NYC EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2019

NYSkies Astronomy Inc The support service for home astronomy in New York
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NYC EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2019 -------------------------- John Pazmino NYSkies Astronomy In+c nyskies@nyskies.org wwww.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 Da/ylight 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. 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 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ------ -29 -30 1 2 3 4# .5) 18:32 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18:21 (13) 14 15 16 17 18# 19 18:10 20 .21) 22 23 24 25 26 18:00 .27. 28 29 30 31 +1# +2 17:51 ---------------------------------------------- Index of Events / ------------- * = NASA-JPL Night Sky Network affiliate Date = entry in 'list of events' section '0' = entry in 'ongoing and continuing events' section 'ART',= entry in 'skipped, autumnt resumption' section 'SPR' = entrt in 'skipped, spring resumption' secrion '???' = entry in 'skipped, uncertain resumption' seciton ------- ----------------------------------------------- BROOKLYN - BK Astronomy on Tap - - - - 16 Canarsie line curtailment 0 *Floyd Bennett Field - - - 4 Secret Science Club - - - 0 CONNECTICUT - CT *A S of Gtr Hartford - - 16 Astro Soc of Greenwich - 27 *Astro Soc of New Haven - 29 Bowman Observatory - - - 2, 16 *Litchfield Hills AAC mtg 11 *Litchfield Hills starvwg 25 *McCarthy Observatory - - 12 New Pond Farm - - - - - - 5 Stamford Observatory - - 4, 11, 18, 25 *Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 5 Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Western CT St Univ Obsy - 5, 19 *Westport Astro Soc mtg - 15 *Westport Astro Soc starvg 2, 5, 9, 16, 23, 30 ------------------------- Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933, www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society LONG ISLAND - LI *Amateur Observers Soc - - 6 *Amat Obsrs Soc starviewing 0 Amer Instt Aero & Astro - ??? Astro Soc of Long Island 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Brookhaven National Lab - ??? Custer Institute - - - - 5, 12, 19, 26 Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 6 Montauk Observatory - - - 5 SUNY Stony Brook - - - - 4 *Susan Rose Observatory - 5, 12, 19, 26 MANHATTAN - MH 92nd Street Y - - - - - - 11 *Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0 *Amat Astro Assn lecture - 4 Amer Instt Archarology - 16 Canarsie line curtailment 0 Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci - 16, 23, 30 Ctr for Science & Society ??? Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 4,5,6,11,12,13,18,19,20,25,26,27 City of Science - - - - - AUT *Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 4, 18 Columbus Day - - - - - - 14 Earth Institute - - - - - ??? Good Housekeeping lab - - 11 Gocernors Island - - - - 1-31 Gullivar's Gate - - - - - 0 Hayden Planetarium - - - 7 Instt Stud Ancnt World - 15, 24, 30 Intrepid Museum - - - - - 25 *Inwood Astronomy Project 5, 12, 19, 26 Milky Way fall season - - 1-Nov 30 Natl Musm of Mathematics 2 NY Academy of Sciences - AUT NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 0 New York Map Society - - 19 NYU Astrop & Relatvty - - 8, 22, 29 *NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 4, 18 Observer's Handbook offer 1-indef Open House New York - - - 19-20 SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 2 Simons Foundation - - - - 2 *Top of the Laawn - - - - 4,5,6,11,12,13,18,19,20,25,26,27 TriState computer fair -- 0 Urban Park Rangers - - - 0 Weekend Walks - - - - - - 1-Dec 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 - - - 4 Lamont-Doherty Open House 5 measles epidemic - - - - 0 Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - ??? Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - 21 Rockland Astro Club - - - 5 Vassar College Obsrvatory 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 19 Westchester Amat Astro - 4 NEW JERSEY - NJ A A A of Princeton - - - 8 *Amat Astro Inc meeting - 4, 11, 25 *Amat Astro Inc lecture - 18 A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 11 Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 10 New Jersey Astro Assn - - 26 North Bergen Viaduct - - 0 No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - 9 No Jersey Astro Gp starvg 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Peyton Observarory - - - ??? Plasma Physics Lab - - - 4, 18 Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 *S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 3 Schommer Observatory - - 10, 17 *Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 4 *Sheep Hill Observatory - 48 *Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 5, 12, 19, 26 Washington Xing St Pk - - 4, 11, 18, 25 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 York College Observatory 16 REST OF WORLD STATEN ISLAND - SI Coll of Staten Is Obsy - AUT Great Kills Park - - - - 26 Staten Is Community TV - 4, 11, 18, 25 THE BRONX - BX ============================= Ongoing and continuing events -------------------------- all day - H&M WTC line - MH - WTC station closings s 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 - ehole county - NY - measles epidemic Indef duration. Outbreaks of measles in several counties in NYSkies. Of the 1,000+ cases in US, some 800 are in NYSkies! UN WHO warned that if epidemic continues thru yearend, it will revoke US status as a measles-free country. Most counties offer free measles shots. Consult health provider for precautions and vaccination. 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. 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 stereoprint 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 ------------ Tue 1 Oct all day - whole City - MH - Observer's Handbook offer OPENS The NYSkies offer for the 2020 RASC Onserver's Handbook opens on September 16. The books are printed in mid October for delivery to NYSkies in late October. You better put in your request 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 - 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 all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural shows Thru 31 Oct. Island is open every day, 10h-20h. From May 24 thru Aug 30, Fri-Sat, 10h-22h. Walk and tour thru former military base and new urban park. Shows vary each day or visit by foot or bike. Ferries run every 1/2 hr 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 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 Wed 2 Oct 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+ 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. 'Dark matter heats up in dwarf galaxies Buffet smacks 16:15, lecture 17:00. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654-0066, ww.simonsfoundation.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 19:30 - 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 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com, www.asliclub.org 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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 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 3 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin W330. 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 4 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. 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: AUTUMN STARS, EITH A FEW EXTRA GOODIES 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 19:30 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting Pace Univ, Lienhard Hall, Free. www.westchesterastronomers.org, waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org 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 - 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 - 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 20:0:0 - 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 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 - 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 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. 203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org info@stamfordmuseum.org Sat 5 Oct 10:00 - Palisades - NY - LDEO Open House Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy. Talks, demos, exhibits at world- class geological center. Food service. Free LDEO buses from Teachers College, 120 St & Broadway starting 09:15. Free, 845-365-8634, ldeo.columbia.edu 13:00 - East hampton - LI - astronomy lecture Montauk Obsy. Guild Hall. Indoor talk, clearsky sunviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com 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 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 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewing New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. cancelled for clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117 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 - 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 - 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 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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 Sun 6 Oct 13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting. Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net 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 4 Mon 7 Oct 19:00 - Hayden Planetarium - MH -Frontiers lecture 'Ancuent vokcanoes of Mercury'. In Kaufmann Gall, enter at 77 St, Cntl Pk W/Columbus Av. $15, adv regn reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs ue 8 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 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 9 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 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 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see oct 2 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 2 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - se Oct 2 Thu 10 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 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 3 Thu 12 Sep 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 11 Oct 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;00 - 92nd St Y - MH - astronomy show 1395 Lexington Av, 92 St. ''Conversations with the stars' with Neil Tyson. $55 and up, adv regn reqd. www.92y.org, 212-415-5500 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 - see Oct 4 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Oct 4 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see oct 4 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 Sat 12 Oct 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 Oct 5 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see oct 5 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 5 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 Sun 13 Oct 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 Mon 14 Oct all day - whole City - MH - Columbus Day Please check with event contact for session falling on this day by rule or outdated schedule Tue 15 Oct 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 20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 Wed 16 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 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 18:30 - CUNY Grad Ctr - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture 365 Fifth Av, 34 St.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 19:30 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 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 - 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 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 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see oct 2 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 2 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - se Oct 2 Thu 17 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng - see Oct 10 Fri 18 Oct 10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see Oct 4 18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar DISCUSSION: THE TRANSIT OF MERCURY 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 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Oct 4 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 4 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:0:0 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Oct 4 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net Sat 19 Oct all day - various places - MH - Open House New York show Thru Sun 20 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. 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@ny@gmail.com 18:00 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture - see Oct 5 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 4 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 5 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see oct 5 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Oct 5 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 5 Sun 20 Oct 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, 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 The 22 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see oct 8 Wed 23 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Oct 16 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 2 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see oct 2 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - se Oct 2 Thu 24 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecruee - see Oct 15 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Fri 25 Oct 17:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - Free Friday show Pier 86 and ship. Exhibits, demos, talks. Clearsky movies and starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Oct 4 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Oct 4 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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see oct 4 Sat 26 Oct 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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 4 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see oct 5 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Oct 5 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Oct 5 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 5 Sun 27 Oct 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 4 Tue 29 Oct 14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see oct 8 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 30 Oct 10:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 2 15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Oct 16 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecruee - see Oct 15 20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see oct 2 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 2 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see oct 2 21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - se Oct 2 Thu 31 Oct 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Oct 3 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Oct 3 Events Skipped This Month ----------------------- EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- [AUT] AUTUMN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH -'Ciry of sceince' lecture 365 5 Av & 34 St, Skylight Room. 'Plants, bioiversity, and the survival of the panet'. Free, adv regn reqd. www.gc.cuny.edu/publicprograms 19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture 'The nystery of our mathematical universe'. $20. www.nyas.org 20:30 - 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, -------------------------------------- [???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 11:00 - Upton - LI - Summer Sundays science show Brookhaven Natl Lab. VBldg 490. ]Beoadband radiometry during Earh CARE: An improved solar radiance-to-flux conversion'. Free, have GI photo ID for campus security. 631-344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts 18:00 - Columbia University- MH - Ctr for sci and Soc lecture Fauenweather Hall, Room 513. 'Comparing domains of improvisation'. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.edu 18:00 - Hempstead - 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 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 20:300 - 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 General News ----------By october almost all events dormant is summer are waking up, filling this NYC Events to overflowing. So,e readers seem concerned about the massive oveerlap and conflict of events, specially among those offering a practical choice. Wednesday Friday, Saturday are the most packed days. Monday and Thursday are the lean days. Because each event operator works with its peculiar circumstances, there is no feasible way to get events spaced apart more evenly. Readers from astronomy-poor regions are blown away by NYC Events with its dozens and dozens of star-filled activities each month. One reader beyond NYSkies turf wailed that in her town there is one -- ONE -- astro-event per month. It's a half-hour planetarium show and the facility is closed until the next month. Simons Foundtn continues its orgy of astronomy talk that started in September 2019. The next one on Oct 2 covers dark matter. Be sure to sign up early because Simons lectures fill up quickly. See Oct 2. westport astro Soc has an extra observing session for 'Observe the Moon' night on Sat 5 Oct. Its other sessions are on the normal Wednesday nights. Please mind the Amer Instt Archaeology and NY Map Society meet in different places for each session. Some may ask for ID for entry. It's a good plan to carry such ID with you all the time for other unexpected incidents. I had mine when i was offered a discount at a store in late September. I like your phone calls and emails asking about an event. I do remind that the latest official news must come from the event operator or sponsor. My info at the instant may be out-of-date. Please inquire recta mente at the contact for each event. Yes, if the contact is ediurnate, tell me so I can get a current valid one for next month's NYC Events. The AOS meeting on Oct 6 features John Pazmino on the current Venus evening star show. The talk is a slideshow version of our Sep 6 Seminar. Mind that the free shuttle bus from Hofstra to the LIRR Hempstead station does not run on the 6th, Sunday. Use a taxi at the station to get too Berliner Hall on the campus for the meeting.. Events for Open House New York are scattered all over the City with many running at the same time. Study the event schedule and plan your travels carefully. You likely will do three or four events on each day. See Oct 19. 1Hayden Plm starts its fall 'Frontiers' series on Oct 7. Plm's other series 'Live!' at issue time didn't yet post its dates. Lamont-Doherty Onsy Open House on oct 5 is a must-do show. Until a couple years ago the trip to L-D from the City was clumsy by public transport. L-D now has free buses between Teachers Collg, 120 St & Bway/Amsterdam Av, and the observatory. they run half-hourly all day. Neil Tyson beings her toad show 'Conversations with the stars' to 92nd St Y on Oct 11. Tickets are theater-priced, yet they sell out quickly. Governors Island winds down its 2019 season on 31 October. Every one I spoke with tell me their visit was, uh, heavenly. With autumn twilight coming in the late hours of each session, you may try some starbrowsing with totable scope or binoculars. City News ------- On September 6 NYS Gov Cuomo released pulbic vote for replacing vehicle licence plate. The winning design, with ~60% of the35,000 votes. has stylized pix of Niagara Falls, Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty, Montauk lighthouse. Motorists in 2020 will not have to buy the new plate for $25. They in the stead pay $25 to inspect the current plate for continued function. Only if the plate is out of spec will the new plate, for $25, be required. not 'Eclipsed time' is eclipsed! In early September workers in the LIRR depot removed the ceiling clock that simulates solar eclipses. It repeatedly broke down within months after unveiling in 1994 . The light and motors we unhooked and the clock was regarded as a static artpiece.. 'Eclipsed time' was the first stop on the Amat Obsrs Soc;s 'City of stars' walking tour. No news yet on its status, discarded or preserved. NYC Mayor deBlasio quit his presidential quest on 20 September. he achieved a full zero-percent favor in most voter polls and attracted fully a million dollars in funds. He said hr will finish out his dedication to the City. His wife Charlane may try to succede him. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on Sep 6 had lower attendance from brief heavy rain in late afternoon. We on hand studied the current apparition of Venus, from mid August to next June. We compared the Venus cycle around the zodiac with that of the superior planets and Mercury. Mercury and Venus stay within a confined range of elongation from the Sun while the other planets can roam thru all angles from him. We saw how 'inferior' 'superior' came about from early models of the universe. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn moved slower in the zodiac than the Sun and were plausibly farther away, higher up, the Sun to be superior to him. Mercury and Venus moved faster than sun, placing them under, lower then, the Sun as inferiors. We saw how early astronomers at first thought Venus was two planets, one for the evening show; other, morning. We for this meeting looked at only the instant evening show, leaving the following morning show for a later session. We noted that some observers still treat the evening and morning segments as two apparitions; others, both as parts of one. The apparition, for this session, starts at the superior, farther, conjunction with the Sun and runs to the next one. Halfway, when crossing from evening to morning sky, Venus passes inferior, nearer, conjunction. We examined orbit and sky scenes of Venus at sample dates in the apparition to learn how the phase an angular size vary with the planet's location relative to Earth and Sun. We found that Venus takes about seven months to reach her greatest east elongation but only two to zoom from there to inferior conjunction. In fact, for the rest of 2019 Venus is a bland globe in the telescope, mostly as a full disc on small size. she does pass by other planets, as markers for them in twilight. In February 2020 Venus is getting into gibbous phase, half phase in late March, and waning crescent thenafter. In all phases there is no definite details on the disc because Venus is blanketed by dense opaque reflective atmosphere. any markings discerned are shading and relief in the clouds. We followed a typical phase change, seeing that when the crescent is thin, the horns bleed into the night side. Sunlight is diffused thru the Venus atmosphere beyond the geometric tips of the horns. In extreme cases the just before inferior conjunction the horns rap all around the planet to create the rare 'ring of Venus'. A more subtile effect occurs near maximum elongation, which should be also the exact half-moon phase. the atmosphere diffuses light into the dark side to delay the optical half-moon shape by several days or a week. For those with exquisite eyesight Venus may show a crooked line when she is a thin crescent. We found that at inferior conjunctions when Venus is several degrees north of the Sun, we could at dusk see her as an evenings tar and in the following dawn as a morning star. We discussed a possible trick, given a dark room when Venus is in a night sky, like in next spring. Letting her light shine thru a covered up window, but for a hole in it, shadows of the room fixtures could be seen. John Pazmino saw this a couple times when Venus was a morning star. He saw his own shadow on ground during an evening star at the Winter Star Party in the 1990s. He never observed Venus shadows from his home in evening, likely due to excessive street lights and lack of dark vision. We learned about synodic and sidereal periods. In modern terms, the sidereal period is the time to complete a full circuit of the planet's own orbit. Synodic is the time, as seem from Earth, to complete one round of elongations, like superior conjunction to conjunction. We saw from diagrams and tables that Venus completes five synodic rounds in almost exactly eight years. Recall that a 'year' is the sidereal period of Earth is her orbit, the Babylonians exploited this, and similar matches for other planets, to compile tables of position that repeat after the appropriate number of years. We recalled the 19-year cycle for the Moon, used for predicting eclipses and moon-skip. We saw that with a simple extra maths step the Babylonians had almost in hand the correct value for the planet's sidereal period, which they had no inkling of. We discussed 'greatest brilliancy', recalled by our elders. It was invented in 1920s to give the date Venus is at brightest as founded on essentially negligible knowledge of optical behavior of Venus atmosphere. In 2005 it was replaced by 'maximum lighted area' or similar, as the greatest amount of sun-lighted portion of the disc. The dates of the two are only a day or two apart, causing no major adjustment in observing programs.We saw that each Venus apparition occurs in a different part of the zodiac. Each presents. in combination with observer latitude, greater or lesser favorable viewing. In general, Venus offers two poor shows, two average shows, and one really good show. The poor show keeps Venus lose to the horizon, hidden by skyline. Thee good one, like for this year, is considered the last of the set of five apparitions, puts Venus in high sky, in a full night sky. We found that Venus has retrograde loops, not noticed because they occur in bright twilight with no stars in the background. We studied an astrology program's graph of Venus speed, deg/day, and longitude in the zodiac and a geocentric diagram of Venus motion around Earth. Both show the retrograde loop. Takeaways were orbit and phase diagrams, sky and solar system scenes during this evening viewing period, simulation of double inferior conjunction sighting, SOHO satellite picture of Venus inferior conjunction, diagram of extended horns sen at 2004 Venus transit, sky scenes of greatest east elongation for several synodic rounds, calcs of maximum illumination surface, calc of Babylonian cycles and sidereal period. Partial weekday express service on Culver line began Sep 16. Toe uptown F trains run in 07h block. two downtown, 17h. All f trains start and end at Coney Is, but expresses hop to center tracks between Jay St and Church AAv. I uploaded revisions to two pieces in our web: www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/rainb2av.htm www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/pazclus.htm The first adds news about other subway stations sporting rainbows. The second adds discussion of topics related to Pazmino's Cluster. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on September 20 discussed precession of the poles and equinoctes. We learned that precession is the shift in Earth's axis to describe a circle in the sky, both north and south. As the axis moves along it passes near various stars, each in turn becoming the 'north star' for a couple centuries. The complete circuit of the pole takes about 26,000 years. At the same time the Earth's equators slides westward along the ecliptic to pull the celestial Ra- dec gird westward against the stars. To state a star's RA-dec the year must also be given to fix the grid in place.this year is typicly a half-century, like 1900, 1950, 2000.We saw that precession is the reaction of the spinning Earth to the gravity pull of Moon and Sun, that tugs the axis out of its aim similar to the rotation of a spinning top. We peeked at angular motion, noting the correspondence with linear motion. We looked at torque, moment of inertia, angular velocity. the pull of Sun/Moon causes a change in Earth's angular velocity, a vector aligned with the axis. The rotation sped is held constant while the direction of axis shifts. This is the same precession seen in mechanics and machines.We studied scenes of the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox to see how they slide westward across the stars. our modern calendar is founded on the equinox crossing of the Sun so the date remains the same as now. The 'stars of the season' drift eastward at local nightfall. Those of spring now become summer stars in the future and were winter stars in the past. We saw how precession alters the location of stars at rising. Such stars were often used to flag cultural festivals. Sightlines to them were laid out in the skyline or monuments. After several generations the line-up no longer worked and the sightline ws either moved or abandoned.. We examined the rising of Sirius to track the shift in location on the horizon. We examined a diagram of the Great Pyramid whose shafts aimed at several stars, including Sirius, when built. Today the do longer so. We learned that while many ancient cultures suffered from precession, none properly studied it. To them something strange is happening with the stars. Hipparchus was first to describe precesson as a steady increase of ecliptic longitude of the stars because the zero point, vernal equinox, slided westward over time. Ecliptic latitudes remained constant. (RA-dec were not used yet in western astronomy.) Precession can date structures known to align with certain stars. Archaeologists didn't have the tools to compute precession and relied on help from astronomers. By the 1990s desktop computers and astronomy software allowed archaeologists to run sky simulations for themselfs. In some cases they found that certain fables told of real celestial events. One was a convention of planets in 1953BC, thought to be a cultural story. Modern computer modeling showed it really occurred. The model embed precession, allowing a positive dating of structures. We found that precession affects observing over only a couple decades. We studied scenes of Capella and polaris at 50-yr intervals and saw significant changes in their coordinates. We followed a made-up attempt to image a small galaxy in Virgo. the astronomer set up her camera y the galaxy's coords taken from a catalog compiled for the epoch 2000. He picture was empty! The galaxy in 2020 is east of her aim pint and missed her camera field of view. We learned that the Hubble Space Telescope was bitten by precession. HST was completed in about 1980and was loaded with a star catalog, zeroed to 1680. HST was set to orbit on the Shuttle. Shuffling of the payload and the Challenger incident delayed Hubble until 1990. In orbit HST at first missed its targets because it aimed at their1980 positions. An updated catalog was uploaded and all was well. We noted the difference between the tropical and sidereal ear. The former is ganged to our calendar when the Sun crosses the vernal equinox. One tropical year later the crossing, by precession, is a bit west of the first. to complete a sidereal year, the Sun must move along the ecliptic for an other 20 minutes. This is why in planet data the Earth orbital period, its sidereal period, is 1.000... year, not 1 year exactly. We finished with an example of how precession affects machines. We looked at a typical large hydroelectric station with turbine-generators spinning under water pressure. If a dent, imbalance, broken coil occurs, there is a thrust against the spin axis that tries to precess it. Being constrained in it housing the axis can chatter and scout its bearings. Greg Homatas alerted us at the start of the Seminar that ISS flies over the City at about 20:00 EDST. A couple minutes early we stepped outside into 14th St look for it. People passing by asked what up? ISS shot up from buildings across 14 St like a flying star as bright as Venus. It soared overhead and whizzed behind our Seminar hall. The dozen folk with us were awed to see ISS, which they only heard or read about.We also had a lively banter about the Nile River culture and Earth satellite orbits. Takeaways were diagrams of of Earth axis gyration, ecliptic-equator planes slipping, drift of seasonal stars, polaris and celestial pole, vernal and autumnal equinox areas of sky, rising of Sirius, diagram of shafts in Great Pyramid, coord shift for Csapella, simulated imaging of galaxy, diagram and pictures of water power turbine. On 27 Sep NYC DOT won court OK to convert 14th St into a car-free corridor starting on 30 Sep. The plan was repeatedly delayed by opponents. Buses and commercial vehicles will run in the center lanes. and Momentary pick-up/drop-off traffic use curb lanes. Street already has markings and some physical structures, bypassed by all traffic so far.Apprival may be further challenged in October. Sky News ------ September 2019 was a relief from the heavy bouts of rain and cloud so far this year. Many nights started with cloud/rain and cleared up late, or vice versa. Most days were cool and breezy in classical autumn weather. No Milky Way sightings, just good DSO and planet observing. Example of the frustration observers suffer with weather was Sep 6. In late afternoon if rained strongly, discouraging some NYSkiers to pass up the evening Seminar. it stopped raining by the start of Seminar. Rain broke out again shortly after the Seminar and most of us were indoors on trains going home. Rain ended for the night near midnight. In owl hours it cleared up to reveal star-studded sky. refreshing breeze. A few observers noted excellent stargazing, but no Milky Way sightings. Several DSOs stood out clearly,like And Gx, Dbl Cl, Pleiades. In dawn sky clouded over. By late September some observer are catching sight of Venus, skirting horizon after sunset. She is gradually drifting eastward from sun, to reach maximum east elongation in March 2020. Venus is still a small full-moon disc. On Sep 2 a weak,tornado sweeeped thru Manorville LI during brief violent thunderstorm. it touched down at 16:33 EDST, tore up trees and utility poles, ripped off structural fixtures during its 5-min 2-1/2 km path. No reported injuries or deaths. September 2019 had a block of dates whose number sequence was the same frontward and backward. This happened from Sep 10 thru 19. When written in folded short form, we had 9/10/19, 9/11/19, ... ,918/19, 9/19/19. ISS on 20 Sep ~20:00 EDST thrilled observers in NYSkies. It was a flying star soaring SW, overhead, NE. This was the brightest flight of many in mid-late September, equal to Venus. others were magn -1 to -2. Our Seminar took a break to watch this pass. We attracted a dozen people, e who were awed to actually see ISS, not just read and herr about it. A bolide exploded over mohawk Vy and Adirondack area of NYS on Sep 2 ~17:02 EDST. Detonation was heard in VT, QC, PA. In NYskies a strong thunderstorm probably masked the noise. Uranus and Neptune move into evening sky in high sky. Neptune is in aquarius; Uranus, Aries. latter is for binoculars to inspect as a 6th magnitude wandering star. Neptune needs a small scope and detailed finder chart. 'Tribute in light' shined on sep 11 into hazy humid air. For John Pazmino at 21h EDST the beams reached 24.7km where they blended into the sky. Height measurements varied across NYSkies from changing thickness of haze during the night. Beams were tested several times on prior nights but heights seem to be taken only on the 11th.