ASTRONOMY UPDATE (06 August 2013)
Dennis Mammana
E-mail is nice, but I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not able to send my newsletter as frequently as I would like. However, those of you on Facebook will find my official page (facebook.com/DennisMammana) a much more efficient and fun way to keep up with both the cosmos and my own celestial antics—plus you can interact with me and other like-minded fans! Don’t miss out… visit and “Like” me soon!
In the meantime, here’s what’s happening:
Fun activities & events…
01) Julian Starfest (August 9-12)
02) Perseid meteor shower Celestial Overnight (August 11/12)
On the web…
03) The Perseids are coming! The Perseids are coming!
04) Subscribe FREE to my “Stargazers” column
Come along with me, I’m on my way to a star!
05) Africa
total solar eclipse tour (Oct.-Nov.)
06) Join me for some arctic northern lights (Feb 28
– Mar 6 and Mar 6-12)
07) Other Cosmic Adventures…
Follow my celestial antics…
08) Keep up with me on Facebook
09) Bloggin’ across the cosmos…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
01) Julian Starfest (August 9-11)
Fun lectures, great food, astronomy exhibitors and telescope stargazing
with amateur astronomers from the San Diego Astronomy Association—what a
fun time for all under the dark skies of beautiful Julian, CA
and the Menghini Winery. http://www.julianstarfest.com
And, if you’d like to learn the basics of photographing the Milky Way and the weekend’s Perseid meteor
shower, be sure to join me for my workshop on June 9!
http://julianstarfest.com/activities/activities.htm
You
won’t be finding this program for such a low price
ever again. Seating is limited so
register today!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
02) Perseid meteor shower Clestial Overnight (August 11/12)
Join me for our exciting Perseid meteor shower Celestial Overnight campout on August 11/12, and find out why Borrego Springs has been designated as California's first (and only) official International Dark Sky Community and one of top ten great places for stargazing by USA Today (http://is.gd/SuxrW1).
Weekend includes a stirring excursion through the rugged Borrego Badlands in open-air jeeps and former military vehicles, a mouth-watering chuck wagon dinner, all camping gear, a full breakfast the next morning and more. All you need to bring is a pillow and a sense of adventure!
And, if you don’t want to camp, there’s an evening program you can join instead.
For more information or reservations, call Joe Raffetto toll-free at 866.6.EXPLORE or 760.767.1232, or visit http://www.californiaoverland.com.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
03) The Perseids are coming! The Perseids are coming!
Only a few days to go! Next Monday
morning (Aug. 12) the annual Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak. In
fact, it's already begun producing some very nice
fireballs! Read all about it in my syndicated "Stargazers" column. http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/astronomy/stargazers/the-perseids-are-coming-the-perseids-are-coming.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
04) Subscribe FREE to my “Stargazers” column
Keep up with the starry
heavens in my weekly column, now in its 21st consecutive year. And remember, you
can subscribe free to the column via e-mail or RSS feed…
just click the appropriate box at the bottom of the column to do so. Or if you’re
more “analog” than digital, click the box to let your local
newspaper editor know you’d like them to carry it. http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/astronomy/stargazers.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
05) Africa
total solar eclipse tour (Oct. 31
– Nov. 12)
If you've never experienced a total
solar eclipse―and believe me, you'd know if you
have―this is one bucket list item you don't
want to put off! Join Astronomy Magazine
Associate Editor Liz Kruesi as you journey to west Africa to explore the ancient and exotic lands of Gabon and Morocco,
and experience one of nature's most breathtaking sky phenomena. But you’ll
need to book soon… nearly sold out!
http://melitatrips.com/destinations/2013/africa/africa.html
Or, enjoy the eclipse with Rich Talcott, Senior Editor of Astronomy Magazine,
on a fantastic safari in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya! http://melitatrips.com/destinations/2013/kenya/kenya.html
For more information on
both exciting journeys, call 877.707.7827
toll-free, or visit the links above. And be sure to mention my name to
receive top priority!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
06) Join me for some arctic northern lights (Feb 28 – Mar 6 & Mar 6-12)
I know you’ve been putting it off, but we are now at solar
max—the peak of the sun’s activity cycle—and early
next year the northern lights will be dancing like they
haven’t for years. (By the way,
the next solar max won’t occur until at least
2024!)
Join me for a truly fun journey to Fairbanks,
Alaska, the Aurora Capital of the
World, and marvel first-hand at Nature’s greatest light show! I’ll be
leading two tours next year: one with the dark of the moon and one with some
moonlight. But
don’t wait too long… both will fill up quickly! http://melitatrips.com/destinations/2014/alaska/alaska2014.html
Or you could join my colleague “Astronomy Magazine”
Contributing Editor and comet discoverer David Levy for a great northern lights
trip to Iceland—one of the most beautiful and magical spots on
Earth—from March 4-11,
2014. http://melitatrips.com/destinations/2014/iceland/iceland.html
For more information on
all exciting journeys, call 877.707.7827
toll-free, or visit the link above. In either case, be sure to mention my name to receive top priority!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
07) Other Cosmic Adventures…
While I’d love to have you join me on my cosmic
adventures—we always have such great fun—many other
astronomically-related travel options are also available. MWT
Associates is one of the best tour companies who specializes in astronomical
travel, and features a stable of some of the world’s finest and most
popular lecturers. I’m honored to have been part
of this “stellar” team for the past 19 years, and I encourage you
to check out which other exciting celestial programs might interest you: http://www.melitatrips.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
08) Keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter
To receive more immediate details about celestial events, new
photographs, cool astronomical discoveries and discussion (if you so
choose)—more than I can possibly include in this newsletter—I hope
you’ll join the increasing number of fans that “like” my
official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DennisMammana. Just look at the top near my name and click
the “Like” button; that’s it! And even if
you’re not a Facebook member, you can still visit and check out my
postings—but you won’t be able to receive news as I post it or post
comments.
Or keep up in even more real-time with my Twitter feed
@dennismammana.
Just go to https://twitter.com/dennismammana
and click “Follow”.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
09) Bloggin’ across the cosmos…
Lots of things to write about… so I’ll hope you’ll check out my blog at http://dennismammana.blogspot.com. And, in the meantime I’d like to invite your thoughts on what you’d be most interested in reading about. Just drop me a note at mam...@skyscapes.com.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As you requested, I’m sending these astronomy notices to you. Please let me know if your e-mail address changes, or if you ever prefer not to receive these postings. And feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and encourage them to subscribe. Remember, I
will never sell, trade, lend, or leak your e-mail address to any other individual or organization—and only those who specifically request inclusion are added.
To read these missives online, visit the archive at: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/MammanaGrams
If you wish to reach me, you can do so not by replying to this site, but by my e-mail address: mam...@skyscapes.com
For faster and more complete notices—and much more fun than e-mail—be sure to “Like” me on my official Facebook page: facebook.com/DennisMammana
___________________________
DENNIS MAMMANA (TWAN)
DennisMammana.com