havner