ASTRONOMY UPDATE (18 October 2011)
Dennis Mammana
THANK YOU to all who took the time to write the editors at the San
Diego Union-Tribune about the intermittent appearance of my weekly
“Stargazers” column. I
hope that they’ll recognize the value of your
concerns, and return the column to its regular place in the newspaper.
In the meantime, however, there are other options. The column is
nationally syndicated through Creators Syndicate, you can read it free
online at http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/astronomy/stargazers.html,
and even post your comments and questions.
Even more convenient is to subscribe to it (also free) via e-mail or RSS Feed. This way it will automatically appear on your
computer or smart phone—no matter where on the planet you live or
travel.
And now, the news!
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Here in the desert…
An exciting new season of astronomical events begins this weekend in Borrego Springs, California’s first and only International Dark Sky Community. In the daytime, enjoy the 46th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival (http://www.borregospringschamber.com/BorregoDays/index.html) and, after dark, experience the spectacular canopy of stars over the Anza-Borrego Desert.
01) “Celestial
Overnight” campout
(October 22-23)
02) “Desert Sky Photo
Basics” lecture
(October 23)
03) “Borrego Skies” lecture (October 23)
04) Nightfall star party, workshops and lecture (October 27-30)
05) “Desert Sky Photography” workshop (November 5-6)
On television…
06) Are we alone in the
universe?
Worth checking out online…
07) ROSAT re-entry this weekend?
08) Current
“Sky Photo of the Week”
09) Are you a skeptic or a
cynic?
10) Are UFO photos real?
11)
Attention teens: Have an
experiment for ISS?
12)
Doomsday didn’t happen… again
Come along with me, I’m on my way to a star…
13) Alaska Aurora Borealis (2012)
14) Arizona & New Mexico Annular Solar Eclipse (May 2012)
15) Rare and historic
Venus transit (June 2012)
16) The Great Dreamtime Total
Solar Eclipse! (Nov 2012)
17) Other Cosmic Adventures…
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01) “Celestial
Overnight” campout (October 22-23)
Nothing says October in
the desert like sunny warm days and star-filled nights. Join me on my next
Celestial Overnight campout under the sparkling stars of the Anza-Borrego Desert.
All you need to bring is a pillow and a sense of adventure. Register soon! http://www.californiaoverland.com/overnight-popup.html
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02) “Desert Sky
Photo Basics” lecture (October 23)
In this fun-filled presentation, you'll get to enjoy some of my classic night sky images as you learn the basics of capturing beautiful celestial photographs with little more than a camera, tripod and a starry nighttime sky. http://theabf.org/event/astronomy/night_sky_photography_basics
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03) “Borrego Skies” lecture (October 23)
The 3rd annual Sunday Stargazing at the Springs lecture series begins this weekend with this program featuring amazing celestial tapestry over California’s only International Dark Sky Community. The evening starts with a light dinner, followed by a preview of the night skies; then it's out to the Springs’ Astronomy Park for some telescope viewing of the magnificent desert sky (weather permitting) with expert amateur astronomers. For more information and reservations, call the Springs at Borrego RV Resort at 760.767.0004 or visit: http://www.springsatborrego.com/stars.php No RV is necessary to join the fun!
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04) Nightfall
star party, workshops and lecture (October 27-30)
This exciting autumn star party takes place at a desert resort that
creates a dark, red-light only environment throughout
its hotel property and RV park for three nights. A great opportunity to
share the night sky with amateur astronomers from around Southern
California (www.nightfall2011.com). In addition to all the other
programs, on Saturday morning, join me for “Picturing the Night
Sky”, an introduction to celestial photography (http://www.nightfall2011.com/Nightfall2011/Workshops.html); that evening,
before all the telescopic eyes open to the heavens, take a fun-filled journey
across the desert sky with my popular “Sky Tour.”
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05) “Desert Sky
Photography” workshop (November 5-6)
If you enjoy photography and are fascinated by the desert night sky, this two-day hands-on workshop is for you! Here you’ll learn how to use even the simplest of cameras and some basic processing techniques to capture and create magnificent celestial portraits. http://theabf.org/event/photography/desert_night_sky_photography_workshop
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06) Are we alone in the universe?
Explore this monumental question, and learn just how close we are to knowing the answer… Wednesday, on PBS television. Check local listings for times in your area.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/finding-life-beyond-earth.html
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07) ROSAT re-entry this weekend?
Break out the helmets again... here comes another satellite. The massive ROSAT X-ray space telescope is expected to fall sometime in the next few days. http://reentrynews.aero.org/1990049a.html Much like the recent UARS re-entry, the risk is very small. http://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10432/620_read-830/ Sky watchers are seeing ROSAT in the night sky; check out Spaceweather's Satellite Tracker to see if it will fly over you before re-entry. http://spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=h246j57daa3qmki236s49r24o5)
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08) Current
“Sky Photo of the Week”
As summer gives way to
autumn, I thought I'd pay tribute to one of the great summer constellations in
my “Sky Photo of the Week” http://www.dennismammana.com/spow111013.htm
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09) Are you a skeptic
or a cynic?
Here's a fascinating interview with D.J. Grothe about the
difference. http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/critical-thinker-explains-skepticism-vs-cynicism-36923/
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10) Are UFO photos
real?
Never EVER believe those "UFO" or “Bigfoot”
photos and videos without some substantial corroborating evidence and critical
thinking. Some
amazing imaging technology here! http://www.vimeo.com/28962540
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11)
Attention teens: Have an
experiment for ISS?
Have an idea for an interesting science experiment to fly on the International Space Station? Here's your chance! http://www.universetoday.com/89777/new-youtube-space-station-experiment-contest/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
12)
Doomsday didn’t happen… again
In case you weren’t paying attention, Comet Elenin did not bring about doomsday to Earth as some
believed would happen. Instead, the
comet has all but disintegrated, and the doomsayers have all but vanished. http://www.universetoday.com/89973/wheres-my-doomsday-remnants-of-comet-elenin-pass-by-earth-without-incident/ No worries… they’re already gearing up for 2012, and
there’ll be lots of celestial events to keep the far-out crowd busy! http://www.endoftheworld2012.net/
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13) Alaska Aurora
Borealis (Feb 25 – Mar 1,
2012)
Want to see an amazing display of the northern lights for yourself, don’t miss this exciting trip to view and photograph
Mother Nature’s most spectacular celestial light show from Fairbanks, Alaska—the
Aurora Capital of the World. For
details, visit http://www.melitatrips.com/destinations/2012/alaska/alaska2012.html But
hurry... this one is sure to sell out!
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14) Arizona & New Mexico Annular Solar Eclipse (May 2012)
Journey through the enchanted lands of the Anasazi, the Hope and the Navajo to view the gorgeous
sunset annular solar eclipse on May 20, 2012. Along the way
we’ll tour such iconic astronomical sites as Lowell Observatory, the Arizona meteor crater, and the Very Large Array, as well as such natural wonders as Oak Creek Canyon, Zuni and Acoma Pueblos, and Canyon de Chelly, with
its sheer red cliffs and innumerable prehistoric Indian dwellings. Register soon… early booking
discount ends October 31!
http://www.melitatrips.com/annulareclipse/index.html
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15) Rare and historic
Venus transit (June 2012)
Mark your calendars now to join me for the rare and
historic 2012 Venus Transit in Southern California
at the Borrego Springs Resort (http://borregospringsresort.com)...
details to come! Or journey to the astronomical wonderland of Hawaii for this
once-in-a-lifetime event with my colleagues David Eicher (Editor, Astronomy
Magazine) and Dr. Alex Filippenko (Astronomy Professor at UC
Berkeley). http://www.melitatrips.com/hawaii/index.html
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16) The Great Dreamtime Total Solar Eclipse! (Nov 2012)
Filling fast! Our next total solar eclipse adventure will take us to the wonderful Land Down Under. Join me and other fantastic astronomical lecturers on one of several possible itineraries across Australia and New Zealand, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as day becomes night… and then day again: a rare total eclipse of the sun. If you’ve never experienced these remarkable places—or Nature’s most awe-inspiring sky show (not to mention the spectacular Southern Hemisphere night sky)—now’s your chance! Visit http://melitatrips.com/australia for more info.
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17)
Other Cosmic Adventures…
While I’d love to have you join me on my
cosmic adventures, many other astronomically-related travel options are also
available. MWT Associates is one of
the best tour companies who specializes in astronomical travel, and features a
stable of some of the world’s finest and most popular lecturers. I’m honored to have been part of this
“stellar” team for the past 17 years, and I encourage you to check
out which other exciting programs might interest you: http://www.melitatrips.com
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DENNIS MAMMANA
DennisMammana.com