Telescope Basics

Good afternoon,

Our webmaster, Chris, is also the webmaster for the below site.
On this page is an awesome description of TELESCOPE BASICS.
Which telescope is right for you. This is awesome information
and if you are looking to invest in a telescope, I suggest you check
out this page first. Chris has done a fantastic job covering all the
questions you could possibly want to know about choosing a telescope.
Visit: http://starizona.com/acb/basics/equip_whichisbest.aspx
It will be worth your time!

---

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

Summer Solstice & Noctilucent Clouds

Space Weather News for June 20, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

SUMMER SOLSTICE: Northern summer and southern winter begin
today, June 20th, at precisely 23:59 UT (7:59 pm EDT) when the
sun ascends to its highest latitude on the celestial sphere. In the
Northern Hemisphere, we have the longest day and shortest night
of the year, and the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere. The
seasons are changing--Happy Solstice!

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Summer is the season for noctilucent
clouds and this morning, right on cue, a wave of bright NLCs rolled
over the British Isles. Observers in Scotland and Northern Ireland
report luminous tendrils of electric blue bright enough to attract
the attention of casual passersby. These glow-in-the-dark clouds
are a 100+ year old mystery under investigation now by NASA's
AIM spacecraft. Originally confined to arctic latitudes, NLCs have
spread in recent years with sightings in the United States as far
south as Utah and Colorado. Check today's edition of
http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and the latest photos.

---

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

2009 PAS SOCIAL

PAS Social is scheduled to be
Jan 10th 2009.
Put it on your calendar.

PAS MEMBERS only.

I have it set for 4pm to 11pm at the moment,
but Chris is hosting the party at his home in Goodyear
and so he may adjust the times between then and now.

RSVP will be with Terri.

Plan your WHITE DWARF GIFT $20-$30 range.

More to come.......

---

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

Space Telescope

Received link from Matt

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080610/sc_afp/usspacetelescopeglast

---

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

SUPER EARTHS FOUND & Venus & Pluto

Received link from William:

Three super-Earths found around one star
A trio of planets called super-Earths has been spotted orbiting a sunlike star, astrophysicists announced Monday at an international conference in France.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25191635/from/ET/

Received these links from Matt

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/sc_nm/space_planets_dc

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080616/sc_space/veilliftsontitansgreatsecrets

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080612/sc_space/astronomersargueplutoisaplanet

---

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

Events for next 2 Weeks 6/16 to 6/29

PAS has some really cool events lined up for the next 2 weeks.

6/25 Help yourself to the Summer edition of the PAStimes Newsletter. Go to the Newsletter section of the website and enjoy!

6/26 PAS Meeting of the Minds. Those of you who didn't make the training session last time, need to attend this meeting to be trained on how to use the New PAS Website. Please drop in at PVCC in G-147 7pm and take a mini, free training session with Chris as our instructor.
We will also cover a few brief topics. If you miss this meeting or any other training session meetings for the Website, please drop me an email to let me know so we can possibly schedule one more training session. We do not wish to but if enough people can't make it to this one, the next one will be scheduled for October. Why October? To catch the snow bird PAS Members who are only here in the Winter but are still PAS members. Let me know if you are one.

6/27 PAS members are invited to join the Phoenix Zoo for Starry Safari 5pm to 9pm. If you haven't already RSVP'd and want to, email Rod at President@pasaz.org to help out. Those attending have been invited to have their whole family attend for free, for that night, to see the Zoo.... Let Rod know you can assist, today!! WEATHER PERMITTING.

6/28 PAS Members are invited to Mike's home in Carefree for a Star Party Lecture. The first of 4 lectures, you won't want to miss it. This is a private event for PAS members, however, by contacting Mike, it is possible to be invited. This event begins by everyone arriving around 4pm, the lecture begins at 5pm and goes for about 2 hours. Topic : Solar System. Mike is very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. RSVP is required, even for PAS Members. Rain or Shine the lecture will happen. Star Party is WEATHER PERMITTING. You don't want to miss this event!!! Plan to spend the night after the star party. See calendar on site for more details.

We hope to see you at these and many other PAS events. Always RSVP when it is requested and let's hope for clear, non-windy skies for the star parties!

---

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

Pluto gets a new name

Received this article from Matt

Pluto gets a new name: plutoid

Thursday, Jun 12, 2008 6:53PM UTC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pluto, demoted from planet status in 2006,
got a consolation prize on Wednesday -- it and other dwarf planets like
it will be called plutoids.

The International Astronomical Union said in a statement that its
executive committee meeting in Oslo, Norway, decided on the term.

Plutoids will be defined as celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun
farther away than Neptune. They must have near-spherical shape,
and must not have swept up other, smaller objects in their orbits,
said the organization, which names newly discovered planets and
other celestial bodies.

The two known and named plutoids are Pluto and Eris, but
astronomers expect to find more.

Another dwarf planet, Ceres, does not merit the plutoid designation
because it is in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

(Reporting by Maggie Fox)

---

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