Join Dennis for an exciting desert Summer Solstice star party:
01) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego
Cool stuff to check out on the web:
02) Interactive 3-D Views of Space Station / New Mars Rover
Cool stuff to check out in the sky… or not:
03) Mars as big as full moon this August
Some exciting Cosmic Adventures with me:
04) Norway Northern Lights cruise early discount extended (Nov 9-17, 2009)
05) African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
06) Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise! (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)
And with art historian William Sheehan:
07) Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego
Had it with the city? Too much traffic, congestion and noise? Sounds like
you’re ready for a quick get away to recharge the batteries! Join me on
Saturday, June 20, for a fun night under the desert stars at the beautiful
Borrego Springs Resort.
This terrific package includes: one night deluxe accommodations (6/20/09),
indoor slide program followed by naked-eye and telescope viewing, Star-B-Que
dinner, transportation to viewing site, celestial party refreshments, all
tax and gratuity. Double Occupancy Package: $85 per person / Single
Occupancy Package: $120 per person. For more information, please see the
attached flier or call 888.826.7734 for reservations. This one’s quite
popular, so don’t wait! http://www.borregospringsresort.com/home.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
02) Interactive 3-D Views of Space Station / New Mars Rover
NASA released an interactive, 3-D photographic collection of internal and
external views of the International Space Station and a model of the next
Mars rover on Thursday, May 7.
NASA and Microsoft's Virtual Earth team have developed the online experience
with hundreds of photographs and Microsoft’s photo imaging technology called
Photosynth. Using a click-and-drag interface, viewers can zoom in to see
details of the space station's modules and solar arrays or zoom out for a
more global view of the complex. NASA's Photosynth collection can be viewed
at http://www.nasa.gov/photosynth
<http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ltJWL8POIiIZKkJ&s=lrKVI6NLIdJQK4PNH&m...
fO0IkL2H&af=y> . The NASA images also can be viewed on NASA Science
Mission Directorate, Washington.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
03) Mars as big as full moon this August
Yes, it’s true. No one alive will ever see it happen again. That’s because
it’s baloney!
If you're connected in any way to the internet, you've undoubtedly received
(or will soon receive) an e-mail saying that Mars will reach its most
spectacular this August—appearing as large in the sky as the full moon. The
information is left over from 2003; it wasn’t true then, and it’s not true
now. It’s even achieved the status of an urban legend:
http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp
With the internet being what it is, expect to see this story pop up every
summer from now until the end of time. For information about this from more
reputable sources, visit:
<http://www.universetoday.com/2006/07/27/no-mars-wont-look-as-big-as-t...
n-in-august/>
http://www.universetoday.com/2006/07/27/no-mars-wont-look-as-big-as-t...
-in-august/ and
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm>
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm And, in case
you've never met me and wonder what I look like, check out the photo near
the bottom of this latter site.
During late August 2009, Mars appears as distant from the Earth—and
therefore as tiny and faint—as it ever becomes. It will lie midway up in
the pre-dawn sky—above the bright planet Venus.
Please feel free to pass this info on to others expecting something as
amazing as the bogus e-mail suggests. We’ll never stop the silliness, but I
can use all the help I can get. My inbox is already bursting at the seams
about it!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
04) Norway Northern Lights cruise (Nov 9-17, 2009)
Cross the Arctic Circle with me as our ship, the MS Midnatsol, weaves along
the richest archipelago in Norway—up to latitude 69°N. During our
remarkable journey from Kirkenes to Bergen we'll check out the heavens each
night to view and photograph the mystical dancing colors of the aurora
borealis—the northern lights. This is sure to be ONE POPULAR TRIP! For
more information and full itinerary, call 877.707..7827 or 408.279.5589
(Pacific time), or visit: <http://www.melitatrips.com/norway/>
http://www.melitatrips.com/norway/ Early booking discount continues for
only another 13 days, so act soon!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
05) African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Editor David Eicher for an exciting trip
into the bush of Africa, for a remarkable safari and an even more remarkable
annular eclipse of the sun. For more information on what is already
becoming a very popular trip, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific
time), or visit: <http://www.melitatrips.com/africa/index.html>
http://www.melitatrips.com/africa/index.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
06) Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise! (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)
Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Senior Editor Rich Talcott in the glorious
South Pacific as we explore the magnificent Marquesas Islands and the
Tuamotus on a state-of–the art freighter, the Aranui III. In the balmy
South Pacific evenings, we’ll turn your gaze skyward—toward the exquisite
Southern Cross and the spectacular Southern Milky Way, and on July 11 toward
the great total solar eclipse—the most remarkable sky show you’ve ever seen!
Space is VERY limited. For more details on this rapidly booking trip, call
877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:
<http://www.melitatrips.com/marquesas/index.html>
http://www.melitatrips.com/marquesas/index.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
07) Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
Join astronomy historian Dr. William Sheehan—author of MARS: Lure of the Red
Planet and In Search of Vulcan—for seven nights in Paris, and an incredible
art, astronomy, and art history vacation. In addition to visiting the
historic Meudon Observatories during the week of the Société Astronomique de
France and International Astronomical Union’s celebration of Mars
observations, you’ll experience all things French: food and wine, Gothic
cathedrals, sun-dappled paths, vineyards and villages, art, history and
science. For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707...7827 or
408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit: http://www.melitatrips.com/france
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As you requested, I am sending these astronomy notices to you.
Please let me know if your e-mail address changes, or if you ever prefer not
to receive these postings. And feel free to pass this newsletter on to
friends and encourage them to subscribe. Remember, I will never sell,
trade, lend, or leak your e-mail address to any other individual or
organization-only those who request inclusion are added.
To read these missives online, visit the archive at:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/MammanaGrams
If you wish to reach me, you can do so not by replying to this site, but by
my e-mail address: mamm...@skyscapes.com
________________
DENNIS MAMMANA
<http://www.DennisMammana.com> www.DennisMammana.com
<http://www.twanight.org> www.twanight.org
|
|
Starry, Starry Night.09.pdf
530K
Download
|