NYC EVENTS FOR APRIL 2020
------------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy In+c
nyskies@nyskies.org
The following astronomy activities in the commuting ring enclosing
New York City are operated by various organizations. A few cultural
tems 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 Daylight Savings Time (UT - 4h).
Coronavirus
---------
Starting in early March 2020 the NYSkies region suffered round
after round of event cancellations, suspensions, postponements to
defend against diffusion of coronavirus. The events are not limited to
astronomy. They cover all aspects of life: recreation, entertainment,
dining, sports, education, cultural, more.
Home astronomy was drasticly curtailed because clubs typicly meet
in facilities that closed doors on their own motion or by direction
from civil authorities.
From March 20 to 23, NY, then NJ and CT, imposed 'stay-home'
orders to shut down all remaining events. This essentially closed home
astronomy activity that were bypassed in earlier facility closures.
NYC Events adds a new category '!!!' to flag affected events.
It's at the bottom of the 'Events skipped ...' section. Please inquire
at these events's contact for updates on their status. Bear in mind
that most are under instructions rom their host venues or civil
authorities. They may have no means to reactivate on their own.
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.
#, NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
Moon phase: .NM., .FQ), (FM), (LQ.
Sunset is noted for each Saturday
---------------------------------
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat sunset
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ------
-29 -30 -31 .1) 2 3# 4 19:25
5 6 (7) 8 9 10 11 19:32
12 13 (14. 15 16 17# 18 19:39
19 20 21 .22. 23 24 25 19:47
26 277 28 29 .30) +1# +2 19:54
----------------------------------------------
Index of Events / -------------
* = NASA-JPL Night Sky Network affiliate
date = entry in 'list of events' section
0' = entry in 'ongoing and continuing events' section
'AUT'= entry in 'skipped, autumn resumption' section
'SPR' = entry in 'skipped, spring resumption' secrion
'???' = entry in 'skipped, uncertain resumption' seciton,
'!!!' = entry in 'skipped, suspended due to coronavirus
------- -----------------------------------------------
BROOKLYN - BK
Astronomy on Tap - - - - !!!
Canarsie line curtailment 0
*Floyd Bennett Field - - - !!!
Secret Science Club - - - !!!
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - !!!
Astro Soc of Greenwich - !!!
*Astro Soc of New Haven - !!!
Bowman Observatory - - - !!!
*Litchfield Hills AAC mtg !!!
*Litchfield Hills lecture !!!
*McCarthy Observatory - - !!!
New Pond Farm - - - - - - !!!
Stamford Observatory - - !!!
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - !!!
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - !!!
Western CT St Univ Obsy - !!!
*Westport Astro Soc mtg - !!!
*Westport Astro Soc starvg !!!
-------------------------
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933,
www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amateur Observers Soc - - !!!
*Amat Obsrs Soc starviewing!!!
Amer Instt Aero & Astro - !!!
Astro Soc of Long Island !!!
Brookhaven National Lab - !!!
Custer Institute - - - - !!!
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - !!!
Hmaptons Observatory - - !!!
PubSci - - - - - - - - - !!!
SUNY Stony Brook - - - - !!!
*Susan Rose Observatory - !!!
MANHATTAN - MH
*Amat Astro Assn starvwg - !!!
*Amat Astro Assn lecture - !!!
Amer Instt Archarology - !!!
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - - !!!
asteroid 1998-OR2 - - - - 1-30
Canarsie line curtailment 0
Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci !!!
Ctr for Science & Society !!!
Central Pk (Great Lawn) - !!!
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - !!!
comet 2019-Y4 - - - - - - 1-30
coronavirus pandemic - - 0
Earth Day fair - - - - - !!!
Earth Institute - - - - - !!!
GC Presents - - - - - - - !!!
Globe at Night - - - - - 14-23
Hayden Plm 'Frontiers' - !!!
Hayden Plm 'Live!' - - - !!!
Instt Stud Ancnt World - !!!
Intrepid Museum - - - - - !!!
*Inwood Astronomy Project !!!
Jupiter Joe's Astronomy - !!!
Natl Musm of Mathematics !!!
NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - !!!
New York Map Society - - !!!
NYU Astrop & Relatvty - - !!!
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar !!!
omega Centauri challenge 1-May 31
SciCafe' - - - - - - - - !!!
Simons Foundation - - - - !!!
SpaceX NYC - - - - - - - !!!
*Top of the Laawn - - - - !!!
Urban Park Rangers - - - !!!
WTC station closings - -- 0
-------------------------------
Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org,
212-608-6164 n
METRO-NORTH - NY
Bear Mountain - - - - - - !!!
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - !!!
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - !!!
Northeast Astronomy form !!!
Rockland Astro Club - - - !!!
Vassar College Obsy - - - !!!
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - !!!
Westchester Amat Astro - !!!
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - !!!
*Amat Astro Inc meeting - !!!
*Amat Astro Inc lecture - !!!
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - !!!
McDowell Observatory - - !!!
Morris Musm Astro Soc - - !!!
New Jersey Astro Assn - - !!!
North Bergen Viaduct - - 0
No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - !!!
No Jersey Astro Gp starvg !!!
Peyton Observarory - - - !!!
Plasma Physics Lab - - - !!!
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm !!!
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr !!!
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - !!!
Schommer Observatory - - !!!
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - !!!
*Sheep Hill Observatory - !!!
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - !!!
Washington Xing St Pk - - !!!
WTC station closings - - 0
-----------------------------
Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
Montclair Telescope Club - 973-948-5284,,
users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.htm
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
'Science on Screen' - - !!!
'Space Odyssey' exhibit - !!!
York College Observatory !!!
REST OF WORLD
STATEN ISLAND - SI
Coll of Staten Is Obsy - !!!
Great Kills Park - - - - !!!
Staten Is Community TV - !!!
THE BRONX - BX
=============================
Ongoing and continuing events
--------------------------
all day - whole City - MH - coronavirus pandemic
indef duration. Coronavirus spread rapidly thruout genral
population in march with ovr 800 cases in NYC by mid march
2020. Massive cancellations, suspensions, postponements of
events; closings of schools, colleges, stores, malls, sport
arenae, restaurants. Vulnerable people are those for saeasonal
flu and lung illness. Consult medical provider for specific
concerns and treatment.
all day - H&M WTC line - MH - WTC station closings
Thru late 2020. World Trade Center station closes every
weekend to repair tunnels under Hudson River ruined by
hurricane Sandy. Station closes at 00h on each Saturday,
reopens at 05h on following Monday. WTC-bound trains turn at
Exchange Pl station. For service to WTC, use 33 St line to
connect to NYC subways. www.panynj.gov
all day - H&M WTC line - NJ - WTC station closings
Thru late 2020. World Trade Center station closes every
weekend to repair tunnels under Hudson River ruined by
hurricane Sandy. Station closes at 00h on each Saturday,
reopens at 05h on following Monday. WTC-bound trains turn at
Exchange Pl station. For service to WTC, use 33 St line to
connect to NYC subways. www.panynj.gov
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 - MH - night and weekend slowdown
Thru mid 2020. Curtailed service 20h to 05h daily and 20h
Fri-05h Mon on weekends. Trains run single-track thru one
tunnel between Bedford Av statio aand 8th Av terminal. Round-
trip takes about 20 minutes. Other track and tunnel are
closed. Service may change according as progress of work.
Normal two-way service runs 05h-20h on weekdays. www.mta.info.
all day - Canarsie line - BK - night and weekend slowdown
Thru mid 2020. Curtailed service 20h to 05h daily and 20h
Fri-05h Mon on weekends. Trains run single-track thru one
tunnel between Bedford Av statio aand 8th Av terminal. Round-
trip takes about 20 minutes. Other track and tunnel are
closed. Service may change according as progress of work.
Normal two-way service runs 05h-20h on weekdays. www.mta.info.
List of Events
------------
Wed 1 Apr
all day - whole City - MH - asteroid 1998-OR2 flyby
Thru April 30. Asteroid 1998-OR2, #52768, flies by to Earth on
April 29, 0.04 AU, ~6 million km. 10-20 km estd diam. App
magn at proximity ~8.8. Path from Gem, Cnc, Hya, Crt, Cen, to
south horizon. proximity is low in south, requiring extra
observing skills and cler sky. Orbit elements from JPL
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--- epoch | 2020 may 31.0 || inclination | 5.86588 deg
excenty | 0.57308 || lon asc node | 27.01547 deg
semimaj axis | 2.38444 AU || arg perih | 174.56620 deg
mean anomy | 12.10139 deg || perihelion | 1.01595 AU
perih date | 2020 Aor 15.7926 || mean motn | 0.26769 deg/day
period | 1344.85808 day || apohelion | 3.75902 AU
Tesserand-J | 3.286 | orbit prox | 0.015438 AU
------------------------------------------------------------
all dau - whole City - MH - bright comet 2019-Y4
thru April 30. Bright comet 2019-Y4 (ATLAS) is binocular,
maybe bare-eye, target. Path from UMa, Lyn Cam, Per, Tau, to
west twilight. Perihelion comes in daylight. Orbit elements
from JPL
--------------------------------------------------------
epoch | 2020 May 31.0 || excenty 0.99925
semimaj axis | 334.74376 AU || perihelion 2.52851 AU
inclination | 45.38174 deg || asc node | 120.57000 deg
arg perih | 177.40786 deg || mean anomy | 359..98133 deg
perih date | 2020 May 31.0151 || peeriod | 2237006.0761 day
mean motn | 0.00016 deg/day || apohelion | 669.23467 AU
Tesserand-J | 0.453 || orbit prox | 0.63109 AU
---------------------------------------------------------
00:00 - whole City - MH - omega Centauri challenge
Thru 31 May. When cluster ome Cen, NGC5128, is on meridian
it's about 1 deg alt, yet is observable from within NYC.
Requires good observing skills, dark sky, clear horizon.
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/51285139.htm.
Tue 14 Apr
20:30 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise
Thru April 23. NYSkies runs its own Globe at Night exercise in
2019-2020 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
Events Skipped This Month
-----------------------
EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
[SPR] SPRING RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
[???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
[!!! SUSPENDED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS; UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION
--------------------------------------------------------
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 - Musm Moving Imnage - QN - '2oo1:' exhinit
Thru Jul 18. 36-01 35 Av (Astoria). '2001: A space odyssey'.
Props, customes, models, A/V sorts, ephemridalia, posters.
Certain days show '2001: A space odyssey' film. $15 adm, $25
adm +film. www.novingimage.us, 718-777-6888.
all day - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - 'Nature of color' exhibit
Thru 2021 august. 4th floor. Explore light, wavelength,
vision, pigments, radiation, sprctra. $28 adm & exh.
212769-5100, www.ammh.org/exhibitions/color
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 island - LI - clearsky starviewing
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Amat Obsrs Soc. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk.
Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net
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 - 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
=====
09:00 - Suffern - NY - Northeast Astronomy Forum
VISIT THE NYSkies BOOTH
Thru Sun 5 Apr. Rockland Astro Club. SUNY Rockland Coll.
Vendors, dealers, exhibits, demos, talks, food service. $27 =
1-day, $46 2-day. www.rocklandastronomy.com
= = = = =
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. Have GI photo ID for campus security.
www.pppl.gov/events
= = = = =
10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Colloquium series. Rutgers Univ, Busch Campus, Astro & Phys
Lecture Hall. Free. www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium,
732-445-3974+
= = = = =
12:00 - Union Square - MH - Earth Day exhibition
VISIT THE NYSkirs BOOTH
North flank of park. Exhibit booths in tent city, music,
performnaces, demos, crafts, takeaways, food service.
Fre. www.earthdayinitiative.org
= = = = =
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting.
Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org,
suerose@optonline.net
= = = = =
13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin W330. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar
= = = = =
14:00 - Avenues HQ - MH - New York Map Society lecture
11 E 26 St, 17th floor. Various topics about map making,
cartography, geography. Free, adv regn reqd. Have GI photo ID
for caampus security. www.newyorkmapsociety.org,
mapsocietyny@gmail.com
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
= = = = =
15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Greenwich Audubon Center. Free. rickbria@optonline.net,
203-415-6762. astrogreenwich.org
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
15:30 - Upton - LI - Summer Sundays science show
Brookhaven Natl Lab. Small seminar room. 'What is the Higgs
boson hiding?'. Free, have GI photo ID for campussecurity.
631- 344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts
= = = = =
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
= = = = =
16:15 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture
160 5 Av & 21 St. 'The quest for the ideal glass'. Tea 16:15,
lecture 17:00. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654-0066,
ww.simonsfoundation.org
= = = = =
17:00 - 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
17:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - Free Friday show
Pier 86 and ship. Exhibits, demos, talks. Clearsky movies
and starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org
= = = = =
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
18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecruee
15 E 84 St, 5/Madison Av. Various topics on history and
culture of ancient societies. Free, adv regn reqd.
isaw..nyu.edu, isaw@nyu.edu, 212-992-7800
18:00 - Bethpage - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture
Hofstra Univ, Breslin Hall, rm216 . Various topics in
aeronautics and astronautics. 'Observations from the
Apollo LM to the Shuttlre and ISS, and beyond'. Free, $7 opt
pizza-soda, adv regn reqd.718-812-2727, greghomatas@msn.com
18:00 - Shalel Lounge - MH - SpaceX NYC meeting
65 W 70 St, Amsterdam Av. Fiscussion on space industry and
development. Free, opt meal/drink. www.meetup.com/SpaceX-NYC
18;00 - Musm Moving Imnage - QN - 'Science on screen' cinema
36-01 35 Av (Astoria). 'Women on the Moon'. $15.
www.novingimage.us, 718-777-6888.
18:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture
Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell audm. 'Climate, carbon ```
` dioxide, and sea level: Past is prologue'. Free,
845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu, 845-365-8988
18:00 - Amagansett - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy. Amagansett Library. Indoor talk, clearsky
sunviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
18:00 - Columbia University- MH - Ctr for Sci and Soc lecture
Fauerweather Hsll, Rm 513. 'The triumph of scientific
imagination, 1760-1900'. Free,
adv regn reqd. 212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.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 - Hunter College - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture
Hemmerdinger Screening Room. Various topics on archaeology and
anthropology. Free, adv regn reqd. GI photo ID required for
campus security. www.aia-nysociety.org,
info@aia-nysociety.org
18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH -'GC presents' lecture
365 5 Av & 34 St. 'Climate change:The effects on coastal
environments''. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-817-7000,
www.gc.cuny.edu/publicprograms
= = = = =
19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting
Ocean Co Coll, Novins Planetarium. Free.
www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webmaster@astra-nj.org
19:00 - lyndhurst - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Ctr for Enviro & Sci Edu, McDowell Obsy. Free. cancelled
for clouds. Requires climbing narrow spiral stairs into domw.
www.njsea.com/observatory, info@njsea.com, 201-460-1700
19:00 - Patchoque - LI- PubSci show
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Blue Point Brewing Co, 225 W Main St.
'The quantum revolution'. Free, opt meal/drink.
pubsci@bnl.go,vwww.bnl.gov/pubsci,
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
19:00 - Hayden Planetarium - MH - 'Astronomy live!' lecture
Live narrated planetarium show. Enter at 81 St/Cntl Pk W.
$15, adv regn reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
19:00 - Hayden Planetarium - MH - 'Frontiers' lecture
Kayfnamm Thtr. Enter at 81 St/Cntl Pk W. $15, adv regn reqd.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
19:00 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewing
New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. cancelled for
clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117
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
= = = = =
19:15 - 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 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org,
contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net
19:30 - Princeton - NJ - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting
Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, info@princetonastronomy.org
19:30 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg
Central Congregational Church. Free. lhastro.org,
lhastro@gmail.com
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
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
19:30 - Suffern - NY - RRockland Astronomy club meeting
Rockalnd Commty Coll, main bldg. Free.
www.rocklandastronomy.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 Sat 8 Feb
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting
Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
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
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 - Litchfield - CT - Litchfield Hills A A C lecture
White Meml Consrvn Ctr. Free. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. lhaacsec@gmail.com, lhastro.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 - 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
20:00 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for
clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org,
wwestura@optonline.net
20:00 - 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
20:00 - 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
20:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
Pupin Hall, signs to lecture room. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. outreach-admin@astro.columbia.edu,
www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach, 212-854-3278
20:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing
Astrophys Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 718-982-2818,
csivc.csi.cuny.edu/supernove7/files/home.html, 718-892-3259,
irving.robbins@csi.cuny.edu
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,
pparkerrs@cs.com
20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting
Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free.
www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com,
www.asliclub.org
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 - 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 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture
Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
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
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 - Way Station Pub - BK - Astronomy on Tap meting
683 Washington Av & Prospect Pl (Prospect Hts). Informal
astronomy discussion in pub setting. Free, one drink purchase
reqd. astronomyontap.org/locatons/new-york-city
19:30 - 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 - Bear Mountain - NY - clearsky starviewing
Rockland Astro Club. Anthony Wayne Rec Area, picnic field.
Free, cancelled for clouds. www.rocklandastronomy.com
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 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing
No Jersey Astro Gp. Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall.
Free, cancelled for clouds. njastro.org, 973-655-7266
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting
Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free.
njastro.org, 973-655-7266 jjj
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 - 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,
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture
Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing.
starviewing also called off for outdoor temp < -6C.
203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org
info@stamfordmuseum.org
20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture
McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org, 860-354-1595,
mccarthyobservatory@gmail.com
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing
MEETS ONLY DURING CLASSES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
= = = = =
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
20:30 - 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
= = = = =
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing
MEETS ONLY DURING CLASSES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Vassar College, Observatory. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
General news
----------
This April 2020 NYC Events shows the catastrophic collapse of home
astronomy in the NYSkies region precipitated by concerns about the
/coronavirus. Starting in early March, event after event was called off
for the rest of March and later. At first here were occasional
cancellations but the pace ramped up rapidly during the month.
Most home astronomy events were shut down when their host venue
closed the premises. NYSkies cancelled its march 20 Seminar when host
McBurney House closed on March 16 due to cornnavirus.
In some cases the host closing was part of a general civil order to
suspend large gatherings, like meetings, lectures, exhibitions,
starviewings.
On March 20 NYS Gov Cuomo put out a stay-home order. All remAining
open public activities, businesses, gatherings thruout the state must
close down. Certain businesses with survival products and services
are exempt. order went into force on the 23ed but most stores and
services were closing sown during rest of the 20th.
NJ Gov Murphy on March 21 ordered all nonessential operations and
gatherings in state to cease. Order took effect on March 22. Events
bypassed by earlier restrictions were then closed down.
CT Gov Lamonr ordered on March 22 all nonessential operations and
gatherings in state to cease. Order took effect on the 23rd. All
previously scheduled events were closed.
I dropped the entry for the measles epidemic. it seems to be under
control and is now totally supplanted by the coronavirus pandemic.
City News
-------
On March 1 NYC Dept of Health reported first known NYC case of
Coronavirus. A manhattan woman returning from health service in Iran
developed the disease and is confined to her home for the duration.
She is under general virus treatment and, as at early March, is
recovering.
many airlines on March 1 posted flight restrictions to cities and
countries with significant coronavirus cases.Discuss with your airline
for alternate plans if you were going to infected places.
First death in NYC associated with coronavirus reported on March
14. Un-IDed 82YO woman went to hospital for other medical conditions
and was found to have the virus.
By March 27 NYC recorded about 25,000 coronavirus cases with about
250 deaths. Mortality rate is quite 1% due to better reporting and
testing of virus patients and is consistent with previous flu-ike
infections. Both cases and deaths are expected to continue rising in
April.
On Mar 7 NYS Gov Cuomo declared state of emergency, letting for
coronavirus. This lets state/local agencies impose rules to combat the
disease without normal review and approval process.
NY State on March 9 became the most coronavirus-infected state in
US when cases grew to 1,30. Most are in NYSkies region! Fatality rate
subsided, likely from public awareness and quicker medical treatment.
The United Nations closed its Manhattan campus on March 10 from
coronavirus. All assemblies, meetings, conferences, visitor services,
tours are called off. UN delegates and staff conduct business remotely
by telcomms with restrained face-to-face dialog. Pavilions remain
softly illuminated at night but all gates are locked.
NYskies Astronomy Seminar on mar 6 examined blackbody radiation.
We learned how duCahtelet found common features of light and heat in
1740s and how Fraunhofer sketched a brightness profile for the Sun's
spectrum. We saw early efforts to explain radiation from heated
objects. The specimina were sooted over to remove surface effects,
giving the term 'blackbody'. There was no success under 1880s-1890s
physics. Planck in 1900 developed the quantum theory that fully
described blackbody radiation and binded energy, wavelength, and
frequency together. As industry and science explored various zones of
radiation, preference for one or an other parameter grew. We today use
that from legacy, career, habit. Optical radiation is usually worked
in wavelength, radio waves in frequency, UV and x-ray in energy. We
saw that in everyday life we experience quantization with electricity.
Altho we use electricity as a bulk or mass flow of energy, we know it
is a flow of electrons. The energy flow is the 'strength' of
electricity times the electricity current, (energy/electron) * (
electron/second). Planck explained the blackbody radiation as
(energy/quantum)*(quantum/second). He added in functions of
temperature and wavelength to properly duplicate the blackbody energy
profile. We compared the sun and star energy profile with blackbody
curves, seeing that these objects radiate from their temperature. The
realization that temperature is the driving force of a star's radiant
energy firmed up the spectral classes in the alphabet sequence
'OBAFGKM', from hot to cool. We saw in star spectra how the line
structure changed with temperature. Each temperature excite star's
atoms to yield sets of line indicative of that temperature. We learned
that Planck radiation comes with two simple formulae, Wien and stefan-
Boltzmann. The former relates the wavelength of maximum energy, the
crest or peak of the radiation profile, to temperature. This method
works for stars with clean profiles, not cut up with spectral lines.
The latter relates the total energy from a blackbody with temperature.
This is a strong power function such that hotter object radiate more
strongly than cooler ones. From the S-B formula we learned how to
estimate the size of stars. We stepped thru the procedure. From the
star distance and received illumination we work out the emitted
limination by the inverse square law. From he spectrum, thru its lines
or blackbody profile, we get the temperature. Putting the radiation
and temperature in the S-B formula yields the surface area of the
star Area is the square of the radius or diameter. We checked this
with an HR Diagram. Stars in the lower left are hot but dim. These
have small areas to radiate little energy and are the 'dwarf' stars.
stars in the upper right are cool but brilliant. They put out little
energy and need large area to produce the high luminance. These stars
are large, 'giants' and 'supergiants'/ We examined illustrations of
dwarfs and giants and one of Betelgeuse. That star, by direct imaging,
is about as big as the orbit of Jupiter! We winded down with pictures
of various blackbody objects, such as humans and planet Earth, and the
cosmic microwave radiation. This is the first radiation to travel thru
space after the bigbang and is almost a precisely perfect blackbody.
it started around 300,000 years after the bigbang with 3,000K
temperature. On its way to Earth for 13 billion years it was stretched
with Hubble expansion to the 3K we observe today. We looked at a major
booboo in astronomy. We observe almost entirely in optical
wavelengths, yet stars send out energy in all wavelengths. We
compensate for this missing energy with a bolometric correction or
fluff factor. But we routinely apply the radiation formulae to just
the iptical portion of the blackbody profile. We saw how blackbody
curves are unique for each temperature such that knowing any two
points on one fixes its temperature. We do this by imaging the source
in a blue and visual band and comparing the two reading with standard
Planck profiles to get the source temperature. Takeawys were
fistorical illustrations of radiation, Planck quantum formula,
blackbody formulae, example blackbody profiles, sample spectra,
skeleton HRD, illustrations of star size, color index and bolometric
correction diagram, example blackbody radiation sources.
NYC Sci & Rngg fair on mar 8 was decimated by superimposed
causes.. About half of fair crew, Citi Field staff, judges were absent
from coronavirus concerns, missing start of Daylight Savings Time,
closure of field's train station for track work. Many students missed
fair because their schools were closed from virus infection. Judges
were assigned up to ten projects to cover the shortfall. Public
viewing of exhibits was cancelled on the spot.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar for March 20 was cancelled because
McBurney House, where we meet, shut down on march 16 for coronavirus
concerns. Topic was a preview of the spring stars over the City. This
can be handled in April if meetings are resumed then.
Sky News
------
March 2020 was a poorer month for stargazing with most nights
clouded or hazed over. Globe at Night, mar 14-24 recorded mostly
cloudy skies. This frustrated GaN observers who wanted to capture
effect of coronavirus closings on sky transparency. On the few clear
nights many observers did note the sky was darker with more dim stars.
Several observers noticed the Moon on Feb 29 looked ragged. Outer
edge of her crescent was smooth and round, being the limb. Inner edge,
terminator, by eye was rough. Binoculars revealed terminator had
seemingly extra relief than normal.
Recent comet 2019-Y4, ATLAS, may be a bright eVening comet in
April. It is in high sky at nightfall, then rounds perihelion on May
31 in daylight. It'll be a binocular feature and perhaps rising into
bare-eye view. See April 1st.
Earth Hour in NYSkies was clouded out. Some parts of region had
light rain. Observers noted that, on the clouds, there were no
hotspots over nearby business/retail districts! Outdoor lighting was
already drasticly reduced by the stay-home orders of NY, NJ, CT, with
little practical further reduction.
Some observers got their first good sight of Mars in predawn of
March 18. He was in convention with Jupiter and Moon. On days before
and after the 18th Jupiter and mars were in conjunction with Moon well
away from them. Due to erratic cloudy weather most observers got just
one view.
Asteroid 1998-OR2, #52768, passes close to Earth on April 29 at ~6
million km near its opposition. Altho some asteroid flybys occur in
April 2020 this one is by a extra large rock. Diameter is 10-20 km
diameter. 52768 stays dim, requiring good observing skill and mid-
size scope. Proximity occurs when asteroid is leaving view beyond
south horizon. See April 1.
During the stay-home period in NYSkies observers remarked on the
absence of glow-domes above nearby retail/business districts. When
stores and offices were shut down, they turned off most of their
outdoor lighting. On the few clear nights the sky had substantially
more stars than normal for the same weather conditions.
NYSkiers missed the First Crescent of Nisaan on March 25. Sky was
cloudy. 14 days later, Nisan 15, is Full Moon and Passover. Easter is
the Sunday after this Full Moon, April 12.