Newsletter June 2014.pages
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Transcript of Newsletter June 2014.pages
N O RT H E R N C O L O R A D O A S T R O N O M I CA L S O C I E T Y
This year’s Rocky Mountain Star Stare is here. Click for fees, pictures
and to learn about what’s new in 2014.
It’s that time again: the June Solstice happens at 10:51 Universal Time on June 21st
June 2014 Newsletter
Page 2: Even more COSMOS Page 3-4: Current events Page 5: www.ncastro.org info Page 6-7: June & July event calendars Page 8: NoCo resources
C O N T E N T S
Date: Thursday July 3, 2014 Dinner: 6:00 pm Meeting: 7:15 pm Location: FoCo Museum of Discovery Speaker: Quintin Schiller & Lauren Blum Topic: CU Lab for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP): CubeSat for Measuring Earth’s Radiation Belts
M E E T I N G S
add @ncastro.org to email
2 0 1 4 O F F I C E R S
EMAIL:
pres@ vp@ sec@ treas@ objview@ web-edit@
NAME:
Dave Karp Greg Halac David Auter Jeff Blume Amanda Bell Greg Halac
TITLE:
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Web Editor & Outreach Coordinator
Want more? Click here for the Museum of
Discovery summer schedule and here for
NCAS events or meetings held the first
Thursday of the month.
LIGHT FROM EXPLOSION 12-BILLION YEARS AGO REACHES EARTH:
Intense light from the enormous explosion of a star more than 12 billion years ago - shortly after the Big Bang - recently reached Earth and was visible in the sky. “We have the brightest detection and the earliest response because our telescope is fully robotic and no human hands were involved,” Ferrante said.
COORDINATED INVESTIGATIONS OF COMETS (CIOC):
A NASA-backed program tasked with encouraging and facilitating an international Earth and space-based observing campaign for Comet C/2013 A1 (Sliding Spring) prior to, during and after its extremely close brush with Mars on 19 October 2014. Follow CIOC for up-to-date information about Comet Siding Spring.
FAR SIDE OF THE MOON:
The “man in the moon” appeared when meteoroids struck the Earth-facing side of the moon but no “face” exists on the far side. Now Penn State astrophysicists think they know why. The absence of maria, which is due to a difference in crustal thickness between the side of the moon we see and the hidden side, is a consequence of how the moon originally formed. Read more about this 55-year-old mystery!
C U R R E N T
E V E N T SShare your favorite stories, articles, photos or events with your fellow members! Submit anything and everything to your newsletter editor, Amanda Bell, at objview at ncastro.org.
KEPLER: REVIVED AND WORKING AGAIN:
When the Kepler spacecraft failed in May 2013, its planet-hunting days seemed permanently over. Luckily, NASA’s scientists and engineers weren’t so quick to give up on Kepler. Read the details of how NASA’s crippled spacecraft has been reworked for at least two more years of productive new explorations.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK NIGHT SKY PROGRAMS:
Here you can find the 2014 RMNP schedule. Join a park ranger and local astronomers to discover the magic of the night sky at ‘Astronomy in the Park’. Program will be followed by viewing with telescopes. Don’t forget to bring the kids for ‘Stories Behind the Moon and Stars’. where the night sky comes alive through storytelling and activities.
WHAT WILL ROSETTA FIND?
You have just four days left to enter the “What will Rosetta find?” contest. Fill out the online form with your best ideas about Comet 67P shape and size, and what you think about the Rosetta mission. The best answers will win ESA swag! You can also visit the main page of the Rosetta blog, replay Rosetta’s wake-up webcast, read about Rosetta’s current big burns and so much more.
AIAA SPACE AUGUST 4-7 2014:
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space 2014 will examine the impacts of space activity on society. Speakers and panelists will address issues like facilitating global connections, monitoring the planet, expanding boundaries and advancing technologies.
HOUSE PASSES FY 2015 FUNDING BILL:
The House passed this legislation on Friday morning by a vote of 321-87. Although scores of amendments were offered the bill’s provisions regarding the four science agencies were left largely unchanged. Read the details in an AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News.
MAVIN SCIENCE MISSION ON TRACK:
All of MAVEN’s science instruments are working as expected, which means it’s on track to carry out its full science mission as planned. Designed to explore Mars’ upper atmosphere, The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) will determine the role that escape of gas from the atmosphere to space has played in changing the climate throughout the planet’s history..
THE KAVLI PRIZE IN ASTROPHYSICS:
Andrei Linde, Alan Guth and Alexei Starobinsky have been recognized for developing the theory of cosmic inflation, which explains the origin and structure of the universe.
Also enjoy their video resources: Introduction to Observational Astrophysics and Introduction to Theoretical Astrophysics (both narrated by Alan Alda).
Membership dues are only $20 /
year, collected in January and pro-
rated for new members who join at
other times of the year. Membership
benefits include: membership in the
Astronomical League (and their
Reflector Magazine), use of club
equipment and books and a
discount on Sky and Telescope
Magazine and/or Astronomy
magazines.
F R O M N CA S T R O. O R G
NCAS was officially established in 1995 as a non-profit organization to promote interest in
the science and hobby of astronomy. We meet the first Thursday of each month to discuss
our interests and share our experience in the universal world of astronomy.
MEMBER PHOTO ALBUMS:
You'll want to see all of the amazing photos taken by our members.
NCAS EMAIL:
Anyone can join the email lists but subscription requests are monitored. Only approved subscribers are allowed to post.
NCAS ADMINISTRATIVE INFO
Renew your membership here. Find group bylaws and constitution.
Don’t forget to renew your membership today!
BORROW EQUIPMENT HERE:
Club items may be borrowed at NO COST to NCAS members. Find out more here.
CLUB MEETING OVERVIEW:
Recommend a future speaker or find out how to join speakers for dinner before the NCAS meeting.
NCAS PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS:
Help NCAS fulfill its primary mission: to educate and engage the public with year-round public events.
NCAS Event Calendar
MaySunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
NCAS Meeting 7:15pm FoCo MOD
Bobcat Ridge Skygazing 8pm
Public Skygazing 8:30pm
Mercury-Redstone
Peak Eta Aquarids
Irish ES (Private) 8:30pm
Peak Eta Aquarids Peak Eta Aquarids
NASA Grand Challenge
Public Skygazing 8:30pm
Saturn at Opposition 8pm
Astronomy Day Part 1
Saturn at Opposition 8pm
Tavelli ES (Private) 8:30pm
Campground Skygazing 8:30pm
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
NASA Asteroid Deflection Strategies
Globe at Night
Camp Skygazing
Meteor Shower?
Globe at Night
Camp Skygazing
Meteor Shower?
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
Expedition 40/41 Launch to ISS
Globe at NightBobcat Ridge Skygazing 8:30pm
3
6 75 4 8 9 10
13 14 12 11 15 16 17
20 21 19 18 22 23 24
25 26 26 27 28 29 30
21
NCAS Event Calendar
JuneSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
NCAS Meeting 7:15pm Fort Collins MoD
RMNP Skygazing 8:30pm
Public Skygazing 9pm
Little Shop of Physics Teacher Workshops, CSU
School Outreach:(Private) 8pm
Cygnus readies for launch: resupply mission to ISS
Campground Skygazing 9pm
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
RMNP Skygazing 8:30pm
Globe at Night
Carter Lake Skygazing 9pm
Globe at Night
Globe at Night
International Conference of Learning Sciences (ICLS) 6/23 - 6/27
Globe at Night Globe at Night
Rocky Mountain Star Stare: Gardener, CO 6/25-6/29 Globe at Night Globe at Night
Bobcat Ridge Skygazing 8:30pm
SBO Telescope Free Public Open House
7
10 119 8 12 13 14
17 18 16 15 19 20 21
24 25 23 22 26 27 28
29 30
3 4 5 6 1 2
Astronomy Clubs, Museums, Observatories and Planetariums
N O RT H E R N C O L O R A D O
BOULDER ASTRONOMY & SPACE SOCIETY (BASS):
Meetings are hosted by the UC campus at the Fiske Planetarium. Open to students and the public. Membership and meeting info here.
BASS
FORT COLLINS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY:
The MoD isn't just where we hold our meetings. Check out their events like adult night at MoD or schedule a visit.
MOD
LONGMONT ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (LAS):
Promotes amateur astronomy through monthly meetings, star parties and public observing sessions. Meetings are open to the public.
LAS
LITTLE THOMPSON OBSERVATORY:
No-charge public access to the universe during regularly-scheduled public star nights or a private event.
LTO
SOMMERS BAUSCH OBSERVATORY:
Operated by the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) at CU Boulder. Check out their visitor’s guide.
SBO
ESTES PARK MEMORIAL OBSERVATORY:
Has many goals, including raising interest of kids in K-12th grade in math, physics and science. Facility is available free of charge to everyone.
EPMO
DENVER ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (DAS):
Promotes understanding of astronomical phenomenon through monthly meetings, outreach and activities at the University of Denver’s historic Chamberlin Observatory. You can even follow Chamberlin Observatory on Twitter.
DAS
FRONT RANGE ASTRONOMICAL SUPERCLUSTER:
Confederation of regional astronomy clubs to share information and host joint summertime star parties. Includes societies in Denver, CO Springs, Pueblo, Cheynne, FoCo (That's us!), Longmont, Boulder and many m ore locations. FRASC is affiliated with the Astronomical League.
FRASC