Rainwater Observatory E-News 3/3/10
SPRING BACKYARD ASTRONOMY BEGINS FRIDAY MARCH 5 AT 7:00 PM
“Stories of the Moon” is the subject for this week’s free public program. We’ll hear some of the tales of what the ancients thought of the Moon as well as what we’ve learned from telescopes and missions to the Moon in recent history. After the talk we’ll go out to the hill for some time observing with some of the observatory’s telescopes, weather permitting. We can use the planetarium if the sky is cloudy.
Please let us know in advance if you’re bringing a group. (662-547-6377)
THE NEXT FREE PUBLIC “BACKYARD ASTRONOMY” PROGRAMS
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
NEWS FROM THE HILL
The roads at the observatory have been upgraded. We purchased two loads of gravel and a volunteer spread it for us. We needed more gravel, but that was all we could afford. It’s a lot better and we plan to finish the job with a few more loads next year.
The project to refit the 32” Tectron with go-to capability is going slower than we had hoped, but with some fits and starts we are making progress.
The Sangre rebuilding project has been delayed to make things easier for the folks at Las Cumbres to schedule coming to help us. John Martinez will be arriving Wednesday March 17 to do prep work and Wayne Rosing will arrive on March 22 to replace the mirror, collimate the scope, and calibrate the software and drive.
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.
March 4: Houston cosmopolitan Club 7:00pm
March 5: Springdale Baptist, 12:30pm
March 5-7: Jackson Scouts and Cub Pack 30 (HELP NEEDED FOR THIS LARGE GROUP)
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
March 23: Vaiden Baptist Church program at Vaiden, 10:30am
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. Call for more information
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF NASA EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
each with downloadable pdf files:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/A-Z_Pubs.html
A full set of NASA educational resources including Web sites, video clips and other types of products are available through the Find Teaching Materials search tool:
www.nasa.gov/education/materials
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 hour 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. Information at www.outreach.olemiss.edu/teachers If you have questions contact Jonnie Fitch at Ole Miss jwfitch@olemiss.edu 662-915-7158
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.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has measured ice ad mid-latitudes http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/02/mro-radar-maps-extensive-subsurface-martian-ice/
An Indian lunar probe has found more evidence of water on the Moon http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/01/water-ice-found-on-moons-north-pole/ The data from the LCROSS impactor on the Moon will be released this week also.
A new way of analyzing gravitational lenses has led to better determinations of the age of the universe and its constituent parts. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/02/using-gravitational-lensing-to-measure-age-and-size-of-universe/
This Week in Space continues to be a great source. This 25 minute video cast of the week’s space news is a great way to keep up. Highly recommended. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/27/this-week-in-space-8-with-miles-obrien/
Finally, the thing that makes science exciting is that you never know when long established concepts will have to be revisited due to new evidence. The Stardust mission from a few years ago is showing that the formation of the solar system was different than previously thought.
http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/26/new-results-from-stardust-mission-paint-chaotic-picture-of-early-solar-system/
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