From jay_reynolds_freeman at mac.com Fri Feb 2 11:19:32 2007 From: jay_reynolds_freeman at mac.com (Jay Reynolds Freeman) Date: Fri Feb 2 11:20:16 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Binocular info for the Feb. 9 astronomy class Message-ID: Hi, I am Jay Freeman, the scheduled speaker for the February 9 astronomy class, the topic being binocular astronomy. In case anyone is curious, or would like to read up on the subject beforehand, or can't make the class (we will miss you), I thought I would mention that a good deal of my talk draws on material that is on the "Astronomy" page of my web site; that page is (beware of line wrap): http://web.mac.com/jay_reynolds_freeman/iWeb/My/Astronomy.html and the URL for the whole web site is in my signature, near the end of this EMail. The most relevant article on my web site is Some Advice on Picking an Astronomical Binocular in the first subsection of the "Astronomy" page. Other articles with material related to the talk include: Cosmic Bird Watching: Visual Observation of the Deep Sky How To Find Deep-Sky Objects Rapidly Messier Surveys Recommendations for Beginning Amateur Astronomers which are in that same subsection, and perhaps also Orion 14x70 Binocular Orion 25x100 Binocular which are in the equipment review subsection further down the page. I hasten to add that I will be bringing printed materials to pass out, so folks who don't visit my web site won't be at a disadvantage in the talk. Those of you who do visit the web site should bring a blue book and a No. 2 pencil to class, we will have a quiz ... *NOT* ... :-) -- Jay Reynolds Freeman, Deep Sky Weasel --------------------- Jay_Reynolds_Freeman@mac.com http://web.mac.com/jay_reynolds_freeman (personal web site) From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Fri Feb 2 17:19:50 2007 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Fri Feb 2 17:19:54 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Upcomming Astronomy Events! Message-ID: <20070202181226.M48136@koopm.best.vwh.net> A) General Meeting Tomorrow, Doug Brown on FPOA and Mars! B) SJAA Elections C) Upcoming SJAA Beginning Astronomy Class ********************************************************** A) General Meeting Tomorrow, Doug Brown on FPOA and Mars! The San Jose Astronomical Association Presents Doug Brown, President of the Fremont Peak Observatory Association Speaking on The State of the FPOA and Exploring Mars Saturday, February 3rd starting 8 PM in the Hall at Houge Park Free and Open to the Public! Doug will give us a short update on the programs and status of the FPOA. Then he will present Exploring Mars, a review of past, present and future Mars exploration, with an emphasis on the current Mars rover missions. This fastmoving presentation contains spectacular visuals and the latest indepth technical information. His talk has received acclaim from numerous school, community and astronomy associations, but Doug says he prefers a technical audience, such as ours. When not doing astronomy, Doug is an executive with Applied Materials and an avid bush pilot. Information on FPOA: http://www.fpoa.net/ ******************************************************** B) SJAA Elections The February General Meeting is designated as the Annual Meeting required by the Bylaws of the SJAA. At this meeting, we elect the board of directors. 2007 is an odd year, therefore we elect 5 of the 9 Board Members. The following Board Member Seats are up for Re-Election: 1) Rich Neuschaefer (Who replaced Jim Van Nulands Seat in 2006), 2) Lee Hoglan (Who replaced Dana Croms Seat in 2006), 3) Craig Scull ( Board Member since March 2003), 4) Gordon Reade (Board Member since March 2005), 5) Open ( Bill O'Shaughnessy resigned in Sept. 06, serving since 1994) We currently are looking for someone to fill the open position on the board. The only prerequisite for joining the board as required by the club by laws is that you have been a member of the SJAA for a year or greater. The term is for two years. You'll be required to attend the board meetings which meet before the general meetings starting at 6 PM, although occasional absences are excused. Please consider joining the board and help lead the direction of the club. Club Bylaws Website: http://www.sjaa.net/bylaws.html ********************************************** C) Upcoming SJAA Beginning Astronomy Class Are you still confusing your RA from your Dec? Have you just received a new telescope and your looking for some help in understanding the basic operation of your scope? 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 thru out the year, except the lunar class which takes place during the 1st Quarter Moon in March. No Reservations needed and you can join the class at any time. The class is a free public service provided by the SJAA. Class starts at 7:30 PM on Friday in the hall at Houge Park. Weather permitting, after the class we will be pointing out the constellations in addition to viewing some deep sky wonders through telescopes. Each class consists of two parts. One part is a walk thru of the current months sky, pointing out constellations and various astronomical objects to observe during the evening that month. The second part of the class has guest instructors talking about their area of expertise. We have quite a line up for the next few weeks Beginning Astronomy Class. Next Friday, Feb 9th, Jay Reynolds Freeman will be giving his Observing with Binoculars Class. Jay provides many insider tips on purchasing, observing techniques, and objects to observe with binoculars. I have seen the class a few times now and still pick up a pointer or two each time. Do not miss this class! Here are his class notes incase you missed his earlier post: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/2007-February/000823.html A month later on March 9th, Rob Hawley will be instructing us on how to do the Messier Marathon. Rob has constructed a set of Marathon Charts for the beginning observer. These new charts have supplemented the ones created by Don Machholz about 15 years ago. Don's charts focused on using an equatorial mount, which was more common when he created them. Rob's charts are much more Dobsonian friendly. Preview Robs Charts here: http://www.robhawley.net/mm/ Two weeks later, on March 23rd, The Shallow Sky Diva, Akkana Peck will be instructing us on observing the Moon. Akkana is the webmaster of the Hitchhikers guide to the Moon on her Shallow Sky website. Check it out at: http://www.shallowsky.com/moon/hitchhiker.html Two week after that on April 6th, Dave North will continue Lunar observing tips on Copernicus, Pythagoras and Orientale. Record these dates into your Calendar. Catch one or all of these classes! *********************************************** 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 koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Sat Feb 3 13:25:43 2007 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Sat Feb 3 13:25:51 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA Meeting Tonight, bring old CDs Message-ID: <20070203141515.J52796@koopm.best.vwh.net> OOPS! I forgot to add this message from Ephemeris Editor Paul Kohlmiller last night. If you have any of those old AOL disks, please bring them to the meeting tonight........ Paul Kohlmiller is seeking about 30 discardable CDs for use in a Project ASTRO class (they make nice galactic models). If you have any CDs that you are about to put in the trash, could you bring them to the meeting for Paul? Thanks. I'll bring a box or a bag for them. Thanks, Paul Kohlmiller, Sr. Database Engineer From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Feb 7 17:10:00 2007 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Wed Feb 7 17:09:59 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Houge Park Star Party and Astro Class Message-ID: <005701c74b1d$db69b060$0300a8c0@robathome> SJAA will hold its Beginning Astronomy Class Friday night at 7:30 PM in the hall at Houge Park. The class will go on regardless of the weather. The topic this month will be Jay Freeman on Binocular Astronomy. The star party is schedule to begin at 7PM. The forecast for Friday is not encouraging at this time. The party will definitely be cancelled if it is raining. If you have doubts please call the hotline 408 559-1221. Rob Hawley From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sun Feb 11 16:45:46 2007 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sun Feb 11 16:45:54 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Occultation research project Message-ID: <008401c74e3f$2310d3c0$0202a8c0@Turtlerock> There is a research project observing occultations of stars by Pluto. Careful studies give valuable information about the atmosphere of Pluto! The next event is 18 Mar 2007. Researchers are seeking amateur astronomers to help out (and be listed as authors on any resulting paper). Franck Marchis gave a talk about this project and you can see slides of his talk at http://astro.berkeley.edu/~fmarchis/document/Pluto18Mar2007/pluto_charon_occ.pdf If interested, contact Franck Marchis _______________________________________________ Contacts mailing list Contacts@aanc-astronomy.org http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts From jvn at svpal.org Wed Feb 14 18:54:53 2007 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Wed Feb 14 19:30:07 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Call for scopes for Newark schools Message-ID: <45D3CB7D.76FE@svpal.org> Hi, All, This note is especially directed to SJAA members who live in the East Bay -- specifically, close to Newark -- and may be able to assist with star parties at eight Newark elementary schools. As you know, I co-ordinate star parties for schools in the greater San Jose Area. My team is quite busy, and we have conflicts on most of the Newark dates. And it's somewhat far for some us to go. For those of you that live in the East Bay, it's somewhat far for you to come to the San Jose area schools. Here's your chance to help, much closer to home. Please contact Tom directly, let him know which nights you'll be able to help. No need to contact me. On his behalf, Thanks much! Clear Skies (and calendars!) -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site Tom Collett wrote: It would be nice to have a few extra scopes at one or all of the following star parties for Newark elementary schools. The star party is part of an event called family science night that happens annually at each of Newark's eight elementary schools. These are VERY well attended. Last year we (I and my high school students) and a few local astronomers set up 6 or 7 scopes and 12x65 binos on a mount. Our lines were pretty long, so I was hoping to get a few more astronomers out this year. I and some of my student docents plan to attend all of them. Here are the dates: Thursday, February 22 - Schilling Tuesday, February 27 -- Snow Thursday, March 8 - Milani Tuesday, March 13 - Lincoln Wednesday, March 14 -- Kennedy Thursday, March 22 -- Graham Tuesday, March 27, - Musick Thursday, March 29 - Bunker The official time of the events is 7-8 pm, but our lines lasted to at least 8:30 pm last year. We plan to setup at 6:30 pm. If you are interested or have questions please let me know. Thanks, Tom Collett Astronomy Teacher Newark Memorial High School 510-818-4364 From robhawley at earthlink.net Thu Feb 22 11:10:02 2007 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Thu Feb 22 11:10:05 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] SJAA Houge Park Star Party - Friday Feb 23 Message-ID: <001b01c756b5$0e1624b0$0300a8c0@robathome> SJAA will hold its First Quarter Houge Park star party on Friday Feb 23. Star party hours: 7:00 to 10:00. All are invited. Free. Weather may be an issue on Friday. Please check the hotline at 408 559-1221 if the weather is threatening. Public may still show if it is not actually raining. Rob Hawley From bhavner at sbcglobal.net Sat Feb 24 16:10:53 2007 From: bhavner at sbcglobal.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Feb 24 16:11:15 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m Message-ID: <006001c75871$6a829540$0202a8c0@Turtlerock> Astronaut/Scientist Janice Voss Speaks at Next Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series Presentation As part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, Astronaut/Scientist Janice Voss of the NASA Ames Research Center will present Searching for Earth-like Planets: NASA's Kepler Mission Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m. in the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College. Admission is free. Arrive early to locate parking and seating. The more than 200 planets discovered around other stars so far are all Jupiter-like planets, big and most likely made of gases and liquids. Astronomers are eager to refine their search to identify smaller solid planets, resembling our own Earth. In November 2008, NASA is scheduled to launch the Kepler Mission, to search for Earth-like planets around distant stars. Dr. Voss, who is the science office director for the project, will describe the design and expected results from the four-year mission. She will also discuss her experiences as a scientist in space and her perspective on the space program, and will answer audience questions at the end of the talk. Dr. Voss has advanced degrees in electrical engineering and aeronautics/astronautics, and has done research in space physics. She became an astronaut in 1991, and has been a mission specialist on five space flights. She has logged more than 49 days in space, traveling 18.8 million miles in 779 Earth orbits. The lecture is presented as part of the eighth annual Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series sponsored by the Foothill College Astronomy Program, NASA Ames Research Center, SETI Institute and Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Visitors must purchase a required campus parking permit for $2 (eight quarters). Parking lots 1, 3, 5 and 6 provide access to the theater. Foothill College is located on El Monte Road off Interstate 280. For more information, click here or call (650) 949-7888. From robhawley at earthlink.net Sun Feb 25 09:53:31 2007 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sun Feb 25 09:53:24 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] Celebrating Science event at SETI Institute Message-ID: <00a601c75905$dd01a6d0$0300a8c0@robathome> I want to pass along an event at the SETI Institute ========================================================================== Join us at the SETI Institute on March 3, 2007 from 12:30 to 4pm for a celebration of science and imagination. Learn about the SETI Institute's pioneering exploration of life, our solar system, and beyond, including the search for signals from other civilizations, as well as astrobiology. Meet SETI Institute scientists, see what the future holds for SETI and astrobiology, participate in fun interactive activities like creating your own solar system and more. Help Wanted! Many thanks go to folks who have already volunteered to present their great work and help behind the scenes, but more are needed. We greatly appreciate any and all help, whether it be a few hours or the entire afternoon. If you'd like to volunteer or have questions, please contact Gail Jacobs at 960-4565. There are plenty of photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your cameras! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Admission is FREE Please RSVP at http://www.seti.org/celebratingscience2007 and reserve your spot. When: March 3, 2007 12:30pm to 4pm (for TeamSETI members), 2pm - 4pm (general admission) Where: SETI Institute 515 N. Whisman Road Mountain View, CA 94043 map For more information about the SETI Institute, visit us online at www.seti.org or call 650-961-6633 and ask for Gail Jacobs to learn more about this event. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Planned activities include: *Take a virtual tour of Hat Creek and the Allen Telescope Array. *Feel what it's like to put on a space suit. Earth's atmosphere is 20 percent oxygen and 80 percent nitrogen from sea level to about 120 km. At 5,500 m, the atmosphere is half as dense as it is on the ground, and at altitudes above 12.000 m, air is so thin and the amount of oxygen so small that pressure oxygen masks no longer do the job. Above the 19,000 m threshold, humans must wear spacesuits that supply oxygen for breathing and that maintain a pressure around the body to keep body fluids in the liquid state. At this altitude the total air pressure is no longer sufficient to keep body fluids from boiling. *Experiment with an infrared camera. The light our eyes see is but a small part of a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. On the immediate high energy side of the visible spectrum lies the ultraviolet, and on the low energy side is the infrared. See what you look like to an infrared camera. *Interactive displays for kids of all ages. Build a stable solar system via touch screen computer and learn about other interactive activities you can do at home. Use your imagination to create the strangest wackiest aliens ever seen on Earth. *Putting the squeeze on earthquakes. Learn how rocks can become batteries to signal an earthquake. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Help support the work of the SETI Institute by bringing friends and family who may be interested in joining TeamSETI! They will receive a one day special membership sign-up at 20% off the normal price of individual membership. Rob Hawley From pkohlmil at best.com Sun Feb 25 21:56:42 2007 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Sun Feb 25 21:57:09 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] March Ephemeris Online Message-ID: <00e301c7596a$e538d160$afaa7420$@com> The March issue of the Ephemeris is now available online. You can find it at http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/ . Please note the following: The online version has the correct date for Rob Hawley's Messier Marathon class - March 9 at 7:30 at Hogue Park. The Auction article should obviously say 2007 instead of 2006. The Auction is on April 1, 2007 - no fooling. Paul and Mary Kohlmiller -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaa-announce/attachments/20070225/51a96b54/attachment.html From jvn at svpal.org Tue Feb 27 23:53:44 2007 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Wed Feb 28 00:40:11 2007 Subject: [SJAA-announce] USGS public lecture -- ancient Chesapeake Bay meteor impact Message-ID: <45E53508.22C0@svpal.org> Original notice from: Amelia Barrales USGS Office of Communications phone: 650-329-5136 ************ This non technical lecture is open to the general public. When: Thursday, March 22, 2007, 7:00 p.m. Where: 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 USGS, Conference Room A, Bldg 3 Who: By David S. Powars, Geologist, and R.D. Catchings, Geophysicist What: Impact! Piecing together the story of a giant meteorite crater beneath the Atlantic coast * Buried under Chesapeake Bay is a very well preserved impact structure 56 miles across and more than 2 miles deep. * Following clues from drill holes and seismic imagery, careful detective work in the 1990's identified this ancient buried crater. * When a meteorite 2 miles in diameter slammed into what was then ocean, it instantly blew out a crater 7 miles deep, splashed water and debris 30 miles up, and spawned tsunamis thousands of feet high. * Long-mysterious glass stones ("tektites") found in the eastern U.S. and the Caribbean are now recognized as ejecta from the Chesapeake Bay impact. * After 35 million years, the landscape, drainage patterns, and underground water in the Chesapeake Bay area are still affected by the impact event. Cost: FREE! For more information please visit http://online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar