Rainwater Observatory E-News 3/5/09
“BACKYARD ASTRONOMY” IN MARCH
Come join us for Tim Rich’s presentation on Friday night. Presenters this spring include David Teske, former Assistant Director of the Davis Planetarium in Jackson, James Hill, Director of the Rainwater Observatory, Tim Rich of Rust College, Tereza Nevasadova of the Davis Planetariuim, and Jim Waltman, adjunct at Millsaps College. Each session will be about an hour long and will feature the stories behind such sky objects as the Moon, the planets, the season’s constellations, and galaxies.
After the talks, weather permitting, an observing session will be held using Rainwater’s collection of telescopes. The planetarium can be used if outdoor observing is clouded out.
Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is located 1 mile east of the Natchez Trace Parkway on MS Hwy 413 near the village of French Camp in central Mississippi.
March 6: Be Your Own Weather Forecaster: Tim Rich
If you want to star gaze, how do you know if it will be clear or cloudy. After this session you should be able to outperform the local TV station in predicting what the weather will be doing when the Sun goes down. We’ll see how to use the internet to practice some weather basics.
March 13: The Sun Earth Connection, Aurorae: Tereza Nevasadova
The Sun is constantly showering the Earth with electrically charged particles. This is the cause of one of the most beautiful sights, the aurora. It is rare but can be seen in Mississippi.
March 20: Giants in the History of Astronomy, Jim Waltman
In the development of our view of the cosmos certain names stand out. Come to this talk and find out “who’s who” in the history of astronomy and what they discovered that changed our view of the universe.
March 27: Constellations of the Spring Sky, David Teske
The winter constellations, Orion and his hunting dogs are leaving the western sky and the spring galaxy filled groups like Leo and Ursa Major are high overhead. Learn to find them and about their lore.
Go to http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/backyard.html for information and an online registration form.
COMING GROUPS AND EVENTS The web site calendar shows more events and programs. If you or some group you know needs a program or wants to set up a field trip, contact us.
March 6,13, 20, and 27, 2009: Spring Backyard Astronomy: Fridays in March http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/backyard.html
March 7: CHARM home schoolers (afternoon) and Jackson Cub Scouts (overnight)
March 13: Wedding Rehearsal group
March 16: Nebraska Bike Adventure group
March 19: Grenada Exchange Club, noon
March 20: Spring Equinox and Sun-Earth Day
April 22-25, 2009: Mid-South Star Gaze http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/stargaze/
June 7-12, 2009: Astronomy for Teachers Summer School class through Ole Miss for 3 semester hours credit. http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/summer/teacher_workshop/
NEWS FROM THE HILL
We now have six Ethernet connections set up in the meeting room. Visitors and speakers who need to connect to their e-mail or to the internet can now log on.
I haven’t tried it out yet, but there is now a cell tower a couple of miles north of French Camp. It turns its strobe off after dark and uses a red light so there is not a problem with light pollution.
No new news yet on the potential telescope acquisition. We’re looking for funds and will be meeting next week about future plans.
Later this month we will be getting the road to the observatory and the Sangre facility graded and gravel put down. We also hope to extend the gravel pad behind the bunk house to allow more RVs for the Star Gaze. We’ll be doing paint-up fix-up during the spring break March 13-21. Any volunteers welcome.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
The Kepler mission is scheduled to launch this Friday evening. This mission is the first of several spacecraft that will look for Earth sized planets around other stars. Of the over 300 planets discovered orbiting other stars in the last 15 years, this is the first project to be able to find ones as small as the Earth. Get information at http://www.nasa.gov/kepler
Also, a new technique has allowed the examination of old Hubble images to find exoplanets. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/02/28/new-technique-allows-astronomers-to-discover-exoplanets-in-old-hubble-images/
Merging Massive Black Holes Detected: Astronomers have theorized that massive black holes should be merging, but haven’t been able to detect them until now. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/03/04/astronomers-detect-two-black-holes-in-a-cosmic-dance/
Live Specimens Being Sent to Mars by the Planetary Society and Russians: After years of trying hard to keep from contaminating the solar system, the Planetary Society is sending live Earth specimens to Mars’ moon Phobos on a Russian spacecraft. Scarry! http://www.universetoday.com/2009/03/01/russia-will-send-life-to-phobos/
President Obama has released his plans and budget for NASA. Considering the economic situation, it’s not bad.
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/02/27/obama-will-retire-shuttle-in-2010-us-will-go-back-to-the-moon-in-2020/
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