From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Tue Sep 6 18:08:47 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Tue Sep 6 18:09:00 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Vandenberg Launch Early Tomorrow (9/7/05) Message-ID: <20050906190328.R24130@koopm.best.vwh.net> An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for launch from North Vandenberg Wednesday morning (Sept. 7th). The missiles' two unarmed re-entry vehicles are expected to travel approximately 4,200 miles in about 30 minutes, hitting pre-determined targets at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the Marshall Islands. Designated Glory Trip 187-1, this operational test launch continues a long history of Western Range launches used to verify, validate and improve the capability of the nations ICBM force. The launch window is from 1:01 a.m. to 7:01 a.m. PDT. SJAA member Jim Albers has generated a Finder/photo setup charts for the flight path as viewed from San Jose for a 1 AM or 2 AM PDT launch using Rob Matson's Skymap Program: 20 deg FOV shows launch area 60 deg FOV shows entire burn These plots should be good for the entire SF Bay area. 0030 for camera setup http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0030_20.gif http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0030_60.gif 0100 for launch window start http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0100_20.gif http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0100_60.gif 0200 for 1 hr into window. http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0200_20.gif http://koopm.best.vwh.net/mm3_050907_0200_60.gif Jim's star fields make viewing the launch much easier but I still recommend determining the where to look before the launch using a compass. * From San Jose we need to look to the south - southeast at 158 degrees (use a map to determine the look angle for a different locations). * Make sure to have visibility clear to the horizon to maximize your viewing time. I have to stand in the middle of the street looking between two of my neighbor's trees to see the polar launches but the ballistic tests are much easier to view. * Use binoculars. You should be able to see the staging. * Jim and his friend, Bryan Murahashi captured the last launch on August 25th from Loma Prieta. http://www.pbase.com/bryan_murahashi/image/48229259 Some Websites of Interest: The full Vandenberg AFB News Release: http://www.spacearchive.info/news-2005-09-02-vafb.htm Viewing tips from Brian Webb: http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm Upcoming Vandenberg Launch Schedule: http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm Let me know if you have any luck. Clear Skies, Mike Koop President San Jose Astronomical Association From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 7 14:15:58 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Wed Sep 7 14:16:05 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] New Beginning astronomy course at Foothill College Message-ID: This is an announcement of a beginning new course at Foothill College P.S. We are working on some exciting new Wednesday evening astronomy lectures for the coming school year. More about that in a future e-mail. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASTRONOMY FOR RECREATION A New Seminar for To Help Those Who Want to Get Involved with Astronomy Starting in the Fall of 2005, Foothill College will offer a new 1-unit astronomy seminar to accompany its popular beginning course, Astronomy 10B (Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe.) The seminar, called "Astronomy 105: Astronomy for Recreation," will be an overview of astronomy as a hobby or avocation, for those who would like to find more ways to enjoy the cosmos. It is offered Monday afternoons, from 1:40 to 2:30 pm, starting Sept. 26. No background in science or special equipment will be required. Among the topics the seminar will cover are: * What are the best web sites for astronomy knowledge, pictures, and observing help? * Where are the best places in the Bay Area to look through a telescope? * Family Astronomy: Doing fun, hands-on astronomy projects with your kids or grand-kids? * Constellation lore and constellation finding: Using a handy star-finder wheel * Astronomy and science fiction (movies and books): The good, the bad, and the ugly * Eclipses and eclipse "chasing": Where and when to go * Buying and using binoculars or a telescope * Local organizations and projects you can get involved with * Help getting your mind around the "big astronomy issues" in the news: black holes, cannibal galaxies, the big bang, dark matter To take Astronomy 105, students must sign up for Astronomy 10B at the same time (or must have taken 10B within the last three years). In the fall of 2005, Astronomy 10B, which is designed for non-science majors and does not require math, will be available both during the day and in the evening at Foothill. With all the exciting astronomical discoveries in the news, this is the perfect quarter in which to take such a starting astronomy class. Astronomy 105 is especially recommended for students who are retired or working part-time, and are interested in spending a bit more time exploring their personal interests in astronomy. An optional Friday evening session at the Foothill College Observatory will be available for students in the course. Both courses are taught by instructor Andrew Fraknoi, who appears frequently on Bay Area radio programs explaining science in everyday language. His "Physics for Poets" class recently won the national "Innovation of the Year" Award of the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges. For more information about this special course, see the web site: http://www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/ast105.htm which has answers to frequently asked questions about the course and a link for registration information. ================================ Andrew Fraknoi, Chair, Astronomy Program Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, USA Telephone: (650) 949-7288 E-mail: fraknoiandrew@fhda.edu ================================ Rob Hawley From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 7 17:49:12 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Wed Sep 7 17:49:24 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Sept 9 1st Quarter SJAA Houge Park Star Party Message-ID: On Friday September 9th the SJAA will host its 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. The evening star party will start about 8:30 PM and last until 11 PM. Weather for Houge Park: http://www.sjaa.net/weather/sites.html#Houge-Park You can follow this link for a map of tonight's sky http://skymaps.com/skymaps/esmn0509.pdf. The moon will be 36% illuminated Object visibility for 21:30:00 on Fri 09 Sep 2005 Sunset: 19:23 Twilight: 20:53 Darkness: 22:24 - 05:16 Twilight: 05:16 Sunrise: 06:45 Object Type Con Alt Az ------ ---- --- --- -- 1 Pegasi Star Peg +62? 121? beta Cygni Star Cyg +80? 192? Cr 399 Open Cluster Vul +73? 191? epsilon1 Lyr Star Lyr +79? 287? eta Persei Star Per +21? 35? gamma Delphini Star Del +64? 140? M 2 Globular Cluster Aqr +44? 139? M 5 Globular Cluster Ser +21? 256? M 8 Bright Nebula Sgr +24? 204? M 11 Open Cluster Sct +45? 197? M 13 Globular Cluster Her +55? 282? M 15 Globular Cluster Peg +55? 128? M 17 Bright Nebula Sgr +33? 203? M 22 Globular Cluster Sgr +27? 196? M 27 Planetary Nebula Vul +75? 162? M 31 Galaxy And +33? 60? M 52 Open Cluster Cas +48? 36? M 56 Globular Cluster Lyr +81? 215? M 57 Planetary Nebula Lyr +80? 249? M 92 Globular Cluster Her +62? 293? NGC 6543 Planetary Nebula Dra +57? 342? cat's eye NGC 6633 Open Cluster Oph +55? 213? NGC 6811 Open Cluster Cyg +81? 358? NGC 6826 Planetary Nebula Cyg +77? 4? blinking planetary NGC 6910 Open Cluster Cyg +81? 64? NGC 6995 Supernova Remnant Cyg +75? 111? Veil Nebula use O3 filter NGC 7027 Planetary Nebula Cyg +73? 67? NGC 7662 Planetary Nebula And +47? 65? blue snowball NGC 7789 Open Cluster Cas +44? 43? T Lyr Star Lyr +77? 274? Finder Charts for these objects can be found at http://home.earthlink.net/~robhawley/Finder_Charts.pdf This is a draft document so it is not terribly verbose. Detailed information on any of any of these objects may be obtained at http://www.ngcic.org/pubdb.htm And http://www.seds.org/messier/ For satellite predictions for the party see http://www.heavens-above.com/allsats.asp?lat=37.339&lng=-121.894&alt=0&loc=S an+Jose&TZ=PST&Date=38605.0625&Mag=3.5 Nothing signficant is anticipated. Rob Hawley From robhawley at earthlink.net Fri Sep 9 16:29:00 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Fri Sep 9 16:29:08 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] FW: Would anyone you know want these tickets to Lick Observatory tomorrow Night? Message-ID: Forwarded message Rob Hawley _____ From: Steve Brehaut [mailto:sbrehaut@sonic.net] Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 3:23 PM To: robhawley@earthlink.net Subject: Would anyone you know want these tickets to Lick Observatory tomorrow Night? Rob, I have (4) tickets to the last evening of Lick Observatory's Summer Visitor Program this year, tomorrow night at 7:00PM. Would any of the members be interested in going? I can't use them. I live in Los Altos and could meet up with someone locally. This is a great event for the family or friends who like stargazing and the opportunity to stare through the very old 36" Great Refractor Telescope during the evening. Great for a picnic too to see the sunset there before the event. Full details are here: http://www.ucolick.org/public/sumvispro.html Thanks Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steve Brehaut Email sbrehaut@sonic.net Cell 650.380.3218 ( Free~ Verizon In-Network) IM sbrehaut via Yahoo & Skype ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20050909/e82a82a6/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 15399 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20050909/e82a82a6/attachment.jpe From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Thu Sep 15 18:21:12 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Thu Sep 15 18:21:24 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] SFAA General Meeting Wed, Sep. 21 with Sun Kwok as speaker Message-ID: <000a01c5ba5c$ed96fca0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Subject: [AANC Contacts] SFAA General Meeting Wed,Sep. 21 with Sun Kwok as speaker San Francisco Amateur Astronomers September 21, 2005 ? General Meeting Randall Museum 199 Museum Way, San Francisco 7:00 pm doors open 7:30 pm announcements 8:00 pm speaker SUN KWOK University of Calgary COSMIC BUTTERFLIES: THE COLOURFUL MYSTERIES OF PLANETARY NEBULAE This speaker is not to be missed. He is one of the world's experts on Planetary Nebulae, which are among the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Here's just a few examples of some well-known planetary nebulae: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2004032b/ http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2005012t/ http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2000007a/ http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2001005a/ At the end of a star?s life, it wraps itself in a cocoon by spilling out gas and dust. Sometime later, a butterfly?like nebula emerges from the cocoon and develops into what astronomers call a planetary nebula. Recent observations by the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed the details of this transformation. In this talk, we will summarize our modern understanding of planetary nebulae and show how research on planetary nebulae has impacted other fields ranging from the mapping of dark matter to new insights into the origin of life. Dr. Sun Kwok is faculty professor at the University of Calgary and distinguished research fellow of the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica of Taiwan. He served as chairman of the Planetary Nebulae Working Group of the International Astronomical Union between 1994?2001, and co?chaired the 2001 IAU symposium on planetary nebulae in Canberra, Australia. He is the Canadian principal investigator of the submillimetre?wave astronomy space mission Odin, which was successfully launched in 2001. He has two recent books on planetary nebulae published by the Cambridge University Press: ?The Origin and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae?in 2000 and ?Cosmic Butterflies? in 2001. _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Sep 16 17:47:34 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Sep 16 17:47:48 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Astro Events This Weekend and Beyond! Message-ID: <20050916180545.F57565@koopm.best.vwh.net> A) PAS Meeting Tonight! (9/16): Cosmic Butterflies B) SJAA Slide and Equipment Night Tomorrow Night! (9/17) C) Sign Up for Calstar 2005! Sept. 29-Oct 2nd at Lake San Antonio D) Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon Opens Sept. 23rd at the Tech E) Volunteer for KTEH on Thursday, Sept. 29th ***************************************** A) PAS Meeting Tonight! (9/16): Cosmic Butterflies Kenneth Lum writes Dear Friends: The next meeting of the Peninsula Astronomical Society will be this Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30PM. We plan to have dinner with the speaker, Dr. Sun Kwok of the University of Calgary at Chef Chu's restaurant at 6PM before the meeting. All who plan to attend are invited to this if they can make it. Please let me know if you can attend so i can know how big a table to arrange for at the restaurant. Chef Chu's is located at the corner of El Camino and San Antonio Rd. in Los Altos. We will then head on to Foothill College after dinner for our meeting around 7:15P. Hope to see some of you there! More on the meeting below. Ken L. =============================================== Cosmic Butterflies The Colorful Mysteries of Planetary Nebulae by Ken Lum Our next PAS General Meeting will be on the 3rd Friday of September on September 16 rather than the usual 2nd Friday due to the speaker's travel schedule. The meeting will be held at 7:30PM in Rm. 5001, Bldg. 5000 near Parking Lot#5 as usual. We are most privileged to have Dr. Sun Kwok of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada come to speak to us on the subject of planetary nebulae and how they form and evolve. Dr. Kwok has been the author of many articles on planetary nebulae in both the professional and popular astronomical literature and is one of the world's foremost researchers in this field. He is the originator of the "interacting-winds" theory which has become the standard model of planetary nebulae formation. He is also the author of the book, "Cosmic Butterflies"(Cambridge, 2001), undoubtedly the best popular account of these fascinating objects. Planetary nebulae are the remnants of stars of medium and low mass that are reaching the end of their life cycles and blowing off much of their outer atmospheres. These expanding atmospheric envelopes are then illuminated by the high energy ultraviolet radiation given off by their central stars which is how they become visible to us. These stars are too small to become supernovae. In a few billion years, our own Sun will also eventually become a planetary nebula.Two such objects, the Ring Nebula in Lyra(M57) and the Dumbell Nebula in Vulpecula(M27) are staples of the summer star party scene. Within the Milky Way galaxy, literally hundreds of these objects have been identified. They have also been identified in other galaxies as well. Perhaps the most bizarre and varied objects to be imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope are planetary nebulae, and these images and the data they contain have totally revolutionized the study of these objects. Dr. Kwok received his Ph. D. from the University of Minnesota and has been a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary since 1983. Copies of his book will be available for sale at the meeting, so please bring your check books. Those of you who already have a copy should bring them to be autographed. Finally, don't forget, parking is $2.00 so bring eight quarters for the parking ticket machines! More Info on PAS: http://www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/pas.htm Map and directions: http://www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/fhmap.htm ************************************************************ B) SJAA General Meeting: Slide and Equipment Night Tomorrow Night! Saturday, September 17th starting 8 PM in the Hall at Houge Park It's time for everyone's favorite meeting, Member show and tell! Have you purchased a new telescope or astro accessory? We love to see it, hear how you made your decision to purchase it, and how it has improved your observing skills! Are you in the process of building a scope or astro toy but have run into a problem you have not solved yet? Bring it on by and tell us about it! Many of our members have run into similar problems. The person with the solution could be sitting right next to you! A slide projector will be available to show some of your latest astrophotography efforts. Please feel free to bring any pictures, even the less successful ones, so that we can all understand the patience and persistence that is required to get the outstanding images we take for granted in the astronomy magazines. Some of our members have been doing astrophotography for over twenty-five years and may offer a pointer or two that may help make your next photographic session more successful. We will have the computer projector there along with a slide projector. Let us know if there is anything else needed. All are welcome to attend and present! Websites with past S&E Nites: http://www.sjaa.net/eph/9810g.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/9911/g.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0011/i.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0110/i.html http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0311/c.html ******************************* C) Sign Up for Calstar 2005! Sept. 29-Oct 2nd at Lake San Antonio CalStar (The California Star Party) will take place this year at Lake San Antonio from September 29th through October 2nd, 2005. This is the sixth year for CalStar, and it has grown in popularity each year. The San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) is the host. CalStar is a casual star party, geared entirely at observing and imaging. It is a relaxed atmosphere, where the only real activities take place under starry skies. It is a great "end of season" way to get together with other amateur astronomers from around the state. Lake San Antonio is located approximately midpoint between Los Angeles and San Francisco, just west of highway 101, 30 miles north of Paso Robles. We expect a hundred or so telescopes to be set up, ranging from small Dobs to some seriously large aperture, to high end imaging equipment and state of the art solar scopes. There is always something interesting. Lake San Antonio is part of the Monterey County Park system, and charges an overnight camping fee of $22 per day per vehicle. We are getting a special discount of three nights for the price of two, so if you stay all three nights, the fee is $44. There are free showers available at a nearby campsite. This year we are once again arranging for catered BBQ dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. For $18 you can get a Tri tip or chicken BBQ dinner or $14 a vegietarian offer will be provided. Its a great meal to start an evening of observing with no food to haul in, cook, or clean up afterwards. Go to the CalStar web-page for more information and sign up as an attendee. http://www.sjaa.net/calstar2005.html If you have any questions, email Rob Hawley at calstar2005 earthlink net. See you there! ************************ D) Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon Opens Sept. 23rd at the Tech Only 12 have walked on the moon. You're next! Opens September 23 in the IMAX Theater at The Tech! Running Time: 40 minutes Presented and narrated by Tom Hanks, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon, will transport you to the lunar surface to walk alongside the 12 extraordinary astronauts who have been there to experience what they saw, heard, felt, thought and did. This film features never-before-seen photographs, previously unreleased NASA footage, CGI imaging and live-action renditions of the lunar landscape. In addition to the actual voice transmissions from the Apollo astronauts and Tom Hanks' narration, the following celebrity voices are featured in the film: John Corbett, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Scott Glenn, Rick Gomez, Frank John Hughes,Tim Matheson, Matthew McConaughey, Paul Newman, Neal McDonough, Bill Paxton,Barry Pepper, Kevin Pollak, Peter Scolari, Gary Sinise, John Travolta, Donnie Wahlberg and Rita Wilson. Produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman of Playtone and by IMAX Corporation, MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON is directed by Mark Cowen, Emmy Award nominee for the documentary film "We Stand Alone Together: The Men Of Easy Company," and executive produced by Mark Herzog and Hugh Murray. The film's content is based on "The Lunar Surface Journals," a massive archival database compiled over the last decade by Dr. Eric Jones, which chronicles the moon walks as recounted by the astronauts. MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON is sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation and filmed with the cooperation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. For More Information See: http://www.thetech.org/imax/filmdetail/?movie=MDES&ref=upcoming http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2005/09/stunning.html http://www.imax.com/magnificentdesolation/ ********************************************************* E) Volunteer for KTEH on Thursday, Sept. 29th Not Headed to Calstar on Thursday? Consider helping down at KTEH, San Jose's Public Television Station for their current pledge drive. The SJAA has been requested to provide volunteer support answering phones for the KTEH pledge drive on Thursday, Sept. 29th from 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. During this shift, the first part of NOVAs Elegant Universe will be shown, running from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. They call us first if the program has an astronomical theme! They also will be showing the Glen Miller Spectacular and the Mariachi: The Spirit of Mexico Program during our shift. Both of these shows are consistent money makers for the station, so expect a lot of calls. Food is provided. Our club will receive on-air credit for their contributions of time during the shift if we provide 10 or more people. I've done this a couple times. It is hard work, but it's fun, and it's interesting to see the inside of the place. The room can get very noisy, so as a suggestion, bring one earplug for the ear that's not used with the phone. Jim Van Nuland brought along an old operator's headset which worked well for him. The room tends to be cool, so be prepared with a light jacket or sweater. There will be a little training session at 6:00 or so, then we're on the air for about 4 hours in roughly 20minute segments. Originally, this was planned to be a virtual pledge break where the national feed is used to bring in pledges. Due to other programming issues, it will be a live event! Tom Fanella along with another host usually provide the on air talent describing the Thank You gifts and the advantages of pledging. The volunteers get shown on TV if we are on the phone taking a pledge. So, if you have someone at home waiting to see you, have them call in with a pledge! Email me at koopm best.com if you would like to help out. Let me know if you have done this before, but no previous experience is necessary. I'll email you back with the exact details once I get them. KTEH is located at 1585 Schallenberger Road in San Jose. Exit 880 at Brokaw, head east on Brokaw. Turn Left at the first intersection, Ridder Park Drive. Turn Left at the first street, Schallenberger The station is on the right, the second complex of buildings after the railroad tracks. Park in the station lot or along Schallenberger. Map to KTEH: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=san+jose&state=CA&address=1585+schallenberger+rd&zip=95131&country=us&zoom=8 Websites: Nova's Elegant Universe http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant KTEH Site: http://www.kteh.org/index.html KTEH Schedule: http://www.kteh.org/programs/programs.html?display_date=2005-09-29&display_format=fullday&feeds=978&station=KTEH&zipcode=&transport=&provider=0&channelsuppress=f The SJAA Crew at a Previous Pledge Drive http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0409/KTEH_5.jpg *********************************************** 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 Questions? Comments? Flames? Email: koopm best com From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Fri Sep 16 19:48:50 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Sep 16 19:49:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: I need an astronomer volunteer for this Sunday!!! Message-ID: <004201c5bb32$56a3a010$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Any Solar Astronomers out there interested in helping out at the "SUN Day" at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge this Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00. Normaly Ralph or I would help them but we have committed to the Chinese Moon Festival. They are looking for someone to show sunspots to the guests. If you have some free time this Sunday afternoon they could shure use the help. Contact Tina Simmons at 408 262-5513 voice mail box #104 Directions to the EEC: From I-880 or Highway 101, exit on Highway 237 toward Alviso. Turn north onto Zanker Road. Continue on Zanker Road to the Environmental Education Center entrance road (a sharp right turn at Grand Blvd.) The distance from 237 to the entrance road is 2.1 miles. Description for "SUN Day" on Sunday, September 18, 2005 from 1:00p.m -3:00p.m. The summer sun is calling and it's inviting all who love summer to come explore that big ball of energy in the sky. A guest presenter, an affiliate of the Earthsense organization, will enlighten the group on solar power, the renewable energy of the future! A high powered telescope will be set-up for viewing sunspots. You will also get to make and use a solar oven to take home. Reservations required, call Tina at 408-262-5513 x104. Agenda: 1:00 - 1:15: Visitors arrive at the EEC and look at sunspots through a scope by the front entrance. 1:15 - 2:00: Joe Jordan, from NASA Ames Research Center, will present in the auditorium. 2:00 - 2:15/2:30: Visitors will make pizza-box-solar-ovens and set up marshmellows in cookers. 2:30 - 3:00: Short Refuge tour with emphasis on SJ/SC Water Pollution Control Plant and water conservation.Come back after the short tour and eat marshmellows. I need a volunteer that can bring a telescope for viewing sunspots. I have over 50 people signed up for this free program, however I would not be surprised if only half this number show up. If anyone is interested I will gladly provide you with a stipend due to the extreme short notice. I can be emailed, however calling me is faster. Tina Simmons Slow the Flow Program Coordinator Environmental Education Center in Alviso (408) 262-5513 voice mail box #104 From robhawley at earthlink.net Sun Sep 18 12:07:42 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sun Sep 18 12:07:53 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Oct. 5th Public Lecture on Jupiter's Intriguing Moon Europa Message-ID: -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Fraknoi [mailto:fraknoiandrew@fhda.edu] Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 11:28 AM To: fraknoi@fhda.edu Subject: Oct. 5th Public Lecture on Jupiter's Intriguing Moon Europa Event Announcement ================= Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 7 pm: Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series Astronomer Cynthia Phillips will give a non-technical, illustrated talk on: Jupiter's Tantalizing Moon: Water (and Life?) Under the Ice of Europa in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Road and Freeway 280, in Los Altos Hills, California. Free and open to the public. Parking on campus costs $2. Call the series hot-line at 650-949-7888 for more information. Ever since robot spacecraft have been exploring the Jupiter system, one moon has especially captured the interest of astronomers. Although Europa's surface is cold and frozen, there is evidence that, under the ice, it has an ocean of warmer, liquid water. In her talk, Dr. Phillips will explore Europa's geology, focusing on the prospects for water and the possibilities of life in that deep alien ocean. No background in science will be required for this talk, which will interest both fans of astronomy and the search for life. Dr. Phillips is a Principal Investigator for a number of projects investigating Europa and Mars at the SETI Institute. She specializes in the geology of planetary surfaces and the search for life in the solar system. She worked with the Galileo spacecraft imaging team to help design observations of Europa and other moons of Jupiter. She is co-author of "The Everything Astronomy Book" and "The Everything Einstein Book," both published by Adams Media. Co-sponsored by: * NASA Ames Research Center * The Foothill College Astronomy Program * The SETI Institute * The Astronomical Society of the Pacific ================================ Andrew Fraknoi, Chair, Astronomy Program Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, USA Telephone: (650) 949-7288 E-mail: fraknoiandrew@fhda.edu ================================ Rob Hawley From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Mon Sep 19 15:20:50 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Mon Sep 19 15:21:06 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Meet Al Nagler at Scope City this Thurs. Sept. 22nd Message-ID: <20050919162018.B41489@koopm.best.vwh.net> Al Nagler, the founder of Tele Vue Optics, will be at Scope City in San Francisco on Thursday, September 22, between 3:00pm and 7:00pm, demonstrating some of TeleVue's new products. Some of the New Products Al will be featuring include: Models of a 2-speed focuser accessory, and Tele Vue 60 with 2" focuser and field flattener with other features for imaging. Also, with the return of Mars this year, the Bandmate Mars filters are back. Al will also be demonstrating DIOPTRX at this event. If you want to experience the benefit of correcting eyesight astigmatism using DIOPTRX instead of eyeglasses, bring along your eyeglass prescription There will be special prices, discounts, and Tele Vue rebates on most of Televue Products offered at the store for this event! If you have any questions, Please call Sam 415-421-8800 or send Sam an email Sanfrancisco@scopecity.com For directions to Scope City: http://scopecity.com/showrooms.cfm#San%20Francisco Tele Vue 2005 Exhibit Schedule: http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=193 Information on the DIOPTRX: http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=259 From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Mon Sep 19 17:05:25 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Mon Sep 19 17:05:41 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Oct. 5th Public Lecture on Jupiter's IntriguingMoon Europa Message-ID: <001701c5bd77$014eb360$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Subject: Oct. 5th Public Lecture on Jupiter's Intriguing Moon Europa Event Announcement ================= Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 7 pm: Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series Astronomer Cynthia Phillips will give a non-technical, illustrated talk on: Jupiter's Tantalizing Moon: Water (and Life?) Under the Ice of Europa in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Road and Freeway 280, in Los Altos Hills, California. Free and open to the public. Parking on campus costs $2. Call the series hot-line at 650-949-7888 for more information. Ever since robot spacecraft have been exploring the Jupiter system, one moon has especially captured the interest of astronomers. Although Europa's surface is cold and frozen, there is evidence that, under the ice, it has an ocean of warmer, liquid water. In her talk, Dr. Phillips will explore Europa's geology, focusing on the prospects for water and the possibilities of life in that deep alien ocean. No background in science will be required for this talk, which will interest both fans of astronomy and the search for life. Dr. Phillips is a Principal Investigator for a number of projects investigating Europa and Mars at the SETI Institute. She specializes in the geology of planetary surfaces and the search for life in the solar system. She worked with the Galileo spacecraft imaging team to help design observations of Europa and other moons of Jupiter. She is co-author of "The Everything Astronomy Book" and "The Everything Einstein Book," both published by Adams Media. Co-sponsored by: * NASA Ames Research Center * The Foothill College Astronomy Program * The SETI Institute * The Astronomical Society of the Pacific From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 21 02:18:38 2005 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Wed Sep 21 02:12:43 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA will be ordering the RASC Observer Handbooks and Calendars soon Message-ID: <4331256E.6040905@aenet.net> The SJAA will once again offer the 2006 Observer Handbooks and Calendars from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). If you want a book and/or calendar, you don't have to do anything. If you want to get several of either, please let me know within the next couple of weeks so we can adjust our order appropriately. Gary Mitchell SJAA Treasurer From robhawley at earthlink.net Thu Sep 22 10:57:40 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Thu Sep 22 10:57:56 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA Events this weekend Message-ID: Friday September 23 Houge Park 3rd Quarter Star Party Astronomy Class SJAA will host its public observing session at Houge Park from 8:00 PM to 11 PM. Families are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. Come see views of the brighter dark sky objects. There will also be a talk on beginning astronomy at 7:30 PM. Free. Saturday September 24 Coyote Park Dark Sky Star Party SJAA and Coyote Park will host a public observing session at Coyote Lake Co. Park from 8 PM to 11:30 PM. Families are welcome to attend. See wonders of the sky that are not visible from the city through our telescopes. Free. Rob Hawley -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20050922/615fc469/attachment.html From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Thu Sep 22 16:50:35 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Thu Sep 22 16:50:47 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Vandenberg Launch tonight (9/22) and Viewing Tips Message-ID: <20050922174659.D75508@koopm.best.vwh.net> There is a launch tonight just after sunset from Vandenberg which should be spectacular. During these twilight launches, we can see the ionization of the gases in the exhaust plume. The satellite will be going into a polar orbit, so the as the altitude gets higher, the bird is moving away from us, towards Antarctica, so it does not get too high in elevation. Rick Baldridge of the PAS has generated some great plots showing the elevation from the bay area. Rick writes: ******************************* A MINOTAUR launch vehicle is scheduled to leave SLC-8 at Vandenberg for a possibly beautiful dusk launch (the first in three years) at 7:24pm PDT Thursday night, Sept. 22nd - the beginning of a 16-minute launch window. >From the Bay Area, the launch will be visible low in the South, attaining a maximum elevation of 13 degrees. However, the launch is 20 minutes after local sunset, and the vehicle will enter sunlight during its 2nd Stage burn, which should make for a spectacular sight. A plot showing the path can be seen at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rickbaldridge/slideshow?.dir=/d4a3&.src=ph Rick ****************************** You can monitor the progress of the launch in real time on the internet here. Use your refresh button to update the page. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/stpr1/status.html (Currently, there are high winds at the launch site. An air conditioning hose has blown off the rocket and the techs are duct taping it back on now......) ****************************** I would recommend determining the where to look before the launch using a compass. From San Jose we need to look to the south - southeast at 158 degrees (use a map to determine the look angle for a different location). Make sure to have visibility clear to the horizon to maximize your viewing time. I have to stand in the middle of the street, looking between two of my neighbor's trees to see the polar launches. I usually monitor the launch on the Internet, and when the web page says launch, I run outside with my binoculars to the spot. **************************** Websites of interest for this launch: The Notes from Brian Webb s Launch Alert email List about this launch: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/launch-alert/2005-September/000264.html http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/launch-alert/2005-September/000265.html Recommendations on Viewing Vandenberg Launches: http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm About the Minotaur rocket: http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/index.html Photo from Dean Sala from Houge showing the ionization trail of a dusk launch of a Minuteman III: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0008/l.html Let me know if you have any luck. Clear Skies, Mike Koop President San Jose Astronomical Association From robhawley at earthlink.net Sat Sep 24 08:25:46 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (robhawley@earthlink.net) Date: Sat Sep 24 08:25:48 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] FW: Update on Astronomy Talks and Courses at Foothill Message-ID: -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Fraknoi [mailto:fraknoiandrew@fhda.edu] Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 7:53 AM To: fraknoi@fhda.edu Subject: Update on Astronomy Talks and Courses at Foothill Dear Friends: Just a quick note to update you on fall astronomy courses and talks at Foothill College. Please feel free to pass this information on to others who may be interested as well. There is still room to register in all the astronomy courses that start this coming week, except a few labs. Pre-registration on the Web is now closed, but all that interested students need to do is come to the class itself and I will give them the "secret code" to register with. Try to come to the first class, Sept. 26 or 27, but if you can't, try to come sometime this week. The classes are: 1. Astronomy 10B: Stars, Galaxies, and the Big Bang [5 units] a. Mon, Tues, Thur from 12 noon to 1:25 pm (Room 5015) OR b. Tues, Thur from 6 to 8:20 pm (Room 5015) 2. Astronomy 105: Astronomy for Recreation [1 unit] Mon from 1:40 to 2:30 pm (Room 5015) 3. Astronomy 36.01: Credit for the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series: get a unit of credit if you attend all 6 lectures during the school year and write a short paper; starts Oct 5 at 7 pm. (come a little early to get the paper work, or come to my office on campus (5017) to get it done earlier) We have a very exciting year in store for the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures. Among the speakers who have confirmed for 2005-2006 are: Dr. Joshua Bloom (UC Berkeley) on the mystery of cosmic gamma-ray bursts Dr. Dale Cruikshank (NASA Ames) on Pluto and beyond and we start Oct 5th with Dr. Cynthia Phillips (SETI Inst) on the Jupiter's intriguing moon Europa. I hope you can recommend these classes and talks to friends or colleagues who are interested in learning more about astronomy. I look forward to seeing you at some of these programs. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail or phone me. With best astronomical wishes, Andrew Fraknoi P.S. For more information: Foothill Astronomy Courses in general: http://www.foothill.edu/ast/astclass.htm Astronomy 105: http://www.foothill.edu/ast/ast105.htm ================================ Andrew Fraknoi, Chair, Astronomy Program Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, USA Telephone: (650) 949-7288 E-mail: fraknoiandrew@fhda.edu ================================ Rob Hawley From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat Sep 24 17:12:50 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 24 17:13:04 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Upcoming Lecture 10/7: Is there life out there? Message-ID: <002501c5c165$ddffbe70$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Dear friends, Please join me on Friday, October 7 at 8 p.m. in UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall for an extraordinary, free lecture, "Other Worlds: From Imagination to Image, The Great Challenge of Building Supertelescopes in Search of Extraterrestrial Life." http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symp_lecture.asp Three of the most innovative scientists in astronomy and astrophysics will discuss how new space and ground-based exploration technologies are expanding the vision of modern science and of our place in the universe. The lecture will include presentations from: ? Geoffrey Marcy (session chair), professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley ? Reinhard Genzel, scientific director at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics ? Antoine Labeyrie, astronomer at the Observatory of Calern. The lecturers will describe how optical/infrared interferometers* and very large telescopes of the next generation are helping scientists to search for and image "Earth-like" planets several tens of light-years away, investigate the environment of black holes and cores of galaxies, and explore regions where new planets might be formed. This very special free event also honors the 90th birthday of UC Berkeley faculty member Charles Townes, who received the Nobel Prize in 1964 for his work on laser technology. Please feel free to forward this message to your friends, colleagues and others on your email lists. Early arrival is recommended - space is limited at the event. Best wishes, Steven Chu, Ph.D. Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Member, Amazing Light Honorary Committee For more information: www.otherworldslecture.org Or, send email to: info@otherworlds.org *Interferometry is a technology that merges the light beams transmitted from the optics of different telescopes to obtain a larger and more detailed image. From pkohlmil at best.com Mon Sep 26 00:00:51 2005 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Mon Sep 26 00:01:02 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] October Ephemeris Online Message-ID: <00c801c5c268$07fe97c0$0300a8c0@eclipsys.lan> The October issue of the SJAA Ephemeris is now available online. See http://ephemeris.sjaa.net. Paul and Mary Kohlmiller -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20050926/76a600ab/attachment.html From jvn at svpal.org Wed Sep 28 17:09:52 2005 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Wed Sep 28 17:15:18 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Early parking at Henry Coe Park, Oct.1 Message-ID: <433B30D0.7B9F@svpal.org> Hi, All, The parking area at Henry Coe park will be full during the afternoon, with their TarantulaFest. They will be mostly gone by 6 pm. Since sunset is at 6:51, there should be little difficulty. But if you go up earlier, you may find somewhere to park, but not to set up until later. Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Wed Sep 28 18:19:11 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Wed Sep 28 18:19:23 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: Night Sky Network Message: Reminder: Mars Telecon with Dr. Squyres Message-ID: <001701c5c493$cc638d00$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Reminder about Thursday's Mars Telecon! Dr. Steven Squyres, the principal scientist for the twin Mars rover missions, will share a one-hour teleconference with the members of the Night Sky Network on Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 6 pm Pacific (9 pm Eastern). Call in anytime after 5:45 pm Pacific on September 29, 2005. Toll-free conference call line: 1-877-917-1549. An operator will answer and: * You will be asked for the passcode: NIGHT SKY NETWORK * You might be asked for the call leader: MICHAEL GREENE * You will be asked to give your NAME, the CLUB you belong to, and number of people listening with you. All your club members are welcome to join the telecon. Please forward this message to your membership. Your club might win a signed copy of Dr. Squyres book, Roving Mars. For more details, see the article on the Night Sky Network after you log in: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/login.cfm SJAA_Club sjaansky "See" you Thursday! Marni Berendsen Night Sky Network Administrator From Jay.Freeman at sun.com Wed Sep 28 17:42:49 2005 From: Jay.Freeman at sun.com (Jay Freeman) Date: Wed Sep 28 18:43:19 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Re: [TAC] Early parking at Henry Coe Park, Oct.1 In-Reply-To: <433B30D0.7B9F@svpal.org> References: <433B30D0.7B9F@svpal.org> Message-ID: <433B3889.2020206@Sun.COM> Gosh, I wonder if there will be any stragglers ... -- da Weasel > The parking area at Henry Coe park will be full during the afternoon, > with their TarantulaFest