NYSkies Astronomy Inc - The support service for home astronomy in New York

NYSkies Astronomy Inc The support service for home astronomy in New York
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NYC EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2018 -------------------------- John Pazmino NYSkies Astronomy Inc nyskies@nyskies.org www.nyskies.org The following astronomy activities in the commuting ring enclosing New York City are operated by various organizations. A few cultural items of special importance to City astronomers are also included. Altho NYC Events confirms the listed items, they are subject to change by their sponsors. Check with their contacts. Let the sponsor know that you learned of its event thru NYC Events. Frequently asked questions and explanation of NYC Events is at 'www.nyskies.org/nyc-faq.htm'. You may ask for previous NYC Events thru 'nyskies@nyskies.org' because only the current issue is in the website. It is replaced by next month's issue. For events which missed NYC Events, check the NYSkies Yahoogroup forum. Join NYSkies by visiting 'www.nyskies.org/yahoo.htm' and picking either the email or website option. All hours are Eastern Dayulight Savings Time (UT - 4h) . General notes ----------- / 'whole City' means the event has no specific or dedicated place. It may be enjoyed from the whole NYSkies territory or at a number of individual places. Celestial events are typicly 'whole City' events. 'all day' means the event is continuous or repeating during the open hours of the host facility. Facilities may have limited hours per day or days per week. Check with the event contacts. 'adv regn reqd',for 'advance registration required/requested' means that the event requires or requests signing up before the event. You must have your ticket in hand at the gate. There could be a deadline some days before the event, after which no more signups are accepted. Check with the event contact for specifics. Prices cited are the 'rack rate'. You could qualify for discounts As may be offered by the sponsor. Besides the base price there may be noptional extra fees to consider. Current Month calendar -------------------- Plain dates are in current month; -, previous month; +, next month. Moon phase: .NM., .FQ), (FM), (LQ. Sunset is noted for each Saturday --------------------------------- Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat sunset --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ----- -30 1 (2. 3 4 5 6 18:30 7 .8. 9 10 11 12 13 18:19 14 15 .16) 17 18 19 20 18:08 21 22 23 (24) 25 26 27 18:59 28 29 30 (31. +1 +2 +3 18:50 ------------------------------------------------ Index of Events ------------- * = NASA-JPL Night Sky Network affiliate Date = entry in 'list of events' section '0' = entry in 'ongoing and continuing events' section 'S/O',= entry in 'skipped, Sep/Oct resumption' section 'M/A' = entry in 'skipped, Mar/Apr resumption' secrion // '???' = entry in 'skipped, uncertain resumption' seciton ------- ----------------------------------------------- BROOKLYN - BK Canarsie line closings - 0 *Floyd Bennett Field - - - 12 NY Transit Museum - - - - 21 Secret Science Club - - - 0 CONNECTICUT - CT *A S of Gtr Hartford - - 17 Astro Soc of Greenwich - 21 *Astro Soc of New Haven - 30 Bowman Observatory - - - 3, 17 *Litchfield Hills AAC mtg 12 *Litchfield Hills starvg - 19 *McCarthy Observatory - - 13 New Pond Farm - - - - - - 13 Stamford Observatory - - 5, 12, 19, 26 *Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 20 Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Western CT St Univ Obsy - 5, 17 *Westport Astro Soc mtg - 16 *Westport Astro Soc starvg 3, 10, 7, 24, 31 ------------------------- Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933, www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society LONG ISLAND - LI *Amateur Observers Soc - - 7 Amer Instt Aero & Astro - 11 Astro Soc of Long Island 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Brookhaven National Lab - 4, 30 Custer Institute - - - - 6, 13, 20, 27 Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 7 Montauk Observatory - - - 5, 10 SUNY Stony Brook - - - - 5 *Susan Rose Observatory - 6, 13, 20, 27 MANHATTAN - MH *Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0 *Amat Astro Assn lecture - 12 Amer Instt Archarology - 3 Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci 3, 24 Ctr for Science & Society S/O Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 5,6,7,12,13,14,19,20,21,26,27,28 *Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 5, 19 Columbus Day - - - - - - 8 Cornelia Street Cafe' - - 7 Cortlandt St station - - Earth Institute - - - - - ??? Globe at Night - - - - - 30-Nov 8 Good Housekeeping lab - 12 Governor's Island - - - - 1-31 Gullicar's Gate - - - - - 0 Instt Stud Ancnt World - 11, 25, 30 Intrepid AstroCafe' - - - 19 Intrepid Astro Night - - M/A *Inwood Astronomy Project 6, 13, 20, 27 Jupiter Joe Sidewk Astro 0 Milky Way autumn season - 1-Nov 30 Natl Musm of Mathematics 3 NY Academy of Sciences - 10 NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 0 New York Map Society - - 4, 6 New York Univ Astro - - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 *NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 5, 17 Observer's Handbook offer 1-indef Open House New York - - - 12-14 SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 3 Simons Foundation - - - - 24 Top of the Lawn - - - - - 5,6,7,12,13,14,19,20,21,26,27,28 TriState computer fair - 0 Urban Park Rangers - - - 0 Weekend Walks - - - - - - 1-mid Dec 2018 ---------------------------- Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org, 212-608-6164 n METRO-NORTH - NY Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 5, 12, 19, 26 Lamont-Doherty Open House 13 Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 5 Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - 21 Rockland Astro Club - - - 13 Vassar College Obsy - - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 6 Westchester Amat Astro - 5 NEW JERSEY - NJ A A A of Princeton - - - 9 A S of Toms Rv Area - - - ??? *Amat Astro Inc meeting - 5, 12, 26 *Amat Astro Inc lecture - 19 Joint Base Centennial - 0 Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 11 New Jersey Astro Assn - - 27 North Bergen Viaduct - - 0 No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - 10 No Jersey Astro Gp starvg 4, 11, 25 Peyton Observarory - - - 3 Plasma Physics Lab - - - 5, 19 Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr 4, 11, 25 *S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 4 Schommer Observatory - - 11, 18 *Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 5 *Sheep Hill Observatory - 19 *Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 6, 13, 20, 27 Washington Xing St Pk - - 5, 12, 19, 26 --------------------------- Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club McDowell Obsy - mec.rst2.edu, 201-460-8300 Montclair Telescope Club - 973-948-5284, bischoff@garden.net, users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.hrm NW Jersey Amat Astro - www.nwjaa.org, info@nwjaa.org Passaic Co Astro Assn - www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024 *Raritan Vy Co Coll Plm - www2.raritanval.edu/planetarium Skyland Stargazers - skylandstargazers.tripod.com QUEENS - QN Alley Pond Park - - - - - ??? York College Observatory 10 REST OF WORLD Aditondack Publ Obsy - - 12-14 STATEN ISLAND - SI Coll of Staten Is Obsy - ??? Great Kills Park - - - - 13 Staten Is Community TV - 5, 12, 19, 26 THE BRONX - BX ============================= Ongoing and continuing events -------------------------- all day - North Brgen Viaduct - NJ - road closings and rebuild Thru end 2020. One lane in each direction is closed during major rebuild of viaduct on NJ495 between NJ Tpk and Lincoln Tnl. Buses have priority on remaining lanes. On-off ramps for local street close from time to time. www.restorenj495.com all day - Canarsie line - BK - occasional weekend shutdown CERTAIN WEEKENDS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Thru March 2019. Canarsie line closes on about a dozen specific weekends for preliminary work in advance of total shutdown in april 2019. No service bten Bway Jc and 8th Av from 22h Fri to 05h Mon. Trains run only Canarrsie to B'eay Jc. WEekends may change based on work progress. www.mta.info. all day - whole state - NJ - Joint Base centennial shows VARIOUS LOCATIOONS ND TIMES; INQUITR AT CONTACT Thru 2018 Oct 31. 100th annivesaty if Fort Dix and later worls of McGuire AFN and Lakehurst NAS. These are only military facilityies jointly run by all three major branches, army, air force, navy. Events staged at or near bases. Most ree, some pay. www.nj.gov/state/historical/index.html, 609-292-6062, Feedback@sos.nj.gov all day - whole City - MH - cultural tour VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND TIMES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT NYC-H2O. Walk, bike, ride thru history and culture of NYC muwater system facilities and natural waterways in and near the City. Events are pay orfree, adn regn reqd. Bike tours need own bike. www.nych2o.org, matt@nych2o.org all day - whole City - MH - clearsky starviewing VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Amat Astro Assn. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk. Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. Cancelled for clouds. president@aaa.org, 718-522-5014, www.aaa.org all day - whole City - MH - clearsky starviewing VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Jupiter Joe's Sidewalk Astronomy. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk. Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. ` Cancelled for clouds. www.jupiterjoesastronomy.org, jupiyerjoesastronomy@gmail.com all day - Gullivaer's Gate - MH - cultural exhibit indef duration. 216 W 44 St, 7/8 Av. Opened in mid April 2017 for preview. Miniature models of landmarks and important structures from around the world. Rooms arranged by quarter of world and for New York City. $36, timed ticket, adv regn reqd. Optional cost for stereopint of visitor into figurine placed at desired item in exhibit. www.gulliversgate.com. all day - whole City - MH - cultural tours & lectures VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Urban Park Rangers. Tours of parks, landmarks, nabes, hoods. Lectures on history and culture of NYC. Program varies each month. Free. www.nyc.gov/parks 10:00 - whole City - MH - Tri-State Computer Fair VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GENERALLY ON SUNDAYS Source of computer systems, software, components, accessories. $7. www.tri-statefairs.com, 718-227-5586 20:00 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT 149 7 St, 2/3 Av. Lecture and music on various science topics. Free. secretscienceclub.blogspot.com, 718-638-4400, List of events - ------------ Mon 1 Oct all day - whole City - MH - Observer's Handbook offer The NYSkies offer for the 2019 RASC Onserver's Handbook opened on september 16. The Books are printed in mid October for delivery to NYSkies in late October. You better out in your reqursts NOW. Cost is still $23 per copy, with P&P. www.nyskies.org/oh.htm,nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org/ohclub.htm all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural shows Thru 31 Oct. Island is open on every day, 10h-20h weekdayss, 10h-19h weekends. Walk and tour thru former military base and new urban park. Shows vary each day or visit by foot or bike. Ferries run every day 10h-17h from Battery Marine Terml, MH, and on weekdays from Pier 6, BK. Island is free but ferry fare is $2 RT. www.nps.gov/gois, www.govisland.com all day - whole City - MH - Weekend Walks street fairs VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND DATES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Thru mid Dec. NYC Dept of Transptn closes certain steets in all boros on Saturdayss for street fairs. Stores and local orgs offer ntertainment, discount sales, exhibits, food service Free. www.nyc.gov/html/dot/weekendwalks/html/home/home.shtml 20:00 - whole City - MH - autumn Milky Way season Thru Nov 30. Fall season for sighting Milky Way from within NYC. Requires dark clear sky and thoro knowledge of normal luminous graffiti in sky. Milky Way is in high west sky at at nightfall. www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/milky-ny.htm Tue 2 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture 726 Broadway, Rm 940. Various topics in astrophys and relativity. Free. Have GI photo ID for campus security. physics.nyu.edu/events.htm Wed 3 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture Colloquium series. Rutgers Univ, Busch Campus, Astro & Phys Lectr Hall. Free. www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium, 732-445-3974 15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture Ctr for Atmosp & Ocean Studies. Weaver Hall, 251 Mercer St. Various topics in geophysics and earth science. Free. caos.cims.nyu.edu, shafer@cims.nyu.edu 16:00 - Natl Musm of Mathematics - MH - science show Also 19:00. 'Mathematical Encounters'. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-542-0566, www.momath.org, info@momath.org 18:00 - Hunter College - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture Hemerdinger Hall, Lexington Av & 68 St. Various topics on archaeology and anthropology. Free, adv regn reqd. www.aia-nysociety.org, info@aia-bysociety.org 19:00 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - SciCafe' show Hall of Ocean Life or hall of planet Earth. Music, drinks, chat with Museum scientists. Free, be 21 or be gone. GI photo ID reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Extra session for Mars opposition. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY ONLY DURING CLASSES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com, www.asliclub.org 20:30 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing Astro Soc of Greenwich. Curtis Elem Schl, Bowman Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762. , astrogreenwich.org 20:30 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free. Cancelled for clouds www.astro.princeton.edu/observatory/publicobserving.php,//, jeg@astro.princeton.edu, lee@astro.princeton.edu 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY ONLY DURING CLASSES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Vassar College, Observatory. Free. Cancelled for clouds. physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html, 845-437-7340 Thu 4 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin 401. Free. 732-445-3974, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar 15:00 - Upton - LI - science lecture Brookhaven Natl Lab.Bldg 510. 'Weighing galaxy clusters with weak lensing in Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus security. 631-344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts 18:30 - Woeld School - MH - New York Map Society lecture 11 W 26 St, 7th fl, upstairs from MoMath. Vari/ous topics about map making, cartography, geography. Free.kapochuna@s@mail.com, www.newyorkmapsociety.org 20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free. www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing No Jersey Astro Gp. Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall. Free, cancelled for clouds. njastro.org, 973-655-7266, Fri 5 Oct 10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour Plasma Physics Lab. Walk thru history and culture of fproject to capture energy from controled hydrogen fusion. Free, adv regn reqd. Photo ID required for campus security. www.pppl.gov/events 15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Comer Bldg. Various topics in geophysics and earth science. Free, 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu, suzana@ldeo.columbia.edu, 18:00 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture Westn Conn St Uv, Obsy/Plm. Indoor planetarium show, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671, dawsond@wcsu.edu 18:15 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - Amat Astro Assn lecture Kaufmann Theater. Free, no musm adm fee. 718-522-5014, president@aaa.org, www.aaa.org 18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar DISCUSSION: STARS AND PLANETS OF THE AUTUMN SKY 125 W 14 St, 6/7 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show & tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies territory. Free. nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org 19:0:0 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture Pupin Hall, signs to lecture room. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. outreach-admin@astro.columbia.edu, 19:00 - Bridgehampton - LI - astronomy lecture Montauk Obsy. South Fork Natl Hist Musm. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com 19:00 - Lk Taghkanic St Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing Mid-Hudson Astro Assn. West Beach parking lot. Free, cancelled for clouds. Adv regn reqd with vehicle make, model, plate number for park security. ` www.nidhudsonastronomy.org 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show 100 Cable Way, Mariners Hr SI. 'Geology forum' Live audience, seating at 19:30, on air at 20:00. Free. www.sictv.org, 718-727-1414 starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org, hfjacinto6@gmail.com 19:30 - Stony Brook - LI - astronomy lecture SUNY Stony Brook, Earth & Spc Sci Hall. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.ess.sunysb.edu/astro, 631-632-8100, slutterbie@notes.cc.sunysb.edu 19:30 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting Pace Univ, Lienhard Hall, Free. www.westchesterastronomers.org, waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org 19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Top of the Lawn. North path of Great Lawn. Free. Cancelled for clouds. tags_p@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org, nyskies@nyskies.org 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. 203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org, cescovil@earthlink.net 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing Amat Astro Assn of Princeton. Simpson Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. www.princetonastronomy.org, 609-737-2575, info@princetonastronomy.org Sat 6 Oct 14:00 - Woeld School - MH - New York Map Society lecture 11 W 26 St, 7th fl, upstairs from MoMath. Vari/ous topics about map making, cartography, geography. Free.kapochuna@s@mail.com, www.newyorkmapsociety.org 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting OCCASIONAL EXTRA EVENTS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Custer Instt. Indoor program, clearsky starviewing. $5-$15. Varies with program. www.custerobservatory.org, president@custerobservatory.org, 631-765-2626 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing Amat Obsrs Soc. capus of Custer Institt. Sessions concurrent with Custer's own events. Free, cancelled for clouds. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.uacnj.org 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Inwood Astronomy Project. Meet at park entrance, Seaman Av & Isham St. Free. Cancelled for clouds. 917-529-2359 www.inwoodastronomy.org, asonskendall@gmail.com 20:00 - Ward Pound Ridge - NY - clearsky starviewing Westchester Amat Astro. Meadows Picnic Area. Free. Cancelled for clouds. waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org www.westchesterastronomers.org, 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 Sun 7 Oct 13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting. Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net 18:00 - Cornelia St Cafe' - MH - Entertaining Science show 29 Cornelia St & W 4 St, Play & music on various science themes. $10 + one drink min. www.corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319 19:00 - Uniondale - LI - clearsky starviewing Hofstra University,Berliner Bdg, Rm 117. Free, adv regn reqd. Cancelled for clouds. 516-463-2759, www.hofstra.edu/Academics, observatory@hofstra.edu 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 Mon 8 Oct all day - whole City - MH - Columbus Day Please check with event contact for session falling on this day by rule or outdated schedule Rue 9 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 19:30 - Princeton - NJ - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org, 609-737-2575, info@princetonastronomy.org Wed 10 Oct 18:00 - Southampton - LI - astronomy lecture Montauk Obsy. SUNY Stony Bk, Southampton campus, Chancellor Hall.. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture 'The nystery of our mathematical universe'. $20. www.nyas.org 20:00 - York College - QN - astronomy lecture . Core Academic Bdg, Rm AC-2E01. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free, adv regn reqd. 718-262-2082, www.york.cuny.edu/centers-institutes/observatory, 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free. njastro.org, 973-655-7266 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 3 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Thu 11 Oct 18:00 - Bethpage - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture Bethpage Public Library. Various topics in aeronautics and astronautics. 'Nars sample return missiOn'. Free, optional $5 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 4/ 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture 15 E 84 St, 5/Madison Av. Various topics on history and culture of ancient civilizations.. Free, adv regn reqd. isaw..nyu.edu isaw@nyu.edu, 212-992-7842 pizza-soda. 516-458-8593, davidparis@twc.com 19:30 - Morristown - NJ - Morris Museum Astro Soc meeting Morris Museum. Free. 973-386-1848, 973-386-1848,, www.morrismuseum.org/astro-society, info@morrismusem.org, ckkrish@gmail.com 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng Rutgers Univ, Schommer Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. 732-205-0020, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/ast-serin.html pryor@physics.rutgers.edu Fri 12 Oct all day - various places - MH - Open House New York show Thru Sun 14 Oct. Hundreds of buildings and properties, normally closed from public, are open for visit, tours, talks, demos. Sites in many parts of NYC. Many events run concurrently. Free. Book for each separate event. Advd regn reqd for some. Full list at contact. www.ohny.org. 10:00 - Good Housekeeping Resrch Instt - MH - science tour Also 11:30. Hearst Tower, 57 St & 8 Av. Walk thru history and science of product testing center of Good Housekeeping magazine. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-649-5000, ghritours@hearst.com 15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Oct 5 18:00 - Tupper Lake - NY - astronomy workshop Thru Sun 14 Oct. Adirondack Publ Obsy. Four rvrnig class and practice for digital astrophotography at many levels. Use own gear or observatory's. $150, adv regn reqd. crltupperaol.com, www.adirondackpublicobservatory.org 19:30 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg Central Congregational Church. Free.lhaacsec@gmail.com lhastro.org 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Oct 5 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Oct 5 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Oct 5 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 20:00 - Floyd Bennett Field - BK - clearsky starviewing Community Garden. NYSKies & Natl Park Svc. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.nyskies.org, stephenlieber@nyc.rr.com, nyskies@nyskies.org Sat 13 Oct 10:00 - Palisades - NY - LDEO Open House Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy. Talks, demos, tours of world-class geological center. Food service. Free LDEO buses from Teachers College, 120 St & Broadway starting 09:15. Free, 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu, suzana@ldeo.columbia.edu, 19:30 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewingh New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. , cancelled for clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117, 20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org, 860-354-1595, contact@mccarthyobservatory.org 20:00 - Bear Mountain - NY - clearsky starviewing Rockland Astro Club. Anthony Wayne Rec Pk, picnic field. Free, cancelled for clouds. www.rocklandastronomy.com 20:00 - Great Kills Pk - SI - clearsky starviewing Natl Pk Svc. Enter at Hylan Bv to playground; Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.nps.gov/gate, 718-987-6790 n 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Oct 6 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Oct 6 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 6 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see oct 6 Sun 14 oct 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 Tue 16 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 \ Wed 22 Aug Wed 17 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 18:00 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture - see Oct 5 19:30 - New Brittain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting Central CT St Univ, Copernicus Plm. Free. www.asgh.org, 860-872-9069, pparkerrs@cs.com 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 3 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 20:30 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Fri 19 Oct 10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see Oct 5 15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Oct 5 18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar DISCUSSION: OBSERVING THE LUNAR TOPOGRAPHY 125 W 14 St, 6/7 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show & tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies territory. Free. nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach, 212-854-3278 19:0:0 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - SEE oCT 5 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Oct 5 19:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - AstroCafe' lecture Flight deck of ship. Indoor/open air lecture, clearsky starviewing. Food & drink service, bar drinks sold only to 21+ YO. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford, Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.asgh.org, 860-872-9069, 20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Oct 5 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng - see Oct 11 20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net 20:30 - Litchfield - CT - Litchfield Hills A A C lecture White Meml Consrvn Ctr. Free. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. lhaac.shutterfly.com, lhaacsec@gmail.com lhastro.org Sat 20 Occt 20:00 - Westport - CT - Pbserve the Moon show Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Indoor lecture, clearsky starvireing. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Oct 6 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see oct 6 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Oct 6 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 6 Sun 21 Oct 11:00 - NY Transit Museum - BK - World War I Centennial show Boreum Pl & Schermerhorn St, 'subeay' entrance. Talks, demos, exhibits of NYC transit during World War I. Free with musm adm. www.nytraansitmuseum.org 14:00 - Airmont - NY - science show Ramapo Challenger Ctr, 225 Rt 29. Multimedia imulation of space missions. $20. wwwlhvcc.com, director@lhvcc.com, 845-257-3416. 15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting Greenwich Public Library. Free with musm adm. rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762, astrogreenwich.org 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 Tue 23 Uct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 Wed 24 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - SEE oCT 3 17:00 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture 160 5 Av & 21 St. 'Astrochemistry and the making of habitabl ` planets'. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654-0066, ww.simonsfoundation.org 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 3 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Thu 25 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 4/ 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture - see Oct 11 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 Fri 26 Oct 15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Oct 5 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Oct 5 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Oct 5 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Oct 5 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 Sat 27 Oct 20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8500 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see oct 6 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Oct 6 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Oct 6 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 6 Sun 28 Oct 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see oct 5 Tue 30 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 15:30 - Upton - LI - science leture Brookhaven Natl Lab.Bldg 510. 'Csomic chandlery with thermonuclear supernovae'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus security. 631-344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture - see Oct 11 19:30 - New Haven - CT - Astro Soc of New Haven meeting Yale Univ, Leitner Family Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asnh.org, prez@asnh.org 20:00 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise Thru Nov 8.. NYSkies runs its own GLOBE at Night exercise in December while Orion is in sky at nighfall. Same method and procedure as for prior years for documenting sky transparency over City. Details at www.nyskies.org/gannyc.htm Dates in this page are not yet bumped up, but all instructions and charts are same as in previous years. Wed 31 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Oct 3 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 3 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Events Skipped This Month ----------------------- EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- [M/A] MARCH/APRIL RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 19:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - astronomy lecture Flight deck of ship. Indoor/open air lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org -------------------------------------- [S/O] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 18:00 -CUNY Graduate Center - MH - Ctr for Sci & Soc lecture 385 Fifth Av. 'Early modernb science intertwine An Iberoamerican perspective'. Free, adv regn reqd, Free, limited seating. 212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.edu -------------------------------------- [???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 18:00 - Earth Institute - MH - science lecture Columbnia Univ, Lerner Hall, Arledge Audm.. 'Sea level rise: Causes, impacts and options for solutions'. Free, adv regn reqd. ei.columbia.edu 19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting Ocean Co Coll, Student Ctr, Solar Lounge. Free. www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webmaster@astra-nj.org 19:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing Astrophys Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 718-982-2818, csivc.csi.cuny.edu/supernove7/files/home.html, robbins@mail.csi.cuny.edu, 19:30 - Alley Pond Park - QN - astronomy lecture Alley Pond Enviro Ctr. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. $14 at door.. www.alleypond.org, info@alleypond.org, 718-229-4000 General News ---------- I thank NYSkiers Myrna Coffino and Gregory Homatas for posting under-known new activities around town. At first i copied them into our Yahoogroup until I found they already so that. In some cases their tips leaded to new members of NYC Events. Many events during September were knocked out by repeated local flooding. Rounds of heavy rain overflowed rivers, swamped storm drains, overwhelmed runoff fields. They caused widespread ruin in cellars, to vehicles, farms. In some cases rain over NYSkies fell 8-10 cm/hr in brief monsoons. We welcome new member american institute of Archaeology to NYC Events. It has seasonal lectures on ancient peoples and cultures. The talks commonly feature satellite imaging, remote sensing, geodesy, cartography. It meets in various places on Manhattan. Lamont-Doherty Open House on 13 Oct 2018 may attract LOTS of NYSkiers! It on 27 Sep 2018 advised NYSkies that it has FREE PUBLIC busses to and from the Open House. They are the regular Columbia U campus buses that leave from Teachers College, 120 St & Broadway. Service begins at 09;15 EDST, then every 15 minutes. Here to fore the bus was treated as internal Columbia service. Some NYSkiers used to get a ride by hanging cool and mixing with Columbia riders. We also welcome New York Map Society to NYC Events. It meets at Woe World School, Madison Sq MH, or the Main Branch of NY Publ Liby. The org looks after maps, mapmakng, cartography, geography. it meets Morris Museum Astro Soc now seems to meet every month on 2nd Thursdays. It previously skipped Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug. The United Nations General Assembly session continues to oct 6. By end September the gridlock around the UN is relaxed with transit and traffic more or less back to normal. Be specially careful to follow instructions for any UN public events during the GA meetings because there could be tighter security and detours within the campus. qWestport Astro Soc has two lectures in October. The regular on e ison the 16th; the 20th highlights viewing the Moon. Simons Foundation opened its 2018 lecture season on Sep 12 while the steam explosion crater smoldered under its windows. The hole covers two of 5th Av's four lanes, squeezing traffic thru the repair zone for a couple blocks. The enclosing wall was taken down, leaving waist- high fences to look into the crater. College of SI observatory is still closed since early 2018. It then was damaged by winter weather with repairs pending. I moved it to the '???' section. AstrO Soc of Toms River Area is active but its webpage for events still seems empty. It remains in the '???' section. Please inquire at contact for club activities. City News ------- Cortlandt St station, South Ferry line, opened early on 8 Sep 2018, not the originally planned early october. It fits into the former station's envelope with more entries and new underpass between the two lateral platforms. it has a plain, almost bare finish, with 'World Trade Center' name tablets and chilled-air vents. Name tablets on columns are 'WTC-Cortlandt' because the station is engulfed by WTC m the uptown fare control area has overlooks to watch people walking under the station. As at now there is no transfer to other lines, like Cortlandt St, Montague line, or Fulton Center. The 'secret subway shuttle' along Central Pk w is REAL! It's a NYC Transit bus signed up as 'to subway', stopping only at stations along the 8th Av line from Columbus Cr to 110 St. Certain stations are closed for rebuild and the bus moves riders to other open stations. It issues a special ticket to allow transfer to the subway since the regular bus ticket is only for bus-bus transfer. There seems to be ONE vehicle on the 4km route Because the bus duplicates the frequent M10 route, that continues farther downtown, the shuttle has few riders. There was an all-day public conference at the UN on 26 September 2018, smack in the middle of the lockdown of Midtown Manhattan for the General Assembly meeting! I missed it for busyness at my office and it's close to issue date of this NYC Events. Any reports from NYSkiers at the conference will be noted in November's NYC Events. The Village Voice newspaper waved farewell on 2018 August 31. It was the first alt-culture paper in US, starting up in 1955 to cover news and 'advice' for the Village lifestyle. In this century it fell on hard times, first offering it free on Manhattan, then free for all points. It shrank in size, dropped major columns, lost ads. It reduced to a thin paper similar to others set out in pull-boxes on street corners. In April 2017 is ended print publication, turning only online presence. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 2018 September 7 discussed blackholes in the Milky way galaxy, leaving out those in other galaxies. The topic was prompted by high interest in blackholes from recent news about the Milky way's central blackhole. We traced the history of blackhole as a theory or maths model before wW II. The BH effect was first worked out by Schwarzschild right after Einstein released his general relativity. It remained a maths exercise until the late 1930s when astrophysics hinted that a supernova could collapse so strongly to crush its core into a blackhole. In the 1960s with newly fielded astrophysics satellites we found X-ray hotspots along the Milky way belt and concentrated toward the galactic center. Most were recognized as blackholes in a binary star system. The BH was accreting gas the from the visible companion and causing it to radiate the energy X- ray energy profile matched the theory and models of a BH. because these BHs are the remanents of supernovae, they are called stellar BHs. The first stellar BH confirmed is Cygnus-X1, orbiting a 9th- magnitude star in Cygnus. The star is quite half between beta and gamma Cygni, 1/2 deg NE of eta. In the 1980s-1990s we found BHs at the center of certain other galaxies with masses of hundreds of millions or billions of Suns, but none yet was seen in the Milky Way. In late 1990a qw suspected a BH for the Milky Way be noticing certain stars in apparent orbit around an empty point, Being that the galactic center is visually blocked the observations were made in infrared and radio bands. Certain of these wavelengths penetrate the obscuring dust. In 2008 the BH was confirmed when we actually tracked one star over a complete lap of its orbit. The BH is small, only about 4 million Suns..A passing gas cloud, G2, in 2014 came close to the BH, possibly to be ripped to shreds by its gravity. It survived a;tho badly distorted. In May 2018 one of the orbiting stars, S2, rounded its pericentron with hope that the gravity would cause observable Einstein effects. There is no standard word for the periapsis of a BH orbit, pericentron is a general one for 'vicinity of the center'. It did show obvious redshift in its spectrum due to both tangential and gravitational effects, amounting to a fictitious excess speed of about 200KPS.We explained the nature of 'event horizon' as a distance away when escape speed equals lightspeed. it is not a 'ground' or 'barrier' that a falling object crashes into. It keeps falling toward the BH point, with ever increasing speed and adds its mass, spin, electric charge to the BH. we noted that for all home astronomy functions, and to a very close approximation for the Milky Way BH, we played with the Schwatzschild model. We forgo attempts to build in spin or electric charge. The Milky Way BH and star S2 handed home astronomers a wonderful exercise in both Newton and Einstein physics. Many of the results presented by campus astronomers an be replicated with only high school maths. Spawned by the high interest in the s2 events, I composed an article about it, with the maths worked out, at www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/mwbh.htm Takeaways were historical articles on BHs, graph of newton's missed chance to discover BHs, maps of the Milky Way, early plots of X-ray sources, mechanics of binary BHs, pictures of stars orbiting Milky Way BH, graphs of star S2 orbit and redshifts, abstract of high school science fair project to find more BHs in Milky Way. Dr Neil Tyson, Hayden Planetarium, starred on PBS 'Firing line' on 15 September 2018. He discussed the declining state of general and science education in the US and railed against those who bend science to support a political principle. He also stressed that one of the greatest opportunities for human advancement is exploration of outer space,m with benefits flowing to all peoples. Tyson emphasized he is not into politics and does not ally with particular leaders or parties. Brooklyn College in early September 2018 abruptly closed the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts on its campus. The theater, in whitman Hall, was under rebuild to open in fall 2018 but was delayed indefinitely. College fired all staff with a few assigned to part- time duties. Center was a major space for concerts, conferences, plays, and outside rental and also a 'rainy day' site for shoes at nearby open-air Midwood field. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 21 September 2018 examined the minor planets of the solar system, the asteroid or planetoids. We learned that Kepler thought something was peculiar about the spacing of planet orbits in about 1600, altho he was a Copernicus advocate.tThere was 'too big' a space between Mars and Jupiter, a factor used against the Copernicus model. We traced the work of Titius and Bode, who in mid 1700s worked up a geometric sequence closely matching the planet orbit sizes. With Earth as unity, we saw a 'hole' in the series for 2.7 with no planet. When Uranus was found it fitted into the series, sparking a hunt for the 'missing' planet. We learned that vonZach in 1780s looked for the planet with no luck. In 1800 a new hunt by a coalition of Europe observatories bagged asteroid Ceres in 1801. We learned Ceres was lost after only a few days, feared gone for good. Gauss invented a new orbit calculation method to recover Cers in 1802. Three more asteroids, the term proposed by Herschel, were found by 1806. We call these the 'charter asteroids: Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, followed regularly be home astronomers in small scopes. No more wre discovered, in spite of repeated searches, until the 1840s. then after asteroids were found in almost every year thru the 1880s. Wolf applied photography to asteroid hunts and the number of asteroids rose to about 500 in 1900. We learned that many asteroids were discovered by accident as streak on pictures taken for other purposes, spoiling the image. Asteroids were numbered in order of discovery and the finder gave it a name. Because the first bunch were named for female mythical figures, the practice continues today. At first the name, if not feminine, was converted to feminine form, but later ones were left alone and declared grammaticly feminine. We saw the number of asteroid swell so rapidly that orbit computations couldn't keep in a pace. We walked thru the designation of a new asteroid, first given a discovery name. This is the year of discovery, a letter for the half-month (skipping I and Z), and a serial order letter (using all 26 letters). By the 1980s we ran out of letters, finding more than 26 asteroid in a half-month, and rolled over to a second and more rounds of the alphabet. A final number in the designation tells how many alphabet rounds were completed before the instant one. As example we parsed '1999-AN10'. This was found in 1999, 1st half January, 13th in instant alphabet, 10 full alphabets completed.We figured out that this was the 273rd asteroid discovered in early January 2018. After an orbit is worked up a sequence number, continuing the historical sequence, is assigned and the discoverer may award it a name. In the 1990sm partly as a spinoff of patrols for ICBMs after the Soviet Union collapsed, automated electronic searches starting raking in thousands of asteroids. In the early 1990s we had only 4,500 asteroids on record. By the late 1990s we had around 20,000. In mid 2000s the count passed 100,000. Today we have a full one million asteroids, and counting. Until the 19980s almost all asteroids orbited the Sun in the Asteroid Belt, a ring 2 to 4 AU radius. We knew a few with orbits so dmall or excentric they did cross or bruised Earth's orbit, such as Apollo, Amor, Apohele, and Aten. We group asteroids by orbit characteristic, named for a prototype. An Apollo asteroid is one whose orbit resembles that of asteroid Apollo. We treated asteroids before the Space Age simply as rocks that either broke up from a former planet or never coalesced into one. We studied photos of asteroids, and comets, visited by spacecraft to see their varied surface, shape, size. We traced a development parallel to the ICBM program, assessing damage from nuclear warfare. After the Cold War and the discovery of several small asteroid coming near to Earth, this work shifted to tracking asteroid threats. We learned that several asteroids actually did hit Earth in this century, l;ike over Russia, sudan, and Botswana. They were 'asteroids' because when found they were given asteroid designations, only to watch them crash into the Earth a few hours later. We learned there is no official division between asteroid and meteroid, the rcok in space before becoming a meteor. The two are really the same kind of object except for size. We compared pictures of asteroids for size, ranging from a few hundred kilometers to less than one. When as asteroid comes within about 1/4 Au of Earth we can examine it by radar to reveal surface texture, shape, companion satellites, rotation. Takeaways were diagrams of asteroid orbits for several groups, disposition along zodiac, paths in sky,several strange asteroid orbits, plots of orbit mutations, simulation of asteroid collision, examples of historical asteroid craters on Earth. I and Michelle Girard attended an educator workshop at Intrepid Museum on 22 September 2018. We took breakfast under, litterally!, the Shuttle Enterprise with serving counters wrapped around the Soyuz capsule. We heard talks on duplicating the Antarctic journey of Shackleton and NASA efforts to get public schools to promote science, specially for young ladies. She and I split to see concurrent features of the workshop and explore the Intrepid. I took a guided tour of Intrepid's space exhibits, built several science toys from household items, made a [somewhat] working model of ISS robot hand. A vagrant set fire to the parking garage of Kings Plaza mall, Kings Pz BK, on 2018 Sep 17 ~08:50 EDST. He was caught on security film and arrested. Fire totaled ~130 new Mercedes cars on 2nd floor from several Brooklyn car dealers, who rent the space to store some of their stock. Arsonist claimed the cars were hang-outs for sex and wanted to burn them out. The mall's stores and roof-top customer cars were not harmed but some 17 people in garage were injured. Both ground and marine firefighters put out the 7-alarm blaze. sky News ------ September was almost a total loss for observing. Just about every night was cloudy, rainy, foggy. Many days were humid and torrid, temps in the low 30Cs. Only the last week of September was actually cool autumn air, but still with rain or cloud. There was no chance of catching any Milky Way from the City. The MW viewing season continues thru end November. Comet observers lost the close flyby of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner in early September 2018 from rain, cloud, fog. The comet came into binocular range in Camelopardalis --near THAT star cluster! -- then travelled roughly along the Milky Way thru Auriga, Gemini, Monoceros. It faded and moved into morning twilight. NYSkies starts its annual Globe at Night campaign in October. Orion enters the nightfall sky near end month, for convenient inspection. Use the charts and instructions in our web www.nyskies.org/gannyc.htm but the dates are not yet moved moved up for this year. it is imperative that you gain dark adaption before assessing sky transparency, else you get severely depressed readings. The Tribute in Light beams were totally smothered in cloud and fog on 11 Sep 2018. They were only a weak vertical glow. As I measured at 22:30 EDST, the beams ended only 7-1/2km up before they blended into the surrounding cloud. Jupiter and Venus close their evening apparitions in October. Saturn is sliding into evening twilight. Mars is fading and shrinking, now resuming direct movement thru Capricornus. The sky in Sep 2018 was never clear enough to assess by eye the status of the mars dust storm. His color was filtered by mist or thin cloud. Uranus and neptune are in high sky in early night. Neptune requires a telescope while Uranus can be followed in binoculars. Cut a finder chart, with their paths, to pick out the planets from surrounding stars. Just after sunrise on 22 Sep 2018 the Sun sprouted a solar pillar 6-7 deg tall. It was tinted yellow and partly obstructed by morning cloud and mist. The Sun himself was a yellow glowball thru the clouds. On 24 Sep 2018 a weak parhelion dextrum floated between roving clouds in early to mid morning. It was easily mistaken for a bit of cloud, a soft white patch. It apparently faded away by 10h EDST.