Rainwater Observatory E-News 4/9/09
RAINWATER PROGRAM MEETING FRIDAY APRIL 10 AT 7PM
“A Tale of Two Missions” will be the focus of the program this Friday at the observatory. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and the fourth Hubble Servicing Mission will launch in a few weeks. Come and find out what we expect to learn from these missions. Here’s info on the Hubble mission. http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8075
MID-SOUTH STAR GAZE COMING UP FAST
The April 22-25 astronomy conference is less than two weeks away. Some folks will be arriving as early as April 18. Several fine speakers are scheduled, but we will miss Gary Lazich’s sky lore talks. He has moved to the Chicago area. Rex McDaniel may not be able to make it as our vendor due to family health problems, but there will be others with telescopes and collimation tools for sale. We will miss his input and advice. We will have a more intentional swap table. Ben Hudgens has said he is bringing a lot of “stuff”. Another change is that the Council House is now open for supper as well as lunch for those who would like to have a nearby place to eat.
It’s not too late to register.
EDUCATOR WORKSHOP WILL BE PART OF THE MID-SOUTH ASTRONOMY CONFERENCE
John Frassinelli of the Lausanne School in Memphis will be sharing some great hands on activities for those of you who do public outreach. Area teachers who would like to earn 1 CEU credit toward recertification can attend lectures and John’s sessions for a total of 10 hours to get the certificate. Contact Jim Hill at jhill@rainwaterobservatory.org or call 662-547-6377 for more information
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.
April 8: Greenlee Elementary 1st graders
April 10: Rainwater Public Program Meeting
April 14: Miss. State Astronomy Club
April 16: Cottonlandia Museum, Greenwood 7 pm
April 16: Univ. of Miss. Honors Astronomy group at Rainwater
April 22-25, 2009: Mid-South Star Gaze http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/stargaze/
April 28: Vicksburg 5th graders
April 30: Long Beach astronomy class
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/
June21-27: Youth Astronomy Camp at Rainwater for 10-12 years olds. Call for information
NEWS FROM THE HILL
Thanks are in order for folks who help out in keeping Rainwater up to par. We got the storage building moved to its permanent spot behind the planetarium and acquired several metal shelves to keep our tools. The Girls in the Onesimus dorm came and did a cleaning job for us. The French Camp grounds crew did a great job weed eating and mowing for us. Thanks
Last week was exhausting. We had 10 groups come to Rainwater or we went to other venues. Five nights went until after midnight. I spent most of Sunday sleeping it off. Thanks to David Teske and Edwin Faughn for helping out with some of the groups.
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ASTRONOMY CAMP AT RAINWATER ANTICIPATED FOR JUNE
Plans are being made to have a week long astronomy camp June 21-27. Campers aged 10-12 will get to learn how to use telescopes, and do hands-on activities during the mornings. After lunch there will be opportunities for swimming and other camp activities. After supper will be time for observing and learning constellations. If you’re interested in a child participating, contact us. We will have a flyer and registration information available shortly.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRise camera has made images that have been turned into flyover videos of selected area of Mars. You’ll need high speed internet to download some of them, but they are spectacular! http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/media/
A new infrared image of the pinwheel galaxy shows it’s bigger than previously thought and it’s headed toward us. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/04/06/new-image-reveals-m33-is-bigger-than-thought-and-its-headed-our-way/
It’s starting to worry scientists that the Sun is so inactive. 80% of the days for the last 15 months there have been no sunspots. The Sun hasn’t been this quiet for almost a century. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/04/02/where-are-all-the-sunspots/ also at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm?list899987
A new image shows a young binary in the Trapezium at the heart of the Orion nebula. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/04/02/new-view-of-young-high-mass-binary-star-at-heart-of-orion/
Finally, a couple of neat discoveries from Mars. Spirits bad wheel digs a revealing rut. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/03/31/spirits-serendipitous-science/ The orbiting MRO sees an impact throwing out water ice. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/03/31/fresh-mars-impact-craters-blast-ice-onto-surface/
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