Indonesia & Sunspot update

Space Weather News for Oct. 28, 2009http://spaceweather.com

INDONESIAN ASTEROID: Earlier this month, with no warning, a ~10-meter wide asteroid hit Earth's atmosphere above Indonesia and exploded. The break-up was so powerful, it triggered nuclear test ban sensors thousands of kilometers away. A just-released analysis of infrasound data shows that the asteroid detonated with an energy equivalent of about 50 kton of TNT, similar to a small atomic bomb. This significant impact has received relatively little attention in Western press. Details are available today on http://spaceweather.com.

SUNSPOT UPDATE: Since it emerged last weekend, new-cycle sunspot 1029 has become the biggest and most active sunspot of 2009. It is crackling with B- and C-class solar flares and putting on a good show for amateur astronomers. This one sunspot does not put an end to solar minimum, but it is a remarkable break from the calm. Check htttp://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

CONNECT YOUR PHONE TO THE SKY: Would you like a call when Earth-orbiting satellites detect strong solar flares and solar wind gusts? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE to turn your telephone into a bona fide solar activity alert system: http://spaceweatherphone.com

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

LCross Mission Update

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/LCROSS_impact.html

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

Halley's Comet info

Space Weather News for Oct. 20, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

METEORS FROM HALLEY'S COMET: Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Halley's Comet, and this is causing the annual Orionid meteor shower. If forecasters are correct, the shower will peak on Wednesday morning, Oct. 21st, with dozens of meteors per hour. The best time to look is during the dark hours before local dawn.

For the past three years, Orionid rates have been unusually high, with reports of 60 or more meteors per hour. Researchers believe this is a result of some very old and rich debris from Comet Halley drifting across Earth's orbit. Computer models of the debris suggest that it is still in the neighborhood, so the trend of "good Orionids" could continue in 2009. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.

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

Lunar Impace Plume

Space Weather News for Oct. 17, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

LUNAR IMPACT PLUME: NASA has just released pictures of infrared flashes and a visible plume of debris produced by a Centaur booster rocket hitting the Moon on Oct. 9th. The images confirm that the LCROSS experiment was a success despite the fact that the impacts were visually unimpressive from Earth. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images of the plume and commentary from mission scientists.

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

PAS INDOOR/OUTDOOR ASTRO EVENT - Tonight

YOU ARE INVITED!!!

Everyone is welcome.
See more details about the above event in the PAS Forums at http://www.pasaz.org/forums/showthread.php?t=342
RSVP is required for attendance.

Become a guest of the PAS website and sign up foremail notifications of
upcoming events.

Follow PAS on Facebook, where all the publicevents are being posted. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=245976985153&ref=ts

And sign up for the PAS Blog to get all sorts of astronomyinfo and
updates on PAS events at http://pasaz-digest.blogspot.com/

We hope to see you at many upcoming PAS events.The PAS Calendar
has more public events being planned every day. Check it out athttp://www.pasaz.org/forums/calendar.php

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

Star Wars at Chris Town Mall Sat Oct 3 11am - 3pm

From: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/realdealsblog/64133

Is there a Star Wars fanatic in your house? Visit Christown Spectrum Mall for the Blast Off! Celebration. Meet your favorite Star Wars character, enter to win prizes, taste astronaut ice cream and participate in other activities from Arizona State University and the Challenger Space Center. Best of all, this is a free event. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 3). 1703 W. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, 602-249-0670.

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

Earth & Space Exploration Day at ASU Oct 24, 2009

Sat, Oct 24, 2009 9am to 3pm
Bring the whole family to ASU
Here's the flyer with info on the event.
Here's the flyer with Map and Directions to that event.

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

Harvest Moon & Solar Minimums

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

HARVEST MOON: This weekend's full Moon has a special name--the Harvest Moon. It's the full moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox (Sept. 22). In years past, farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to gather ripening crops late into the night. Now we appreciate it mainly for its beauty. Go outside this weekend and enjoy the moonlight.

SOLAR MINIMUM RETURNS: Two sunspots, which appeared on the autumnal equinox to break several months of extreme solar quiet, have faded away, leaving the sun blank once again. The deepest solar minimum in nearly a hundred years appears poised to continue. NASA spacecraft are now reporting a surge in cosmic rays around Earth caused, somewhat ironically, by this low solar activity. The full story may be found at http://spaceweather.com .

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

PAS Meeting of the Minds CANCELED FOR 9/24/09

Please note, the Meeting of the Minds has been canceled
due to lack of topics for tomorrow night.
Enjoy your evening. See you at the Oct 1 PAS meeting.

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

Sunspots and Equinox

Space Weather News for Sept. 22, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

NEW SUNSPOTS: In a year when the sun has been utterly blank 80% of the time, the sudden emergence of two large sunspots in a single day is a noteworthy event. Today is such a day. NASA satellites and amateur astronomers are monitoring a pair of growing sunspots, both apparently members of long-overdue Solar Cycle 24. The emergence of these active regions is not enough to end the deepest solar minimum in nearly a hundred years, but they do represent a significant uptick in solar activity. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

SEPT. EQUINOX: Today, Sept. 22nd at 2118 UT (5:18 pm EDT), the sun crosses the celestial equator. This event marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere. It's also the beginning of aurora season around the poles. Happy equinox!

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