NYC Events, July 2009
.
----------------------
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.
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.
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.
Apollo Anniversary celebration
----------------------------
There are amazingly few specific celebrations for the 40th
anniversary of the Apollo !! lunar landing. It may be that sponsors
include it at a regular meeting without special notice. One announced
Apollo event is at readtime still tentative/
It appears that, so far, there is only ONE definite positive
recognition of this significant historical event in the NYSkies
territory. That's the NYSkies Seminar on July 1st! We'll have a
couple
vintage films of the Apollo era plus your own, as audience
participants, show-&-tell of Apollo memories and artifacts.
4th of July weekend
-----------------
4th of July in New York prompts a sea change in social routine.
There are astronomy events listed for July 3, 4, and 5 as if they
were
normal sessions. They could be with no notice of the holiday. They
also could be sessions with a special 4th of July theme.
Or, they could be listed because of a lapse of attention. The
sponsor didn't check with the calendar.
Before heading off to an event listed for this weekend, inquire
at
the contact. It can be really nasty to do a trip and find the
premises
locked up for the holiday. 'Oh, yeah, we forgot about that. We just
went with the 'every Friday' rule'.
Index of Events
-------------
Dates for events in main listing, else contact if no events
Events in recess may have month of resumption with contact
------------------------------------------------------------
BROOKLYN - BK
Boom-A-Ring - - - - - - - 1-Sep 7
Festival by the Sea - - - 1-Sep 15
*Floyd Bennett Field - - - SEP - www.nyskies.org,
stephe...@nyc.rr.com, nys...@nyskies.org
Secret Science Club - - - 14
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - - SEP - www.asgh.org, 860-872-9069,
ppar...@cs.com
Astro Soc of Greenwich - 1
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 28
*Bethany Observatory - - - 24
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - - 3, 17
Bowman Observatory - - - 14, 28
CT Tripoli Rocketry Assn NOV - www.ctra-narconn.org, 860-583-1690
Litchfield Hills AAC - - lm...@hotmail.com,
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/twain/1206/id19.htm .
*Mattituck Astro Soc - - - 16
*McCarthy Observatory - - 11
Stamford Observatory - - 3, 10, 17, 24
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 25
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - SEP - www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events,
860-685-3664
Western CT St Univ - - - SEP - www.wcsu.edu/starwatch,
203-837-8671, aws...@wcsu.edu
*Westport Astro Soc - - - 1, 2, 8, 3, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30
LONG ISLAND - LI
AlCon 2009 deadline - - - 1
*Amat Observers Society - SEP - www.aosny.org,
sue...@optonline.net
*AOS music and starviewing 1
Astro Soc of Long Island 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Brookhaven Natl Lab - - - www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
Custer Institute - - - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - OCT - 516-463-2759,
www.hofstra.edu/Academics, obser...@hofstra.edu
Innovative Stone Co - - - 1-indef
Montauk Observatory - - - 1, 5
Natl Space Soc-LISS - - - chapters.nss.org/ny/longisland,
trekk...@aol.com
*Robert Moses St Pk - - - 17, 18, 24, 25
Science Club of Long Is - www.sciencecluboflongisland.com,
631-421-1523, in...@sciencecluboflongisland.com
SUNY Stony Brook - - - - SEP - www.ess.sunysb.edu/astro,
slutt...@notes.cc.sunysb.edu, 631-632-8100
MANHATTAN - MH
92nd Street Y (Lex & 92) www.92y.org, 212-415-5500
Amer Intl Group - - - - - 1-indef
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - - 1-Aug 16
Bike Around - - - - - - - 1-Sep 30
Cafe' Science - - - - - - 13
Central Park - - - - - - 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26
City College Physics - - SEP - phy...@sci.ccny.cuny.edu,
www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/physics/calendar, 212-650-6832
*Columbia Univ Astro - - - SEP - www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreac...@astro.columbia.edu
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 10, 24
Cornelia St Cafe' - - - - SEP - www.corneliastreetcafe.com,
212-989-9319
Courant Institute - - - - SEP - caos.cims.nyu.edu,
sha...@cims.nyu.edu
CUNY Grad Ctr (Sci & Art) 1
Earth Institute - - - - - SEP - jc2305@.columbia.edu,
www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu
Goddard Inst for Spc Std SEP - www.giss.nasa.gov, 212-678-5540,
pfor...@giss.nasa.gov
Good Housekeeping lab - - 10
Governors Island visits - 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31
Governors Island tour - 1-2, 8-9, 15-18, 22-23, 29-30
Grand Central Terminal - 1-5
Hayden Planetarium - - - 1, 7, 8, 15, 20, 22, 28, 29
High Line park - - - - - 1
Inst Strings, Cosmology - SEP - www.iscap.columbia.edu
Inwood Hill Park - - - - 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
Jupiter-Neptune conj - - 9
Larry Hogue homecoming - 1
'Lucy's legacy' exhibit - 1-31
Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT subways 4-indef, 5-indef
Madoff benches - - - - - 1-indef
Madoff clawback - - - - - 1-indef
MetroCard restrictions - 1-6
Musm of City of New York 1-Oct 12
Natl Space Soc-NYC - - - 1, 15
New York Univ Astro - - - SEP - physics,nyu.edu, dgs...@nyu.edu,
212-998-7706
NY Academy of Sciences - www.nyas.org, 212-838-0230.
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 1, 15
Observing Group - - - - - 28
Omega Boutique - - - - - 1
Physics Club of NY - - - SEP - jdep...@nyc.rr.com,
www.sconyc-ny.org
Rockefeller University - SEP -212-327-8000, www.rockefeller.edu,
pub...@rockefeller.edu
Sci Ind Biz Liby - - - - 1-5
Serving Science - - - - - SEP -
web.cuny.edu/research/Seving-Science-CUNY-Science-Cafe.html
South Street Seaport - - 1-indef, 1-Sep 30
Space Exploration Day - - 20
Space Frontier Foundatn - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Stonehenge sunset - - - - 9-11
swine flu epidemic - - - 1-indef
The Waterpod - - - - - - 1-Sep 28
'Titanic' exhibit - - - - 1-31
*Top of the Lawn - - - - - 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26
TransitChek makeup - - - 1
Urban Park Rangers - - - 1
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - SEP - www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, drexp...@aol.com
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 10
*Amat Astro Inc - - - - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Buehler-Columbia AAA - - 11, 18, 25
Dark Sky Observers - - - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
Instt for Advd Study - - SEP - wse...@astro.princeton.edu,
www.sns.ias.edu/astro/astrocal.php,
Montclair Telescope Club 973-948-5284, bisc...@garden.net,
users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.hrm
*Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 9
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 - - 4, 11, 18, 25
North Jersey Astro Group 8
Ocean County College - - 18
Passaic Co Astro Assn www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024
Princeton Univ Obsy - - - 14
Princeton Univ Astro - - SEP - kfe...@princeton.edu,
www.astro.princeton.edu/events/colloquium2009
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm SEP -732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr SEP -732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - OCT - www.starastronomy.org,
s-wa...@comcast.net
Schommer Observatory - - 9, 23
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 5
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 17
Sloan Dgtl Sky Srvy conf 27-29
Skyland Stargazers - - - skylandstargazers.tripod.com
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Washington Xing St Pk - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
QUEENS - QN
Alley Pond Park - - - - - 18
International Express - - 1-Sep 30
Queens College Physics - SEP - www.physics.qc.edu/colloq.php,
718-997-3350
REST OF WORLD
Galileo exhibit - - - - - 1-Sep 7
NYS Senate revolt - - - - 1-indef
Conjunction starparty - - 24-26
STATEN ISLAND - SI
College of Staten Is - - SEP - rob...@mail.csi.cuny.edu,
supernova7.apsc.csi.cuny.edu, 718-982-2818
Great Kills Park - - - - 25
Staten Is Community TV - 6
Staten Island Railway - - 18
THE BRONX - BX
UPSTATE - NY
Andrus Planetarium - - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
*Anthony Wayne Rec Area - 18
*Catskills Astro Club - - 18, 25
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu,
jsme...@ldeo.columbia.edu
Lwr Hudson Vy Challgr Ctr 19
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 21
Orange Co Astro Assn - www.ocastronomy.org, in...@ocastronomy.org
Swinging Bridge dam - - - 1-indef
Vassar Coll Obsy - - - - SEP - 845-437-7340
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 18
Westchester Amat Astro - SEP - www.westchesterastronomers.org,
in...@westchesterastronomers.org
Wilcox Park - - - - - - - 17
Monthly Calendar
--------------
Plain dates are in current month;
-, last month; +, next month.
Moon: ) FQ, () Full, ( LQ, .. New
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-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
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 contacts.
Prices 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
------------
Wed 1 Jul
all day - 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 - 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 - Omega Boutique - MH - Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk watch
Indefinite duration. 711 5 Av, 55/56 St. Actual watch carried
by Buzz Aldrin during his moon walk in 1969 is on permanent
display. Free. www.omega.ch, 212 207 3333
all day - Albany - NY - NYS Senate revolt
Indefinite duration, State capital building. On Jun 8 two
Democrats switched party to throw Senate into Republican
majority, 32-30 seats. One reverted to make split house,
31-31
seasts. for 1st time in state history, with no parliamentary
leaders. Possible impounded sessions into July under state
police supervision. Details at your state senator.
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
Indefinite duration. 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 - Hauppauge - LI - cultural 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.
631-273-4445, www.innovativestone.com,
in...@innovativestone.com
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 - 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.
all day - Upper West Side - MH - Larry Hogue homecoming
OCCSIOANL EVENTS; INQUIRE AT LOCAL NEWS SOURCE
1 Km radius from W 96 St & Broadway. Larry Hogue, longtime
denizen of UWS in early 1990s, returns for visit from time to
time. He walks the streets to dispense his cheer and charm.
Details at local news sources.
all day - Museum of City of New York - MH - science exhibit
Thru Oct 12. 1220 5 Av & 103 St. 'Mannahatta/Manhattan, a
natural history of New York City'. $10, incl musm adm.
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
all day - The Waterpod - MH - science tour
Thru Sep 28. Biosphere built on a barge circulates around NYC
showing eco/enviro/green living. Free. www.thewaterpod.org,
maryma...@thewaterpod.org. Tentative schedule:
--------------------------------------------
Jun 22 - Jul 6 - BK - Sheepshead Bay Marina
Jul 7 - Jul 20 - MH - Governors Island
Jul 21 - Aug 3 - MH - 125th Street & Riverside Drive
Aug 4 - Aug 17 - BK - Brooklyn Bridge Park
Aug 18 - Sep 1 - SI - Atlantic Salt Co. Pier
Sep 2 - Sep 15 - QN - Worlds Fair Marina
Sep 16 - Sep 28 - BX - COncreete Park
-------------------------------------
all day - IRT Flushing line - QN - cultural tour
Thru Sep 30. Ride and walk thru culture and history of Queens
along 'International Express, IRT Flushing line. Route is
Millennium Trail for immigrants to settle along and build
America. $2.25 fare + shopping, eating, admissions.
www.queenscouncilarts.org
all day - South Street Seaport MH - Bike Around service
Thru Sep 30. Borrow bicycle for travel within Manhattan.
2-1/2-hr period, return bike to SSS, Pier A, Gov Is, or Pier
83.
Free, credit card collateral. downtownny.com/bikearound
all day - Coney Island - BK - Boom-A-Ring show
Thru Sep 7. W 21 St & Boardwalk. One-ring circus under tent
with traditional & new attractions. $10-$65 tkt.
201-507-8900,
www.ringling.com
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 - whole City - MH - TransitChek makeup payments
Indefinite duration. Increased TransitChek rebate, effective
May 1, is RETROACTIVE FROM MARCH 1. You may qualify for
makeup
payments if you didn't capture full amount for March and
April. Details at your payroll office.
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 - 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 - whole City - MH - MetroCarrd restrictions
Thru Jul 6. MetroCards purchased BEFORE June 28 AND initiated
UNTIL July 6 enjoy full lifespan. If initiated AFTER July 6
they expire at fixed dates. Restriction prevents stockpiling
MCs at old price to use after the fare increase. Leftover
days
on old-fare MCs can be redeemed for prorated refund. Get free-
post mailer at station clerks. www.mta.info
-----------------------------------
7-day MetroCard expires on July 12
14-day MetroCard expires on June 19
30-day MetroCard expires on August 4
------------------------------------
all day - Discovery Exhibition Hall - MH - 'Titanic' exhibit
Thru Jul 31 - 226 W 44 St, 7 Av. Items recovered from Titanic
oceanliner. Story of construction, sailing, disaster. $19.50
adm. www.discoverytsx.com, 866-987-9692
all day - Discovery Exhibition Hall - MH - 'Lucy's legacy'
exhibit
Thru Jul 31 - 226 W 44 St, 7 Av. Fossils of Lucy and Ida,
oldest whole human skeletons. Anthropology, archaeology of
early humans. $19.50 adm. www.discoverytsx.com, 866-987-9692
XX:XX - whole Island - LI - clearsky starviewing at music shows
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS: INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Amat Obsrs Soc. Clearsky starviewing after certain musical
performances around LI. Free with show admission.
www.aosny.org, sue...@optonline.net
08:00 - High Line - MH - High Line park open
Gansevoort St to 20 St, W of 10 Av. New pedestrian corridor
built on former freight el. Entrances 2-3 blks apart. Old
railbed has park furniture, grass, shrubs, trees. Will reach
Hudson Yards in 2010-11. Free. www.thehighline.org
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour
Also 13:00. Natl Pk Svc. Walk thru history and culture of
former military base. Free, Ferry leaves 10:00 and 13:00 from
Battery-Marine depot, South Fy MH. 212-825-3045,
www.nps.gov/gois
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,
18:00 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Montauk Obsy, Montauk Publ Liby. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - science lecture
5 Av, 34/35 St. 'From flapping birds to space telescopes',
origami. Free. 212-817-8215, web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp,
contin...@gc.cuny.edu
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
TOPIC: REMEMBERING APOLLO
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: REMEMBERING APOLLO
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 - 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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. www.asliclub.org, in...@asliclub.org /
23:59 - Hempstead - LI - AlCon 2009 deadline
Dealine for AlCon 2009, Aug 7-8, before late fees kick in.
Why
needlessly blled your busget, specially in the global
depression? Sign up NOW at www.alcon2009.org.
Thu 2 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Fri 3 Jul
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
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
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg
Boothe Meml Pk, Obsy. Free. www.bmas.org, in...@bmas.org
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing
PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Top of the Lawn. North side of Great Lawn. Free, cancelled
for
clouds. tag...@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org,
nys...@nyskies.org
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing
Stamford Obsy. $3 adm, cancelled for clouds.
www.stamfordmuseum.org, cesc...@earthlink.net, 203-322-6537
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
Sat 4 Jul
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
MAY BE SUSPENDED FOR JULY 4TH WEEKEND; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
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 - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting
Custer Instt. Free. www.custerobservatory.org,
bva...@aol.com
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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
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
Sun 5 Jul
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
MAY BE SUSPENDED FOR JULY 4TH WEEKEND; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
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
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
19:30 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Publ Schl, 'Dava Sobel and celestial music' indoor
lecture, clearsky starviewing in Roosevelt Pk. Free.
www.montaukobservatory.com
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Town Hall. Free. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm,
ajm...@att.net
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
Mon 6 Jul
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
Tus 7 Jul
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 8 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Jul 1
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Jul
1
20:00 - Upr Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Group meeting
Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free.
njastro.org, 973-655-7266, mw...@pegasus.montclair.edu
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Jul 1
Thu 9 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
20:00 - Manhattan gridiron - MH - Manhattan Stonehenge sunset
Thru 11 Jul. Sun sets in line with E-W streets within
Manhattan gridiron. Requires clear view along street to
horizon toward NJ.
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
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
22:30 - whole City - MH - Jupiter-Neptune conjunction
2nd and best of triple conjunction of planets. Neptune 1/2
deg N of Jupiter with mu Cap midway between them. Neptune is
8th magnitude. Timetable for New York:
------------------------
2009 JULY 9-10, NEW YORK
------------------------
EDST | alt-az | event
------+--------+------
22:23 | 0 108 | Jupiter rises
00:00 | 15 125 | July 9->July 10
03:32 | 36 180 | Jupiter transits
04:20 | 36 193 | nautical dawn
05:00 | 32 204 | civil dawn
05:00 | 32 204 | geometric conjunction
05:33 | 29 213 | sunrise
------------------------
Some specs for mu Capricorni:
----------------------------
Flamsteed | 51 Capricorni
BSC, HR | 8351
Smithsonian | 164713
Henry Draper | 207958
Tycho | 5801-1017
Pos Pro Mot | 239478
Bonner Durch | BD-14:6149
R Asc (2000) | 21h 53m 18s
decl (2000) | -13d 33m 06s
app magn | +5.1
spectrum | F1-III
distance | 106 LY
----------------------
Fri 10 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
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
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 Jul 3
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg - see Jul 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
21:00 - 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
Sat 11 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
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 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Jul 4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Jul 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting - see Jul 4
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture
Bergen Commty Coll, Buehler Obsy. Free.
www.bergen.edu/buehler, rops...@bergen.edu.
Sun 12 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
Mon 13 Jul
17:30 - PicNic Cafe' - MH - Cafe' Science lecture
2665 Broadway & 101 St. Supper/chat with Columbia Univ
profs on sci topics. $10 fee, incl 1 drink, + own meal.
212-222-8222, alumni.columbia.edu/learn/s3_6.html,
cafes...@columbia.edu
Tue 14 Jul
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
21:00 - 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
21:00 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.astro.princeton.edu/events.htm,
wse...@astro.princeton.edu
Wed 15 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Jul 1
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Jul
1
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
LECTURE: 'WILL THE WORLD END IN 2012?'
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
LECTURE: 'WILL THE WORLD END IN 2012?'
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
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Jul 1
Thu 16 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
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
Fri 17 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Jul 3
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
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
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
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn obsy, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm, ajm...@att.net
Sat 18 Jul
XX:XX - Toms River - NJ - Apollo Anniversary show
TENTATIVE EVENT; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Ocean Co Coll, Bdg 15. Talks, demos, food svc, exhibits. Fee
not set yet. www.ocean.edu/campus/planetarium, 732-255-0343
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
08:45 - Staten Island Ferry - MH - cultural tour
Elec RR Assn. Meet at Whitehall ferry depot. Ride and walk
thru history and culture of Staten Is Ry and Clifton Shops.
Bring GI photo ID for facility security. $50 tkt, adv regn
reqd. 201-684-9408, sidk...@optonline.net
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Jul 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 17
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Jul 4
20:00 - Alley Pond Park - QN - astronomy lecture
Alley Pond Enviro Ctr. Indoor lecture, clearksy starviewing.
$10 fee. www.alleypond.com, in...@alleypond.com, 718-229-4000
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 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing
Catskills Astro Club. Walnut Mountain Pk. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.catskillsastro.org, ko...@verizon.net.
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting - see Jul 4
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Jul 11
21:00 - Ward Pound Ridge - NY - clearsky starviewing
Westchester Amat Astro. Meadows Picnic Area. Free, cancelled
for clouds. in...@westchesterastronomers.org
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
Sun 19 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
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 Jul 3
Mon 20 Jul
all day - whole City - MH - Space Exploration Day
NYS Senate on June 4 proclamed July 20 as 'Space Exploration
Day'. Initiated by Harold Egeln, Natl Space Soc-NYC Chap, and
sponsored by NYS Sen Golden, Bklyn. Certificate unveiled to
public at NYSkies Seminar on June 17.
19:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - astronomy lecture
'A new path to the Moon and beyond using gravitational chaos'
$15 adm. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
Tue 21 Jul
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 22 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Jul 1
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Jul
1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Jul 1
Thu 23 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
21:00 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 59
Fri 24 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
18:00 - Northfield - MA - Conjunction starparty
Thru Jul 24. Phil Harrington. Northfield Mt Envriro Ctr. Dark
skies, lodgg, campg, food svc, demos, prizes, sports,
tourism.
$15 + extras. 413-525-4697,
rsand...@springfieldmuseums.org,
www.philharrington.net/astroconjunction
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 Jul 3
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 17
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
21:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Jul 10
Sat 25 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
20:00 - Great Kills Pk - SI - clearsky starviewing
Natl Pk Svc. Enter from Hylan Bv, follow signs to field.
Free, cancelled for clouds. www.nps.gov/gate, 718-987-6790
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Jul 4
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 18
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 17
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Jul 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting - see Jul 1
21:00 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Jul 11
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 26 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
Mon 27 Jul
09:00 - Princeton - NJ - Sloan Digital Sky Survey conference
LISTED IN JUNE BY MISTAKE; EVENT IS IN JULY
Thru 29 Jul. Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Covers
instruments, procedures, policies, dissemination of SSDS.
Free, adv regn reqd. 609-258-3812, kfe...@peinceton.edu,
www.astro.princeton.edu/astroevents/SDSS2009,
Tue 28 Jul
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
21:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 14
Wed 29 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Jul 1
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Jul
1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 1
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Jul 1
Thu 30 Jul
10:00 - Governors Island - MH - cultural tour - see Jul 1
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Fri 31 Jul
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural visit - see Jul 3
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Jul 3
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jul 3
20:00 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jul 3
General news
----------
NYC Events readership continued upward during June, a derivative
of the global depression. In addition, astronomers maintain that
there
is really only NYC Events to look after the profession's public
activities in the City region. Astronomers, like most other people
nowadays, don't got the itchy quarter. They turn to NYC Events for
low-cost or free activities to continue their starry nourishment.
With the summer recess in progress, I added in the index a flag
for the resumption of activity. The month abbreve is entered with the
contact, like ' - SEP - www. ...'. This helps both you and me. I can
pass over these events until they start again and you know that there
are no events for a couple more months.
Ambiguous situations or events that occur only occasionally are
left alone with just the contact.
I added a feature in the monthly calendar. The cardinal phases of
the Moon are marked with symbols. The date is in UT taken from a
celestial almanac. The NYC date could be a day off.
This may be handy to assess the value of a starviewing session or
celestial event. If you like it I'll consider keeping it in the
future.
We welcome back after a 3-year lapse certain lectures at Hayden
Planetarium. In the early 2000s these were run jointly by the
Planetarium and Amateur Astronomers Assn Inc. At that time AAA
leasers
practiced or permitted a program of abuse and hostility against its
dissidents and critics.
NYC Events in 2005 flagged AAA events with a warning. After a
harrassment incident in December 2005 against an AAA visitor, NYC
Events removed all events where AAA Inc had a significant management
or operating part. These included certain Planetarium lectures.
Over the years since, leaders of the club relinquished their
discretion for offensive behavior. There now seems to be sufficient
credible and effective oversight against such conduct. NYC Events,
for
example, in 2008 started listing the AAA's Observing Group meetings.
From sources close to AAA during June 2009, NYC Events learned
that AAA no longer works the Planetarium lectures. They assure that
these events are free of potential AAA misconduct.
Beginning with this NYC Events, we resume listing the encumbered
Planetarium lectures. The first restored one is on July 20th.
We also greet Alley Pond Park. For about 6 months its seemed to
suspend its astronomy lectures. Sometime in June they showed up in
Alley Pond's website with dates thru the summer. Look under July 18.
Metra Rocketry Assn leaves NYC Events. Apparently it suspended
public activity, hopefully temporarily.
Event news
--------
In keeping NYC Events focused on astronomy and space activity,
I'm
paring dawn my commentary on cultural events. Do see their entries
and
inquire at their contacts.
Several of my colleagues jumped all over me about a gross mistake
in June's issue! The Sloan conference at Princeton is in JULY, not
June!! When you went to sign up, you learned about the wrong month.
'Oh, I read about in NYC Events!'.
Thank you, all of you, who told me off. 'I put NYC Events on our
department's billboard!' 'My associates read NYC Events to eyeball
meetings at other universities!' 'We count on NYC Events to inform
our
visitors about astronomy in the New York area!'
That's the power of NYC Events and it slipped loose. The Sloan
meeting is on JULY 27-29.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 2009 June 3 prepared for the Antares
occultation with charts and timetables, then laid out plans for the
World Science Festival street fair. The group also bantered about the
delays in the LCROSS launch and looked at the operations of the
recently launched TacSat-3 satellite This is the one they hoped to
see
from the City, but it ws too bright a sky in twilight and haze.
The June 17th Seminar featured Destry Saul of Columbia on 'The
accidental and amateur discovery of radio astronomy' The lively
audience peppered Saul with historical and technical questions. The
newly issued NYS proclamation Harold Egeln, Natl Space Soc-NYC Chap,
uneiled the NYS Senate proclamed for 'Space Exploration Day' at this
meeting. He Initiated it and NYS Sen Golden, Bklyn, sponsored it.
The World Science Festival was heavily attended by NYSkiers and
other City scientists. The final event, the street fair in Washington
Sq on June 14, was an amazing show, on the order of Earth Day. Under
what could have been a messy rainy day, the fair flourished with
breeze, Sun, and cool air. About 100,000 visitors poured into the
park, with about 1,000 stopping at the NYSkies booth.
Our crew was the IYA interpretation and explanation for the
largest, in ground area, exhibit in the fair! IYA supplied its 'From
the Earth to the universe' display of 18 panels of spectacular color
photos of celestial objects n various wavebands. NYSkies handouts
explained the display, radiation, scale of Milky Way.
On the down side, rain snuffed out our BLAST! social on June 13.
It was a shutout for attendance. Rain during the day soaked out any
enthusiasm to share this solid movie about balloon observatory
flights
from Sweden and Antarctica.
Between up and down side was the crossover from analog TV
broadcast to digital. This was in progress from several months
already
but on June 12th it was complete. Experience was mixed among readers.
Those with cable didn't have any big problem. The cable service
doctored up the incoming signal to play on old TV units or supplied
connector boxes for new digital units.
Readers relying on thru-the-air signal had some tough going for a
few weeks. Some channels were loud and clear; others, weak and
fragmented. Still others seemed to be gone with no signal. Fiddling
with the rabbit ears shuffled the quality among channels, as did
swaying this or that way while watching the screen. Maybe it was the
strong rain in June that somehow loused up the broadcast?
The 2009 Governors Island season opened on May 31. In spite of
continual rain, the island enjoys heavy visitorship. I do warn that
the ferries fill up quickly. You may have to let one go and wait for
the next one. You should pack a lunch from sandwich and deli shops on
Manhattan because there is no real food service on the island.
Larry Hogue apparently only visited his old haunt on Upper West
Side in June. He's back in Creedmoor estate. He may visit again from
time to time, to the endless surprise of the residents who remember
him from the 1990s.
The High Line park opened on June 9th in its initial reach from
Ganvsevoort Market to Chelsea. By late June, in spite of continuous
rain, it attracted about 1/4 million visitors! It's open from
08h-22h,
allowing aerial starviewing opportunities, even in summer.
Oops, what about park lights? Illumination of the High Line paths
is subdued to promote the City's 'Majestic darkness' and recall its
industrial legacy. Lamps are carefully aimed and shielded, with no
glare or upward spray at all.
Please leave the Madoff benches in Central Park alone. I
appreciate that many readers really have it in for the fellow and
want
to vent their anger against the benches. So far, there seems to be
little physical damage but they are frequently messy from human and
pet toilet functions.
Conjunction starparty runs on July 24-26 in Northfield MA at the
water project. Be sure to visit it while at the starparty.
Please take a weekend day to hop to Philadelphia for its Galileo
and Renaissance science exhibit. It's only an hour away by Amtrak.
See
June 1st entry.
Transit news in NYC Events can SAVE YOU A BUCKET OF MONEY! IF you
get TransitChek payments you may qualify for makeup payments for
March
and April. The increase in limit from $115/mo to $230/mo went into
effect on May 1st but IT IS RETROACTIVE FROM MARCH 1st.
Speak with your payroll office to refigure your payment and give
you any shortfall you qualify for.
The other item is that your unlimited-ride MetroCard purchased
BEFORE June 28 MUST be initiated UNTIL July 6. Only that way will it
live its whole life. If you inaugurate the MC AFTER July 6, because
you saved MCs from the old fare, it will DIE at prescribed dates.
There will be unused days left on the card! MTA will refund the
lost days but, of course, you can only apply this refund to a new MC
at the current higher fare.
Sky news
------
We saw the first of the two Stonehenge sunsets on May 29-31 under
so-so skies. The Sun was softened enough to look at. It's red color
made for a more imposing scene. The 2nd view is on July 9-11.
June was a disaster of orthodox starviewing! Most days were
cloudy
and rainy. In fact, June may be the wettest June on record! Final
reports aren't ready at issue time, but we must be near or over the
top.
We watched the Antares occultation on June 6 in so-so skies. The
star wasn't visible by eye due to the bright full Moon diffusing thru
the haze. Binoculars let viewers follow the show. Top of the Lawn in
Central Park showed the event to about 200 visitors!
Saturn is in mid southwest in evening, with his rings closing up.
They were opened to their widest extent for 2009 during May. Now they
are closing up for good. Please, get all the views of Saturn you can
NOW. He sinks into twilight by end of July.
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.
An awesome sunset occurred on June 26. After or during a late
afternoon downpour, the Sun painted clouds in the west a brilliant
orange. Wind agitating the clouds made them look like the sky caught
fire! Some readers learned of the show while watching the Mets-
Yankees
game on television! When the camera zoomed out at Citi Field, the
fire-in-the-sky was in the scene!
On June 27th there were hit-&-run rainbows all over NYSkies
land! Very localized, a kilometer resolution of visibility, due to
exact Iineup of clouds, rain, Sun. They broke out at about 19h and
lasted thru about 20:10.
Jupiter passes Neptune for the 2nd of his triple conjunctions.
Look on July 9-10 starting near midnight. 1/4 deg north of Jupiter is
mu Capricorni. A 1/4 deg farther north (1/2 deg from Jupiter) is 8th
magnitude Neptune. He is in empty sky with no competing stars nearby.
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.