Rainwater Observatory E-News 1/4/10 HAPPY NEW YEAR
“BACKYARD ASTRONOMY” PROGRAMS COMING UP
The constellation of Orion the Hunter is visible in the southeastern sky right after supper. Edwin Faughn has been working up a beautiful program about the most famous deep sky object in this easy to spot constellation and will share it with us on Friday January 8 at 7:00 pm at the observatory. The presentation is free to the public from funding by the Mississippi NASA Space Grant Consortium. We’ll be observing this star forming region through telescopes after the talk if it’s clear so be sure to wear warm clothing.
Other programs in the series are:
January 15: The Winter Constellations of Shine Brightly, David Teske
January 29: Mars is Back Again! Tim Rich
February 5: The Life History of Stars, James Hill.
You can register for these free programs at http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/backyard.html
We’ll skip the weekend of January 22-23 to do a Galileoscope educators workshop for the Mississippi NASA Space Grant at Ole Miss.
HANDS-ON ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIES CEU WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 19-20
John Frassinelli of the Lausanne School in Memphis will be the clinician for this 10 hour weekend workshop February 19-20. This event is meant for classroom teachers as well as anyone who works with young people to explain astronomy. If you know someone who might appreciate this workshop, please pass on the word. The Mississippi NASA Space Grant is funding the workshop so there is no charge for meals, housing, or the workshop. Get information and register at http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/handson.html
ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS COLLEGE CREDIT COURSE
The “Astronomy for Teachers” class for 3 semester hours credit through Ole Miss is scheduled for June 13-18. This is an intensive week and you must be enrolled in the university to take the course for credit. Call Dr. Don Howie at Ole Miss for more information 662-915-3884.
ASTRONOMY CAMP IN JUNE
A summer astronomy camp is scheduled for June 20-26 in conjunction with the Camp of the Rising Son. This week long event will be for 13-16 year olds. Campers would be at the observatory mornings and evenings and have time in the afternoons for swimming and other camp activities. Astronomy campers will learn to use telescopes for observing and photography and learn about the discoveries of modern and ancient astronomy. Registration information can be found at info@campoftherisingson.com The cost will be $484.00 for the week.
HAPPENING ON THE HILL
As I walked up to the observatory Saturday morning, the grass was white with frost, the sky was pure blue, and blue jays were the only sound to be heard. What a wonder and a privilege.
Jack Herring, a plant taxonomist, came by to help us identify over 40 species of trees and shrubs at Rainwater. We will be making all weather signs for these and when Jack comes back in the spring we will add even more. We will have an arboretum for scout troops and other visitors to add to our attractions.
Our library became over cramped so Edwin and I built new shelving units to spread things out and allow room for better placement of books, models, and posters. It also allowed for our DVD collection to be easier to access. There are over 100 DVDs and 2,500 VHS programs in the materials center.
COMING EVENTS: ATTEND A PROGRAM NEAR YOU
If you know a group that would like a program in your community or wants to set up a field trip to Rainwater, contact us. For the next two months indoor presentations may work best as the winter cloudiness takes hold.
January 8-9: Byram & Richland Cub and Boy Scouts camping at Rainwater
January 16: Madison Cub Scouts camping at Rainwater (We’ll need help for this large group)
January 19: Walnut Grove School presentations and star party
January 22-23: Mississippi NASA Space Grant Education Conference
January 28: Program at 1st Presbyterian in Jackson
February 19-20, 2010 “Hands-On Astronomy Activities Workshop” John Frassinelli will be our clinician. http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/handson.html
April 14-17, 2010 Mid-South Star Gaze Regional Astronomy Conference and Star Party. Flyers to previous participants will go out this week. Information and online registration can be found at http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/stargaze/
April 16-17, 2010 “Mid-South Astronomy Conference Educators Workshop”. 1 CEU can be obtained by teachers.
SKY & TELESCOPE RESOURCES
If you haven’t explored the Sky & Telescope web site, you might try this page of resources. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics There are a lot of other goodies around the site as well.
IT’S TIME TO RE-UP
Renewal for Rainwater Astronomical Association membership ($15). If you subscribe or renew your subscription to Sky & Telescope magazine through the club, you get at $10 discount. (Make the S&T subscription checks out to Sky Publishing for $32.95.) We can use your support.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
Designed to successful if it lasted 90 days on Mars the Spirit rover has operated for 6 years. It may be about at the end of its tour. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/31dec_uncertainfuture.htm?list899987
Richard Pratt sent this link about the Hubble Deep field http://www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm
Also check out this tour of the universe on YouTube. Thanks to Edwin for this link www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D17jymDn0W6U
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