NYC Events 2009 April
Paz
-----------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
nys...@nyskies.org
www.nyskies.org
The following astronomy activities in the commuting ring
enclosing
New York City are operated by various organizations. A few cultural
items of special importance to City astronomers are also included.
Altho NYC Events confirms the listed items, they are subject to
change by their sponsors. Check with their contacts. Let the
sponsor know that you learned of its event thru NYC Events.
Frequently asked questions and explanation of NYC Events is at
'www.nyskies.org/nyc-faq.htm'.
You may ask for previous NYC Events thru 'nys...@nyskies.org'
because only the current issue is in the website. It is replaced by
next month's issue.
For events which missed NYC Events, check the NYSkies Yahoogroup
forum. Join NYSkies by visiting 'www.nyskies.org/yahoo.htm' and
picking either the email or website option.
All hours are Eastern daylight Savings Time.
Astronomy/Space Day
-----------------
Astronomy centers traditional hold their Astronomy/Space Day
events in April. As at read time only a few announced their plans.
This may derive from an increased uncertainly of holding them at
their
usual facilites. Please check with your local center for latest news
about its Astronomy/Space Day activities. Note that some centers
shifted to celebrate Earth Day, as NYSkies did since its founding.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
-----------------------
The NYSkies, and National Space Society, Astronomy Seminar now
meets on WEDNESDAYS, no longer on Thursdays. See the entries for the
two sessions of April 1st and 15th. If you come to our place on
Thursday by mistake, you'll find it dark and locked.
International Year of Astronomy
-----------------------------
IYA is the commemoration of Galileo's use of the telescope to
explore the stars 400 years ago. A worldwide effort is underway to
promote astronomy to the public with increased visibillity of
existing
programs and running new ones. In the US, IYA participation for home
astronomers is thru the Night Sky Network of JPL and ASP.
To enhance visibility of IYA participants in NYSkies territory,
they are marked with an asterisk in the Index of Events. Please call
on them for astronomy advice, consultation, service. As new
affiliates
enter IYA, we'll flag them.
Index of Events
-------------
Dates for events; contact if no events
--------------------------------------
BROOKLYN - BK
Coney Island Aquarium - - 1
*Floyd Bennett Field - - - 3
Secret Science Club - - - 1
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - - 16
Astro Soc of Greenwich - 1
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 28
*Bethany Observatory - - - 24
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - - 3, 17
Bowman Observatory - - - 14, 28
CT Tripoli Rocketry Assn www.ctra-narconn.org, 860-583-1690
Litchfield Hills AAC - - lm...@hotmail.com,
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/twain/1206/id19.htm .
*Mattituck Astro Soc - - - 15
*McCarthy Observatory - - 11
Stamford Observatory - - 3, 10, 17, 24
Sturm lecture - - - - - - 16
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 18
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Western CT St Univ - - - 2
*Westport Astro Soc - - - 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30
Working Families party - 1
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amat Obsrs Society - - - 5
Astro Soc of Long Island 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Brookhaven Natl Lab - - - 7, 9, 16, 17, 22, 28
Custer Institute - - - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 5
Innovative Stone Co - - - 1-indef
Montauk Observatory - - - 1
Natl Space Soc-LISS - - - chapters.nss.org/ny/longisland,
trekk...@aol.com
*Robert Moses St Pk - - - XX
Science Club of Long Is - 15
SUNY Stony Brook - - - - 3
MANHATTAN - MH
92nd Street Y - - - - - - 16
Alliance for DT NY - - - 16
Amer Intl Group - - - - - 1
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - - 1->, 4, 29
Arsenal - - - - - - - - - 8
Cafe' Science - - - - - - 13
Central Park - - - - - - 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26
City College Physics - - 1, 22
*Columbia Univ Astro - - - 1, 8, 15, 29
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 3, 17
Cornelia St Cafe' - - - - 5
Courant Institute - - - - 8, 15, 22
CUNY Graduate Center - - 29
Earth Day festival - - - 24-25
Earth Institute - - - - - jc2305@.columbia.edu,
www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu
Grand Central Terminal - 1-Jul 5, 7, 20-26, 24-25, 28
Good Housekeeping lab - - 10
Goddard Inst for Spc Std 17
Hayden Planetarium - - - 1, 7, 8, 15, 22, 28, 29
Inst Strings, Cosmology - 3, 10, 17, 24
Inwood Hill Park - - - - 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT subways 4-indef, 5-indef
Madoff benches - - - - - 1
Madoff tax dedeuctions - 15
Natl Space Soc-NYC - - - 1, 15
New York Univ Astro - - - 3, 10, 17, 24
NY Academy of Sciences - 22
NY Antqrn Book Fair - - - 3-5
*NYSkies Astro Seminar - - 1, 15
Observing Group - - - - - 28
Physics Club of NY - - - 24
Pleiades occultation - - 26
reduced tax withholding - 1
Rockefeller University - 7
Sci Ind Biz Liby - - - - 1-Jul 5, 1, 2, 29
Serving Science - - - - - 6
South Ferry station - - - 1
South Street Seaport - - 1-indef
*Top of the Lawn - - - - - 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26
Urban Park Rangers - - - 1
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - 14
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 10
*Amat Astro Inc - - - - - 3, 10, 17, 24
Bayonet Farm - - - - - - 26
Buehler-Columbia AAA - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Dark Sky Observers - - - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
Inst for Advd Study - - - 7, 14, 21, 28
Metra Rocketry Assn - - - metrarocketclub.org, 973-831-7717
Montclair Telescope Club 973-948-5284, bisc...@garden.net,
users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.hrm
*Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 9
N W Jersey Amat Astro - - www.nwjaa.org, in...@nwjaa.org
Natl Space Soc-NJN - chapters.nss.org/nj/njn, cpan...@aol.com
*New Jersey Astro Assn - - 25
North Jersey Astro Gp - - 8
Ocean County Coll - www.ocean.edu/campus/planetarium, 732-255-0343
Passaic Co Astro Assn www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024
Princeton Univ Astro - - 7, 14, 21
Princeton Univ Obsy - - - 14
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm 1, 8, 22, 29
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr 3, 10, 17, 24,
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - www.starastronomy.org, s-wa...@comcast.net
Schommer Observatory - - 9, 23
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 4
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 17
Skyland Stargazers - - - skylandstargazers.tripod.com
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Washington Xing St Pk - - 3, 10, 17, 24
QUEENS - QN
Queens College Physics - 6, 20, 27
REST OF WORLD
STATEN ISLAND - SI
College of Staten Is - - 27
Great Kills Park - - - - 25
Staten Is Community TV - 6
Staten Island Railway - - 16
THE BRONX - BX
UPSTATE - NY
Andrus Planetarium - - - 3, 10, 17, 24
*Anthony Wayne Rec Area - 201-768-3298,
webn...@rocklandastronomy.com, www.rocklandastronomy.com
*Catskills Astro Club - - 18, 25
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 3, 10, 17, 19, 24, 26
Lwr Hudson Vy Challgr Ctr 19
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 21
North East Astro Forum - 18-19
*Rockland Astronomy Club - 1
Swinging Bridge dam - - - 1-indef
Vassar College Obsy - - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 18
Westchester Amat Astro - 3
Wilcox Park - - - - - - - 17
Monthly Calendar
--------------
Plain dates are in current month; minus, last month;
plus, next month.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-29 -30 -31 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 +1 +2
General notes
-----------
'whole City' means the event has no specific or dedicated place.
It may be enjoyed from everywhere in the NYSkies territory or at a
number of individual places. Celestial events are typicly 'whole
City'
events.
'all day' means the event is continuous or repeating during the
open hours of the host facility. Some facilities may have limited
hours per day or days per week. Check with the sponsor's contacts.
Prices, for admission or ticket, cited are the 'rack rate'. You
could qualify for discounts as may be offered by the sponsor. Besides
the base price there may be optional extra fees to consider.
List of events
------------
XXX XX Apr - DATE NOT SET YET; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
XX:XX - Hartford - CT - cultural tour
OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Working Families Party. Tour pickup in Hartford or
Bridgeport.
Ride and visit homes and offices of business executives
involved in the bonuses/bailouts scheme.
JGr...@workingfamiliesparty.org, www.ct-workingfamilies.org.
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing
Amat Obsrs Soc. Parking field #2, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.aosny.org, sue...@optonline.net
Wed 1 Apr
XX:XX - whole City - MH - cultural tours & lectures
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Urban Park Rangers. Tours of parks, lanmdmarks, surrounds.
Lecutres on history and culture of NYC. Program varies each
month. Free. www.nyc.gov/parks
all day - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural exhibit
Thru 5 Jul. Transit Gallery. 'The future beneath us' on
various tunnel projects in and around NYC. Jointly with Sci
Ind Biz Liby. Free. 212-878-0106, www.mta.info
all day - Central Park - NY - cultural exhibit
67 St & 5 Av gate. Several park benches donated years ago by
swindler Bernard Madoff with his nameplate on them. They are
potential targets for his victims to exert anger, possibly
resulting in damage or destruction.
all day - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - cultural exhibit
Thru 5 Jul. 'The future beneath us' on various tunnel
projects in and around NYC. Jointly with Grand Central
Terminal. Free. 212-592-7000, www.nypl.org
all day - Coney Island Aquarium - BK - Planet Earth show
New multisensory theater 'Planet Earth' opened in 2009 Mar.
Simulates trip thru ocean with special effects like runmmble
seats, wind, mist, moving models, aromas. $19, incl musm adm.
www.nyaquarium.com,
all day - South Street Seaport - MH - Bodies exhibit
CHILDREN SHOULD OBTAIN ADULT GUIDANCE FOR THIS EVENT!
Indefinite duration. 11 Fulton St. About 30 human cadavers,
some intact, some dissected and laid out for inspection of
organs. Specimina replaced with fresh ones from time to time.
$27.50 adm. www.southstreetseaport.com
all day - South Ferry - MH - new South Ferry station
Replacement South Ferry station opened on 2009 Mar 16. Old
loop station remains active for rerouted and yard moves. New
station has transfer to BMT at Whitehall St. www.mta.info
all day - American International Group - MH - cultural exhibit
Indefinite duration. 175 Water St. Company in 2009 March
removed signs, names, emblems from its building facade. Place
is patrolled by guards and attracts protest rallies.
all day - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - science exhibit
Thru Aug 16. 'Climate change'. $24 timed tkt, incl Mus
adm. www.amnh.org/programs, 212-769-5100
all day - Hauppauge - LI - Freedom Tower cornerstone exhibit
Indefinite duration. Innovative Stone Company, show yard.
Actual 20-ton granite inscribed block for Freedom Tower
cornerstone, placed in tower's foundation on 4 July 2004.
Removed for safekeeping until construction can resume. Free.
all day - Swinging Bridge - NY - potential flood emergency
Indefinite duration. Flood alert on Mongaup & upper Delaware
rivers due to sinkhole in Swinging Bridge dam. Listen for
news and advice from local emergency management agencies.
www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/safety/swinging.asp
00:01 - whole City - MH - reduced income tax withholding
Amount withholded from salary for Federal income tax is
reduced as part of economic stimulus program. Increased take-
home pay shows up starting with first full pay period in
April. Details at your payroll office.
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show
Live skyshow of rocket trip to the Moon. $17, incl mus adm.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs Thu - 8 Nov
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture
Marshak Hall, Rm 418N. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/physics/calendar,
phy...@sci.ccny.cuny.edu, 212-650-6832
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
Pupin Hall, Rm 1332. Free. www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreac...@astro.columbia.edu
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Rutgers Univ, Busch Campus, Phys Lectr Hall. Free.
732-445-3974, www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
18:00 - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - cultural lecture
'Construction of the new Trans-Hudson Express tunnel', new
NJT
depot under Penn Station. Free. 212-592-7000, www.nypl.org
18:00 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Montauk Obsy, Montauk Publ Liby. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
TOPIC: STARS OF THE SPRING SKY
Combined meeting with Natl Spc Soc-NYC Chap
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show &
tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies
territory. Free. nys...@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org,
212-273-5958
19:00 - St Paul's Luthrn Ch - MH - Natl Spc Soc meeting
TOPIC: STARS OF THE SPRING SKY
Combined meeting with NYSkies Astronomy Inc
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astro/space topics, show
& tell, skywatching reports, news of astro/space activity in
NYC vicinity. Free. chapters.nss.org/ny/nyc,
astr...@webtv.net
19:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Bruce Museum. Free. rb...@juno.com, www.seocom.com/asg,
203-896-6786-x338
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing
Inwood Astronomy Project. Meet at park entrance, Seaman Av &
isham St. Free, cancelled for clouds. www.inwoodastronomy.org,
jken...@moonbeam.net
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing
Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
20:00 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting
149 7 St, 2/3 Av. Lecture and music on various science
topics. $3 adm. secretscienceclub.blogspot.com, 718-638-4400,
www.unionhallny.com/events
20:00 - Suffern - NY - Rockalnd Astro Club lecture
Rockland Commty Coll, South side of Field House.
845-574-4534,
ssa...@sunyrockland.edu, webn...@rocklandastronomy.com,
www.rocklandastronomy.com, 201-768-3298
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. www.asliclub.org, in...@asliclub.org /
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing
Vassar College, Observatory. Free, cancelled for clouds.
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
845-437-7340
Thu 2 Apr
17:30 - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - science lecture
'Why green buildings use extra energy and what we can do
about
it'. Free. 212-592-7000, www.nypl.org/research/sibl
19:30 - Danbury - CT - clearsky starviewing
W Conn St Uv, Plm/Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671, aws...@wcsu.edu
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing
No Jersey Astro Gp. Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall.
Free, cancelled for clouds. njastro.org, 973-655-7266,
we...@mail.montclair.edu
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
Fri 3 Apr
12:00 - Park Av Armory - MH - NY Antiquarian Book Fair
Thru Sun 5 Apr. Park Av & 67 St. Source for astronomy maps,
prints, books. $45 3-day tkt. www.sanfordsmith.com,
212-777-5218,
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting
Inst for Strings, Cosmlgy, and Astropartcl Phys. Pupin Hall,
Rm 908. Discussion of cosmology and string theory. Free.
www.iscap.columbia.edu
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture
Meyer Hall, 5th fl. Various topics in astrophys and
relativity. Free. physics,nyu.edu, dgs...@nyu.edu,
212-998-7706
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Rutgers Univ, Serin 385E. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture
Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell Audm. Various topics in
geophysics and earth science. Free, 845-365-8634,
www.ldeo.columbia.edu, jsme...@ldeo.columbia.edu,
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show
Hudson Rv Musm, Andrus Plm. 19:00 show is free, sponsored by
FujiFilm USA Inc. Free, different topics each Friday.
www.hrm.org, 914-963-4550
19:30 - Stony Brook - LI - astronomy lecture
SUNY Stony Brook, Earth & Spc Sci Hall. Indoor lecture,
clearsky starviewing. Free. www.ess.sunysb.edu/astro,
631-632-8100, slutt...@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting
Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg
Boothe Meml Pk, Obsy. Free. www.bmas.org, in...@bmas.org
20:00 - Yonkers - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting
Hudson Rv Mus, Andrus Plm. Free.
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
in...@westchesterastronomers.org
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Amat Astro Assn of Princeton. Simpson Obsy. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.princetonastronomy.org, 609-737-2575,
drexp...@aol.com
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing
Stamford Obsy. $3 adm, cancelled for clouds.
www.stamfordmuseum.org, cesc...@earthlink.net, 203-322-6537
20:00 - Floyd Bennett Field - BK - clearsky starviewing
Natl Park Svc. Model airplane flying field. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.nyskies.org, stephe...@nyc.rr.com,
nys...@nyskies.org
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing
PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Top of the Lawn. North side of Great Lawn. Free, cancelled
for
clouds. tag...@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org,
nys...@nyskies.org
20:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
Pupin Hall, signs to lecture room. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreac...@astro.columbia.edu
Sat 4 Apr
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
Every Saturday. Indefinite duration. Many Lwr Manh and
Bklyn Downtown subways are under major work at various
hours. Check posters and flyers for your routes.
www.mta.info/nyct/service/lower_manh cccc
13:30 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - science tour
Roosevelt Rotunda. 'Dinosaurs: new ideas from old bones',
exhibits and halls relating to dinosaurs. Free with musm
adm. www.amnh.org/programs, 212-769-5100
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Town Hall. Free. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm,
ajm...@att.net
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting
Custer Instt. Free. www.custerobservatory.org,
bva...@aol.com
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg
UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free.
www.uacnj.org
20:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture
Bergen Commty Coll, Buehler Obsy. Free.
www.bergen.edu/buehler, rops...@bergen.edu.
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Sun 5 Apr
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
Every Sunday. Indefinite duration. Many Lwr Manh and
Bklyn Downtown subways are under major work at various
hours. Check posters and flyers for your routes.
www.mta.info/nyct/service/lower_manh cccc
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting
Nassau Commty Coll, Bdg F, Room 123. Free. www.aosny.org,
sue...@optonline.net
18:00 - Cornelia St Cafe' - MH - Entertaining Science show
29 Cornelia St & W 4 St, Play & music on various science
themes. $10 adm. www.corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
20:00 - Hempstead - LI - clearsky starviewing
Hofstra University, Chem-Phys Bdg, Rm 117. Free, cancelled
for clouds. 516-463-2759, www.hofstra.edu/Academics,
obser...@hofstra.edu
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Mon 6 Apr
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture
Physcics Conf Rm, B326. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.physics.qc.edu/colloq.php, 718-997-3350
19:30 - Staten Island Community TV - SI - science show
100 Cable Way, Mariners Hr SI. Live audience, televised on
SI cable. Free. www.sictv.org, 718-727-1414
18:00 - Kouzan Restaurant - MH - Serving Science lecture
685 Amsterdam Av, 93/94 St. Supper/chat with Citu College
profs on sci topics. $10 fee, incl 1 drink, + own meal.
web.cuny.edu/research/Serving-Science-CUNY-Science-Cafe.html
Tue 7 Apr
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture
Princeton Univ, Bloomberg Hall. Free.
www.sns.ias.edu/astro/astrocal.php,
wse...@astro.princeton.edu
15:30 - Upton - LI - astronomy lecture
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Bdg 510. 'Understanding cosmic
inflation'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus security.
www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
16:00 - Rockefeller University - MH - astronomy lecture
'A possible signal of dark matter from a satellite
experiment'
Free. 212-327-8000, www.rockefeller.edu,
pub...@rockefeller.edu
16:30 - Princeton - NJ - astronomy lecture
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free. kfe...@princeton.edu,
www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009
18:00 - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural lecture
North East Balcony. 'Engineering East Side Access', new LIRR
depot under GCT. Free. 212-878-0106, www.mta.info
18:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Virtual Universe shoe
Live skyshow of computer graphics and astro databases.
$15 adm. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
Wed 8 Apr
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Apr 1
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture
251 Mercer St. Various topics in geophysics and earth
science. Free. caos.cims.nyu.edu, sha...@cims.nyu.edu
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 1
18:00 - Arsenal - MH - science lecture
5 Av & 64 St. 'Field guide to the natural world of New York
City'. Free. 212-227-1887, in...@treesny.com
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting
Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free.
njastro.org, 973-655-7266, mw...@pegasus.montclair.edu
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Apr 1
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
Thu 9 Apr
15:00 - Upton - LI - astronomy lecture
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Bdg 510. 'Cosmic rays precision studies
with the satellite-borne apparatus PAMELA'. Free, have GI
photo ID for campus security. www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
19:30 - Morristown - NJ - Morris Mus Astro Soc mtg
Morris Museum. Free. 973-386-1848, tedbark...@att.net,
www.morrismuseum.org/static/education/astronomical.html
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 2
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
21:00 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Rutgers Univ, Schommer Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
732-205-0020, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/ast-serin.html
pr...@physics.rutgers.edu
Fri 10 Apr
10:00 - Good Housekeeping Resrch Instt - MH - science tour
Hearst Tower, 57 St & 8 Av.. Walk thru history and science of
porduct testing center of Good Housekeeping magazine. Free,
adv regn reqd. 212-649-5000, ghri...@hearst.com
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see Apr 3
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 3
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Apr 3
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Apr 3
19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting
Ocean Co Coll, Student Ctr, Solar Lounge. Free.
www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webm...@astra-nj.org
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Apr 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Sat 11 Apr
20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture
McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org,
860-354-1595, con...@mccarthyobservatory.org,
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Apr 4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Apr 4
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Apr 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Sun 12 Apr
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Mon 13 Apr
17:30 - PicNic Cafe' - MH - Cafe' Science lecture
2665 Broadway & 101 St. Supper/chat with Columbia Univ
profs on sci topics. $10 fee, incl 1 drink, + own meal.
212-222-8222, alumni.columbia.edu/learn/s3_6.html,
cafes...@columbia.edu
Tue 14 Apr
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Apr 7
16:30 - Princeton - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Apr 7
20:00 - Princeton - NJ - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting
Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, drexp...@aol.com
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of Greenwich. Julian Curtis Elem Schl, Bowman
Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. rb...@juno.com,
www.seocom.com/asg, 203-896-6786-x338
20:00 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.astro.princeton.edu/events.htm,
wse...@astro.princeton.edu
Wed 15 Apr
00:01 - whole City - MH - Madoff tax deductions
US IRS urges Madoff victims to file amended income tax
returns
to remove falsified income attributed to Madoff operations.
It
accepts changes for last five years to recupe excess taxes and
original invested amount. www.irs.gov.
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Apr 1
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Apr 8/
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 1
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
TOPIC: NORTH EAST ASTRO FORUM AND EARTH DAY FAIR
Combined meeting with Natl Spc Soc-NYC Chap
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show &
tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies
territory. Free. nys...@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org,
212-273-5958
19:00 - St Paul's Luthrn Ch - MH - Natl Spc Soc meeting
TOPIC: NORTH EAST ASTRO FORUM AND EARTH DAY FAIR
Combined meeting with NYSkies Astronomy Inc
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astro/space topics, show
& tell, skywatching reports, news of astro/space activity in
NYC vicinity. Free. chapters.nss.org/ny/nyc,
astr...@webtv.net
19:30 - South Huntington - LI - science lecture
Sci Club of LI. So Huntington Liby. 'Was America's landing on
the Moon a hoax?'. Free. www.sciencecluboflongisland.com,
631-421-1523, in...@sciencecluboflongisland.com
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Apr 1
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
Thu 16 Apr
15:00 - Upton - LI - astronomy lecture
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Bdg 510. 'Signatures for dark matter at
the LHC'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus security.
www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
18:00 - St Paul's Chapel - MH - cultural lecture
Alliance for Downtown New York.'Passion on all sides:
planning
a memorial museum at Ground Zero'. Free, adv regn reqd.
downtownny.com/thirdthursdays
19:00 - New Britain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting
MEETS AT USDAN CTR, WESLEYAN UV, NOT CENTL CT ST UV
Centl Conn St Uv, Copernicus Plm. Free, www.asgh.org,
860-872-9069, ppar...@cs.com
19:00 - Waterbury - CT - Mattituck Astro Soc meeting
Naugatuck Vy Commty Coll, Ekstrom Hall. Indoor meeting,
clearsky starviewing. Free. mastransit.org,
btb...@mastransit.org
20:00 - Middletown - CT - Sturm astronomy lecture
Wesleyan Univ, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, 860-685-3664,
www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 2
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:15 - 92nd St Y - MH - science lecture
Lexington Av & 92 St. 'Science and ethics: a marriage of
necessity and choice for this millennium'. $20 adm.
www.92y.org, 212-415-5500
Fri 17 Apr
11:00 - Goddard Inst Spc Stud - MH - science lecture
Various topics in geophysics and earth science. Free,
adv regn reqd, else no entry. Have GI photo ID for campus
security. www.giss.nasa.gov, 212-678-5540,
pfor...@giss.nasa.gov
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see Apr 3
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 3
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Apr 3
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Apr 3
20:00 - Wilcox Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing
Mid Hudson Astro Assn. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.midhudsonastro.org. 845-485-5669, tra...@hvc.cc.com
20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture
Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg - see Apr 3
20:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Par 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn obsy, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm, ajm...@att.net
Sat 18 Apr
09:00 - Suffern - NY - North East Astronomy Forum
Thru Sun 19 Apr. Rockland Astro Club & S&T. Rockland Commty
Coll. Vendors, demos, talks, clearsky sunviewing, prizes,
food
svc. VISIT THE NYSKIES BOOTH. $30 2-day tkt.
www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.hrm
09:30 - St George ferry - SI - cultural tour
Electric Railroaders Assn. Take 09:00 ferry from South Ferry,
meet in St George waitng room. Ride thru history and culture
of Staten Island railway and Clifton Yard. $50 tkt, adv regn
reqd. sidk...@optonline.net, 201-684-9408
19:00 - Ward Pound Ridge - NY - clearsky starviewing
Westchester Amat Astro. Meadows Picnic Area. Free, cancelled
for clouds. in...@westchesterastronomers.org
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing
Catskills Astro Club. Walnut Mountain Pk. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.catskillsastro.org, ko...@verizon.net.
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Apr 4
20:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Apr 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Apr 4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
21:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford, Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.asgh.org, 860-872-9069,
ppar...@cs.com
Sun 19 Apr
14:00 - Airmont - NY - science show
Lwr Hudson Vy Challenger Ctr, 225 Rt 29. Multimedia
simulation of space missions. $20 adm. www.lhvcc.com,
dire...@lhvcc.com, 845-257-3416.
15:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture
Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell Audm. 'Continental
stretching'. Free, 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu,
jsme...@ldeo.columbia.edu,
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Mon 20 Apr
all day - Grand Central Terminal - MH - Giant Earth Images show
Thru Sun 26 Apr. Main Concourse. Continuous slideshow of
Earth pictures taken from space. Free. www.earthdayny.org
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see Apr 6
Tue 21 Apr
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Apr 7
16:30 - Princeton - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Apr 7
19:30 - New Paltz - NY - Mid Hudson Astro Assn meeting
SUNY New Paltz, Coykendall Audm. Free. 845-485-5669,
www.midhudsonastro.org, tra...@hvc.rr.com
20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
Wed 22 Apr
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Apr 1
12:00 - Upton - LI - science lecture
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Berkner Hall. 'Cliamte change and the
terrestrial biosphere'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus
security. www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Apr 8/
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture - see Apr 1
18:00 - NY Academy of Sci - MH - science lecture
'Zero net energy buildings: reality or fiction?'. $20 adm.
www.nyas.org, 212-838-0230.
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Apr 1
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
Thu 23 Apr
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 2
21:00 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 9/
Fri 24 Apr
12:00 - Grand Central Terminal - MH - Earth Day fair
Thru Sat 25 Apr. Vanderbilt Hall (indoors) & Vanderbilt Av
(outdoors). Exhibits, demos, performers, music, dancing,
handouts, crafts, food samples. VISIT THE NYSKIES BOOTH.
Free.
www.earthdayny.org
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see Apr 3
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 3
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Apr 3
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Apr 3
19:00 - Bethany - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of New Haven. Yale Univ, Bethany Obsy. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.asnh.org, pr...@asnh.org
19:15 - New York University - MH - Physics Club of NY meeting
Silver Ctr, Rm 207. Jointly with Chemistry Teacher's Club.
Free, bring GI photo ID for campus security..
jdep...@nyc.rr.com, www.sconyc-ny.org
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Apr 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Sat 25 Apr
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 18
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Apr 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
20:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Apr 4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Apr 4
20:00 - Great Kills Pk - SI - clearsky starviewing
Natl Pk Svc. Enter from Hylan Bv to model flying field.
Free, cancelled for clouds. www.nps.gov/gate, 718-987-6790
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting
NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Free, indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8600
Sun 26 Apr
12:00 - Holmdel - NJ - clearsky sunviewing
S*T*A*R, Bayonet Farm, Middletown Rd & Stillwell Rd. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.starastronomy.org,
s-wa...@comcast.net
15:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture
Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell Audm. 'The tree-ring
project: seven centuries of mega-droughts in Southeast Asia
and their impact on regional civilizations'. Free,
845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu,
jsme...@ldeo.columbia.edu,
16:00 - whole City - MH - Pleiades occultation
Moon covers Pleiades in late afternnon. Needs good optics and
sky. Moon 4% illum, 23d E elong. lib lon -3.0, lib lat +5.6.
Timetable for NYC. Sun = Sun alt, Alt-az = Moon alt & azm, PA
= angle around limb from N or S cusp; PA = angle around limb
from celestial N.
+ ------------------------------------------------------+
| EDST | event | Sun | Alt-az | CA | PA |
+-------+--------------------+-----+--------+-----+-----+
| 14:16 | Moon transit | 58 | 73 180 | --- | --- |
| 16 42 | Electra ingress | 34 | 56 252 | 57S | 100 |
| 17 18 | Maia ingress | 27 | 50 260 | 75N | 52 |
| 17 20 | Taygeta ingress | 26 | 49 261 | 36N | 13 |
| 17 43 | Taygeta egress | 22 | 45 265 | -3N | 334 |
| 17 51 | Electra egress | 21 | 43 266 |-89S | 246 |
| 17 57 | Merope near miss | 19 | 42 267 |-17S | 175 |
| 18 03 | Alcyone ingress | 18 | 41 268 | 39S | 118 |
| 18 17 | Maia egress | 16 | 39 271 |-41N | 297 |
| 18 50 | Pleione ingress | 10 | 33 275 | 40S | 118 |
| 18 57 | Atlas ingress | 8 | 31 276 | 16S | 142 |
| 18 58 | Alcyone egress | 8 | 31 276 |-75S | 233 |
| 19 32 | Atlas egress | 2 | 25 281 |-53S | 212 |
| 19 42 | Pleione egress | 0 | 23 283 |-77S | 236 |
| 19 46 | sunset | 0 | 23 283 | --- | --- |
| 22 11 | moonset | --- | 0 304 | --- | --- |
+-------+--------------------+-----+--------+-----+-----+
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 3
Mon 27 Apr
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see Apr 6
20:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing
Astrophys Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 718-982-2818,
rob...@mail.csi.cuny.edu, supernova7.apsc.csi.cuny.edu
Tue 28 Apr
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Apr 7
18:00 - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural lecture
North East balcony. 'East Side Access architecture and
history', new LIRR depot under GCT. Free. 212-878-0106,
www.mta.info
18:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Celestial Highlights
Live skyshow of current evening sky. $15 adm.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
19:00 - New Haven - CT - Astro Soc of New Haven meeting
Yale Univ, Leitner Family Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asnh.org, pr...@asnh.org
19:00 - Downtwon Youth Commty Ctr - MH - Observing Group meeting
120 Warren St & West St. Indoor meeting, occasional clearsky
starviewing. 718-522-5014.
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 14
Wed 29 Apr
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Apr 1
16:00 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - Women of Discovery show
Kaufmann Thtr. Presentation of 2009 winners of Wings
WorldQuest award for science achievement among women. Free
with musm adm. www.amnh.org/programs, 212-769-5100
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Apr 1
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Apr 1
17:30 - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - cultural lecture
'The art and engineering of Central Park's bridges'. Free.
212-592-7000, www.nypl.org/research/sibl
18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - science show
'Celebration of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday' Free.
212-817-8215, web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp,
contin...@gc.cuny.edu
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Apr 1
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
Thu 30 Apr
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 1
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 2
Special news
----------
Further examples of the deepened depression during March 2009 are
Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 5% layoffs; Metropolitan Museum of
Art, 10% layoffs; Jewish Museum, 10% layoffs; Connecticut School of
broadcasting, closed: NY Jets football team, 2 week furlough between
season. Some Times Square billboards were dark from loss of
advertiser
bookings. This situation may have biased Times Square's performance
during Earth Hour on March 28th.
From previous months of NYC Events I got some whining complaints
about 'scaring' clubs with my commentary. There are real instances
out
there to see for your self. If you fail -- or refuse -- to deal with
the sudden and severe downturn of our economy, you WILL lower your
chances to survive. That's Darwinsim to the max, specially is this
200th anniversary of his birth.
With the rash of layoffs and furloughs and cancelled pay raises,
astronomers may now be out of action to carry out their functions for
their centers. Some centers report they are hurting from drasticly
lower dues renewal for 2009. This cuts deeply into their revenue and
decimates their crew.
Astronomy in particular has an other wrench in the works. 2009 is
International Year of Astronomy, set up by UNESCO and IAU several
years ago in the good times. One goal is to enlarge public visibility
of our profession.
Improving visibility by enhanced or new astronomy programs could
be impaired severely. Not only may there less of the funds of the
past, there could be a lessened cooperation among centers, most being
newly impoverished. Home astronomy clubs, once counting on crew and
services from their host facilities, may find these withdrawn or
curtailed or burdened by fees.
General news
----------
NYC Events readership soared during early 2009, a derivative of
the depressed global economy. Astronomers, like most other people,
don't got the itchy quarter to spend on astronomy events. They turn
to
NYC Events for low-cost or free astronomy activities to continue
their
starry nourishment.
This new influx of readers should call to you who run astronomy
events. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR YOU!
Make it easy for them to find you and your meetings. MAKE SURE
you
addiurnate the information on your website. Out of date, wrong,
vague,
missing information presents to your readers a juvenile image of you.
Worse, the reader could think you are careless or inept. These
conclusions are for sure erroneous, no? Please don't let them spring
up in your reader's mind, OK?
Look at your website. Is important information easy to get at? Do
you employ simple graphics and text so any one can play the page? Are
colors and backgrounds pleasing to read thru? Do you have fiddly
gadgets to reveal information that could should be out in the open?
Please bear in mind that every reader of your website is a potential
visitor of your meetings.
As a start, post the dates for the next several months. Be
specially careful about rules, like 'third Tuesday of the month'. You
WILL have exceptions from time to time, which readers may not notice.
A list of dates, with any exceptions flagged, is the only one and
best
way to announce your events.
To assure your reader that the dates are current, include the
year, at least in the title of the list. There were websites in
January thru March with 2008 material that was quite easily mistaken
for 2009.
NYSkies is proud to note its cooperation with Science & the City,
a calendar of events issued by the NY Academy of Sciences. That's how
gradually you're seeing events once only in NYC Events now appearing
in S&C. Oh, yes, S&C and IYA calendars are updated for the new
Wednesday schedule of the NYSkies Astronomy Seminar.
Event news
--------
The new South Ferry station finally opened on March 16! It
replaces the former small curved station that is antiquated for
modern
transit service. The new station is under the old and connects with
the BMT Whitehall St station. It does not directly tie into the SI
Ferry depot, but its entry pavilion is only ten meters in front of
the
ferry's gates.
The City's two new ballparks opened in March to grand ceremony
and
show. Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, is a grand and majestic edifice
roughly duplicating the size and scale of the old arena. Citi Field,
replacing Shea Stadium in Queens, is a smaller cozier ballpark,
reminding oldtimers of Ebbetts Field of a half century ago.
March brang a fascinating series of lectures on massive tunnel
projects around the City, coupled with two marvelous exhibits. You
have to visit 'The future beneath us' at both Sci Ind Biz Liby and
Grand Central Terminal, as described under April 1st. The lectures
are
mostly at GCT thru June.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 2009 Mar 5 discussed several
upcoming
space missions. Most dialog was on Kepler, Planck, and Herschel
projects. Handouts described the Kepler mission and summarized
several
others.
March 19th was the last NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on the former
Thursday schedule. It covered various time systems. These included
Universal Time, Greenwich Mean Time, metric unit of time, leapsecond,
daylight savings time, timezones. Civil War railroad timetable with
note about lack of uniform time service in US and laws establishing
daylight savings time were handed out.
NYSkies on March 25 entered the Twitter network of text notices.
It is used only for alerts and news that need immediate attention.
Routine announcements, news, articles are carried in our yahoogroup
or
website. We're at 'twitter.com/nyskies'.
On April 1st the Seminar switches to 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. See
the entries for the 1st and 15th of April.
GLOBE at Night this year sneaked up on NYSkies! We scrambled to
start collecting data during the run of March 16-28, but some early
nights were lost. We managed to gather more consistent data for the
clear nights, thanks to a review of the 2008 round.
The City did a knockout performance for Earth Hour, with most of
Manhattan's business districts turning off excess outdoor lighting
from 20:30 to 21:30 EDST. Many facilities elsewhere also took part.
NYSkies hoped to collect sky darkness readings inside and outside
Earth Hour for GaN. The sky was overcast and, in some parts of the
City, drizzly. No sky reading were possible. Dialog with NYSkies
moved
GaN to include a special session for the Earth Hour night in 2010.
The New York Antiquarian Book Fair comes on april 3-5 at the Park
Av Armory. This, like the other books fairs, is the place to scarf up
old maps, books, prints on astronomy. Don't neglect your other
interests, you'll find plenty to feed them, too.
The megashows in April are the North East Astronomy Forum on the
18-19 and the earth Day fair on the 24-25. Come and visit the NYSkies
booth at both shows.
NEAF is in Rockland Community College, also called SUNY Rockland,
in Suffern NY. It is reachable by bus from the City. The April 15th
Seminar will review plans to attend by bus or carpool.
Earth Day this year is the largest ever in its present home at
Grand Central Terminal, with about 200 exhibitors inside and next to
the depot.
Sky news
------
Weather overall in March whacked from heavy rain to good and
clear. Yes, it even SNOWED on the equinox, March 20th!
Pollux is high west in evening, the brightest planetary star yet
found. While its planet is only indirectly monitored, observers can
still wonder if the folk up there are watching us. Do check out other
planetary stars in the spring sky with the planetary star table. It's
at 'www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/planstar.htm'. This was updated
in March for two newly found stars lambda-2 Fornacis and 42 Draconis.
Saturn is in high south in evening with his rings almost
flattened
out. They are opened a bit more than in March, by tricky geometry of
earth and Saturn. In fact, the rings continue to open until mid May.
Then they start closing up for good. The rings were in January the
shallowest to us until the crossing.
Remember that this year's ring crossing occurs near Saturn's
superior conjunction and is not easily observable by conventional
means. Now, RIGHT NOW, is the BEST views you'll have of the thin
rings. In the 2010 apparition of Saturn, the rings will be obviously
opened, showing their northern face.
Now is the time also to watch the shadow of Titan cross the disc
of Saturn. Astronomy magazines and websites have timetables for these
events. It takes sharp optics and steady sky to notice the teeny
black
dot on the planet's globe.
I list the Pleiades occultation of April 26. It occurs in late
afternoon by daylight. The Sun is up for all of the events. It isn't
easy to see stars by day in a telescope, but this may a good chance
to
try. You need good optics and sky, the latter, of course, being a
chancy assumption. Yet, try anyway.
Comet Lulin was spotted a few times in early March. It faded
rapidly by mid month and was swamped by the nearby Moon.
Please look at gamma Virginis! Its components are receding apart
enough to see in small scopes. Separation is about 1-1/2 arcsec. For
many of us with smaller instruments this year is the first recovery
of
gamma as a double star since its periastron passage a couple years
ago.
Owl hour observers are looking at Jupiter. He's losing his Great
Red Spot! The spot is weakening, as it does from decade to decade for
completely unknown reason.
Solar activity on the whole is at an ebb. We're some where
between
the old cycle and the new, with a couple NEW spots breaking out from
the OLD cycle. At the same time, there are a few major eruptions that
cause geomagnetic storms.
That means we COULD see aurorae. It's not easy to spot an aurora
from New York, but we DO get a pleasing display once or twice each
decade. keep your eyes open and be thoroly intimately familiar with
your sky's normal glows.