First Meteors of 2009 & Space Weather Radio

Space Weather News for Jan. 2, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

FIRST METEORS OF 2009: The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan. 3rd when Earth enters a stream of debris from shattered comet 2003 EH1. The timing of the encounter favors observers in western North America and across the Pacific Ocean who could see dozens to hundreds of meteors during the dark hours before sunrise this Saturday morning. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a sky map and more information.

SOMETHING NEW: For the new year, Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce a new service: Space Weather Radio, broadcasting live "sounds from space" around the clock. Today you can listen to the Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the facility--ping!--there is an audible echo. (Activity should be high during the Quadrantid meteor shower this weekend.) In the near future we'll be adding broadcasts of solar radio bursts and VLF signals from the ionosphere. The streams are punctuated by Daily Space Weather Updates from Dr. Tony Phillips. Click here to begin listening: http://SpaceweatherRadio.com

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

New Year's Eve spectacular site - Enjoy!

Space Weather News for Dec. 29, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

NEW YEAR'S EVE: What a way to end the year. On Dec. 31st, Venus and the slender crescent Moon will gather together high in the southwestern sky for a beautiful conjunction visible for hours after sunset. The two brightest objects in the night sky can be seen through city lights and even fireworks--so everyone can enjoy the show. Meanwhile, closer to the horizon, Mercury and Jupiter are converging for their own Dec. 31st conjunction. This one is not so easy to see, but rewarding for those who make the effort to find the two planets shining through the rosy glow of sunset.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos of the converging planets.

BONUS: Is Venus really bright enough to cast shadows? The answer is yes, and the proof may be found on today's edition of Spaceweather.com. A French photographer has captured rare images of Venus casting a shadow and he has even made a movie of the shadow in motion.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

12/20 Black Canyon City Star Party has been CANCELLED!

Enjoy your holiday evening!!!

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Rare Eclipse of EE Cephei Is Set to Begin

http://us.mc364.mail.yahoo.com/mc/showMessage?&fid=Inbox&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&.rand=1072202621&da=0&mid=1_161335_AMNbv9EAABOBSUh2qQz72Fct0Sk&blockimages=none

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Attn: PAS Members - Topic: PAS Social

Good morning,

It was brought to my attention that some PAS members do not know how to get to Chris's home for the PAS Social on Jan 10th, 2009. Logically, Chris should provide a map with address and directions to him home in Goodyear at the next PAS Meeting on Jan 8th, 2009. However, should you miss the meeting and are planning to (AFTER YOU RSVP with me) attend the Social,
please note that all you have to do, as PAS Members, is go into the Downloads section of the website (heres's the link for those who haven't mastered navigating our site yet: http://www.pasaz.org/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=48
Pop into the Members Only area, and download the current PAS Roster, which has Chris's address. Then plug it into Google Maps and you are on your way.
You NEED to be a current PAS member with that status on the site to access this info. If you can not get the info you need that way, feel free to Email Chris by visiting the Contact page within the website for his email address http://www.pasaz.org/index.php?pageid=contact.
These are two ways to get the info needed to be able to attend the PAS Social. We are NOT, for security purposes, putting a map to Chris's home in the January issue of the Newsletter. Why? Because the newsletter is now public. It isn't ONLY PAS members who receive it. Anyone can access that info & since we try not to give out private info through the Newsletter, we chose not to do that. The other option is that Chris was going to put a map to his home in the Private PAS Calendar on the date of Jan 10th, so that those of us who don't know where he lives, can get a map that way. The calendar listing is here: http://www.pasaz.org/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=115&day=2009-01-10 I see the map is NOT there currently, so give me a few minutes to add it. Use it to get to Chris's.

Your RSVP is required for attendance. I want to be able to tell Chris how many are attending the party. It is a courteous thing to RSVp sooner than later. Thanks to all who wish to attend and those who have reminded me the map needs to be added to the site. See you at the party!

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

December 18 Meeting of the Minds is Canceled!!!

DUE TO THE LACK OF TOPICS & THE HOLIDAYS CREATING MORE STUFF TO DO, THE MOM'S FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER HAS BEEN CANCELED.

We will see you at the next MOM's on January 1/29/09.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

This weekend's Star Parties - CANCELED

Due to the weather and the lack of telescope volunteers,
PAS has canceled this weekend's 2 star parties.
Rain is forecast for Sat evening,
and cloud cover is predicted for whole weekend.

Please note:

12/12 Friday - Full Moon Star Party is Canceled

12/13 Saturday - Geminid Meteor Shower Party is Canceled

Please enjoy your weekend!

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Tumbling Toolbag & Conjunction Photo Gallery

Space Weather News for Dec. 6, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

COLORADO FIREBALL: Last night, a fireball one hundred times brighter than the full Moon lit up the sky near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Astronomer Chris Peterson photographed the event using an all-sky video camera dedicated to meteor studies. "In seven years of operation, this is the brightest fireball I've ever recorded. I estimate the terminal explosion at magnitude -18." Meteors this bright are called superbolides; they are caused by small (meter-class) asteroids and are likely to pepper the ground with meteorites when they explode. Visit http://spaceweather.com to watch the fireball video and contribute sighting reports that could help pinpoint any meteoritic debris.

TUMBLING TOOLBAG: The space station's famous sidekick, the ISS Toolbag, is circling Earth and reportedly producing flashes of light bright enough to record using off-the-shelf digital cameras. The flashes, shown in a photo on today's edition of Spaceweather.com, could be a sign that the bag is tumbling. Both the Toolbag and the ISS will be making a series of evening passes over North America and Europe in the evenings ahead, so now is a good time to look. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker for viewing times: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

BONUS: The Dec. 1st Great Conjunction Photo Gallery continues to grow with daily additions from around the world. Start browsing here: http://spaceweather.com/conjunctions/gallery_01dec08.htm

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Tonight 12/1 Venus, Jupiter & Crescent Moon at Twilight

Space Weather News for Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look south. Beaming through the twilight is one of the prettiest things you'll ever see--a tight three-way conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon. The event is visible from all parts of the world, even from light-polluted cities. People in New York and Hong Kong will see it just as clearly as astronomers watching from remote mountaintops. Only cloudy weather or a midnight sun (sorry Antarctica!) can spoil the show.

The great conjunction offers something extra to Europeans. For more than an hour on Monday evening, the crescent Moon will actually eclipse Venus. Astronomers call such an event a "lunar occultation." Venus emerging from the dark edge of the Moon is a remarkably beautiful sight. Sky watchers across Europe will be able to see this happen.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos, webcasts and more information.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

HST to pass over head Thur Dec 4 7:32pm

Dennis writes;

Dear Astro members..

Thought this was worth noting....
the Hubble Space Scope will pass directly over jupiter this coming Thursday.. Dec 4th...at 7:32.09pm local time of Arizona. This --for other members out of the area will not be available :( . Those living in cottonwood will still have viewing of this rare event -however it is more centrally passing when viewed from sedona area.. Maybe Twotree observing site would be an appropriate location if more wish to see this.
There are TWO passes of HST..on thursday...one at 5.53pm.. this is of course the second pass over head in our area of the woods. The HST can be view about 1minute ahead of time(about 731pm ..to lower right of Jupiter and venus on the day of the event. GOOD Luck and let me know what u see...Could be photo opportunity for those with scopes and digital cameras!!

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society