Rainwater Observatory E-News 2/10/10
MYTHOLOGY OF THE STARS PL;ANETARIUM PROGRAM ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12
The weather has been so bad for observing for the last month that we’re going to plan on an indoor program for this Friday. We’ll use the planetarium to begin our survey of the skies and if Murphy’s Law is right it could be clear enough for us to go our and see the real sky afterwards. (The latest forecast predicts snow flurries possible, but we’ll be here for a program even so.) We’ll talk about some of the sky lore of the constellations from the view of the Native Americans.
THE NEXT “BACKYARD ASTRONOMY” SERIES WILL BE FRIDAYS IN MARCH
March 5: Stories of the Moon
March 12: Leo the Lion and Other Constellations of Spring
March 19: Welcome the Spring, Here Comes the Equinox
March 26: Saturn Sheds Its Light
To register go to http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/backyard.html
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. http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/handson.html We’re pretty full, so if you want to participate, contact us asap.
RAINWATER MAKING PLANS FOR A MAJOR PUSH FOR ASTRONOMY EDUCATION
Astronomy is a great way to rekindle kids interest in science. We are making plans to host a series of workshops in the fall that will be for those who currently teach astronomy or would like to include it in their curricula. Between now and then we’ll be surveying teachers and administrators in the region to make contacts and build networking with resources. A possible clinician we have contacted for a workshop is Dr. Larry Krumenaker who can share what he has learned about starting and enhancing astronomy classes. Check out his web site at http://toteachthestars.net/
If this sounds exciting to you or if you or someone you know teachers or would like to teach astronomy, please contact us as we begin building our database and support network.
HAPPENING ON THE HILL
The Las Cumbres Observatory is sending a crew to reinstall the newly recoated optics on the Sangre telescope and update some software March 12-17. If you want to be a part of this undertaking, please let us know. We’re still making plans for when we can work on the ServoCAT upgrade to the 32” inch scope. It looks like February 27 will be the first time we can schedule it.
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. Some of the presentations we have ready to go include programs on Saturn, Reflections of the Universe, the Secret Lives of Stars, and the History of the Telescope. We can also do a presentation about the Rainwater Observatory.
February 10: Presentation to MUW Science majors, noon
February 12: Spring Creek Baptist 10:30 am
February 12: Rainwater Astronomical Association public program meeting, 7:00 pm
February 18: Houlka Middle School, afternoon school assemblies and evening star party (helpers with telescopes appreciated)
February 19-20, 2010 “Hands-On Astronomy Activities Workshop” John Frassinelli will be our clinician. http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/programs/handson.html
February 23: Houlka school star party
February 25: Starkville Newcomer’s Club 1:30pm
March 16: Project WET CEU Workshop: contact Rebecca Jones at the MMNS at 601-352-7303 ext.107 or email rebecca.jones@mmns.state.ms.us
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. We’ll be instituting some special programs for members as the weather gets better. Thanks for your support.
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. Registration information can be found at info@campoftherisingson.com The cost will be $484.00 for the week.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
Two galaxies with massive black hole have been caught in the act of merging and making a binary quasar. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/08/caught-in-the-act-merging-galaxies-create-a-binary-quasar/
What are the odds of there being other Earth-like planets out there with life? Peter Ward and Don Brownlee’s book “Rare Earth” (a great read by the way) argues that complex life is uncommon in the universe. New studies indicate they might be right. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/08/if-the-earth-is-rare-we-may-not-hear-from-et/
The WMAP spacecraft has been re-measuring its astounding findings about the early universe and has confirmed it’s earlier data with even more precision. For instance, the universe is 13.75+/-.11 billion years old! and is made of only 4.56+/-1.6% normal baryonic matter. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/08/universe-to-wmap-cdm-rules-ok/ Just to be sure the data and conclusions are robust you can check out this site. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/09/seven-year-wmap-results-no-theyre-not-anomalies/
For kids (and adults) here is a site about the most prominent star group in the winter sky-Orion. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/07/astronomy-for-kids-orion-the-star-hunter/
Finally, here’s a picture of the snow on the east coast. http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/eastcoast_tmo_2010038.jpg
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