Make plans now to join us in beautiful Borrego Springs for the 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/

Astronomy on the Web, on TV and in the sky
01)    Hubble's Servicing Mission on PBS' NOVA   (October 13)
02)    Amazing zoomable poster of 50 years of space exploration

Some fun programs coming up this next week:
03)    One People, One Sky! photo exhibition opening reception (Friday,
October 16)
04)    Desert Stargazing for Beginners class (Saturday, October 17)
05)    Sunday Stargazing at the Springs (Sunday, October 18)

For a complete list of all upcoming programs, visit:
http://www.dennismammana.com/presentations.htm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

01)    Hubble's Servicing Mission on PBS' NOVA   (October 13)

In May, a team of astronauts visited the Hubble Space Telescope to install
new instruments and make repairs. For two years leading up to Servicing
Mission 4, filmmakers from the PBS documentary show NOVA followed the
mission, capturing the adventure from astronaut training to spacewalks.
"Hubble's Amazing Rescue" premieres at 8 p.m. Oct. 13 on PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hubble/.  Check your local listings for times
and channels.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

02)    Amazing zoomable poster of 50 years of space exploration

National Geographic has put together a really nice zoomable poster on the
history of robotic space exploration. It looks a little psychedelic from a
distance, but zoom right in and follow the different missions to the various
locations in our solar system, and see where the missions currently underway
- like New Horizons, on its way to Pluto, and the venerable Voyagers that we
hear from occasionally-are presently located.
http://books.nationalgeographic.com/map/map-day/index

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

03)    One People, One Sky! photo 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  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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