Rainwater Observatory E-News 1/10/10
LEARN THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS AT “BACKYARD ASTRONOMY” JANUARY 15
Join David Teske to learn about the stories of the winter constellations and how to find them in the sky on Friday January 15 at 7:00 pm. David will share about the mighty hunter Orion and his two companion hunting dogs. The raging bull Taurus with his shoulder of young stars, the Pleiades cluster will be included. The winter sky has more bright first magnitude stars in a small area than any other area in the heavens. Learn about famous stars Betelgeuse, Rigel, Aldebaran, the twins Castor and Pollux, and others. You can amaze your friends next week with your new knowledge!
We’ll skip the weekend of January 22-23 to do a Galileoscope educators workshop for the Mississippi NASA Space Grant at Ole Miss.
Other programs in the series will be:
January 29: Mars is Back Again! Tim Rich
February 5: The Life History of Stars, James Hill.
February 12: Rainwater program meeting, TBA
The next “Backyard Astronomy” series will begin Friday March 5. They will be every Friday in March.
You can register for these free programs at http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/backyard.html (This link was broken, but now works)
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 John has requested participants to bring 4 D-cell batteries.
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
The kit to upgrade our 32” scope to make it go-to and track is ready to ship from Arizona. We’ll put out a definite notice about when we plan to install it in the next newsletter (Tentatively January 30). The Sangre optics are to be recoated this week and should be back by the end of the month as well. We’ll post information on when the Las Cumbres crew will be here to put the scope back together as soon as we get a firm date.
We’ll be having our organizing meeting on Oxford to incorporate the Rainwater Astronomical Association as an IRS non-profit on January 23.
RAINWATER TO HOST PROJECT WET CEU WORKSHOP MARCH 16
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is holding “Water Education for Teachers” workshops around the state. We will be the host for this CEU event from 9:00am until 3:30 pm on Tuesday March 16. To register for this event contact Rebecca Jones at the MMNS at 601-352-7303 ext.107 or email rebecca.jones@mmns.state.ms.us There is a $15 fee for the workshop and $10 for .6 CEU through Mississippi College.
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 6 weeks indoor presentations may be best as the winter cold and cloudiness hangs around.
January 12-15: Informal Space Educators Conference in Huntsville: observatory office closed.
January 15: “Backyard Astronomy”: Winter Constellations with David Teske
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
March 16: Project WET Workshop
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.
SUPPORT THE RAA BY BECOMING A MEMBER
Rainwater Astronomical Association membership is $15. If you subscribe or renew your subscription to Sky & Telescope magazine through the club, you get at $10 discount. (Make S&T subscription checks out to Sky Publishing for $32.95.) Thanks for your support.
BACKYARD ASTRONOMY AT MILLSAPS
Jim Waltman will be giving a Backyard Astronomy series at Millsaps College Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm from January 26 – March 2. Call 601-974-1130 for more information.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
The next infrared observatory won’t be in space. The SOFIA is undergoing tests. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/08jan_flyingtelescope.htm?list899987
The Kepler search for extrasolar planets has scored 5 more. http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8938
More evidence for water on early Mars is revealed in MRO images. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/100105-ancient-mars-lakes.html
Spirit passed its 6th Earth year on Mars last week, but it’s still stuck in the sand with Martian winter coming on. Learn about the plucky rover’s future at http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8937
Score one more for evidence of “dark matter”. Studies of how dwarf galaxies that orbit or Milky Way show a flattened halo of the stuff. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/100106-dark-matter-halo-milky-way.html
--
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
Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail
http://dada.crossroadscomputer.com/cgi-bin/mail.cgi/what_is_dada_mail/
)