Upcoming Events from 9/27 - 12/31 of 2008

Please RSVP in the Calendar section of the PASaz.org website if you plan to attend. Email me for more details or questions.

Upcoming Events from 9/27 - 12/31 of 2008
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!

September
27 Noon - ? Deep Sky Star Party – Cuttin' Edge Observatory Mayer AZ – PAS Members ONLY – RSVP
27 4pm - ? Star Party & Lecture 4 of 4 – Galactic Evolution Cowtrack Ranch in Carefree – RSVP Mike

October
2 7 – 9:30pm PAS Meeting – Jeff Hopkins PVCC Library
4 5 – 9:30pm N. Mt Park Visitor Center Star Party RSVP – In parking lot – Volunteers Needed Snacks & Drinks provided by park department - heavy advertising, 29+ public RSVp'd so far.
8 6 – 9pm Desert Cove Star Party at Christy Cove Park RSVP w/ Rod - Volunteers Needed - 125 5th graders plus a couple boy scout troops in attendance.
9 6 – 10pm PVCC Star Party - RSVP PVCC Campus, G-147 by Telescope Dome - Volunteers Needed - 1st Back to School star party on campus.
15 TBA PAID Star Party – PAS MEMBERS ONLY RSVP 2 Days Prior – Limited Scopes Needed - see details in Private Calendar
17 5pm–9:30pm PAID Star Party – PAS MEMBERS ONLY RSVP 2 Days Prior – No Scope Limit - Volunteers Needed - See details in Private Calendar
23 7:30 – 9:30 PAS Indoor/Outdoor Astronomy Event - RSVP PVCC Campus in Room? by Telescope Dome - Volunteers Needed - Those doing indoor activites need to let me know what they are doing, very soon. RSVP for indoors so far: Chet, Mike & Terri. We need more indoor folk. Outdoor we have Don, Chris, Steve, & Rod.
25 Sundown - ? PAS 3rd Quarter Moon Star Party – RSVP High Desert Park in Black Canyon City
30 7pm - 10pm PAS Meeting of the Minds PVCC G-147 No Children Please

November
1 12pm –10pm Anthem Star Party – RSVP –Volunteers Needed Anthem Community Park, Map on Website - All day event. Plan at this time, divide up. Have a daytime group & an evening group, and maybe a combined group. RSVp which you'd like to help with. Daytime activities, include Solar Viewing, games, prizes. Night time is viewing only.
6 7 – 9:30pm PAS Meeting PVCC Library - Speaker Needed
15 TBA 100 Girl Scout Star Party – PAS Members Only Volunteers needed – No Scope Limit - RSVP - Event: 2 hour drive to location, eat dinner 5pm to 6:30pm provided by scouts, then set up 7pm to 10pm. Gas will be reimbursed.
15 6pm to 10pm Meteor Shower Party RSVP REQUIRED – Paradise Valley Park
16 3pm to 6:30 Bookman's Telescope Workshop – RSVP Bookman's Backroom – Speaker: Mike - Volunteers Needed
20 7pm - 10pm PAS Meeting of the Minds PVCC G-147 No Children Please
29 6pm to 10pm Venus & Jupiter Star Party RSVP REQUIRED – Paradise Valley Park - Volunteers Needed
29 Noon - ? Deep Sky Star Party – Cuttin' Edge Observatory Mayer AZ – PAS Members ONLY – RSVP

December
4 7 – 9:30pm PAS Meeting – David Williams PVCC Library
12 6pm to 10pm Full Moon Star Party – Moon Treasure Hunt Paradise Valley Park - RSVP REQUIRED - Volunteers Needed
13 6 – 10pm Meteor Shower Party RSVP REQUIRED – Paradise Valley Park - Volunteers Needed
18 7pm - 10pm PAS Meeting of the Minds PVCC G-147 No Children Please
20 Sundown - ? PAS 3rd Quarter Moon Star Party – RSVP High Desert Park in Black Canyon City
27 Noon - ? Deep Sky Star Party – Cuttin' Edge Observatory Mayer AZ – PAS Members ONLY – RSVP
31 6pm to 10pm Lunar Eclipse Party Paradise Valley Park - RSVP REQUIRED - Volunteers Needed

Note: Star Parties held at PV Park happen only if we have a public RSVP. No public RSVP's cancels these star parties.

---

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

Helping a friend SELL a telescope & BUY a telescope

Reply to Kevin directly if interested:

Ok well I have another scope that has come up for sale and its here in the
Valley. The scope is a amazing 15" Obsession truss dobsonian. the owner is
the second owner.

It includes: Includes shroud, Telrad, aperture mask, UTA baffle, cooling
fan, wheelbarrow handles. No electronics. Mirrors are virtually pristine

The price is $3200, owner is looking for an 11" Cassegrain here in the
Valley. Let me know if you or anyone is interested in this scope and we will
work the deal. Me cell is 602-999-3731
--
Kevin LeGore
Desert Fire Astronomy
www.freewebs.com/skywardeyes

---

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

Mike's QUANTUM SPRING THEORY - Sat 9/27

QUANTUM SPRING THEORY

No, that isn't a typo. This is the title of Mike's presentation for tomorrow, up in Carefree, at his home.

The plan at this time is:

4pm start gathering at Mike's home.
5pm dinner - could be at his home, order pizza
could be at Bad Donkey. I suggest if you are attending dinner,
around 4pm give Mike a call to find out where we will be.
6:30 - 7pm set up for presentation and possibly start.
Looks like the weather will be good, so plan to bring your telescope.
Mike's home is dark and wonderful for star gazing.

We will see you there!
If something changes to make this Lecture not happen, watch the Digest or Calendar in the PAS website for news about it.

---

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

Hoofing it across the ditch

Borrowed from Astronomy Magazine Newsletter 9/26 received by Email

Aries the Ram certainly never stepped on the Moon, but it's fun to imagine that it left a large hoofprint on the lunar surface. By the evening of October 6, the Sun has risen over the fascinating Hyginus, Triesnecker, and Ariadaeus rille complexes. Yet, one thing that catches the eye in this area just north of the lunar equator is the delightful "Aries' hoofprint" feature. The combination of brightly lit mountains and two deep channels of dark lava creates this striking play of light and shade.

It's easy to understand why lunar maps don't label this feature -- physically, it's a jumble of mountains left over from the giant Imbrium impact, with a channel of large, dark plains on either side.

Lunar scientists focus with good reason on the fascinating Hyginus Rille because it almost surely formed from volcanic activity long ago. But at low power with the whole lunar disk in view, the Aries' hoofprint stands out.

Hyginus Crater is a huge collapse pit, the biggest in a chain of smaller pits that sculpt the edges of a long-ago lava channel. The crater spans 6.6 miles and has walls more than 2,000 feet high. It stands out nicely as the Sun rises because one wall lies in bright sunlight while the other remains in shadow.

Within just 24 hours, the Aries' hoofprint and the Hyginus Rille become mere echoes of their sunrise magnificence. By October 8, they'll have gone into hiding under the Sun's increasing glare.

To find more observable objects in your sky, visit Astronomy.com's sky events calender here.

Use Astronomy.com's exclusive interactive StarDome to find other observing targets visible in your sky. Magazine subscribers enjoy additional features with StarDome Plus.

---

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

Free Museum Day, Sept 27, 08

Free Museum Day, Sept. 27
Received this info from Matt.

Fill out the form at http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html to recieve a coupon to print from your computer. The coupon is good for 2 people. (It does say 1 coupon per household, but just enter false info the next time around and break up your group upon entering museum to get around that.)

Participating museums are:

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park

10am-4pm, 1300 N College Ave, Tempe

Arizona History Museum of the Arizona Historical Society

10am-4pm, 949 E Second St, Tucson

Arizona State Museum

10am-5pm, 1013 E University Blvd, Tucson

The Bead Museum

10am-5pm, 5754 W Glenn Dr, Glendale

Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum

10am-4pm, 5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee

Challenger Space Center

9am-4pm, 21170 N 83rd Ave, Peoria

Desert Botanical Garden

7am-8pm, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix

Heard Museum

9:30am-5pm, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix

International Wildlife Museum

9am-6pm, 4800 W Gates Pass Rd, Tucson

Mesa Historical Museum

10am-4pm, 2345 N Horne St, Mesa

Phippen Museum

10am-4pm, 4701 Highway 89 N, Prescott

Phoenix Zoo

7am-4pm, 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park

9am-4:45pm, 4619 E Washington St, Phoenix

Sharlot Hall Museum

10am-5pm, 415 W Gurley St, Prescott

Enjoy!

---

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

Chinese Space Launch for Sept 25, 08

Space Weather News for Sept. 25, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

CHINESE SPACE LAUNCH: China's Shenzhou 7 spacecraft carrying a 3-man crew lifted off today from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is now in Earth orbit. During the upcoming three-day mission, Chinese astronauts, called taikonauts, will launch a small satellite and conduct their country's first space walk. As they orbit Earth, Shenzhou 7 and the body of the rocket that launched it will be visible to the naked eye from many parts of the globe. Check the Satellite Tracker for viewing times: http://spaceweather.com/flybys .
(Note: Frequent checks are recommended; predictions may change as the orbit is adjusted and estimates of orbital elements improve.)

Sighting reports and updates will be posted on http://spaceweather.com

---

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

PAS Meeting of the Minds 9/25 - Topics !!!

Good morning and Happy Thursday to you!!!

We will see you tonight at the PAS Meeting of the Minds, 7pm, PVCC Campus in G-147.

The topics for tonight cover a wide range of things that have needed discussion or reminding. Plan to attend. It should be an awesome meeting!!!

Tonight's Agenda:

• 10/23 Indoor event Volunteer plans
• Star Party – in case of bad weather – back up plan – Presentations – List
• Photo Shoot: Cancel idea of group photo & go with space & telescope images?
• Which Hubble images to use for the PAS Stickers?
• 11/1 Anthem star party volunteer plans – Day and Night events
• 11/15 Prescott 100 GS star party – Volunteer plans
• Reimbursement for Out of town Guest Speaker – Currently $50
• 10/8 Desert Cove Star Party
• 10/9 PVCC Star Party
• 10/17 Temple Beth Paid Star Party
• 11/16 Bookman's last class – Speaker: Mike – Can we live on the Moon or Mars?

We will see you there!!!

---

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

Flagstaff Festival of Science Sept 26 - Oct 5

Dennis Young Writes and I agree with him...

stro friends ....

I thought this was worth a second email... on same subject... FLAGSTAFF festival of science. IT has been extended this year with a few extras I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW>..


ONE.. Oct 4th..Saturday.. 7:30pm to 10pm.. US NAVAL LARGEST OPTICAL SCOPE 60inch reflector scope is OPEN TO PUBLIC FREE!!! HOW OFFEN do you look thru a 60inch scope?? There will be other amateur scopes on property as well..

Second)).. 2nd or 3rd LARGEST INTERFEROMETER SCOPE IN THE WORLD is also available. reservations are required..928 233 3210 ..9am 11am 1pm... for 90min guided tour of structure. SEPT 28th Sunday

Third.. A rare 2 1/2mile guided tour hike along the entire rim of Meteor crater ..Must call.. 800 289 5898 Saturday oct 4th 8am to 5pm..

plus the lowell and NAU campus scopes are available on weekends for open viewing.. 24inch and 20inch new one..


.. www.scifest.org ALL EVENTS ARE FREE. website for more details and other events..

any questions.. dennis

---

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

October newsletter is ready

The October newsletter has been posted to www.pasaz.org. Click on the link "newsletter" on the left. Feel free to down load the current issue October 2008 as well as any back issues you wish to enjoy. They are in PDF Format and free for the viewing. Enjoy!

---

Don, PAStimes newsletter editor
Email: editor@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

New Sunspot & September Equinox

Space Weather News for Sept. 22, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

NEW SUNSPOT: For the first time in months, a significant sunspot is emerging on the sun. It is a fast-growing active region with two dark cores, each larger than Earth. The magnetic polarity of the sunspot identifies it as a member of new Sunspot Cycle 24. Because the year 2008 has brought so many blank suns, some observers have wondered if we are ever going to climb out of the ongoing deep solar minimum. Today's new sunspot is an encouraging sign that the 11-year solar cycle is indeed progressing, albeit slowly. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sunspot photos and updates.

SEPTEMBER EQUINOX: Seasons on Earth change much faster than they do on the sun. Today, autumn begins in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere when the sun crosses the celestial equator. The crossing, called the "equinox," takes place at 1544 UT (11:44 EDT) on Monday, Sept. 22nd. Happy equinox!

Sign up for free Space Weather News bulletins:
http://spaceweather.com/services/

---

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