Rainwater Observatory E-News 6/5/09
NEXT RAINWATER PROGRAM FRIDAY JUNE 12 AT 7PM
We’ll look at some neat images from the Hubble servicing mission and hopefully have word on the latest from the getting back to operation. There will also be info from a teleconference on Hubble’s impact on astronomy and our view of the cosmos by Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
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.
June 7-12, 2009: Astronomy for Teachers Summer School class through Ole Miss
June 18-19: Summer Science Camp from Co-Lin community College
POSSIBLE RAINWATER HIATUS IN JULY
Rainwater is seeking staffing for the future. Jim Hill will be sharing about the sky at Bryce Canyon National Park during July. We are hoping to find someone to host visiting groups until he gets back in August. Thanks to David Teske for taking our part in an astronomy camp in Columbus while we’re gone.
GALILEO TELESCOPE GRANT RECEIVED
As part of the International Year of Astronomy, 20 sets of 100 Galileo telescope kits were awarded to astronomy education facilities around the country. Rainwater was one of the twenty to be granted 100 of the telescopes. We are planning to have three CEU teacher workshops during the year to train teachers and informal educators in optics and the history of the telescope. Each educator will get to keep one of the telescopes for classroom use. Tentative plans are to have these workshops will be in October, November, and January. More on this as we get plans made (and grant money becomes available).
MID-SOUTH REPORT
Note the dates: Mid-South Star gaze 2010 - April 14-17
During our “friends of Rainwater” meeting at the Mid-South last April we were donated funds to acquire and install full cut-off light shields for the village of French Camp. After searching several sources we found a supplier that would not only give us a discount, but also throw in a small charitable donation. We will soon have 23 of the shields to be installed before fall. This should make a difference in darkening our skies. Thanks to the “Friends of Rainwater” and Green Earth Lighting for your support.
NEWS FROM THE HILL
The last month has been full trying to get things done that were put on the shelf during the year. Groups traveling the Trace have been dropping in to see what’s going on almost every day. Jim Coker brought and installed equipment to set up wireless internet service on the field. We got our grant applications in for doing teacher workshops and “Backyard Astronomy” for next year. Now we wait to find out if they will be funded.
GREAT READ
I just finished one of the most enjoyable books in a long time. “The Day We Discovered the Universe” by Marcia Bartusiak looks at the events leading up to the discovery of the expanding universe. She has done a remarkable job of bring out the personalities of the people and development of the instruments that led up to our new understanding of our place in the cosmos. Highly recommended. 5 stars. RAA members can check it out from our library.
EDUCATOR RESIOURCE
The PBS presentation “400 Years of the Telescope” has a web site with great resources for teachers (and others) interested in the history of astronomy. http://www.pbs.org/soptv/400years/
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
Stars don’t seem to care where they are born. They come out the same whether condensing near a central black hole or in the outskirts of a galaxy.
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/04/no-nature-vs-nurture-stars-for-stars/
If you want to see some great images of the Hubble servicing mission, check out this site. It will only be up for the next week. One is PDF images and the other is a PowerPoint.
http://www.spacelaser.com./HubbleServicing.pdf
http://www.spacelaser.com/HubbleServicing.ppt
The MESSENGER mission to Mercury’s recent flyby revealed new information about the small planets atmosphere. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/03/how-magnetic-tornadoes-might-regenerate-mercurys-atmosphere/
As if the poor Spirit rover didn’t have enough problems with its front wheel broken. Now it’s stuck in the sand.
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/03/mars-rover%25e2%2580%2599s-underbelly-panorama/
Is there water on the Moon or not? Data from an Indian lunar orbiter may help with the answer. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/01/ice-on-the-moon-nasa-isro-may-collaborate-to-find-out/
Hoorah! The sun finally has a spot. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/01/newsflash-sunspot-appears/
You may have heard conspiracy theories about the astronauts seeing UFOs. Not so. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/01/the-truth-about-nasas-ufo-vidoes/
--
The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:
You are subscribed to the following list: Rainwater Observatory E-Newsletter
Using the following email: example@example.com
You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:
<http://dada.crossroadscomputer.com/cgi-bin/mail.cgi/u/rainwateren/>
You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:
<http://dada.crossroadscomputer.com/cgi-bin/mail.cgi?f=list&l=rainwateren>
If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: jhill@rainwaterobservatory.org
The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:
Rainwater Observatory
1 Fine Pl.
French Camp, MS 39745
(662) 547-6377
)