From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Fri Dec 2 17:32:26 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Dec 2 17:33:12 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: HVAG schedule reminder Message-ID: <005c01c5f7a9$6bd322e0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> The Halls Valley Astronomical Group has scheduled starparties at Grant Park on the following dates: December 3rd at Telescope Row 2006 starparty schedule January 28th at Telescope Row February 25th at Telescope Row March 25th at Telescope Row April 29th at Halley Hill May 27th at Halley Hill June 24th at Halley Hill July 22nd at Halley Hill August 26th at Halley Hill September 23rd at Halley Hill October 21st at Halley Hill November 18th at Telescope Row December 16th at Telescope Row From jvn at svpal.org Sun Dec 4 08:42:31 2005 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sun Dec 4 08:43:23 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Michael Detweiler, 1942 - 2005 Message-ID: This was sent by Jim Hi, All, Michael Burnside Detweiler died Saturday morning at 1:30 am after a long battle with prostate cancer. I visited him Friday evening, and it was obvious that he had taken a turn for the worst, compared to Wednesday's visit. Funeral arrangements are pending. Born February 2, 1942, Mike was a serious boy chemist already in high school, doing far more than the usual Gilbert Chemistry Set that was so popular back then. He graduated from Santa Clara University with degrees in chemistry and physics. He described himself as a synthetic analytical chemist. While working for SmithKline Instruments, he developed an improved hemoccult test, which has saved many lives by providing a reliable test for early colon cancer. Later work with rocket propellants contributed to the present-day spacecraft steering systems. Most recently he was a tutor who did not merely help his students pass their math, chemistry, physics tests, but far more importantly, showed them that this is really exciting stuff -- surely leading to careers in the sciences for some number of them. Michael also had a lifelong interest in astronomy, and was for many years a member of the San Jose Astronomical Association. Though he did not have a telescope, he was especially welcome at public activities, due to his ability to explain things simply and clearly. For several years he was assistant director of the Ricard Observatory on the campus of Santa Clara University. He was also a skilled pianist, specializing in Chopin's music. Though he did not read music, he played all the Chopin waltzes, and an ever-increasing number of the mazurkas and nocturnes. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer about 3 years ago, he used up the arsenal of possible treatments, giving him additional time, but early this morning, time ran out. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Mon Dec 5 20:40:59 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Mon Dec 5 20:41:30 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Mellinger's The New Atlas of the Stars Message-ID: <20051205213843.N46140@koopm.best.vwh.net> Here is your last chance to preorder a copy of Axel Mellinger's "The New Atlas of the Stars". Axel's pictures were used to create the Milky Way Yurt which will be set up for the December meeting and are the centerpiece of the atlas. http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0512/b.html The SJAA will be putting a group order in for the Atlas which you might purchase as a souvenir of the evening or an early holiday present. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please email Mike Koop (koopm_AT_best_dot_com) by the end of December 6th with your order. I'll be placing the order early Wednesday so that they arrive in time for the meeting on Saturday December 17th. The cost should be in the $35 - $40 range and will be available for pick up at the SJAA General meeting/Holiday Celebration or you can purchase it yourself at Barnes and Nobel for $59.99 plus tax. Amazons site: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155407102X/102-2757335-7704123 Firefly Books Website: http://www.fireflybooks.com/advance/bookdetail.asp?id=8603 Clear Skies, Mike Koop President San Jose Astronomical Association From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Dec 7 18:06:12 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Wed Dec 7 18:06:30 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Friday - SJAA Star Party Message-ID: SJAA will host its public observing session at Houge Park from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Families are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. Come see views of the Moon, Mars, and brighter deep sky objects. Weather for Houge Park: http://www.sjaa.net/weather/sites.html#Houge-Park Note that SJAA will only automatically cancel the star party if rain is hitting the ground. You can follow this link for a map of tonight's sky http://skymaps.com/skymaps/esmn0513.pdf. Phase of the Moon on 9 December: waxing gibbous with 66% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated. First quarter Moon on 8 December 2005 at 1:36 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Object visibility for 21:00:00 on Fri 09 Dec 2005 Sunset: 16:49 Twilight: 18:23 Darkness: 02:00 - 05:37 Twilight: 05:37 Sunrise: 07:11 Object Type Con Alt Az ------ ---- --- --- -- 1 Pegasi Star Peg +26? 276? 61 Cygni Star Cyg +32? 297? eta Cassiopeiae Star Cas +66? 334? eta Persei Star Per +70? 18? gamma Andromedae Star And +85? 351? lambda Arietis Star Ari +76? 190? M 15 Globular Cluster Peg +24? 268? M 31 Galaxy And +73? 290? M 34 Open Cluster Per +82? 47? M 35 Open Cluster Gem +38? 86? M 36 Open Cluster Aur +48? 78? M 37 Open Cluster Aur +45? 78? M 38 Open Cluster Aur +50? 76? M 42 Bright Nebula Ori +26? 120? M 45 Bright Nebula Tau +65? 115? M 52 Open Cluster Cas +55? 327? M 81 Galaxy UMa +26? 21? M 82 Galaxy UMa +26? 20? M 103 Open Cluster Cas +66? 350? Mel 20 Open Cluster Per +72? 43? mu Cephei Star Cep +43? 319? NGC 129 Open Cluster Cas +62? 334? NGC 457 Open Cluster Cas +68? 343? NGC 654 Open Cluster Cas +65? 353? NGC 752 Open Cluster And +88? 285? NGC 869 Open Cluster Per +70? 4? NGC 884 Open Cluster Per +70? 6? NGC 957 Open Cluster Per +69? 10? NGC 1342 Open Cluster Per +73? 83? NGC 1528 Open Cluster Per +64? 48? NGC 1535 Planetary Nebula Eri +32? 143? NGC 1907 Open Cluster Aur +50? 77? NGC 2169 Open Cluster Ori +32? 97? NGC 2251 Open Cluster Mon +24? 98? NGC 2252 Open Cluster Mon +22? 100? NGC 6543 Planetary Nebula Dra +23? 339? NGC 6811 Open Cluster Cyg +21? 313? NGC 6826 Planetary Nebula Cyg +25? 316? NGC 6910 Open Cluster Cyg +26? 303? NGC 6995 Bright Nebula Cyg +27? 290? NGC 7027 Planetary Nebula Cyg +34? 300? NGC 7662 Planetary Nebula And +59? 293? NGC 7789 Open Cluster Cas +61? 322? R Leporis Star Lep +24? 134? sigma Orionis Star Ori +27? 117? Stock 2 Open Cluster Cas +68? 2? 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/ Mars will be at 67 degrees in the south tonight. Saturn will visible at the end of the evening. 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=38696.1041666667&Mag=3.5 Rob Hawley From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat Dec 10 09:15:21 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Dec 10 09:15:45 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Viewing Mars this weekend Message-ID: <000f01c5fdad$4d72b5e0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Jane Jones asked that this be passed on: Mars and the moon make a splendid pair over the next few days. No telescope is needed to view our two celestial neighbors. An easy to view star chart, viewing tips plus an interview with former Bay area Jane Houston Jones is here http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mars_mer_feature_20051209.html -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones@jpl.nasa.gov Cassini Saturn Observation Campaign http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm . _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Thu Dec 15 21:08:54 2005 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Thu Dec 15 21:09:27 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] GM: Sobel's Milky Way Yurt and Holiday Celebration this Sat. Message-ID: <20051215215525.T40135@koopm.best.vwh.net> Everyone is invited to the San Jose Astronomical Association General Meeting and Holiday Celebration this Saturday, Dec. 17th in the Hall at Houge Park Starting at 8 PM. For the holiday we have a unique meeting planned. Dr. Irwin Sobel will be setting up his Milky Way Yurt Exhibit. If you have done digital image processing, you may be acquainted with the Sobel edge detection operator, which Irwin devised. Irwin was enthused when he first saw Axel Mellinger's Milky Way Panorama on the net. http://home.arcor-online.de/axel.mellinger/ Irwin thought that the panorama needed to be seen properly, in the round. So he contacted Axel, and received the whole unreduced data set, with permission to make a large display. He printed it on one continuous transparency, 3 feet wide by 24 feet long, backed it with a white diffusing sheet, and built it into the wall of a yurt. A yurt is a cylindrical tent used by Mongolian nomads. The ceiling and skirt are fairly light tight. When you enter and close up the entrance slit with Velcro, you see the Milky Way glowing all around you. About five people at a time may enter the yurt. Also on display will be Irwin's original prototype, a light box backlighting a 4.5 inch by three foot wide Milky Way transparency. Posters on easels describe how Axel produced the images and spliced them together. Irwin will also speak on how the yurt came to be. Just this year, Axel Mellinger's photos have been published as a star atlas in English! The book is called the "New Atlas of the Stars" put out by Firefly press. The SJAA has purchased a group order for the Atlas which you might pick up as a souvenir of the evening or an early holiday present. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please email Mike Koop with your order. (koopm_at_best_dot_com) The cost is $40 at the meeting or you can purchase it yourself at Barnes and Nobel for $59.99 plus tax. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155407102X/102-2757335-7704123 Also available will be the RASC Observer's Handbook and Astronomy Calendars. The cost is $17 for the Handbook and $9 for the Calendar. Not a cheaper price can be found anywhere! As we are waiting our turn in the Milky Way Exhibit, we will be ringing in the holiday season with a Dessert Potluck. Come celebrate the upcoming longest night of the year! Bring your favorite dessert or appetizer to share. Last year we had many tasty "potluck" contributions. Contributions of food or drink are appreciated but not necessary. No alcohol, please. We will again be running the astronomically themed "white elephant" gift drawing. To participate, please anonymously wrap (no name tag) an astronomical item of small value and/or large humor and bring it along. It can be a used item you no longer want, an inexpensive new item, and can be either useful or funny. We'll do the exchange as a "draw or steal" lottery, which is always great fun. You never know what you may get! http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0002/c1.jpg Happy Holidays to All! Clear Skies, Mike Koop President San Jose Astronomical Association ************************************************ SJAA December General Meeting Saturday, December 17, 2005 Starting at 8 PM Houge Park Building 1 Free and Open to the Public! Participation in the Potluck or Gift exchange is voluntary, just show up and join in the fun! ************************************************ 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 From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Fri Dec 16 18:34:20 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Dec 16 18:34:36 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] SLAC Colloquium Monday, December 19th 4:15 pm Message-ID: <008001c602b2$63106190$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> You are invited to attend the SLAC Colloquium Series entitled: "Twister Spinoffs for Collider Physics" http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/colloquium/ Speaker: Lance Dixon, SLAC Time: 4:15 pm Monday, December 19, 2005 Location: Panofsky Auditorium. Event is open to the public. http://www.slac.stanford.edu/welcome/location.html (how to get to SLAC) Happy Holidays! _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From robhawley at earthlink.net Sun Dec 18 12:08:17 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sun Dec 18 12:08:27 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] For those that missed the SJAA Christmas party last night Message-ID: Irwin Sobel of HP Labs brought his panorama of the Milky Way to SJAA last night. For those that could not attend here is a sample http://home.earthlink.net/~robhawley/SMW%20yert%20(good2).JPG Note this picture is more than 4 Meg! I can only keep it on my site for a couple of weeks. We are trying to find a location for the pictures I took. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Sun Dec 18 23:08:09 2005 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sun Dec 18 23:08:55 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA still has a few Observer handbooks Message-ID: <43A65C59.3090703@aenet.net> The SJAA has sold out of the RASC astronomy calendars, but we still have a few of the 2006 Observer Handbooks left. They'll be available at the next SJAA meeting and most of the other SJAA functions at Houge Park until they're gone. If anyone wants one but won't be at any meetings or star parties, then contact the club treasurer Gary Mitchell at wb6yru@ix.netcom.com or wb6yru@aenet.net. From robhawley at earthlink.net Mon Dec 19 08:08:16 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Mon Dec 19 08:08:33 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Photos of Yert available Message-ID: Joe Huber graciously volunteered to temporarily host full size images of my yert pictures http://www.nightskyz.com/gallery/guest I also have some small versions of the photos on YAHOO photos http://tinyurl.com/arath Rob Hawley -----Original Message----- From: sjaa-announce-bounces@sjaa.net [mailto:sjaa-announce-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Rob Hawley Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 12:08 PM To: SJAA Announce Subject: [SJAA-announce] For those that missed the SJAA Christmas party lastnight Note: replies go to chat@sjaa.net _______________________________________________ Irwin Sobel of HP Labs brought his panorama of the Milky Way to SJAA last night. For those that could not attend here is a sample http://home.earthlink.net/~robhawley/SMW%20yert%20(good2).JPG Note this picture is more than 4 Meg! I can only keep it on my site for a couple of weeks. We are trying to find a location for the pictures I took. Rob Hawley _______________________________________________ SJAA-announce mailing list SJAA-announce@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaa-announce From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Tue Dec 20 19:44:48 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Tue Dec 20 19:45:00 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Satellite database Message-ID: <004f01c605e0$e493c320$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> The UCS (Union of Concerned Scientists) has a Satellite Database of operational satellites currently in orbit around the Earth. It includes basic information about more than 800 satellites and their orbits and is the only free, comprehensive compilation of active satellites in an easy to manipulate, commonly-used database format. Downloadable Excel file at: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/space_weapons/satellite_database.html _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Dec 21 19:25:47 2005 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Wed Dec 21 19:26:03 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Houge Park Star Party Friday Dec 23 Message-ID: SJAA will host its public observing session at Houge Park from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Families are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring your scope and share views with others. Come see views of the Saturn, Mars, and brighter deep sky objects. Weather for Houge Park: http://www.sjaa.net/weather/sites.html#Houge-Park Note that SJAA will only automatically cancel the star party if rain is hitting the ground. This is the 3rd quarter party. No beginning astronomy course tonight. Rob Hawley From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Fri Dec 23 17:23:40 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Fri Dec 23 17:23:49 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] January 15, 2006 - Stardust SRC Reentry Observing Campaign Message-ID: <001401c60828$acba6a90$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Amateur observers and the general public may be able to to view or hear the Stardust reentry on Jan 15, 2006 at about 1:56:39 PST (Pacific Standard Time). If you live in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Northern Nevada, Southern Idaho or Western Utah you should be able to see some part of this man made meteor. The closer you live to the trajectory, which runs from Crescent City California, and then through Winnemucca and Elko Nevada, and finally to Western Utah, the higher in the sky it will be. An airborne and ground observing campaign to test thermal protection systems in the fastest reentries since Apollo and probe the delivery of organics for life's origin by measuring the physical conditions during reentry is underway. Here is the mission website: http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/. The Stardust SRC (Sample Return Capsule) Principal Investigator Dr. Peter Jenniskens has compiled an informative entry viewing page. On this page you'll find out where the best viewing spots are and also see finder charts for selected cities. There is also a registration page for interested observers, plus video and digital camera instructions page explaining what is required for imagers. Here is that page: http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/viewingforum.html If you are interested in participating, the team is looking for video, still and telescopic observation reports. If you are interested there is an observation form, and a list of registered observers will soon be added here: http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/registrationobserver.html. The view from each location will be different, with the brightness falling off when the object passes by and then is seen from behind. Researchers are interested in learning how the light falls off when the capsule passes by. There is interest too in viewing the capsule pass in front of the near-full Moon through telescopes and, perhaps, see the hot air wake expand and move in upper atmosphere winds. If you are interested in participating, the team is looking for video, still and even visual observation reports. If you are interested there will soon be a observation form and list of observers here: http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/registrationobserver.html If you have any questions, please send them to the SRC Observing Campaign mailbox which you will find at the top of this page: http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/ Jane, on behalf of Dr. Peter Jenniskens -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat Dec 31 17:16:43 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Dec 31 17:16:50 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Ask a Scientist - Jan 11th - Black Holes 7:00 pm Message-ID: <002a01c60e71$073142c0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> Happy New Year. Andy Fraknoi will be January 2006 speaker for: Ask a Scientist - Jan 11th - Black Holes THIS MONTH'S TOPIC: Black Holes, Space Warps, Time Machines: Einstein's Universe in Everyday Language Welcome to the bizarre and wonderful world of black holes-collapsed stars where gravity has overwhelmed every other force in the universe. In the neighborhood of these stellar corpses, strange things happen to space, time, and the unwary visitor. Learn why falling into a black hole is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, how black holes make a serious kind of time machine possible, and how new instruments have allowed astronomers to detect the presence of these elusive dark objects in our galaxy and beyond. SPEAKER: Andrew Fraknoi; Chair, Astronomy Program, Foothill College WHEN: Wednesday, January 11th, 7:00 pm WHERE: The Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California St. (21st Avenue) San Francisco http://www.askascientistsf.com/calendar.html Hope to see you there, Kenneth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20051231/dbf152a6/attachment.html From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat Dec 31 17:36:31 2005 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Dec 31 17:36:37 2005 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Presentation 1/6/06: What Life on Earth Tells us About Life in the Universe Message-ID: <003301c60e73$cb5c75a0$60d9fea9@Turtlerock> This invitation is sent via Marion Weiler, President of the San Mateo County Astronomical Society "What Life on Earth Tells us About Life in the Universe" Dr. Lynn Rothschild Research Scientist, NASA-AMES Research Center, Co-Investigator, SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) The San Mateo County Astronomical Society general meeting 7:30pm Friday evening, January 6th This presentation is free and open to the general public College of San Mateo Planetarium (building 13) Parking free in Student parking lots. Directions to CSM can be found at http://www.smcas.com What does the evolution of life on earth, especially in extreme environments, tell us about the possibility of and evolution of life elsewhere in the universe? Join us as Dr. Lynn Rothschild discusses how we can apply what is being learned on earth to answer the broader questions of life elsewhere, and how we can approach finding life elsewhere. Contact Marion at mgwe@pacbell.net if you need further information. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ 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/20051231/693dba04/attachment.html