many many images

Received this link from Matt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_night_sky

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

Interesting links & articles about our favorite topic - Space

Lonely Rogue Worlds Surprisingly Outnumber Planets with Suns
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20110518/sc_space/lonelyrogueworldssurprisinglyoutnumberplanetswithsuns

Space Fest
http://www.spacefest.info/III/autog.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=PPC&utm_content=Facebook2Spacefest&utm_campaign=AdGroup&Network=Content&SiteTarget=facebook

Monster Storm Rearranges Saturn Before Our Eyes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20110519/sc_space/monsterstormrearrangessaturnbeforeoureyes

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

Why some planets spin backwards

Received this article from Matt:

Why some planets spin backward

Fri, May 13 08:55 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some planets are just flipping backward.

Of the more than 500 planets detected around stars besides our Sun, the vast majority appear to spin the same way the star does, scientists reported on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

But some of these extrasolar planets spin in the opposite direction of the stars they orbit, astronomers found. These strange, backward-spinning planets are usually gassy giants called hot Jupiters, not rocky orbs like Earth.

Besides their backwards twirling, which the astronomers call flipped orbits, these big planets huddle close to their stars, unlike Jupiter, which is about 483 million miles (778 million km) from the Sun, more than five times as distant from the Sun as Earth.

"That's really weird, and it's even weirder because the planet is so close to the star," Frederic Rasio of Northwestern University said in a statement.

"How can one be spinning one way and the other orbiting exactly the other way? It's crazy. It so obviously violates our most basic picture of planet and star formation."

Astronomers have long theorized that big gas planets form further away from their stars, while Earth-like rocks are born closer in.

But just because a Jupiter-like planet forms in the planetary boondocks doesn't mean it stays there, Rasio and his colleagues reported.

When planetary systems contain more than one planet, in addition to a star, each planet has its own gravitational force, causing the planets to interact and eventually pulling the gas giants close to the star and even reversing its orbit, the scientists found.

This process is known as gravitational perturbation, or an exchange of angular momentum.

Astronomers have been detecting extrasolar planets since 1995, but have seen only a handful. The others are inferred by the gravitational pull they exert on the stars they orbit, creating a starry wobble that indicates one or more planets present but unseen in the planetary system.

The National Science Foundation supported this research.

(Editing by Todd Eastham)

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

Sun Storms and more

Space Weather News for April 30, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field during the early hours of April 30th, sparking a G1-class geomagnetic storm. Northern Lights descended as far south as Michigan in the United States. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras (http://spaceweatherphone.com) tonight as the solar wind continues to blow. Photos of the April 30th display are highlighted on today's edition of http://SpaceWeather.com.

TRACK THE SPACE SHUTTLE: Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, May 2nd, on a two-week mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle and station will make many visible passes over Europe and North America during the mission--the trick is knowing when to look. You can turn your cell phone into a field tested shuttle tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app. Details at http://simpleflybys.com

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

Solar Radio Storm

Space Weather News for March 28, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR RADIO STORM: A profusion of emerging sunspots has kicked off a days-long radio storm on the sun. VHF receivers on Earth are picking up loud bursts that sound like waves crashing on a beach. This ongoing event continues a recent trend of increasing activity as Solar Cycle 24 heats up. Check http://spaceweather.com for audio and images of the instigating sunspots.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLAR TELESCOPE: Spaceweather.com is pleased to offer an affordable solar telescope that allows you to safely observe sunspots with minimal setup or previous experience. Unlike other solar telescopes, this one works at night, too! Visit the Space Weather Store for details:
http://www.shopspaceweather.com/explore-scientific-white-light-solar-observer-system.aspx

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

Auroras in the USA

Space Weather News for March 11, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

AURORAS IN THE USA: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on March 10th. The impact set off a G1-class geomagnetic storm and sent Northern Lights rippling over the US-Canadian border into states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. Sky watchers who hadn't seen auroras in years captured beautiful photos of green and purple streamers. This is another sign that Solar Cycle 24 is heating up. Check http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt? Sign up for Space Weather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) or Space Weather TEXT (http://spaceweathertext.com) and never miss another aurora surprise.

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

March Upcoming Events + Links

This is your email issue of TICKET TO THE STARS,
provided to you by the Phoenix Astronomical Society

MARCH 2011 UPCOMING PAS EVENTS

March has a nice spread out line up of events for PAS Members & Guests to enjoy.

Mar 3: PAS Meeting in G-147. Guest Speaker is Dennis Young. Topic is Astro-Scenic-Photography & more. 7pm to 10pm. Special Show & Tell by Pete Morrisey & Night Sky Network Awards Ceremony. Bring a Friend!
Mar 4 & 5: Messier Marathon at 2 Trees site N. of Sedona. For more info & to attend, contact Dennis Young dennis-young@hotmail.com
Mar 5: Cuttin' Edge Observatory Star Party in Mayer. RSVP is with Chris webmaster@pasaz.org. PAS Members only. Please arrive prior to sundown at 6:15pm.
Mar 6: PAS FREE Telescope Workshop at Bookman's, in back room. RSVP is required with Terri Events@pasaz.org. Time is from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Bring scope, learn how to use it. Open to all ages.
Mar 8: Cancer Treatment Center Star Party. PAS Members only. 7:30pm to 9:30pm, RSVP is with Joe jcollins79@cox.net by day before. This is a Paid event. Be sure you are on the PAStimes Star Tours Team so you get paid for this event. PAS Volunteers welcome.
Mar 10: Indoor / Outdoor Astronomy Event & Star Party at PVCC by Telescope Dome & G-147. Come enjoy hands on activities & handouts in G-147, while a star party takes place outside. Weather Permitting. RSVP is requested with Terri Events@pasaz.org.
Mar 11: Astrophoto Meeting in G-147 at PVCC 7pm.
Mar 19: 1st Annual PAS Moon Marathon. Read about this event in the Newsletter (link provided below) on page 4. Everyone Welcome. RSVP is REQUIRED.
Mar 22: Cancer Treatment Center Star Party Back Up Date. PAS Members only. 7:30pm to 9:30pm, RSVP is with Joe jcollins79@cox.net by day before. This is a Paid event. PAS Volunteers welcome.
Mar 24: PVCC Telescope Workshop 7pm - 10pm. Meet in G-147 to learn to use your telescope by daylight, then move outdoors, and learn to use it at night. When you RSVP with Terri Events@pasaz.org, please provide the number in your party, and what scope you will bringing that night so we have a teacher available to assist you with your scope. Handouts & Meteorite Man will most likely be provided as well. This is also a PAS STAR PARTY. PAS Telescope Volunteers needed.
Mar 26: Virtual Star Party at Chris's home in Goodyear. RSVP is required with Chris Webmaster@pasaz.org. Time frame for this night's session will be 7pm to 1am. Bring a snack & Drink to share. PAS Members only.
Mar 26: Desert Botanical Garden PAID Star Party 7pm to 9pm. PAStimes Star Tours members are invited to sign up to assist at this event by day before. Sam is RSVP Insanas@aol.com.
Apr 7: PAS Meeting in PVCC Library. Guest Speaker is Richard Hill. Topic is TBA. 7pm to 10pm. Bring a Friend! ***

The March PAStimes Newsletter is ready for download and can be found at this link:
http://www.pasaz.org/PAStimes/2010-2011/2011-03.pdf

PAS Speaker Line up for rest of Spring 2011

Apr 7: Richard Hill - Topic: TBA
May 5 in G-147: Dolores Hill + Pizza Party + Elections + Moon Marathon Awards Ceremony - Topic: "Meteorites: Keys to Understanding the Solar System"
May 19 in G-147: Robert Piccioni + Party + Messier Marathon Awards Ceremony - Topic: "Einstein for Everyone"

Here are some links of interest for your enjoyment....

New Record! Telescope Finds 19 Asteroids in One Night
Received this link from Matt.
http://www.space.com/10962-asteroids-discovery-record-hawaii-telescope.html

space shuttle launch viewed from airplane
Received this link from Leah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_USPTmYXM

Have a super day!
See you at tonight's meeting!

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

Earth dodges spectacular blast

Space Weather News for Feb. 24, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

SPECTACULAR BLAST: A massive cloud of plasma exploded over the eastern limb of the sun this morning (Feb. 24th around 0730 UT), heralding the approach of a new active region. The spectacular blast, which produced strong radio emissions, a coronal mass ejection, and an M3-class solar flare, was not Earth-directed. Future eruptions could be, however, as the sun's rotation turns the blast site toward our planet in the days ahead. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and movies.

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

Discovery's final flight scheduled for Thursday

Received this info from Matt:

Discovery's final flight scheduled for Thursday



Weather and conditions permitting, space shuttle Discovery will lift off Thursday on its final flight, NASA announced Friday.

The six-member crew will deliver a storage module, a science rig and spare parts to the international space station during its 11-day mission.

Originally scheduled for November, Discovery's launch was delayed because of repairs to the external tank's support beams.

NASA, which is winding down the shuttle program, announced the February 24 launch a few weeks ago, but confirmed it after a meeting briefing Friday. This will be Discovery's 39th voyage.

The launch is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Astronaut Steve Bowen was assigned to take the place of Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle accident, NASA said.

The last scheduled launch of space shuttle Endeavour is currently on for April 19 and shuttle Atlantis is tentatively scheduled to launch during the summer.

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

3 links of interest

Received these three cool links from Matt. Enjoy!

Scientists Building Largest Antimatter Trap Ever
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110219/sc_livescience/scientistsbuildinglargestantimattertrapever

Thunderstorms on Earth Hurl Antimatter Into Space
http://www.space.com/10602-antimatter-beams-thunderstorms-nasa.html

How Much Dark Matter Do Some Galaxies Need? 300 Billion Suns
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20110220/sc_space/howmuchdarkmatterdosomegalaxiesneed300billionsuns

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