ASTRONOMY UPDATE (08 June 2009)

[Dennis Mammana]

Join Dennis for an exciting desert Summer Solstice star party:
01)   2009 Summer Solstice:  Stars Over Borrego

Cool stuff to check out on the web:
02)  Interactive 3-D Views of Space Station / New Mars Rover

Cool stuff to check out in the sky… or not:
03)  Mars as big as full moon this August

Some exciting Cosmic Adventures with me:
04)   Norway Northern Lights cruise early discount extended (Nov 9-17, 2009)  
05)   African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
06)   Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise!  (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)

And with art historian William Sheehan:
07)   Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)


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1)  2009 Summer Solstice:  Stars Over Borrego

Had it with the city?  Too much traffic, congestion and noise?  Sounds like you’re ready for a quick get away to recharge the batteries!  Join me on Saturday, June 20, for a fun night under the desert stars at the beautiful Borrego Springs Resort.

This terrific package includes:  one night deluxe accommodations (6/20/09), indoor slide program followed by naked-eye and telescope viewing, Star-B-Que dinner, transportation to viewing site, celestial party refreshments, all tax and gratuity.  Double Occupancy Package: $85 per person / Single Occupancy Package: $120 per person.  For more information, please see the attached flier or call 888.826.7734 for reservations.  This one’s quite popular, so don’t wait!    http://www.borregospringsresort.com/home.asp

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02)  Interactive 3-D Views of Space Station / New Mars Rover

NASA released an interactive, 3-D photographic collection of internal and external views of the International Space Station and a model of the next Mars rover on Thursday, May 7.  

NASA and Microsoft's Virtual Earth team have developed the online experience with hundreds of photographs and Microsoft’s photo imaging technology called Photosynth.  Using a click-and-drag interface, viewers can zoom in to see details of the space station's modules and solar arrays or zoom out for a more global view of the complex.  NASA's Photosynth collection can be viewed at http://www.nasa.gov/photosynth.   The NASA images also can be viewed on NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington. 

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03)  Mars as big as full moon this August

Yes, it’s true.  No one alive will ever see it happen again.  That’s because it’s baloney!  

If you're connected in any way to the internet, you've undoubtedly received (or will soon receive) an e-mail saying that Mars will reach its most spectacular this August—appearing as large in the sky as the full moon.  The information is left over from 2003;  it wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now.  It’s even achieved the status of an urban legend:  http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

 

With the internet being what it is, expect to see this story pop up every summer from now until the end of time.  For information about this from more reputable sources, visit:

http://www.universetoday.com/2006/07/27/no-mars-wont-look-as-big-as-the-moon-in-august/  and  http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm    And, in case you've never met me and wonder what I look like, check out the photo near the bottom of this latter site.

 

During late August 2009, Mars appears as distant from the Earth—and therefore as tiny and faint—as it ever becomes.  It will lie midway up in the pre-dawn sky—above the bright planet Venus. 

Please feel free to pass this info on to others expecting something as amazing as the bogus e-mail suggests.  We’ll never stop the silliness, but I can use all the help I can get.  My inbox is already bursting at the seams about it!

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04)   Norway Northern Lights cruise  (Nov 9-17, 2009)

Cross the Arctic Circle with me as our ship, the MS Midnatsol, weaves along the richest archipelago in Norway—up to latitude 69°N.  During our remarkable journey from Kirkenes to Bergen we'll check out the heavens each night to view and photograph the mystical dancing colors of the aurora borealis—the northern lights.  This is sure to be ONE POPULAR TRIP!  For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707..7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:   http://www.melitatrips.com/norway/    Early booking discount continues for only another 13 days, so act soon!


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05)   African cosmic safari & annular eclipse  (Jan 8-19, 2010)

Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Editor David Eicher for an exciting trip into the bush of Africa, for a remarkable safari and an even more remarkable annular eclipse of the sun.   For more information on what is already becoming a very popular trip, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:   http://www.melitatrips.com/africa/index.html  


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06)   Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise!  (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)

Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Senior Editor Rich Talcott in the glorious South Pacific as we explore the magnificent Marquesas Islands and the Tuamotus on a state-of–the art freighter, the Aranui III.  In the balmy South Pacific evenings, we’ll turn your gaze skyward—toward the exquisite Southern Cross and the spectacular Southern Milky Way, and on July 11 toward the great total solar eclipse—the most remarkable sky show you’ve ever seen!  Space is VERY limited.  For more details on this rapidly booking trip, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/marquesas/index.html


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07)  Art, Astronomy & History in Paris  (Sept. 17-24, 2009)

Join astronomy historian Dr. William Sheehan—author of MARS: Lure of the Red Planet and In Search of Vulcan—for seven nights in Paris, and an incredible art, astronomy, and art history vacation.  In addition to visiting the historic Meudon Observatories during the week of the Société Astronomique de France and International Astronomical Union’s celebration of Mars observations, you’ll experience all things French:  food and wine, Gothic cathedrals, sun-dappled paths, vineyards and villages, art, history and science.  For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707...7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/france  


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As you requested, I am sending these astronomy notices to you.

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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 

 

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DENNIS MAMMANA
www.DennisMammana.com
www.twanight.org