Rainwater Observatory E-News 4/3/10
NEXT RAINWATER PUBLIC PROGRAM MEETING APRIL 9 AT 7:00 PM
We have one more public talk/program before the mid-south Star Gaze begins. In last 15 years about 450 planets have been discovered around other stars. The next Rainwater public program will look at the history of this quest, what we’ve learned so far, and what the future might bring. Now that the weather is getting nicer, you might plan to come early and bring a picnic or get supper at the Council House Café on the Trace.
MID-SOUTH STAR GAZE & ASTRONOMY CONFERENCE ALMOST HERE
The official dates are April 14-17, but we will be having folks start arriving on April 10. If you plan to come, please register ASAP. Last minute arrivals are OPK, but it’s easier on us if you pre-register. The Bunk Room is filled, but there is still plenty of cabin space and a few Lodge rooms. Meals must be ordered now to ensure we have enough food. Below is the schedule as of today. A few changes and additions are still planned. There are about 90 pre-registered so far.
Wednesday April 14:
6:15 pm: Talk: Visions of Orion, Edwin Faughn
Thursday April 15:
8:00 am: Sweet rolls and OJ in the classroom
1:30 pm: Talk: Planetary Imaging (Part I, Basics), Dan Llewellyn
4:00 pm: Talk: Earth, The First 2 Billion Years, Richard Jakiel
5:15 pm: Supper at the Lodge
6:15: Talk: Colliding Galaxies, Dr. Bill Keel
Sunset Until: Observing
Friday April 16:
8:00 am: Sweet rolls and OJ in the classroom
12:15 pm: Lunch at the Lodge
Afternoon: Solar Observing, and Hanging out
1:30 pm: Talk: Planetary Imaging (Part II, Techniques), Dan Llewellyn
4:00 pm: Talk: TBD
5:15 Supper at the Lodge
6:15 pm: Talk: What If?, Dr. Chris Sirola
8:00 pm: Sky Lore, Part I, David Teske at the Amphitheater
Sunset Until, Observing
Saturday April 17
:
8:00am: Breakfast at the Lodge
9 am-Noon: Hands-On Astronomy Activities Workshop, John Frassinelli
12:15 Lunch at the Lodge
Afternoon: Solar Observing, Hiking, Relaxing
1:30 pm: Meeting, Friends of Rainwater:
4:00 pm: Talk: The Women of Harvard College Observatory, Dr. Joan Schmelz
5:15 pm: Supper at the Lodge
6:15 pm: Talk: Galactic Neutral Hydrogen and the CBR, Dr. Gerrit Verschuur
8:00 pm: Sky Lore, Part II, Jim Hill at the Amphitheater
Sunset Until, Observing
Every afternoon or evening there will be a “Plan B” in the event of rain or clouds.
NOVA ALERT
Tuesday April 6 and 13 AT 7:00 PM NOVA program “Hunting the Edge of Space”.
NEWS FROM THE HILL
Jim Coker came and with the help of Dave from LCO we got the focus mechanism on the Sangre sort of working, but to use the MallinCam we had to move the camera back 3/8 inch and tape it on. LCO is sending a replacement SBIG CCD camera and we’ll send our current one back to get fixed. There is still work to be done to get everything working. We found out the hand controller in the dome is inoperative for some as yet unknown reason.
The good news is that Edwin has attached the elevation motor and encoder on the 32” scope so all that’s let to do is connect the wiring, test that the system works, and learn how to use the Argo Navis go-to system.
With the help of our student workers we have cleared out some of the barbed wire and fence line on the west side of the meeting building and done some painting to spruce things up for the star gaze. We may have trouble mowing as one of the youngsters who was here must have been playing race driver on the stored mower and broke the throttle. Just one more thing to fix, sigh.
COMING EVENTS: ATTEND A PROGRAM NEAR YOU
If you’d like a program in your community or want to set up a field trip to Rainwater, let us know.
April 9: WinonaFirst Baptist Men’s Brotherhood breakfast, 6:30 am
April 9: Rainwater Astronomical Association public meeting. Extrasolar Planets.
April 10: Starkville, at Camp Seminole Cub Scout Camporee, (HELP APPRECIATED)
April 13: Ackerman, Choctaw county economic Development banquet presentation.
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
ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS SUMMER 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 is $484.00 for the week.
THIS WEEK IN SPACE
If you have a fast connection and 30 minutes to spare, this is a great round up of space news.
http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/28/this-week-in-space-episode-12/
SUPPORT THE RAA BY BECOMING A MEMBER
Rainwater Astronomical Association membership is $15. Thanks for your support.
ASTRO NEWS: If you have info or links you’d like to share, let us know.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Mercury. It will be close to Venus in the west just after sunset. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/31mar_sunsetplanets.htm?list899987
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