Cool stuff to check out in the sky:

01)   Space Station appears at dusk this week

Join Dennis for two fun programs this week:
02)   Magnificent Milky Way at Borrego Springs Resort (August 15)

Astronomy & Space online and on TV:
03)   Eclipse chasing article in the San Diego Union-Tribune
04)   Five spinoffs from the Hubble Space Telescope
05)   Cool time-lapse video of Atlantis mounted on 747
06)   Tweeting the Apollo 11 moon landing
07)   Looking for a job that’s out of this world?

Become involved in astronomy:
08)   Drink beer, win a trip to space
09)   Project Astro San Diego needs you
10)   Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae
11)   2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program

Join Dennis for some exciting Cosmic Adventures:
12)   Norway Northern Lights cruise (Nov 9-17, 2009)  
13)   African cosmic safari & annular eclipse (Jan 8-19, 2010)
14)   Total solar eclipse cruise… to Paradise!  (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)

And journey with other terrific lecturers:
15)   Art, Astronomy & History in Paris (Sept. 17-24, 2009)
16)   Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse (July 3-12, 2010)

17)   The Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Solar Eclipse (July 6-13, 2010)

 

 

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01)   Space Station appears at dusk this week

The International Space Station (ISS) is about to make a remarkable series of flybys over regions of the United States—and elsewhere.  Beginning this weekend, the station will appear once, twice, and sometimes three times a day for many days in a row.   

During evening hours this week the International Space Station (ISS) will make several bright passes over Southern California and other areas.  To find exact times and directions for your location, visit:  http://www.heavens-above.com.   I recommend free registration so you can visit from time to time and keep your location on file.   Here you can select your town from a database or add your own latitude and longitude.  Once in the site, scroll down to "Satellites" and then click "ISS".  To learn more, visit:  http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03jul_sightings.htm?list717892 
 

And if seeing ISS at night is getting old, why not try looking for it in broad daylight: 
http://www.feedblitz.com/t.asp?/15163/148409/http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/17/iss-now-visible-in-daytime/

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02)   Magnificent Milky Way at Borrego Springs Resort (August 15)

Few celestial sights are as stunning as an August desert sky.  On Saturday, August 15, stroll with us along the Milky Way—from the nearest of stars and glowing nebulae to the shattered remains of once mighty suns to our galaxy's most distant stellar clusters—and witness some of the most magnificent scenery anywhere!

This terrific package at the Borrego Springs Resort includes:  one night deluxe accommodations (08/15/2009), indoor slide program followed by naked-eye and telescope viewing (weather permitting, of course), buffet dinner, transportation to viewing site, mini-flashlights, celestial party refreshments, all tax and gratuity.  Non-hotel packages are also available.  

For more information, please visit:  http://www.dennismammana.com/events/lectures.htm or call 888.826.7734 for reservations.  It’s sure to fill up quickly, so don’t wait!   http://www.borregospringsresort.com/featuredpromotions.asp

And to read about our most recent popular sky event there, check out this recent article by one of the participants:  http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com/blog/index.php/category/desert-life/

 

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03)   Eclipse Chasing article in San Diego Union-Tribune

Ever wonder why some of us travel halfway around the world to stand for a few minutes within the shadow of the moon?  This recent article will give you some insight, and may even make you want to join me one day on one of our cosmic adventures!   http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/28/1t28xeclipsm205955/


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04)  Five spinoffs from the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Telescope has become a household name and has increased our knowledge of the universe beyond measure, but few realize how HST has impacted the world in other ways?   Various technologies developed for the famous orbiting telescope have helped create or improve several different medical and scientific tools. Here are just five technology spinoffs from Hubble:   http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/16/5-spinoffs-from-the-hubble-space-telescope/

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05)  Cool Time-Lapse Video of Atlantis Mounted On 747

We watch the space shuttle returning to the Kennedy Space Center on top of a 747, and rarely think about what it takes to make that happen.  Here’s a little glimpse into that time-consuming effort made by NASA:  http://gizmodo.com/5306074/cool-time-lapse-video-of-atlantis-getting-mounted-on-its-747-mothership

 

 

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06)  Tweeting the Apollo 11 moon landing

Those of us who were alive during the week of July 16-20, 1969 remember where we were when Man first stepped foot onto the lunar surface.  Of course, at the time I thought “tweeting” was something done by a bird.  Not today.  The publishing group Nature is mixing the old with the new by tweeting the Apollo 11 moon mission as it happened—four decades later.  Followers on Twitter will be able to read about technical milestones, political challenges, and related events in the space race.   Read the rest of Follow Apollo Mission "Tweets," 40 Years Later here:  
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/17/follow-apollo-mission-tweets-40-years-later/

And pay attention to your local television listings that week.  There may appear more than one program commemorating the event.

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07)  Looking for a job that’s out of this world?

The top jobs and the best talents in the space industry are on Space Careers—a one-stop reference source for employment in the space industry.  If you’re looking for a move “up”, be sure to check out:  http://www.space-careers.com/?id=sfn

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08)   Drink beer, win a trip to space

Now THIS is my kind of contest!  The company behind the dark Irish beer Guinness will give loyal drinkers a taste of space along with their stout, but only if they win a new contest.  Guinness has reserved a seat aboard a suborbital Virgin Galactic spaceliner as one of three experience prizes in an online contest honoring the 250th birthday of the beer's brewery this year. To learn more, visit:  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529864,00.html?sPage=fnc/scitech/space

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09)  Project Astro San Diego needs you

 

Whether you’re a professional, student, amateur astronomer or space enthusiast, you can become a visiting space scientist/astronomer in a San Diego County school.   Project ASTRO is a program of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) to create partnerships between 3rd-9th grade teachers and local astronomers and space scientists.  If you’ve ever wondered how you can share your enthusiasm for space and astronomy as well as help your local schools improve their science education, Project ASTRO is for you.  Project ASTRO will provide you with free training, materials, and a rewarding and fun way to share your passion with our local schoolchildren and teachers.  

 

For more information and an application form, please contact Dr. Philip Blanco (pblanco@...) or Dr. Ron Angione (angione@...) at 619 594-6183.  Or visit the San Diego Project ASTRO website:  http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/projectastro/index.html

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10)  Help solve the mystery of Epsilon Aurigae

 

Epsilon Aurigae is a mystery. This variable star changes in brightness over time, and is thought to be an eclipsing binary—a pair of stars that eclipse each other.  But the way it fades and brightens is not fully understood by astronomers, even after over 175 years of study.   The star’s next eclipse is predicted to begin in August 2009, and you can help solve its mysteries.  

Citizen Sky has put together materials guide you through the process of how to observe Epsilon Aurigae, how to send in your observations, and then how to see your results, analyze them, and even publish them in a scientific journal.  No previous experience is required.  Because of its brightness, it can be observed by almost anyone regardless of background, training, or equipment. All you need are a good pair of eyes and know where to look.

To learn more and become involved, visit:  http://www.citizensky.org

 

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11)  2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery Program

The Northrop Grumman Foundation is accepting teacher applications for the 2009 Weightless Flights of Discovery. This annual professional development program allows teachers to prepare for and participate in micro- and zero-gravity flights to test Newton's Laws of Motion with the purpose of taking the experience back into their classrooms to energize their students in science and math subjects during the formative middle-school years.  

Middle-school math and science teachers are welcome to seek additional information and apply by visiting:   http://www.northropgrumman.com/teachers    An application is also available for students.

 

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12)   Norway Northern Lights cruise  (Nov 9-17, 2009)

Cross the Arctic Circle with me as our ship, the MS Midnatsol, weaves along the richest archipelago in Norway—up to latitude 69°N.  During our remarkable journey from Kirkenes to Bergen we'll check out the heavens each night to view and photograph the mystical dancing colors of the aurora borealis—the northern lights.  This is sure to be ONE POPULAR TRIP!  For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707..7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:   http://www.melitatrips.com/norway    
 

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13)   African cosmic safari & annular eclipse  (Jan 8-19, 2010)

Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Editor David Eicher for an exciting trip into the bush of Africa, for a remarkable safari and an even more remarkable annular eclipse of the sun.   For more information on what is already becoming a very popular trip, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:   http://www.melitatrips.com/africa/index.html  


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14)   Total solar eclipse cruise… to Paradise!  (Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2010)

Join me and “Astronomy” magazine Senior Editor Rich Talcott in the glorious South Pacific as we explore the magnificent Marquesas Islands and the Tuamotus on a state-of–the art freighter, the Aranui III.  In the balmy South Pacific evenings, we’ll turn your gaze skyward—toward the exquisite Southern Cross and the spectacular Southern Milky Way, and on July 11 toward the great total solar eclipse—the most remarkable sky show you’ve ever seen!  Space is VERY limited.  For more details on this rapidly booking trip, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/marquesas/index.html   


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15)  Art, Astronomy & History in Paris  (Sept.. 17-24, 2009)

Join astronomy historian Dr. William Sheehan—author of MARS: Lure of the Red Planet and In Search of Vulcan—for seven nights in Paris, and an incredible art, astronomy, and art history vacation.  In addition to visiting the historic Meudon Observatories during the week of the Société Astronomique de France and International Astronomical Union’s celebration of Mars observations, you’ll experience all things French:  food and wine, Gothic cathedrals, sun-dappled paths, vineyards and villages, art, history and science.  For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707. 7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/france  


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16)  Easter Island & the Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Eclipse  (July 3-12, 2010)

From Easter Island's mysterious solitudes, where you’ll pass among heads frozen in time and forever as inscrutable as their long-vanished makers, you’ll journey in imagination to the star-studded entrails of the Southern Hemisphere sky.  Then to the Patagonian steppes, fjords, and soaring peaks, you’ll travel in the footsteps of Charles Darwin to view the remarkable total solar eclipse—at sunset!   For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/easterisland/index.html


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17)  The Grand Patagonia Sunset Total Solar Eclipse (July 6-13, 2010)

Few places on Earth are more beautiful than Patagonia and Buenos Aires.  And tie that in with a spectacular sunset total solar eclipse from El Calafate, and the journey is one you’ll never forget.  For more information and full itinerary, call 877.707.7827 or 408.279.5589 (Pacific time), or visit:  http://www.melitatrips.com/patagonia/index.html

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DENNIS MAMMANA
www.DennisMammana.com
www.twanight.org