Make plans now to join us in beautiful Borrego Springs for our upcoming 44th
Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival. To help celebrate our recent
designation as California’s first International Dark Sky Community, our
Festival and parade theme this year is Starry Starry Nights, for which yours
truly will be the Grand Marshal. To learn more about the many exciting
Festival events, visit: http://www.borregospringschamber.com/BorregoDays/
More on this next week.
Some fun programs coming up this next week:
01) Celestial Overnight in the Anza-Borrego Desert (Sat/Sun., October
10/11)
02) A Celestial Time Machine at Borrego Springs Resort (October 15)
03) One People, One Sky! photographic exhibition opening reception
(Friday, October 16)
04) Desert Stargazing for Beginners class (Saturday, October 17)
05) Sunday Stargazing at the Springs (Sunday, October 18)f
For a complete list of upcoming programs, visit:
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations.htm
Astronomy on the Web, on TV and in the sky
06) White House Star Party tonight (Wednesday, October 7)
07) Collision with the moon (Friday, October 9)
08) ISS passes over Southern California this week at dawn
Join me for some exciting Cosmic Adventures:
09) See the Northern Lights… from Norway! (Nov 9-17, 2009)
10) African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
11) Total solar eclipse cruise… to Paradise! (Jun 28 — Jul 12, 2010)
Or journey with other terrific lecturers:
12) Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
13) Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12,
2010)
14) The Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Solar Eclipse (July 6-13, 2010)
One additional note… if you’ve never been to the Anza-Borrego Desert—or
even if you have—join Huell Howser on a fun desert Road Trip. For more
information, visit: http://www.calgold.com/roadtrip/Default.asp?Series=100
<http://www.calgold.com/roadtrip/Default.asp?Series=100&Show=1074>
&Show=1074 and be sure to tune into your local California PBS station this
week:
Thursday, Oct. 8th – 8:00 p.m. PDT on KPBS, San Diego
Thursday, Oct. 10th – 7:00 p.m. PDT on KCET, Los Angeles
Thursday, Oct. 15th – 7:00 p.m. PDT on KVIE, Sacramento
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
01) Overnight Campout in the Anza-Borrego Desert (Sat/Sun., October
10/11)
Time’s running out! With the desert weather at its most spectacular, this
is a great time to gaze deeply into a clear, dark desert sky and reach up to
capture the stars. If this is something you’ve always wanted to do, here’
s an event you won’t want to miss! Join me on a fun overnight campout and
a fascinating tour of the heavens with eye and telescope. And photography
buffs will enjoy trying their hand at creating beautiful nighttime sky
portraits with only camera and tripod.
(http://www.californiaoverland.com/celestial-popup.html)
Weekend includes exciting excursion into the Borrego Badlands with an expert
guide and storyteller, all camping gear, gourmet chuck wagon dinner and full
hot breakfast the next morning. All you need to bring is your curiosity and
sense of adventure!
Advanced reservations are required. For more information or reservations,
call Joe Raffetto toll-free at 866.6.EXPLORE or 760.767.1232, or visit
online at California Overland Desert Excursions
(http://www.californiaoverland.com/) for all their overnight excursions
(http://www.californiaoverland.com/overnight.html).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
02) A Celestial Time Machine at Borrego Springs Resort (October 15)
Nothing in the heavens appears as it is now. All is an illusion—a vision
of ages long past. Join us for a truly inspiring voyage of discovery—to
other places and other times—some so distant that the light we see began
its journey long before humans walked the face of planet Earth. This is a
journey you won’t soon forget!
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/lectures.htm#COSMIC_TIME_M...
This terrific package at the Borrego Springs Resort includes: one night’s
deluxe accommodations (10-15-2009), indoor slide program followed by
naked-eye and telescope viewing with expert amateur astronomers (weather
permitting), buffet dinner, transportation to viewing site, celestial party
refreshments, all tax and gratuity. Non-hotel packages are also available.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.borregospringsresort.com/featuredpromotions.asp or call
888.826.7734 for reservations. These programs are popular, so don’t wait!
And to read about a recent sky event there, check out this recent article by
one of the participants:
http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com/blog/index.php/category/desert-life/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
03) One People, One Sky! photographic exhibition opening reception
(Friday, October 16; 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
After successful runs in France, India, Italy, South Africa, Korea, Chile,
Algeria and other exotic venues, this stunning photographic exhibition comes
to Borrego Springs, California. It presents the world’s great landmarks
against the backdrop of stars, planets and celestial events, attesting to
the truly unified nature of Earth as a planet. Featured in this show are
unique images from TWAN (http://www.twanight.org <http://www.twanight.org/>
), an international team of 29 of the most highly-acclaimed night sky
photographers, including yours truly as one of only seven team members from
the U.S.
Join us for the exciting opening reception at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 16.
For more information, email (kayle...@cableusa.com) or call Kay Levie at
760.767.5252 or visit:
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/exhibitions.htm#TWAN_BAI_E...
ON
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
04) Desert Stargazing for Beginners class (Saturday, October 17; 12:30 p.
m. – 8:30 p.m.)
This full-day class is designed for beginning stargazers interested in
exploring the enjoyable and mind-expanding hobby of amateur astronomy, and
includes telescope viewing of some of the wonders of the desert sky (weather
permitting). Advanced registration is required. For more information or to
register, call 760.767.4063 or visit
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/courses.htm#DESERT_STARGAZ...
_BEGINNERS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
05) Sunday Stargazing at the Springs (Sunday, October 18; 6:30 p.m.)
We’ll start with a light dinner and your choice of beverages followed by a
fun-filled preview of the October night sky, then it’s out to the Astronomy
Park and Observatory for some great telescope viewing of the desert sky
(weather permitting). No RV is necessary to join the fun!
This month’s program is titled Giant Worlds of Gas, in which we’ll gaze
outward toward the giant planets that now appear in our evening sky―
Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune―and even beyond, toward some of the stars that
are home to their own planetary systems.
Admission is $15. For more information and tickets, call 760.767.0004 or
visit:
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/lectures.htm#SUNDAY_STARGA...
_THE_SPRINGS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
06) White House star party tonight
As part of the International Year of Astronomy (www.astronomy2009.org
<http://www.astronomy2009.org/> ), the President and first lady will host
the first-ever star party at the White House tonight. About 20 telescopes
will be set up on the White House lawn, and will be aimed toward Jupiter,
the moon and selected stars. Tonight’s weather forecast for DC is “mainly
clear”
(http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/USDC0001...
Washington,%20DC
<http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/USDC0001...
Washington,%20DC&from=searchbox_localwx> &from=searchbox_localwx)
If haven't been invited, you can still participate by watching on NASA TV
(http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html), or streaming live on the
White House website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/), starting at about 5
p.m. PDT.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/10/05/star-party-at-the-white-house...
her-upcoming-events/ and
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/White-House-to-Host-Star-Party/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
07) Collision with the moon
Before dawn on Friday morning, October 9, you can watch a pair of spacecraft
crash into the moon. The purposeful impacts are the climax of NASA's LCROSS
mission to unearth signs of water in lunar soil. If you’ve got a decent
sized telescope—10 or 12 inches or so—you might give it a shot. To read
more about this once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity, visit:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/05oct_lcrossvg.htm?list717892 and
http://www.spaceweather.com/ If you don’t have a telescope sufficient to
watch the show, visit NASA-TV
(http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html) and enjoy it online or on
TV beginning around 3:15 a.m. PDT.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
08) ISS passes over Southern California this weekend at dawn
The International Space Station (ISS) will make series of brilliant flybys
over Southern California--and many other locations—at dawn this weekend and
early next week.
To find exact times and directions for your location in the world, 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". And, for a challenge, why not try looking for ISS in
broad daylight:
http://www.feedblitz.com/t.asp?/15163/148409/http://www.universetoday...
09/06/17/iss-now-visible-in-daytime/
Fans of ISS might also be interested in this site:
http://www.issfanclub.com/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
09) See the Northern Lights... from Norway! (Nov 9-17, 2009)
Cross the Arctic Circle with me as our ship, the MS Midnatsol, coasts 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 seek out 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/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
10) 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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
11) Total solar eclipse cruise… to Paradise! (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)
(WAITING LIST NOW BEING FILLED)
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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
12) 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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
13) 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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
14) The Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Solar Eclipse (July 6-13, 2010)
Few places on Earth are more beautiful than Patagonia and Buenos Aires. And
tie that in with a spectacular sunset total solar eclipse from El Calafate,
and the journey is one you’ll never forget. For more information and full
itinerary, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:
http://www.melitatrips.com/patagonia/index.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
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