Celebrate Astronomy Day!

PAS's Astronomy Day is tonight 5/9 at N. Mt Park.

RSVP's are required by 3pm today to attend, and help out.
Weather permitting. If there is a cancellation of this star party
due to high winds, as has been happening all this week in the evenings,
you will get the notice through this blog. Check back around 4:30 or before
you head out.

N. Mt Park is located just south of Thunderbird Rd on 7th Street, the first Right you can make.
We are meeting just outside the Visitor Center.
Snacks and drinks are provided by the V.C. and park service.
Restrooms are available.

Our scheduled star party is from 5pm to 9:3opm.
Bring the whole family.

Currently we have 5pm to dark, Solar viewing and some Astronomy demos... "Why does the Universe work like it does - Moon in particular?" and more.
Evening will go until the public departs.

RSVP through PAS is Free.
I need your RSVP to be able to cancel with you if the winds pick up. This location blows dust in higher winds, and the telescopes will not be viewing if the winds are too high.

Three of these events were planned Winter 2008.
The first one on Mar 14 was canceled due to very high winds.
The second one on April 26 was a great success. The winds didn't pick up until the evening hours when we were already packing things up to go home.
Tonight, we want to see a repeat of Apr 26 and everyone have fun and enjoy the event!!!

We are working on scheduling 3 more for the Fall (Sept - Dec). Watch for that info on our website at PASAZ.org UPCOMING EVENTS. We'd love for you to attend (with RSVP).

See you there tonight! : )

The below article talks about Astronomy Day around the world.
Enjoy!

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/Astronomy_Day.html

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

Catch Mercury at Its Best

Link: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/18363129.html

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

Ancient meteorite goes unsold as dung sells

This article received from Matt.

Ancient meteorite goes unsold as dung sells

Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:33PM UTC

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some dinosaur dung
was snapped up at auction in
New York even as a 4.5 billion year old
meteorite which was supposed to
top the sale went unsold.

The two chunks of 130-million-year-old
coprolite, otherwise known as
fossilized dinosaur dung, fetched $960
at Bonhams in New York on
Wednesday, the auction house said.

The Jurassic-era rocks were sold for more
than double their maximum
estimate, said spokeswoman Staci Smith.

A 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite, on which
a Chinese desert hiker
habitually ate lunch before he discovered
it was valuable, failed to meet
the minimum reserve however.

Bonhams had expected the space rock to sell
 for $2.25 million to $2.75
million.

Smith said negotiations over the meteorite
continued after the auction
and that a deal could be struck in days.

The owner of the meteorite, Marvin Kilgore,
 the curator at the
University of Arizona's Southwest Meteorite
Center, was mystified by the sale
of the fossilized dung which is much more
common than rocks that have
fallen from space.

"Some people want it on their shelves, I
guess," he said.

The dung was bought by a phone bidder which
the auction house declined
to identify.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner, editing by
Sandra Maler)

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

Tolleson Az May 23 6:30pm to 9pm VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

RSVP with Rod to help at this star party.

Location of star party:

6th grade at P.H. Gonzales
Elementary in Tolleson, Arizona
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=9401+W+Garfield+St,+Tolleson,+AZ&sll=33.45568,-112.26286&sspn=0.016291,0.040083&ie=UTF8&ll=33.456848,-112.262785&spn=0.008145,0.020041&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr


Address of school: 9401 W Garfield St
Tolleson, AZ 85353

I just wanted to make sure you had directions to the school. Coming
from the East Valley: 1) Take I-10 West
2) Exit 134 on 91st Ave toward Tolleson 3) Turn left on 91st Ave
(heading South) 4) Take a right on Van Buren
5) Take a right on 95th Ave 6) Our school- P.H.Gonzales- will be on
your right.

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

TONIGHT'S STAR PARTY AT CHAPARRAL H.S. IS CANCELED

Please note that tonight's star party, due to weather, at Chaparral H.S. is canceled.

Have a super evening!

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

THREE STAR PARTIES THIS WEEK!!! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

May 6 - Tonight!
Chaparell H.S.
Sunset to ?
56th Street and Shea

Chaparral High School

6935 E. Gold Dust
Scottsdale, AZ 85253

RSVP so far: Don, Chet, Rod, Neil
RSVP is with Rod - let him know you are planning to help out.
Weather permitting: Sue said there is a storm coming in tonight that may get in the way. Watch the weather, confirm with Rod the star party is still on.

May 9 Friday
Cubscout Star Party
5:30 to 9:30pm
Glendale and 3rd Street.
RSVP is with Rod - Let him know you can help.

May 9 Friday
Astronomy DAy for PAS
at N. Mountain Park Visitor Center
5pm to 9:30pm
Daylight hours: Activities + Solar Viewing with Don
Evening: Bruce's 20", + more
Help is needed and appreciated!
RSVP with Terri very soon

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

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 5/9

This is going in the AZ Replubic for this Friday's edition.
We need PAS members to attend. RSVP with me by email if you plan to be there.

PUBLIC WELCOME - May 9, 2008
Phoenix Astronomical Society Astronomy Day
North Mountain Park Visitor Center
Time: 5pm to 9:30pm, Weather Permitting
Daytime Activities: Astronomy Demos, Solar Viewing
Evening Activities: Evening Viewing through many telescopes, learn the constellations
More info & Map: www.pasaz.org

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