NYSkies
Astronomy Inc |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
NYC EVENTS FOR MARCH 2019
------------------------
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
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 from 2019 March 1 to 9 are Eastern Standard Time. All
hours from March 10 and out are Eastern Daylight Savings Time (UT -
5h).
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.
c '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
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- -----
-24 -25 -(26. -27 -28 1# 2 17: 48 EST
3 4 5 .6. 7 8 9 17: 56 EST
10 11 12 13 .14) 15# 16 189 04 EDST
17 18 19 (20) 21 22 23 19:11 EDST
24 25 26 (27. 28 29 30 19:18 EDST
31 +1 +2 +3 +4 +.5#. +6. 19:26 EDST
------------------------------------------------
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 - - - SPR
Caro Comumity Center - - 13
Secret Science Club - - - 0
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - 20
Astro Soc of Greenwich - 3
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 26
Bowman Observatory - - - 6, 20
*Litchfield Hills AAC mtg 8
*Litchfield Hills starvg - 22
*McCarthy Observatory - - 9
New Pond Farm - - - - - - 9
Stamford Observatory - - 1, 8, 15, 22 , 29
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 16
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - 6, 13, 20, 27
Western CT St Univ Obsy - SPR
*Westport Astro Soc mtg - 19
*Westport Astro Soc starvg 6, 13, 20, 27
-------------------------
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933,
www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amateur Observers Soc - - 3
*Amat Obsrs Soc starviewing 0
Amer Instt Aero & Astro - ???
Astro Soc of Long Island 6, 13, 20, 27
Brookhaven National Lab - ???
Custer Institute - - - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 3
Montauk Observatory - - - 1
SUNY Stony Brook - - - - 1
*Susan Rose Observatory - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
MANHATTAN - MH
*Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0
*Amat Astro Assn lecture 1
Amer Instt Archarology - 14
Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci 6, 27
Ctr for Science & Society 13
Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 1,2,3,8,9,10,15,16,17,22,23,24,29,30,31
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 1, 15, 29
Cornelia Street Cafe' - ???
Daylight Savings Time - - 10
Earth Institute - - - - - ???
Globe at Night - - - - - 1-7, 27-Apr 5
Good Housekeeping lab - 8
Gullivarr's Gate- - - - - 0
Instt Stud Ancnt World - 12
Intrepid AstroCafe' - - - SPR
Intrepid Astro Night - - SPR
*Inwood Astronomy Project 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Natl Musm of Mathematics 6
NY Academy of Sciences - SPR
NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 0
NYC Sci & Engg Fair - - - 3
NY History of Science - - 13
New York Map Society - - 19
NYU Astrop & Relatvty - - 5, 12, 19, 26 5, 12, 19, 26
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 1, 15
Pi Day -- - - - - - - - 14
SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 6
Simons Foundation - - - - 13
Top of the Lawn - - - - - 1,2,3,8,9,10,15,16,17,22,23,24,29,30,31
TriState computer fair - - 0
Urban Park Rangers - - - - 0
WTC station closings - - - 0
---------------------------
Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org,
212-608-6164 n
METRO-NORTH - NY
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 8
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - ???
Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - 17
Rockland Astro Club - - - ???
Vassar College Obsy - - - 6, 13, 20, 27
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 2
Westchester Amat Astro - 1
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - 12
*Amat Astro Inc meeting - 1, 8, 22
*Amat Astro Inc lecture 15
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 8
Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 14
New Jersey Astro Assn - - 23
North Bergen Viaduct - - 0
No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - 13
No Jersey Astro Gp starvg 7, 21, 28
Peyton Observarory - - - 6
Plasma Physics Lab - - - 1, 15
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm 6, 13, 27
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr 7, 14, 28
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 7
Schommer Observatory - - 14, 21, 28
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 1
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 15
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - SPR
Washington Xing St Pk - - SPR
WTC station closings - - 0
---------------------------
Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
McDowell Obsy - mec.rst2.edu, 201-460-8300
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
s QUEENS - QN
Alley Pond Park - - - - - SPR
York College Observatory 13
REST OF WORLD
STATEN ISLAND - SI
Coll of Staten Is Obsy - SPR
Great Kills Park - - - - 30
Staten Is Community TV - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
THE BRONX - BX
=============================
Ongoing and continuing events
--------------------------
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, 3
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 - 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 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 - 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,
ist of Events
------------
Fri 1 Mar
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
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,
18:15 - 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: POLARIS AND THE CEPHEIDS
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,
www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach, 212-854-3278
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org,
contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net
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 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting
Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
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
19:30 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting
Pace Univ, Lienhard Hall, Free.
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org
19:30 - Southampton - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy. SUNY Southampton, Chancellors Hall. Indoor talk,
clearsky starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.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
20:00 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise
Thru Mar 7. NYSkies runs its own Globe at Night exercise in
2018-2019 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.
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture
Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing.
203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org
info@stamfordmuseum.org
Sat 2 Mar
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Sun 3 Mar
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting.
Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org,
suerose@optonline.net
14:00 - City College - MH - NYC Science & Engineering Fair
Shepard Hall. Hundreds of projects exhibited by NYC high N
school students on all sciences and technology. Free.
collegenow.cuny.edu/sc
15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Greenwich Public Library. Free with musm adm.
rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762, astrogreenwich.org
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 Mar 1
Tue 5 Mar
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 6 Mar
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
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 starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
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 - 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
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com,
www.asliclub.org
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,
845-437-7340
Thu 7 Mar
13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin 401. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar
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 8 Mar
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
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
19:30 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg
Central Congregational Church. Free.
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Mar 1
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Mar 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Mar 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Sat 9 Mar
19:00 - 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,
mccarthyobservatory@gmail.com
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Mar 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 2
Sun 10 Mar
02:00 - whole City - MH - Daylight Savings Time starts
Set clocks AHEAD, FORWARD one hour. Most people do this when
they go to bed on the previous night so they wake up at the
new time. The hour 02:00 thru 02:59 does not exist. The minute
after 01:59 is 03:00.
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Tue 12 Mar
14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Mar 5
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
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 13 Mar
10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Mar 6
13:0 - Carro Community Center - BK - astronomy lecture
3000 Filmore Av & Nostrand Av (Marine Pk). 'Mahattanhenge'.
Fre. 646-552-6640
17:00 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture
160 5 Av & 21 St. 'Hunting for daek matter with the Xenon
Project'. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654-0066,
ww.simonsfoundation.org
18:00 - New York University- MH - Ctr for sci and Soc lecture
Galatin Hall, 1 Washington Pl, Rm 801 'Renaissance
geomtery: Platonic solids'. Free, adv regn reqd.
212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.edu
18:00 - New York University- MH - NY Hist of Sci lecture
Galatin Hall, 1 Washington Pl, Rm 801 'Renaissance
geomtery: Platonic solids'. Free, adv regn reqd.
212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.edu
19:30 - 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 starviewing - see Mar 6
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Mar 6
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
Thu 14 Mar
all day- whole City - MH - Pi Day
Also July 22. Reflect and contemplate about the number 'pi'.
Dates are rough value of 'pi', 3.14 and 22/7. Ask at local
astronomy center for possible festivities and celebrations.
13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Mar 7
18:30 -ISAW - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture
15 E 84 St. Various topics on archaeology and anthropology.
Free, adv regn reqd. www.aia-nysociety.org,
info@aia-bysociety.org
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
20:30 - 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 15 Mar
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see Mar 1
18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: GOOD-BYE WINTER, AND GOOD-BYE MILKY WAY
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 - see Mar 1
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Mar 1
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 Mar 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for
clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org,
wwestura@optonline.net
Sat 16 Mar
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 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Mar 2
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 2
sun 17 Mar
14:00 - Airmont - NY - science show
Ramapo Challenger Ctr, 225 Rt 29. Multimedia
imulation of space missions. $20., director@lhvcc.com,
845-257-3416, ramapoparks#ramapo.org,
www.ramapoparks.org,
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Tue 19 Mar
14:00 - NYPL 42nd St branch - MH - New York Map Society lecture
Various topics about map making, cartography, geography.
Free, adv regn reqd. www.newyorkmapsociety.org,
mapsociety@ny@gmail.com
14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Mar 5
20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
Wed 20 Mar
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 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Mar 6
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
Thu 21 Mar
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 7
20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng - see Mar 14
fri 22 Mar
19:00 - Litchfield - CT - Litchfield Hills A A C lecture
White Meml Consrvn Ctr. Free. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. lhaacsec@gmail.com, lhastro.org
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Mar 1
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Mar 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Mar 1
Sat 23 Mar
19:00 - 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
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Mar 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
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
Sun 24 Mar
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Tue 26 Mar
14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Mar 5
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
Wed 27 Mar
10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Mar 6
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Mar 6
20:00 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise
Thru Apr 5. NYSkies runs its own Globe at Night exercise in
2018-2019 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 .
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Mar 6
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 6
Thu 28 Mar
13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Mar 7
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 7
20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng - see Mar 14
fri 29 Mar
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Mar 1
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Mar 1
20:0:0 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Mar 1
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Mar 1
Sar 30 Mar
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 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Mar 2
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Mar 2
Sun 31 Mar
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Mar 1
Events Skipped This Month
-----------------------
EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
[SPR] SPRING RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
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,
19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture
'The nystery of our mathematical universe'. $20. www.nyas.org
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
19:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - astronomy lecture
Flight deck of ship. Indoor/open air lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org
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
19:30 - 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 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg
UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free.
www.uacnj.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
--------------------------------------
[???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
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
18:00 - 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 - 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
18:30 - Bethpage - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture
Bethpage Public Library. Various topics in
aeronautics and astronautics. 'Nars sample return missiOn'.
Free, optional $5 pizza-soda. 516-458-8593, davidparis@twc.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
20:00 - Bear Mountain - NY - clearsky starviewing
Rockland Astro Club. Anthony Wayne Rec Pk, picnic field. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.rocklandastronomy.com
General news
---------
march is the wake-up month for events hibernating thru the winter.
Please note that the resumption of these events may have new locations
and hours. Also, altho Mach days and dates parallel February's,
monthly events could shift their date in March . Don;t assume they
occur on the same date and day as in february.
the NY Soc of Hist of Sci and Ctr for Sci and Soc have a joint
meeting on March 13th. The two outfits posted separate schedules and I
list the meeting for each. I give a slide show on March 13 at the
Carro Commty Ctr on 'Manhattanhenge'. It's the same one I'll give to
AOS and NYSkies in May. if you are convenient to Marine Pk BK, I'll be
happy to greet you.
Schommer Obsy, Rutgers Univ, has three sessions in march, not the
usual two. They are on the 14, 21, 28.
I heartfully thank you magnificent astronomers for passing notices
of interesting activity in our turf. These are mostly events missing
NYC Events or posted too late for it. I forward the notices to others
via both NYSkies Yahoogroup and our extended distribution list. Know
well that in virtually all cases you should inquire recta mente at the
event contact for details and instructions. You can also put the
notice, in regular text form, no pictures or graphics, laterale mente
into NYSkies Yahoogroup. It's easy to join the group, the simple
instructions are in the preamble of this NYC Events. Please
deliberately read the notice for all of the seven Ws. Fill in any
missing ones or tell otherwise. (OK, 'wow' has two Ws, so there are
really eight.)
Columbia Univ Obsy has three talks in March, not its normal two.
The ones on the 1st and 15th start at 19h; the 29th, 20h.
Welcome back, Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area! it posted its full 2019
schedule of meetings and other activities, with its March meeting on
the 8th. I moved ASTRA into the main list of events.
Cornelia St Cafe' seems to have web trouble again, its page being
blank. It was set to resume its Sunday shows in march but as at issue
time it's in the '???' section.
City news
------
Amazon on 2019 Feb 14 pulled out of plan to move to LIC QN. it was
set to build a new corporate campus, HQ3, nwith NYS and NYC finance
and burocracy breaks. All parties blame each other for the loss of the
project. amazon will expand its other new campus in Arlington VA.
Several NYSkiers attended the UN Holocaust Remembrance show on
January 28-31, 2019. Others at the Feb 1st Seminar mentioned friends
who went. I took in just the events on the 31st and found, by chance!,
Myrna Coffino. The audience numbered about a full thousand, with maybe
more NYSkiers mixed in some where.
Fox-national Geographic on 15 February 2019 put off Dr Tyson's
'Cosmos' 2nd season, to start March 3rd. Company is waiting for
results of inquests on Tyson's alleged sexual misconduct at AMNH.
Reruns of 'Family Guy' fills the time slot.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 1 February 2019 heard reports from
the january 20-21 lunar eclipse. Greg Homatas and Steve Kaue, showed
their photos of the eclipse, noting struggles with strong wind and
deep cold. Joe Fedrick and John Pazmino gave verbal accounts, also
with impediments from cold and wind. We marveled at the news of a
meteor hitting the Moon during the eclipse. Several of us had copies
of web accounts of it, with pictures.The main theme was orientation
and navigation in the sky, a skill that confused newcomers while
watching the eclipse. We compared out view of the ground around us
with that of the celestial sphere. We see a minuscule part of the
spherical Earth, only a few tens of kilometers around us at most. In
the sky we see ideally half of the entire celestial sphere. a map of
the Earth can be faithfully drawn on a flat sheet, even a couple
hundred kilometers wide. a map of the sky on flat sheet shoes severe
distortion if more than about 15 degrees wide. it is at first tough to
relate the distorted map to the sky for star-ID or binocular
browsing.Constellation charts are, like section of Earth, drawn with
north at top. The starmap shows the constellation as it appears on the
local meridian in culmination. when the constellation is off of the
meridian, near rising or setting, it is rotated away from north-up and
can be hard to recognize. We illustrated this effect with scenes of
winter and summer stars at rise, culmination, set times. We studied
the alignment of main stars over the horizon and saw how the line-up
rotates during the motion of the stars across the sky. We carefully
explained the difference between diurnal and seasonal motion, and then
with proper orbital motion of the Moon during the eclipse. The Moon
moved west to east thru the Earth's shadow while she also moved east
to west during the night. We saw how the direction t north, other
compass points, shift as the stars move. In the east north is roughly
45o to left of top. In the west it's 45o right of top. A portrait
chart of stars must be turned, like a wheel, to line up its north to
the north in the sky. It is best to understand that north in the sky
is always toward Polaris, the North Star, regardless where in the sky
we are looking. Polaris is near enough, about 1/4o from the north
celestial pole to mark that point for star browsing. We saw that in
the southern hemisphere there is no bright 'south Star'. astronomers
there box in the south pole among other stars around it. We reminded
that a given aspect of the sky occurs with 365 combinations of date
and hour thruout the year. Many of them are in daylight. To see these
scenes we must choose a date-hour combo falling in nighttime. We noted
that it is easier to follow the sky motions and orientation nowayrars
thru planetarium software. manipulate the sky on screen to see how the
constellations tilt and turn during a night or season. For planets we
may have no choice because of their proper motion thru the zodiac. a
nighttime combo could lose the event we wanted to see. We saw hoe
mixed up directions can be around the North Star, looking north on the
horizon. North is always toward that star, even if point horizontally
or even upward. We stressed that unless the date and hour of a scene
is stipulated, it's best to give locations and motions on celestial
compass, not on the horizon compass. This is crucial if using a polar-
mounted telescope, else the observer can get really lost in space.
John Pazmino related the story of losing his way in Perseus and
tripped on a new star cluster, now the Pazmino Cluster. We explained
that in the sky we can not use linear distances because we have no 3D
view of the stars nor a definite distance away to them. We must employ
only angular measure in degrees. The distance or separation, between
two points in the sky is in degrees of the complete circuit of the
heavens while direction between the points is in degrees around a
compass set on one of the points. In this way we are moving around
like ships at sea. a 'nautical mile' is really one arcminute on the
surface, about 1,800m. We studied several charts of asterisms with 10o
fields to compare with a binocular field. By examining how much of the
chart fits in the binocular field we estimate the angular field of
view. This is written on a tag attached to the optic. Binocs for
sports and landscape use commonly cite their field of view by the
landscape width covered at a fixed distance away, like 150m wide from
1,000m away. The angle, for sky use, is calculated by trig from the
triangle with base at the landscape and apex at the observer.
Takeaways were charts of celestial and horizontal coordinate grids;
winter and summer constellations as the rise, culminate, set;
directions near Polaris as Big Dipper circulates around it; 10o fields
of several asterisms in all seasons.
NYC Transit during February 2019 confirmed its cancellation of the
Canarsie line shutdown, first stated in early January. some details of
line's revised operation are still under study at issue time. Most
planned substitute transit services are called off, such as turning
14th St and WillyB into bus-only corridors and running new express
buses from Canarsie line stations in Brooklyn. Line will run at all
times. Normal service during weekdays, weekend and late night has 20-
min headway. The tunnels will be repaired one at a time while trains
take turns running in the other.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 15 February 2019 heard more lunar
eclipse reports and then took up the main theme of the Hertzsprung-
Russell Diagram. We traced the developments in physics and photography
in the 1880s-1900s that accumulated a large new database of star
properties. We learned that the spectral classes were generated by
temperature thru quantum mechanics and that distances were derived
from photographic measures of parallax. We learned that in open
clusters stars on a graph of apparent magnitude vs spectral class
aligned in a narrow band, from cool dim stars to hot bright ones. We
explained the definition and correspondence of absolute magnitude and
luminosity. And the correspondence between spectral class,
temperature, and color index.. As the author decides, the HRD may have
any combination of these parameters for its axes, a more common set
being absolute magnitude and spectral class. We saw how all stars,
with the known distances, plot mostly in a thin band, some in a group
in upper right, a few scattered in lower left. Qw showed how the
combination of temperature and luminosity yield the star's radius. The
upper right sector of the HRD has giant and supergiant stars. the
lower left corner has dwarfs. the central diagonal band with most of
the known stars is the Main Sequence. By plotting an HRD from various
groups of stars, we get different mixes of plots, giving clue to the
kinds of star in the groups. By plotting members of binary stars on
the HRD we found that along the Main Sequence stars trend in mass from
small at the lower end to massive at the upper. We learned that the MS
is the locus of stars in their hydrogen-burning stars. Stars not
burning hydrogen plot off of the MS, like in the giant and supergiant
sectors. We saw got the MS is cut off as a cluster ages because the
more massive stars, at the upper part of the MS, end hydrogen-burning
and change to othr of-MS energy processes. By stellar modelling we
calculate how long it takes to exhaust hydrogen-burning as a function
of mass. The turn-off point of the MS occurs at the age when stars of
its mass shift to off-MS energy production and is an index of the
group's age. We exploited the MS as a feature of physical laws thruout
the universe. By superposing the MS of a cluster, or galaxy, of
unknown distance over the MS for a standard HRD built from stars of
known distance, we gt an offset of magnitude between the two. This
offset correspomds to the distance of the cluster. As we winded down
we noted that Polaris plots in the giant region and that it and almost
all stars above and right of the MS are variable in radiation output.
An extra treat came from John Gale. He gave each of us a vintage one-
dollar coin with the eagle-on -the-Moon motif. Takeaways were
historical HRDs, modern version, homemade HRD from Observer's Handbook
star catalog, HRDs of assorted star clusters, HRDs with mass and
radius contours, graph of mass-luminosity on the MS, diagram of MS
turn-off points for various ages of cluster, MS offset for remote
cluster;
Two manhole covers blew off, releasing flames into the air, on 16
Feb 2019, evening. Incident was at 50 St & 8 Av, Theater District MH.
No reported injuries, minor damage to facades and windows, nearby
theaters were evacuated. Theater shows were suspended for the night,
reopened during street repairs on the 17th. Cause under study at issue
time.
The Larry Elder radio talk show on 8 Feb 2019 had some astronomy.
In the segment 'Can you beat Curt' a call-in contestant was asked for
the average Earth- Moon distance in miles (~1.6km) without overshoot.
He gave 230,000. Curt, larry's brother, offered 250,000, a bit over.
guest won a 'My Pillow'. Moon averages 384,000km from Earth.
Sky news
------
Night of 9 February 2019 was extra dark and clear. Even with half
Moon, transparency fell to quite 5th magnitude for most of NYC. The
sky was filled wall to wall with small stars in faint constellations.
The Milky Way path, but not the very band,, was easily traced by the
massing up of stars along it. Temp was ~-5C with light breeze.
Many NYSkiers, other astronomers, watched the 2019 Jan 20-21, some
giving reports at the Seminars of 1 and 15 February. All noted the
eclipse as darker than normal, with none of the bright rays or spots
seen in the umbra. maria were vague patches. Telescope users remarked
on a blue fringe on the umbra, a feature missed by bare-eye and
binocular viewers. Those trying photography were hindered by the
Moon's high altitude. Tripods could tilt to the zenith and handheld
cameras shaked from cold and wind. No one visually saw the lunar
meteor, which lasted only an instant with no hope of verifying it.
Astronomers in late 2018 are working with new fix for distance to
Polaris. It came from mid 2018 Gaia DR2 data for binary comes of
Polaris: 131.1pc, 447.1ly. This is in range of prior values with far
tighter precision. Distance is critical to calibrate Cepheid Period-
Luminosity relation.