Rainwater E-News 5/27/08
SUMMER BACKYARD ASTRONOMY COMING FRIDAYS IN JUNE
We are going to expand our “Backyard Astronomy” series to include the summer sky. We will be having family oriented talks followed by observing the four Fridays in June at 7:30 pm. (note the later start time due to daylight “saving?” time) Bring the family early and picnic before the program. On line registration is up on the web site.
June 6: Along the Milky Way, Tim Rich
June 13: Summer Constellations, David Teske
June 20: Celebrate the Summer Solstice, Jim Hill
June 27: Here Comes Jupiter!, TBA
COMING EVENTS The web site calendar is now working
Clinton FUMC: May 31, 6:30 pm
Welty Library, Jackson, June 4 10:30 am
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson: June 6, 6 pm
Louisiana Motorcycle Group June 7, 7 pm
Busy Hands Quilters: June 10, 1 pm
Astronomy for Teachers: June 8-13 at Rainwater. 3 semester hours credit. www.outreach.olemiss.edu/teachers 662-915-7621 for info. Eight participants signed up for this class so far.
Next year’s Mid-South Star Gaze: April 22-25, 2009
NEWS FROM THE HILL
As of June 1 Rainwater Observatory will have a one person full time staff, but the number of programs and requests is beyond what one person can do, especially if the facility is now supposed to become financially self supporting. We desperately need to set up a group of volunteers and “Friends of Rainwater” to help with programs, funding, and all kinds of tasks that need doing to reach the potential of the facility. If you are willing to volunteer your time, we’d love to fit your abilities to our needs. We can provide any resources you need. Come join us in our vision of becoming a regional center for science and astronomy education and research.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
The Phoenix landing was amazing. What a remarkable effort by a visionary and committed group. We have taped the pre, during, and post landing events and to listen to the people involved on how they accomplished this extraordinarily difficult task was inspiring. Not only did they make it looks easy, but their respect for each other and appreciation of each other’s contributions was a model for how great things should be accomplished. Get the latest images from Mars’ north polar region at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/index.html . More info at http://www.universetoday.com:80/2008/05/25/welcome-back-to-mars-phoenix-lands-successfully/ In addition to the videos, we have a whole folder of Phoenix info in our vertical files and DVDs from JPL as well. Perhaps the most amazing event of the landing was the ability of the orbiting Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team to catch the Phoenix descending on its parachute from orbit.
“Seeing in the Dark” returns to PBS on Wednesday June 11. This will be the second showing of this spectacular about amateur astronomy and the wonders of the night sky. You can check out the web site at http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark It has customizable sky charts and astronomy activities for the family. You can even get images from the Seeing in the Dark internet telescope.
Hubble Sees Third Red Spot on Jupiter: http://www.universetoday.com:80/2008/05/22/hubble-spies-third-red-spot-on-jup/
The number of Exoplanets discoveries continues to rise. http://www.universetoday.com:80/2008/05/22/exoplanet-count-rises-with-new-discoveries/
The Moon is being regularly hit by meteorites. Over 100 impacts have been recorded at Huntsville. http://www.universetoday.com:80/2008/05/22/over-100-explosions-observed-on-the-moon/
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