Join Dennis for two fun programs this week:
01) Cosmic Adventures at SDAA (June 17)
02) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego (June 20)
Cool stuff to check out in the sky:
03) Space Station passes over Southern California this week
Become involved in astronomy:
04) Project Astro San Diego needs you
05) Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae
06) 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program
Join me for some exciting Cosmic Adventures:
07) Norway Northern Lights cruise (Nov 9-17, 2009)
08) African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
09) Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise! (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)
And with other terrific lecturers:
10) Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
11) Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12,
2010)
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01) “Cosmic Adventures” presentation at SDAA (June 17)
The sky is filled with amazing sights. Unfortunately they don't always come
to us... sometimes must go to them. Join me on Wednesday evening as I
relive the (often amusing) human side of my past two and a half decades of
leading stargazers around the world to view and photograph some of the most
remarkable and exciting spectacles in all of nature—eclipses, the aurora
borealis, comets and more. If you’ve never traveled with me and my groups,
you’ll enjoy the program; if you have, you’ll love it! San Diego
Astronomy Association meeting takes place at the Mission Trails Regional
Park Visitor Center, and is free.
For more information and directions, visit:
http://www.sdaa.org/Program-Meeting
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02) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego (June 21) ALMOST FILLED!
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
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03) Space Station passes over Southern California this week
During pre-dawn hours this week the International Space Station (ISS) will
make several bright passes over Southern California and other areas. To
find exact times and directions for your location, visit:
http://www.heavens-above.com <http://www.heavens-above.com/> . I recommend
free registration so you can visit from time to time and keep your location
on file. Here you can select your town from a database or add your own
latitude and longitude. Once in the site, scroll down to "Satellites" and
then click "ISS".
If the space shuttle Endeavour lifts off as scheduled at 2:40 a.m. PDT on
Wednesday, June 17, it will begin appearing with ISS on Thursday morning.
More on this after launch.
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04) Project Astro San Diego needs you
Whether you’re a professional, student, amateur astronomer or space
enthusiast, you can become a visiting space scientist/astronomer in a San
Diego County school. Project ASTRO is a program of the Astronomical
Society of the Pacific (ASP) to create partnerships between 3rd-9th grade
teachers and local astronomers and space scientists. If you’ve ever
wondered how you can share your enthusiasm for space and astronomy as well
as help your local schools improve their science education, Project ASTRO is
for you. Project ASTRO will provide you with free training, materials, and
a rewarding and fun way to share your passion with our local schoolchildren
and teachers.
For more information and an application form, please contact Dr. Philip
Blanco (pbla...@sciences.sdsu.edu) or Dr. Ron Angione
(angi...@sciences.sdsu.edu) at 619 594-6183. Or visit the San Diego Project
ASTRO website: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/projectastro/index.html
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05) Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae
Epsilon Aurigae is a mystery. This variable star changes in brightness over
time, and is thought to be an eclipsing binary—a pair of stars that eclipse
each other. But the way it fades and brightens is not fully understood by
astronomers, even after over 175 years of study. The star’s next eclipse
is predicted to begin in August 2009, and you can help solve its mysteries.
Citizen Sky has put together materials guide you through the process of how
to observe Epsilon Aurigae, how to send in your observations, and then how
to see your results, analyze them, and even publish them in a scientific
journal. No previous experience is required. Because of its brightness, it
can be observed by almost anyone regardless of background, training, or
equipment. All you need are a good pair of eyes and know where to look.
To learn more and become involved, visit: http://www.citizensky.org
<http://www.citizensky.org/>
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06) 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program
The Northrop Grumman Foundation is accepting teacher applications for the
2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery. This annual professional development
program allows teachers to prepare for and participate in micro- and
zero-gravity flights to test Newton's Laws of Motion with the purpose of
taking the experience back into their classrooms to energize their students
in science and math subjects during the formative middle-school years.
Middle-school math and science teachers are welcome to seek additional
information and apply soon for the program by visiting:
http://www.northropgrumman.com/teachers.
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07) 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
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08) 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
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09) 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
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10) 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
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11) Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12,
2010)
From Easter Island's mysterious solitudes, where you’ll pass among heads
frozen in time and forever as inscrutable as their long-vanished makers,
you’ll journey in imagination to the star-studded entrails of the Southern
Hemisphere sky. Then to the Patagonian steppes, fjords, and soaring peaks,
you’ll travel in the footsteps of Charles Darwin to view the remarkable
total solar eclipse—at sunset! For more information and full itinerary,
call 877.707...7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:
http://www.melitatrips.com/easterisland/index.html
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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
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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
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