Rainwater Observatory E-News 3/24/10
SATURN SHEDS ITS LIGHT WRAPS UP THE SPRING BYA SERIES Edwin Faughn will be sharing a new program about Saturn at Friday night’s last “Backyard Astronomy” program for this spring. The program stars at 7:00 pm, but if you want to picnic, feel free to come early. Now that Saturn is well up in the eastern sky in the early evening we will be able to view it through the telescopes after the program. Edwin will talk about some of the mythology of the planet as well as show some spectacular images of the rings and moons.
Please let us know in advance if you’re bringing a group. (662-547-6377)
GREENWOOD PROGRAM ON THURSDAY APRIL 1 AT 7:00 PM We’ll be doing a public program at Cottonlandia Museum on highway 82 west in Greenwood on April first. Come join us. Edwin will be doing his Saturn program followed by observing with some of our telescopes.
NOVA ALERT
Tuesday April 6 and 13 AT 7:00 PM NOVA will broadcast a program titled “Hunting the Edge of Space”.
NEWS FROM THE HILL
The big news is that Jim Coker and Jarrod Marsh have been helping with getting the Sangre scope back in operation. John Martinez came from Santa Barbara to shepherd the process and will be back from New Orleans next Monday to finish up. The mirrors are in, but we are waiting on a collimation tool from California to be able to finish the job. We plan on having it finished and on the sky next Monday. The progress has been slow on the 32” scope retrofit, but the azimuth motor is installed and we’re working on getting the altitude drive put in. It should be back in operation by Easter.
The Mid-south Star Gaze & Astronomy Conference is up to 70 registrations. If you plan to have meals or housing, the deadline is April 1. It’s a lot easier on us if you pre-register asap.
COMING EVENTS: ATTEND A PROGRAM NEAR YOU If you would like a program in your community or want to set up a field trip to Rainwater, let us know.
March 25: at Philadelphia Middle School (HELP APPRECIATED FOR THIS LARGE EVENT) March 25: Winona Rotary Club, noon March 26: Backyard Astronomy 7pm March 27: Ponchatoula Boy Scouts camping out March 30: at Houlka Attendance Center 7:30 (HELP APPRECIATED HERE TOO) April 1: at Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood 7pm April 9: Rainwater Astronomical Association public meeting April 10: at Camp Seminole Cub Scout Camporee, (HELP APPRECIATED FOR THIS EVENT) 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 June 13-18: “Astronomy for Teachers” course at Rainwater (see below for details) June 20-26: Astronomy Camp (see below for details)
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 offer 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.
For you fans of the Sun. Here is a nice image courtesy of Edwin Faughn http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2010/22mar10/Rogerio-Marcon1.jpg?
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Here’s an interesting thought. Black holes may eat normal matter, but not dark matter? http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/22/astronomers-find-black-holes-do-not-absorb-dark-matter/
If you were worries about our close encounter with the Andromeda galaxy in a few billion years, there may be a closer problem. Check this out. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/88198587.html
Galaxies in the early universe appear to have had a growth spurt. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/21/galaxies-in-early-universe-experienced-growth-spurt/
And finally, a normal exoplanet. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/18/finally-a-normal-exoplanet/
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