ASTRONOMY UPDATE (01 October 2009)

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Dennis Mammana

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Oct 1, 2009, 6:21:29 AM10/1/09

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The desert “season” has begun. Autumn days are now saturated with sunshine, and the nights are dark and filled with stars.

With Borrego Springs’ recent designation as California’s first International Dark Sky Community—and the town’s upcoming 44^th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival featuring the theme “Starry Starry Nights”—much is planned to help all appreciate the universe like never before.   If you haven’t visited the desert recently, I hope you’ll plan to join us for some of these exciting programs! To see a full schedule of public events during 2009-2010, visit: http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/schedule.htm

Coming up soon…

01)    Overnight Campout in the Anza-Borrego Desert (Sat/Sun, October 10/11)
02)    A Celestial Time Machine at Borrego Springs Resort (Thursday, 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)

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01)    Overnight Campout in the Anza-Borrego Desert (Sat/Sun., October 10/11)

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 (weather permitting). 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).

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02) A Celestial Time Machine at Borrego Springs Resort (Thursday, October 15; 5:30 p.m.)

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_MACHINE

This terrific package at the Borrego Springs Resort includes: one night's deluxe accommodations (October 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/

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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), 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 (kayl...@cableusa.com) or call Kay Levie at 760.767.5252 or visit: http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations/exhibitions.htm#TWAN_BAI_EXHIBITION

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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_STARGAZING_FOR_BEGINNERS

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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_STARGAZING_AT_THE_SPRINGS

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As you requested, I am sending these astronomy notices to you.

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If you wish to reach me, you can do so not by replying to this site, but by my e-mail address: mam...@skyscapes.com