ASTRONOMY UPDATE (28 November 2013)
Dennis Mammana
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Comet ISON has reached its perihelion today… its closest point to the sun. Will it emerge brighter and more spectacular than ever or will it fizzle in the heat it’s now experiencing? We’ll know in a few days… you can follow its progress here (http://www.isoncampaign.org/) and watch it live here (http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/c3/512/)
If it survives its near pass to the sun and emerges as a visible comet in the pre-dawn skies, you’ll definitely want to see it from dark sky locations like Borrego Springs, California’s only International Dark Sky Community. Make reservations now for a special personalized tour of the wonders of the early-morning sky—and Comet ISON. http://www.stargazeborrego.com
Fun activities & events…
01) “Your Ultimate Guide to Viewing & Photographing Comet ISON (Dec. 1)
02) “Fire & Ice in the December Sky” dinner/lecture/stargazing (Dec. 1)
03) “Desert Night Sky Photography” workshop (Dec. 6/7)
04) “Geminids & Comet ISON” overnights (Dec. 13/14 and Dec. 14/15)
05) “Stellar Winter Wonderland” dinner/lecture/stargazing (Dec. 29)
06) Looking for a unique and cosmic holiday gift idea?
07) Arrange for popular presentations in your area!
On the web…
08) Subscribe FREE to my “Stargazers” column
Come along with me, I’m on my way to a star!
09) Alaska Northern Lights tours filling fast! (Feb 28 – Mar 6 and Mar 6-12)
10) Other Cosmic Adventures…
Follow my celestial antics…
11) Keep up with me on Facebook
12) Bloggin’ across the cosmos…
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01) Your Ultimate Guide to Viewing & Photographing Comet ISON (Dec. 1)
In December, an icy cosmic nomad named Comet ISON will swing past our planet on its wayback to the outer solar system; stories abound about how big, bright and dramatic it will be, and all sorts of calamities it will bring with it. Learn the facts about comets, what makes ISON special, and how to view and photograph it like a pro. http://theabf.org/event/astronomy/your_ultimate_guide_viewing_and_photographing_comet_ison
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02) “Fire & Ice in the December Sky” (Dec. 1)
December nights in the desert are perfect for stargazing, especially when meteors are raining down from the annual Geminid meteor shower. And this year, these fleeting blips of fire may be accompanied by an equally stunning spectacle: the icy cosmic nomad known as Comet ISON.
The evening begins with a light buffet dinner, followed by the presentation; then it's out to the Springs’ Astronomy Park for some telescope viewing of the magnificent desert sky (weather permitting) with expert amateur astronomers. For more information and reservations, call the Springs at Borrego RV Resort at 760.767.0004 or visit: http://www.springsatborrego.com/stars.php No RV is necessary to join the fun, but programs do fill up quickly, so make your reservations today!
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03) “Desert Night Sky Photography” workshop (Dec. 6/7)
If you love photography and are fascinated by the spectacular desert night sky, this popular two-day hands-on workshop is for you! Not only will get to enjoy some of Mammana’s classic night sky images, you will learn the basics of capturing similarly beautiful celestial photographs with little more than a camera, tripod and a starry night sky. http://theabf.org/event/astronomy/desert_night_sky_photography_workshop_beginners
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04) Geminids & Comet ISON overnights (mid-December)
The Geminids meteor shower is coming and, with it,
possibly a view of Comet ISON! Make
your plans now to join me for this exciting event! Two desert opportunities are available
this year—one for those who love desert camping (everything is provided!),
and another for those whose idea of camping is a room with indoor plumbing!
On the night of Friday/Saturday, December 13/14 you can join me for my
overnight celestial campout with California Overland Desert Excursions. Weekend
includes a stirring excursion through the rugged Borrego Badlands in open-air
jeeps and former military vehicles, a mouth-watering chuck wagon dinner,
campfire and S'mores, all camping gear, a full hot breakfast the next morning
and more. All you need to bring is
a pillow and a sense of adventure! For details,
call Joe Raffetto toll-free at 866.6.EXPLORE or
760.767.1232, or visit http://www.californiaoverland.com.
On the following night, Saturday/Sunday, December 14/15, you can join me at the
Borrego Springs Resort for my presentation “Fire & Ice: Geminids & Comet ISON”. This terrific package at the Borrego Springs Resort includes: one
night deluxe accommodations, buffet dinner, indoor slide program followed by telescope
viewing of the night sky (weather permitting, of course) with expert amateur astronomers ..
Non-hotel packages are also available. For more information and reservations, please call toll-free
888.826.7734. Availability is limited, so don’t
delay! http://www.borregospringsresort.com
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05) “Stellar Winter Wonderland” dinner/lecture/stargazing (Dec. 29)
During wintertime, the sky over Borrego glistens with the most brilliant and colorful stellar canopy of the year. From colossal glowing clouds where new stars and planetary systems are being born, to the shattered remains of once-mighty suns, all make winter nights a true spectacle for desert stargazers.
The evening begins with a light buffet dinner, followed by the presentation; then it's out to the Springs’ Astronomy Park for some telescope viewing of the magnificent desert sky (weather permitting) with expert amateur astronomers. For more information and reservations, call the Springs at Borrego RV Resort at 760.767.0004 or visit: http://www.springsatborrego.com/stars.php No RV is necessary to join the fun, but programs do fill up quickly, so make your reservations today!
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06) Looking for a unique and cosmic holiday gift idea?
The holidays are racing toward us like an out of control sleigh. This
year, don’t just promise the sun, moon and
stars… deliver!
Treat your family or that special someone to a unique and personalized tour
of the universe above Borrego Springs, California's first and only
International Dark Sky Community, with the power of a telescope and one of
America's favorite celestial tours guides. Check out this unique opportunity
here: http://www.stargazeborrego.com Due to the program’s
popularity dates are limited, so reserve your spot today!
Or take the cosmos home with you with my unique archival photographic prints of the “Stars over Borrego.” “Stars Over Borrego” features the past decade of my photography of the stunning and ever-changing Borrego night sky; it captures the color, motion and majesty of the heavens in ways one rarely sees and, by blending the terrestrial with the celestial, offers the viewer a unique sense of perspective and wonder—all from California’s only International Dark Sky Community. The exhibition and prints will be available now through winter at the ABDNHA Nature Center (http://www.abdnha.org/store/index.html).
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07)
Arrange for popular presentations in your area!
Many of my fans have expressed disappointment that they cannot attend some of my astronomy programs and night sky photography workshops here in Southern California... but don't despair. Groups such as photo clubs, camera stores, astronomy associations, schools, etc. often host such programs, and if you know of organizations in your area that might be interested, please email me at mam...@skyscapes.com, and perhaps we can put something together in your area!
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08) Subscribe FREE to my
“Stargazers” column
Keep up with the starry
heavens in my weekly column, now in its 22nd 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
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09) Alaska Northern Lights tours filling fast! (Feb 28 – Mar 6 & Mar 6-12)
The lights are kicking up, and you know it's on your cosmic bucket list. But time and space is running out. Less than three months remain until my two Alaska aurora borealis tours--one with moonlight, the other moonless. Remember the sun is now in its "solar max" phase and, with it, auroral displays are reaching their best. The next solar max? Maybe in 2025. Maybe. There's debate in the astronomical community if it'll even happen. Don't miss out—act now before space is filled! http://melitatrips.com/destinations/2014/alaska/alaska2014.html To learn more, call 877.707.7827 toll-free, or visit the link above. And be sure to mention my name to receive top priority!
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10) 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
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11)
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 if
you’re not a Facebook member, you can still visit and check out my postings—but
you won’t be able to post comments or receive news as I post it.
Or keep up in even more real-time with my Twitter feed
@dennismammana. Just go to https://twitter.com/dennismammana
and click “Follow”.
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12) 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..
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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
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DENNIS MAMMANA (TWAN)
DennisMammana.com
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