NYC Events 2009 May
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 and Space Day
---------------------
Most astronomy centers celebrate Astronomy Day or Space Day in
April. Others wait until May, by reason of better weather or easier
arrangements or convenience. Because plans can firm up with brief
leadtime, do ask at your local center for latest news.
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 visibility 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.
Over the past several months I learned of other important City
anniversaries to celebrate in 2009.
---------------------------------------------------------
40th - Apollo 11 landing on the Moon
40th - Woodstock concert (possible staging in Prospect Pk)
45th - New York World's Fair 1964-65
70th - Astronomical League (AlCon on LI in August)
175th - LIRR, US oldest railroad still under original name
200th - Invention of steamboat by Robert Fulton
400th - settlement of New Amsterdam by Henry Hudson
--------------------------------------------------
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 in main listing, else contact if no events
------------------------------------------------------------
BROOKLYN - BK
Festival by the Sea - - - 15-Sep 7
*Floyd Bennett Field - - - 15
Secret Science Club - - - 12
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - - 20
Astro Soc of Greenwich - 6
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 26
*Bethany Observatory - - - 29
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - - 1, 15
Bowman Observatory - - - 12, 26
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 - - - 21
*McCarthy Observatory - - 9
Stamford Observatory - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 30
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) 860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
Western CT St Univ - - - 1
*Westport Astro Soc - - - 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 27,
28
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amat Obsrs Society - - - 3
Astro Soc of Long Island 6, 13, 20, 27
Brookhaven Natl Lab - - - www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
Custer Institute - - - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 3
Innovative Stone Co - - - 1-indef
Montauk Observatory - - - 1
Natl Space Soc-LISS - - - chapters.nss.org/ny/longisland,
trekk...@aol.com
*Robert Moses St Pk - - - 22, 23
Science Club of Long Is - 27
SUNY Stony Brook - - - - 1
MANHATTAN - MH
92nd Street Y - - - - - - 13, 17
Alliance for DT NY - - - 21
Amer Intl Group - - - - - 1-indef
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - - 1-Aug 16, 2
Bike Around - - - - - - - 13-Oct
Cafe' Science - - - - - - 11, 26
Calvary Church - - - - - 9
Central Park - - - - - - 1-3. 8-10. 15-17, 22-24, 29-31
City College Physics - www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/physics/calendar,
phy...@sci.ccny.cuny.edu, 212-650-6832
*Columbia Univ Astro - - - 5
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 1
Common Ground conference 3-4
Cornelia St Cafe' - - - - 3
Courant Institute - - - - caos.cims.nyu.edu, sha...@cims.nyu.edu
CUNY Graduate Center - - 11
Earth Institute - - - - - jc2305@.columbia.edu,
www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu
Explorers Club - - - - - 2
Farley Post Office - - - 9
Fleet Week parade - - - - 20
Fleet Week tour - - - - - 21-26
Fleet Week visitors - - - 20-26
Goddard Inst for Spc Std 1, 8
Good Housekeeping lab - - 8
Governors Island visits - 30-31
Grand Central Terminal - 1-Jul 5, 12, 20
Hayden Planetarium - - - 5, 6, 13, 20, 26, 27
Human Swine Flu conf - - 28
Inst Strings, Cosmology - 1, 8
Inwood Hill Park - - - - 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT subways 2-indef, 3-indef
Madoff benches - - - - - 1-indef
Madoff clawback - - - - - 1-indef
MectroCard rstrictions - 31
Metropolitan Musm of Art 22
Milky Way season - - - - 1
Musm of City of New York 20-Oct 12
Natl Space Soc-NYC - - - 6, 20
New York Univ Astro - - - 8
NY Academy of Sciences - 9, 21, 28
*NYSkies Astro Seminar - - 6, 20
Observing Group - - - - - 26
Physics Club of NY - - - jdep...@nyc.rr.com, www.sconyc-ny.org
postage rate increase - - 11
Rockefeller University - 212-327-8000, www.rockefeller.edu,
pub...@rockefeller.edu
Sci Ind Biz Liby - - - - 1-Jul 5, 5
Serving Science - - - - - 4
South Street Seaport - - 1-indef, 13-Oct
Space Frontier Foundatn - 6, 13, 20, 27
Stonhenge sunset - - - - 29-31
subway fare increase - - 31
subway service cuts - - - 1
swine flu epidemic - - - 1-indef
*Top of the Lawn - - - - - 1-3. 8-10. 15-17, 22-24, 29-31
TransitChek increase - - 1
Urban Park Rangers - - - 1
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - 12
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 8
*Amat Astro Inc - - - - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Buehler-Columbia AAA - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Dark Sky Observers - - - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
Instt for Advd Study - - 5, 12, 19
Lyman Spitzer lectures - 5, 8, 11, 14
Meadowlands station - - - XX
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 - - 14
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 - - 23
North Jersey Astro Gp - - 13
Ocean County Coll - - - - 1, 2
Passaic Co Astro Assn www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024
Princeton Univ Obsy - - - 12
Princeton Univ Astro - - kfe...@princeton.edu,
www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009
Riker Hill Art Park - - - 29
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr 1
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 7
Schommer Observatory - - 14, 28
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 3
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 15
Skyland Stargazers - - - skylandstargazers.tripod.com
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Washington Xing St Pk - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
QUEENS - QN
Queens College Physics - 11
REST OF WORLD
Galileo exhibit - - - - - 1-Sep 7
STATEN ISLAND - SI
College of Staten Is - - 18
Fleet Week tour - - - - - 21-26
Great Kills Park - - - - 16
Staten Is Community TV - 4
THE BRONX - BX
Yankee Stadium station - 23
UPSTATE - NY
Andrus Planetarium - - - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
*Anthony Wayne Rec Area - 16
*Catskills Astro Club - - 16, 23
Hudson River Museum - - - 1-3
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu,
jsme...@ldeo.columbia.edu
Lwr Hudson Vy Challgr Ctr 17
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 19
Orange Co Astro Assn - www.ocastronomy.org, in...@ocastronomy.org
Swinging Bridge dam - - - 1-indef
Vassar Coll Obsy - - - - 845-437-7340
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 23
Westchester Amat Astro - 1
Wilcox Park - - - - - - - 15
Monthly Calendar
--------------
Plain dates are in current month; -, last month; +, next month.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-26 -27 -28 -29 -30 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
31 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
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 May - DATE NOT SET YET; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
00:01 - Meaodwlands Complex - NJ - new Meadowlands station opens
NJT opnes new satation 'Meadowlands' mainly for sports
events.
New rail service:
---------------------------------------
Connecticut New York New Jersey
------------- ------------ -----------
New Haven +-> Rye +-> Secucus
Milford | Larchmont | Meadowlands
Bridgeport | Penn Station-+ -----------
Fairfield | extra service
South Norwalk | Hoboken
Stamford | Secuacus
Greenwich-----+ Meadowlands
-----------------------------------------------
Fri 1 May
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 - 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 - Central Park - NY - cultural exhibit
Indefinite duration. 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 - 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 - 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 - whole City - MH - Madoff clawback
OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE RESPONDING TO THIS EVENT
US Bankrupty Court is sending summonses to investors who
realized income from the Madoff swindle. The court claims
this
income and orders its return. Details at your legal advisor.
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
COMPANY IS IN CHAP 11; FATE OF CORNERSTONE IS UNCERTAIN
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
all day - Philadelphia - PA - Galileo exhibit
Thru Sep 7. Franklin Institute. 'Galileo, the Medici & the age
of astronomy' with renassaince science instruments with
Galileo's own telescope. $20.75, incl musm adm. www.fi.edu
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
all day - Hudson River Museum - NY - Astronomy Weekend
Thru Sun 3 May. Talks, workshops, demos, exhibits, food svc.
$5 each day, incl musm adm. www.hrm.org, 914-963-4550
all day - whole City - MH - swine flu epidemic
Indefinite duration. Global outbreak in mid April of swine
flu
(H1N1 flu). Symptoms resemble ordinary flu but comes from new
strain. Wash hands after handling shared items; keep hands
off
of face and eyes; contain coughs and sneezes; stay home if
sick. If flu symptoms break out, get medical attention
quickly. Details at your physician and public health office.
00:01 - whole City - MH - subway service cuts
TENTATIVE EVENT; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
NYS MTA starts reducing service on subways, buses, trains as
response to runaway budget deficit. Details still under
development. Study posters and flyers at stations and on
vehicles. www.mta.info.
00:01 - whole City - MH TransitChek increase
Maximum reward for curbing luminous graffiti increases to
$230/mo, was $115. Details at your payroll, human resources,
or personnel office.
02:00 - whole City - MH - spring Milky Way season
Thru Jun 30. Spring season for sighting Milky Way from within
NYC. Requires dark clear sky, thoro knowledge of normal
luminous graffiti in sky.
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
Inst for Strings, Cosmlgy, and Astropartcl Phys. Pupin Hall,
Rm 908. Discussion of cosmology and string theory. Free.
www.iscap.columbia.edu
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Rutgers Univ, Serin 385E. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
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 - 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 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting
Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
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
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing
Stamford Obsy. $3 adm, cancelled for clouds.
www.stamfordmuseum.org, cesc...@earthlink.net, 203-322-6537
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
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 - 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 - 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
20:30 - Danbury - CT - clearsky starviewing
W Conn St Uv, Plm/Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671, aws...@wcsu.edu
Sat 2 May
09:00 - Explorers Club - MH - astronomy show
46 E 70 St, Park/Madison Av. 'From Galileo Galilei to Mars
and
beyond'. Talks, presentations, reception, B-L-D meals. $55,
incl meals. 212-628-8383, reeser...@explorers.org,
www.explorers.org.
10:00 - Yoms River - NJ - Astronomy Day show
A S of Toms Rv Area, Ocean Co Coll, Bdg 15. Talks, demos,
food
svc, exhibits. Free. www.ocean.edu/campus/planetarium,
732-255-0343
13:30 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - science tour
Roosevelt Rotunda. Walk thru halls and exhibits for various
topics each month. Free with musm adm. 212-769-5100,
www.amnh.org/programs
20:00 - Toms River - NJ - clearsky starviewing
A S of Toms Rv Area, Ocean Co Coll, Bdg 15. Free, cancelled
for clouds. 732-255-0343 www.ocean.edu/campus/planetarium,
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 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg
UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free.
www.uacnj.org
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting
Custer Instt. Free. www.custerobservatory.org,
bva...@aol.com
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture
Bergen Commty Coll, Buehler Obsy. Free.
www.bergen.edu/buehler, rops...@bergen.edu.
Sun 3 May
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
15:00 - Columbia University - MH - Common Ground conference
Thru Mon 3 May. Low Liby Rotunda. Talks and discussion on
science-religion colllaboration to promote sustainability.
Free, adv regn reqd. cm...@columbi.edu, 212-854-0673,
www.columbia.edu/cu/cssr/symposiumIV.html
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
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Town Hall. Free. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm,
ajm...@att.net
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 May 1
Mon 4 May
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture
Physics Conf Rm, B326. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.physics.qc.edu/colloq.php, 718-997-3350
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
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
Tue 5 May
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture
Princeton Univ, Bloomberg Hall. Free.
www.sns.ias.edu/astro/astrocal.php,
wse...@astro.princeton.edu
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
MEETS ON TUESDAY, NOT WEDNESDAY
Pupin Hall, Rm 1332. Free. www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreac...@astro.columbia.edu
16:30 - Princeton - NJ - Lyman Spitzer lecture
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. 'Evolving protoplanetary disks'.
Free. www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009,
kfe...@princeton.edu
17:30 - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - science lecture
'International pioneers of electric service'. Free.
212-592-7000, www.nypl.org/research/sibl
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 6 May
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
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg
PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Central Pk S & 6 Av. Informal discussion of spacefaring
topics. Free, RSVP by 12:00. william...@spacefrontier.org,
www.spacefrontier.org,
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
TOPIC: COSMOLOGY, WHAT NOW?
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: COSMOLOGY, WHAT NOW?
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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. www.asliclub.org, in...@asliclub.org /
Thu 7 May
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting
Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free.
www.starastronomy.org, s-wa...@comcast.net
Fri 8 May
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
11:00 - Goddard Inst Spc Stud - MH - science lecture - see May 1
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see may 1
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
15:30 - Princeton - NJ - Lyman Spitzer lecture
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. 'Basic molecular chemistry' in
interstellar clouds. Free. kfe...@princeton.edu,
www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009,
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
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see May 1
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see May 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
Sat 9 May
08:00 - NY Academy of Sci - MH - cultural conference
'The two cultures in the 21st century' on cooperation of
science and humanities. $225, adv regn reqd. Fee incl bkft,
lunch, recptn, NYAS membrsp. www.nyas.org, 212-838-0230.
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 - Calvary Church - MH - astronomy show
21 St & Park Av S (not Park Av). 'Big Apple barogue's
birthday
bash' astronomy-theme concert. Free, donatns acptd.
212-864-6490,
www.geocities.com/rsli_ny/Concerts/BigAppleBaroque.html,
al...@sjfamphent.com
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see May 2
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see May 2
22:00 - Farley Post Office - MH - end of 24-hr agent service
32 St & 8 Av. USPS ends fabled 24-hr service at agent windows.
Doors stay open for use of kiosks and dispnesing machines.
www.usps.com
Sun 10 May
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
Mon 11 May
00:01 - whole City - MH -postage rate increase
USPS postage increase. Additional ounces (~28g) after 1st
ounce remain 17c, so a 3-o letter costs 78c. 'Forever stamps'
are valid regardless of future rates. Sxample rates:
---------------------------------------
1st-Class, first ounce (~28g) . . $0.44
Large envelope, first ounce . . . $0.88
Canada-Quebec, first ounce . . . $0.75
Mexico, first ounce . . . . . . . $0.79
All other overseas, first ounce . $0.98
Certified-RRR, first ounce . . . $5.54
Additional ounces, after 1st . . $0.17
Flat rate, first pound (~450g) . $4.95
Postcard . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.28
---------------------------------------
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see May 4
Physics Conf Rm, B326. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.physics.qc.edu/colloq.php, 718-997-3350
13:00 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - cultural conference
'Artists and science writers'. Exhibits, talk, demos of art
work inspired by science themes. $30 adm. 212-817-8215,
web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp, contin...@gc.cuny.edu
15:30 - Princeton - NJ - Lyman Spitzer lecture
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. 'Chemistry in star-forming
regions'. Free. www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009,
kfe...@princeton.edu
18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - science show
'Between the folds: the art and science of origami' Free.
212-817-8215, web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp,
contin...@gc.cuny.edu
Tue 12 May
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see May 5
18:00 - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural lecture
North East Balcony. 'Regional impact of MTA projects'. Free.
212-878-0106, www.mta.info
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 - 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 - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting
Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, drexp...@aol.com
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 13 May
all day - South Street Seaport MH - Bike Around service
Thru Oct. Borrow bicycle for travel within Lower Manhattamn.
2=1/2hr period, return bike to any of 4 depots. Free, credit
card collateral. downtownny.com/bikaround
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see May 6
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see May
6
19:00 - 92nd St Y - MH - science lecture
Lexington Av & 92 St. 'The physics of music: a hands-on
multimedia exploration of the known and unknown'. $30 adm.
www.92y.org, 212-415-5500
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 May 6
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 6
Thu 14 May
15:30 - Princeton - NJ - Lyman Spitzer lecture
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. 'Chemistry in circumstellar
disks'. Free. www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009,
kfe...@princeton.edu
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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
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 15 May
all day - Coney Island - BK - Festival by the Sea show
Thru Sep 15. Thor Equities. Surf & Stillwell Avs. Outdoor
bazaar and carnival on site of late Astroland Park. Free adm,
pay per ride or attraction. Open Thu-Mon, closed Tue & Wed.
www.coneyfestivalbythesea.com
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see May 1
20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture
Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
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 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg - see May 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May
1
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn obsy, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm, ajm...@att.net
20:30 - Wilcox Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing
Mid Hudson Astro Assn. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.midhudsonastro.org. 845-485-5669, tra...@hvc.cc.com
Sat 16 May
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
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing
Catskills Astro Club. Walnut Mountain Pk. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.catskillsastro.org, ko...@verizon.net.
20:00 - Anthony Wayne Rec Area - NY - clearsky starviewing
Rockland Astro Club. Palisades IS Py, Exit 17. Free,
cancelled
for clouds. 201-768-3298, webn...@rocklandastronomy.com,
www.rocklandastronomy.com
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see May 2
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see May 2
Sun 17 May
09:00 - 92nd St Y - MH - science tour
Lexington Av & 92 St. Meet at Y HQ. Ride & ealk thru geology
and history of Inwood Hill,and Palisades. $40 tkt, adv regn
reqd. www.92y.org, 212-415-5500
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.
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
Mon 18 May
21:00 - 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 19 May
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see May 5
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 20 May
all day - Musm of City of New York - MH - science exhibit
Thru Oct 12. 1220 5 Av, 103 St. 'Manahatta/Manhattan, a
natural history of New York City'. $10, incl musm adm.
www.mcny.org, in...@mcny.org, 212-534-1672
09:30 - whole City - MH - Fleet Week parade of ships
Navy ships sail from Verazzano Bg thru Hudson Rv to George
Washington Bg, then go to piers for tours. View from NY
Harbor
or Hudson Rv. Free. www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm.
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see May 6
14:00 - whole City - MH - Fleet Week hospitality
Thru Tue 26 May. Welcome and greet sailors visiting the City
during Fleet Week. Most are in dress uniform. Free.
www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm.
18:00 - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural lecture
North East Balcony. 'Why smart growth? Planning for land use,
transporation, and urban design' . Free. 212-878-0106,
www.mta.info
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see May
6
19:00 - New Britain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting
Centl Conn St Uv, Copernicus Plm. Free, www.asgh.org,
860-872-9069, ppar...@cs.com
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
TOPIC: STONEHENGE ON MANHATTAN
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: STONEHENGE ON MANHATTAN
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
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 6
Thu 21 May
08:00 - Pier 88 - MH - Fleet Week tour
Thru Tue 26 May. Walk thru history and culture of several
navy
ships. Ships have steep stairs and confined spaces. Free.
www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm
08:00 - Stapleton homeport - SI - Fleet Week tour
Thru Tue 26 May. Walk thru history and culture of several
navy
ships. Ships have steep stairs and confined spaces. Free.
www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm
18:00 - NY Academy of Sci - MH - astronomy lecture
'Mathematis and astronomy in India: an evening in honor of
David Pingree' $20 adm. 212-817-8481, jda...@gc.cuny.edu
18:00 - 60 Pine St - MH - cultural lecture
Alliance for Downtown New York.'The 1909 Hudson-Fulton
celebration'. Free, adv regn reqd.
downtownny.com/thirdthursdays
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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
Fri 22 May
18:00 - Metropolitan Musm of Art - MH - astronomy lecture
'Astrolabes: an evening in honor of Webster and Pingree'.
Free
with musm adm. 212-817-8481, jda...@gc.cuny.edu
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see May 1
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see May 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
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
Sat 23 May
00:01 - Yankee Stadium - BX - new Yankee Stadium station opens
153 St & MNR Hudson line. New station 'Yankee-153 St' opens.
Tickets go to sale as at May 1. www.mta.info
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see May 22
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see May 2
20:30 - Ward Pound Ridge - NY - clearsky starviewing
Westchester Amat Astro. Meadows Picnic Area. Free, cancelled
for clouds. in...@westchesterastronomers.org
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
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
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see May 2
Sun 24 May
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
Tue 26 May
18:30 - PicNic Cafe' - MH - Cafe' Science lecture
2665 Broadway & 101 St. 'The science of angels and demons,
and beyond: antimatter bombs, mini black holes, and extra
dimensions'. Special prix fixe dinner by adv regn.
212-222-8222, cafes...@columbia.edu,
alumni.columbia.edu/learn/s3_6.html,
18:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Celestial Highlights
Live skyshow of current evening sky. $15 adm.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
19:00 - Downtwon Youth Commty Ctr - MH - Observing Group meeting
120 Warren St & West St. Indoor meeting, occasional clearsky
starviewing. 718-522-5014.
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
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 12
Wed 27 May
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see May 6
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see May
6
19:30 - Holbrook - LI - science lecture
Sci Club of LI. Sachem Liby. 'Is there life elsewhere in the
universe?'. Free. www.sciencecluboflongisland.com,
631-421-1523, in...@sciencecluboflongisland.com
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 6
Thu 28 May
11:00 - NY Academy of Sci - MH - cultural conference
PLEASE EMPLOY PROPER HYGIENE FOR THIS EVENT
'Human swine flu and novel influenza pandemics. $20, incl
[sterilized] lunch. www.nyas.org, 212-838-0230.
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
21:00 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see may 14
Fri 29 May
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
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see May 1
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see May 1
19:30 - Manhattan gridiron - MH - Manhattan Stonehenge sunset
Thru Sun 31 May. Sun sets in line with E-W streets within
Manhattan gridiron. Requires clear view along street to
horizon toward NJ.
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
21:00 - Livingston - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Newark Musm & N Jersey Astro Gp. Riker Hill Art Pk. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.newarkmuseum.org/planetarium.html
Sat 30 May
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit
Mational Park Service. Visit history and culture of former
military base. Ferry from Battery Marine Terminal hourly
10:00-17:00. Free. www.nps.gov/gois, 212-825-3045
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see May 2
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 2
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see May 2
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 31 May
00:01 - whole City - MH - subway fare increase
TTENTATIVE EVENT: INQUIRE AT CONTACT
NYS MTA starts new fares and fees for transit, rails, bridges
& tunnels. www.mta.info. Sample changes for transit
--------------------------------------------
fare old new comments
-------------------- ----- ----- ------------------------
'Token' fare $2.00 $2.50 cash, 1-ride tkt, PRR MC
Min price of PPR MC $4.00 $5.00
PPR MC bonus added 15% 15% )
for this min >=$7 >=$7 )-no change
1-day MetroCard $7.50 $9.50
7-day MetroCard $25 $31
14-day MetroCard $47 $59
30-day MetroCard $81 $103
Express bus $5 $6.25 cash, PPR MC
------------------------------------------------
00:01 - whole City - MH - MetroCarrd restrictions
MetroCards pruchased UNTIL May 31 AND initiated UNTIL June
8enjoy full lifespan. If initiated AFTER June 8 they expire
at fixed dates. Restriction prevents stockpiling MCs at old
price to use after the fare increase.
-----------------------------------
7-day MetroCard expires on June 14
14-day MetroCard expires on June 21
30-day MetroCard expires on July 7
----------------------------------
Leftover days on old-fare MCs can be redeemed for prorated
refund. Get free-post mailer at [fewer] station clerks.
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see May 30
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 1
Special news
----------
The City saw further examples of the deepened depression during
April 2009. Some stores offered refunds to customer presenting proof
of termination [without cause] after they bought the item. A few
cleaning companies will do free laundry to prepare customer for a job
interview.
Additionally, the Simon Weisenthal Center cancelled its annual
fund-raiser dinner for 2009 and reported earning only one-fifth of
its
normal amount of donations, very little state funding, and
essentially
nothing from its investments.
Long Island State Park Commission announced steep cuts in open
hours and facilities. Some parks may eliminate evening hours,
invalidating night fishing and nature study permits.
Since March 2009 I got far fewer whining complaints about
'scaring' clubs with my commentary. Probably by now astronomers
realize there are real instances out there to see for them selfs.
They
also know that failure -- or refusal -- to deal with the sudden and
severe depression lowers their chances to survive. That's Darwinsim
to
the max, specially is this 200th anniversary of his birth.
With the continuing tide of layoffs, furloughs, 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.
While there are various activities in support of IYA, there seems
to be a quiet concern that the efforts will barely improve the public
standing of our profession. The end result may be merely an IYA
sticker attached to otherwise ordinary events.
General news
----------
NYC Events readership soared during early 2009, a derivative of
the global depression. 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.
NYSkies website, NYC Events is coming under greater pressure to
include events beyond astronomy and space. I do list a SELECTION od
cultural activities but NYC Events targets the astronomy profession.
One reason I'm asked to put in more cultural events is that there
seems to be NO OTHER consistently compiled calendar of these events
in
New York. Complaints I hear tell of incompetent entries, missing
essential facts, mistakes, ediurnation.
I can't verify these assertions on the whole. i do know example
calendars so erratic and haphazard that they can not be trusted. NYC
Events makes the specific effort to purposely touch each of the seven
'W's in every entry. They are:
------------------------------------------
What - name, nature, or title of the event
Who - the operator or sponsor of the event, with contact
When - calendar weekday, date, and hour of the event
Where - the physical location of the event, with address if
unfamiliar
Why - purpose or motive for the the event, mostly for
cultural
events
How - means of getting into the event, fees, registration,
security
Wow (which has two 'W's) - the reason for listing the event
in
NYC Events, usually for cultural entries
----------------------------------------
These 'W's are crucial for the reader to make intelligent choices
for his time and effort. Missing out ANY 'W' makes the event too much
trouble to chase after. The reader skips it in the favor of a more
caring entry. There are instance where one or more 'W' does not
apply.
A routine astronomy club meeting needs no 'Why' or 'Wow'. You're
reading NYC Events BECAUSE you want an astronomy fix.
It is, therefore, essential that in your own announcements you
put
all of the significant facts up front, where your readers can see
them
at once.
Scattering this material over several webpages or making the
reader 'play a game' or run a helper program to get at them is one
powerful means to tell him 'Get lost!'. Your reader will take the
hint. You lose him as a new potential visitor.
Be specially careful with events established by a rule, like '...
the third Wednesday of the month'. First off, you make your reader
look up on a separate calendar for that date. Secondly, you WILL have
exceptions once in a while; the event in THIS month is on the second
Wednesday.
Does you reader know that? How? The one and only positive way to
steer readers to your activities is to hive the explicit calendar
weekday, date, hour. This is one of the strengths of NYC Events. It
lists the exact time coordinate for every event -- even if the prime
source offers only a rule.
Let's welcome two new members of NYC Events. Space Frontier
Foundation has informal get togethers on Wednesdays. Occasionally it
hosts other meetings around the City.
Orange County Astronomical Association returns to us after a two-
year absence. It's back in business. It so far has no regular events
but welcomes inquiries. I list it in the 'Index of events' with
contacts.
Event news
--------
May continues 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 April 1 was the first on the
new
Wednesday schedule, with a lively audience to ring in the new series
of sessions. We examined the major features of the spring sky with
handout starcharts and updated list of planetary stars.
The April 15th Seminar was a planning session for earth Day and
NEAF. We arranged a carpool to NEAF and lined up crew for Earth Day.
Our new astronomy news reported Antoinette Booth brang items on the
Large Hadron Collider and dark energy. We also looked forward to the
Pleiades occultation on the 26th. It's a daytime crossing but a few
will try for it, it being on a Sunday afternoon.
The megashows in April were 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.
In spite of the depression, NEAf had a full floor of exhibitors
and full crowd of attendees. I myself, like so many other, had no
wishlist, but, surprise!, I got me two enchanting items. One was a
book on observing galaxies, with deep details about the Local Group
and neighboring galaxy groups.
The other was a set of three genuine meteorites from Moon, Mars,
and Vesta! I had no nice meteorites of known origin. Just a few small
pieces that 'fell from the sky'. Like for many other products at
NEAF,
the dealer offered a show discount. This pleasantly eased the damage
to my wallet.
The three are, to be honest, small chips set in display boxes
with
captions on the back. I'll bring them to the May 6th seminar meeting
as show and tell.
Earth Day this year was the largest ever in its present home at
Grand Central Terminal, with about 200 exhibitors inside and next to
the depot. Attendance on the two days was, uh, ~250,000. Many remote
readers readers can't imagine that many people showing up for any
gathering. It can surpass the entire population of their home towns.
Such immense attendance, resulting in about 2,000 visitors at the
NYSkies table, are common in New York for major public shows. We're
used to it here and know how to handle the crowds. At Earth Day, the
booths were deployed along wide aisles with, for the indoor section,
ramps leading to and from the exhibit room.
An other amazing fact is that during the show the rail depot
maintained regular service, with six to ten trains per hour in each
direction. The trains both brang remote visitors to the fair and
handled their normal carriage. Tight control and coordination were
essential for the success of the Earth Day festival.
On May 1st, you wonderful people who fight against luminous
graffiti get a HUGE increase it the maximum reward you can earn. It
goes from present $115 per month to, hold your hat, $230 per month.
WHile most of us wil win about half of this, say $100, that's a real
healthy sack of coin to get us thru the depression and continue our
astronomy endeavors.
The Explorer's Club celebrates IYA with an all-day show by
astronauts, space tourists, astronomers, science journalists, Mars
scientists. The $55 ticket includes breakfast, lunch, and reception.
And the place is with a [George Washington's] coin toss from Hunter
College subway station.
Calvary Church has a starry concert to celebrate IYA! Look under
May 9. Guess what? It's free! Metropolitan Museum of Art has a mega
lecture and demo on astrolabes on May 22.
Sky news
------
Weather overall in April was terrible for skywatching. Most
outdoor stargazing sessions were called off for clouds or rain. Never
the less, we got our peeks at Saturn with his collapsing rings.
The Pleiades occultation on may 25 was hazed and clouded out. The
sky showed the Moon well enough but not a single Pleias. See? You
never knew what the singular of Pleiades is.
Saturn is in high south in evening, shifting to southwest in late
night, 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.
May 1st opens the spring Milky Way season for New York City.
Weather is usually pretty unkind to the Milky Way, it being late
spring approaching summer. In fact, we got a touch of summer in the
last week of April when temperature shot into the low 30Cs! it got
awfully sticky outside, until cool air blew in by week's end.
Yet May and June can bring remarkably clear dark skies, good
enough to let the Milky Way peek thru. It's the summer section, not
the winter part sliding away in twilight, that shines thru. You have
to look in the owl hours when Deneb is well up in the northeast.
On May 29-31 we have the first window for seeing the Stonehenge
sunset. This is purely a geometric lineup of the sunset with
manhattan's east-west streets with no astronomy value. If you read my
article at 'www.nyskies.org/articles.pazmino/stone-ny.htm'. you learn
that your town could have a similar Stonehenge effect. Try it! If
weather kills off this sighting, the second window of the year is on
July 9-11.
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
unknown reason. We got lots of ideas about the Red Spot but none that
so far stand up to closer inquiry.