ASTRONOMY UPDATE (16 June 2009)

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Dennis Mammana

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Jun 17, 2009, 12:07:43 AM6/17/09

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Join Dennis for two fun programs this week:
01) Cosmic Adventures at SDAA (June 17)
02) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego (June 20)

Cool stuff to check out in the sky:
03) Space Station passes over Southern California this week

Become involved in astronomy:
04) Project Astro San Diego needs you
05) Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae

06) 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program

Join me for some exciting Cosmic Adventures:
07) Norway Northern Lights cruise (Nov 9-17, 2009)
08) African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
09) Total Solar Eclipse… in Paradise! (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)

And with other terrific lecturers:
10) Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
11) Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12, 2010)

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01) “Cosmic Adventures” presentation at SDAA (June 17)

The sky is filled with amazing sights. Unfortunately they don't always come to us... sometimes must go to them. Join me on Wednesday evening as I relive the (often amusing) human side of my past two and a half decades of leading stargazers around the world to view and photograph some of the most remarkable and exciting spectacles in all of nature—eclipses, the aurora borealis, comets and more. If you’ve never traveled with me and my groups, you’ll enjoy the program; if you have, you’ll love it! San Diego Astronomy Association meeting takes place at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center, and is free.

For more information and directions, visit: http://www.sdaa.org/Program-Meeting

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02) 2009 Summer Solstice: Stars Over Borrego (June 21) ALMOST FILLED!

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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03) Space Station passes over Southern California this week

During pre-dawn hours this week the International Space Station (ISS) will make several bright passes over Southern California and other areas. To find exact times and directions for your location, visit: http://www.heavens-above.com. I recommend free registration so you can visit from time to time and keep your location on file. Here you can select your town from a database or add your own latitude and longitude. Once in the site, scroll down to "Satellites" and then click "ISS".

If the space shuttle Endeavour lifts off as scheduled at 2:40 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, June 17, it will begin appearing with ISS on Thursday morning. More on this after launch.

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04) Project Astro San Diego needs you

Whether you’re a professional, student, amateur astronomer or space enthusiast, you can become a visiting space scientist/astronomer in a San Diego County school. Project ASTRO is a program of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) to create partnerships between 3rd-9th grade teachers and local astronomers and space scientists. If you’ve ever wondered how you can share your enthusiasm for space and astronomy as well as help your local schools improve their science education, Project ASTRO is for you. Project ASTRO will provide you with free training, materials, and a rewarding and fun way to share your passion with our local schoolchildren and teachers.

For more information and an application form, please contact Dr. Philip Blanco (pbl...@sciences.sdsu.edu) or Dr. Ron Angione (ang...@sciences.sdsu.edu) at 619 594-6183. Or visit the San Diego Project ASTRO website: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/projectastro/index.html

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05) Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae

Epsilon Aurigae is a mystery. This variable star changes in brightness over time, and is thought to be an eclipsing binary—a pair of stars that eclipse each other. But the way it fades and brightens is not fully understood by astronomers, even after over 175 years of study. The star’s next eclipse is predicted to begin in August 2009, and you can help solve its mysteries.

Citizen Sky has put together materials guide you through the process of how to observe Epsilon Aurigae, how to send in your observations, and then how to see your results, analyze them, and even publish them in a scientific journal. No previous experience is required. Because of its brightness, it can be observed by almost anyone regardless of background, training, or equipment. All you need are a good pair of eyes and know where to look.

To learn more and become involved, visit: http://www.citizensky.org

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06) 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program

The Northrop Grumman Foundation is accepting teacher applications for the 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery. This annual professional development program allows teachers to prepare for and participate in micro- and zero-gravity flights to test Newton's Laws of Motion with the purpose of taking the experience back into their classrooms to energize their students in science and math subjects during the formative middle-school years.

Middle-school math and science teachers are welcome to seek additional information and apply soon for the program by visiting: http://www.northropgrumman.com/teachers.

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07)   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

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08) 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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09)   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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10) 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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11) Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12, 2010)

From Easter Island's mysterious solitudes, where you’ll pass among heads frozen in time and forever as inscrutable as their long-vanished makers, you’ll journey in imagination to the star-studded entrails of the Southern Hemisphere sky. Then to the Patagonian steppes, fjords, and soaring peaks, you’ll travel in the footsteps of Charles Darwin to view the remarkable total solar eclipse—at sunset! For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707...7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit: http://www.melitatrips.com/easterisland/index.html

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