Planetary Post Header (Jan. 2010)

Issue #38

July 2010

ARRL Field Day was a huge success at HRPO, with more than 175 people on site! The Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club was wonderful, as usual-dutifully working to make contacts while introducing newcomers to the world of ham radio. Did you miss it? Well Libra, Virgo and Sagittarius are coming up this month. You don't have to miss them. If the oppressive humidity doesn't get to you, find the darkest place you're allowed to go and see if you can see some fantastic clusters and other Messier objects this month.

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

FREE

EVENING SKY VIEWING

Fridays, 8:30-10 p.m. and Saturdays, 7:30-10 p.m.

 

FREE

LECTURE SERIES

Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

 

JULY 2: "Into the Neutron Star!"  

A neutron star is the imploded core of a massive star produced by a supernova explosion. It is so dense that one teaspoonful on Earth would weigh a billion tons! LSU physics professor Rob Hynes will show the audience the inner workings of these bizarre objects.

 

JULY 9: "The Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud"  

The most mysterious regions of the solar system remain, to date, unexplored. Untold numbers of icy objects are here, some destined to plummet towards the inner planets as comets. What discoveries await us when we are able to first-hand view the enigmas of this area?

 

JULY 16: {TBA}

 

JULY 23: {TBA}

 

JULY 30: "Wonders of the Summer Sky"  

Craig Brenden, HRPO Education Curator and founding member of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society, takes the audience on a fascinating tour of Baton Rouge's summer season. He highlights the celestial gems that will sparkle throughout the next three months--gems that visitors will be able to see live if they continue to visit HRPO!

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon

Designed for children ages eight to 12. Cost is $5 per child per week ($6 if out-of-parish). Parent must remain with child. Walk-ins are welcome, but phone reservations are taken up to a week in advance.

 JULY 3: Danger-Solar Explosions!

JULY 10: Our Sun is a Star

JULY 17: The Sun's Place in Space

JULY 24: {TBA}

JULY 31: {TBA}

 

 

FREE SOLAR VIEWING

July 3, July 17 and July 31 from noon to 1 p.m.

Protective clothing and sunscreen recommended. Handouts and information on UV radiation and solar power provided.

 

2010 STARGAZERS CAMP

$90 per in-parish child / $108 per out-of-parish child

[Cost covers entire session; limit 30 per session.]

 Session Six: July 5 to July 9 (ages 8-10)

Session Seven: July 12 to July 16 (ages 11-13)

Session Eight: July 19 to July 23 (ages 8-10)

For over a decade, HRPO has provided this high-quality, intellectually-stimulating space science camp for children. The tradition continues this year with lunar phase exercises, celestial treasure hunts, hot air balloon crafts, sundial and helicopter creations, a field trip and some new surprises! Parents may register in person at HRPO or online at Webtrac. The activity number is 241180. Don't wait until the last minute!

 

 

OUTREACH SCHEDULE

Physical science demos promoting HRPO and its on-site programming will be seen at the following locations this month.

Thurs. July 1, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

            Baker Branch Library, 3501 Groom Road

Tues. July 6, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

            Greenwell Springs Regional Library, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road

Thurs. July 15, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

            Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Boulevard

Outreach schedule is subject to change; please call HRPO to confirm.

 

ASTRONEWS

 

BRAS VP IMAGES M3 AND SATURN [May 29]

He overexposed Saturn to get some moons!

 

ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY TURNS 15 [June 16]

Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell's brainchild has been introducing people to the joys of this science for 15 years.

 

NUMBER OF EXOPLANETS MAY SOON EXPLODE [June 17]

Thanks to the awesome Kepler spacecraft.

 

EXPEDITION 24 WELCOMED ABOARD ISS [June 17]

Alexander Skvortsov will serve as commander.

 

COMET McNAUGHT SPOTTED BY B.R.A.S. [June 20]

Art Barrios, Trevor McGuire and Ben spotted R1 McNaught in Ramah with an 8" Dob.

 

PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE GRACES SKY [June 26]

It was extremely low for Baton Rougeans, though.

 

MORE INFO ON THE POSSIBLE BATON ROUGE LOOP [June 27]

Any additional pertinent facts can be posted.

 

MORE INFO ON THE POSSIBLE CONSTELLATION CANCELLATION [June 27] 

Any additional pertinent facts can be posted.

 

NEW PICTURES FROM CHARLES GENOVESE [June 28]

BRAS VP Ben Toman has posted the images of M42, Jupiter and the ISS.

 

SATURDAY NIGHT HRPO VIEWING ADVISORIES

The following dates refer to viewing planets through HRPO's 20" reflector:


LAST NIGHT FOR MARS: July 17
LAST NIGHT FOR
SATURN: July 24

 

SKYWATCHING TIP:

Ask Your Friendly Public Works Department

 

If you enjoy stargazing from the comfort of your home but a light from a nearby streetlamp is hitting your yard or house, call your local Public Works Department and politely ask for a shielded fixture. It is possible that simple requests from you and your neighbors could lead to a street free of excess glare.

 

TRIVIA

 
1)  Which U.S. Army rank does flight engineer Doug Wheelock have?

2)  A Soyuz space capsule transported the first crew to the ISS in what month and year?

3)  Which Expedition 24 member is the first native Houstonian to be named an astronaut?

Answers will be in the August issue.

 

 

Answers for June trivia:

1) Office of Response and Restoration

2) a King Air

3) a Nikon D3S.

 

DONATIONS

 

HRPO graciously receives donations from the general public to continue and expand programs.

 

Please contact the BREC Foundation for more information on supporting HRPO.

 

 

 

Contact Us

 

Highland Road Park Observatory  

13800 Highland Road 

 (225) 768-9948

 

Join Our Mailing List

 

HRPO is brought to the public by BREC, LSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. HRPO was featured in a National Geographic program and is the site of dozens of asteroid discoveries. As HRPO is within a BREC park, BREC's General Rules apply to all visitors. Remember, the darker the sky, the more HRPO can show you; let's use artificial lights that are capped or shielded!

 

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BREC | 6201 Florida Blvd. | Baton Rouge | LA | 70806