NYSkies
Astronomy Inc |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
NYC EVENTS FOR AUGUST 2018
-------------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
nyskies@nyskies.org
www.nyskies.org
The following astronomy activities in the commuting ring enclosing
New York City are operated by various organizations. A few cultural
items of special importance to City astronomers are also included.
Altho NYC Events confirms the listed items, they are subject to
change by their sponsors. Check with their contacts. Let the sponsor
know that you learned of its event thru NYC Events.
Frequently asked questions and explanation of NYC Events is at
'www.nyskies.org/nyc-faq.htm'.
You may ask for previous NYC Events thru 'nyskies@nyskies.org'
because only the current issue is in the website. It is replaced by
next month's issue.
For events which missed NYC Events, check the NYSkies Yahoogroup
forum. Join NYSkies by visiting 'www.nyskies.org/yahoo.htm' and
picking either the email or website option.
All hours are Eastern Dayulight Savings Time (UT - 4h) .
General notes
----------- /
'whole City' means the event has no specific or dedicated place.
It may be enjoyed from the whole NYSkies territory or at a number of
individual places. Celestial events are typicly 'whole City' events.
'all day' means the event is continuous or repeating during the
open hours of the host facility. Facilities may have limited hours per
day or days per week. Check with the event contacts.
'adv regn reqd',for 'advance registration required/requested'
means that the event requires or requests signing up before the event.
You must have your ticket in hand at the gate. There could be a
deadline some days before the event, after which no more signups are
accepted. Check with the event contact for specifics.
Prices cited are the 'rack rate'. You could qualify for discounts
As may be offered by the sponsor. Besides the base price there may be
noptional extra fees to consider.
Current Month calendar
--------------------
Plain dates are in current month;
-, previous month; +, next month.
Moon phase: .NM., .FQ), (FM), (LQ.
Sunset is noted for each Saturday
---------------------------------
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat sunset
-----------------------------------------------
-29 - 30 -31 1 2 3 (4. 20:08
5 6 7 8 9 10 .1. 19:59
12 13 14 15 16 17 .18) 19:50
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 19:39
(26) 27 28 29 30 31 +1 19:28
------------------------------------------------
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
*Floyd Bennett Field - - - S/O
Secret Science Club - - - 0
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - S/O
Astro Soc of Greenwich - S/O
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 28
Bowman Observatory - - - 1, 15
*Litchfield Hills AAC mtg 10
*Litchfield Hills starvg - 17
*McCarthy Observatory - - 11
New Pond Farm - - - - - - 4
Stamford Observatory - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 18
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - S/O
Western CT St Univ Obsy - S/O
*Westport Astro Soc mtg - 21
*Westport Astro Soc starvg 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, 22, 29
-------------------------
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933,
www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amateur Observers Soc - - S/O
Amer Instt Aero & Astro - S/O
Astro Soc of Long Island 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Brookhaven National Lab - 5
Custer Institute - - - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - S/O
Montauk Observatory - - - 3, 10
SUNY Stony Brook - - - S/O
*Susan Rose Observatory - 4, 11, 18, 25
MANHATTAN - MH
*Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0
*Amat Astro Assn lecture - S/O
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - 1
Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci S/O
Ctr for Science & Society S/O
Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 3,,10,11,12,17,18,19,24,25,26,31
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - S/O
Cornelia Street Cafe' - - ???
Earth Institute - - - - - ???
Good Housekeeping lab - 10
Governor's Island - - - - 1-Oct 31
Gullicar's Gate - - - - - 0
Instt Stud Ancnt World - S/O
Intrepid AstroCafe' - - - S/O
Intrepid Astro Night - - 3 / *Inwood Astronomy Project 4, 11, 18,
25
Jupiter Joe Sidewk Astro 0
Natl Musm of Mathematics 1
NY Academy of Sciences - ???
NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 0
New York Univ Astro - - - S/O
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 3, 17
SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 1
Science & the Arts - - - ???
Simons Foundation - - - - S/O
Summer Streets -- - - - - 4, 11, 18
Top of the Lawn - - - - - 3,,10,11,12,17,18,19,24,25,26,31
TriState computer fair - 0
Unitrd Nations - - - - - 22-23
Urban Park Rangers - - - 0
Weekend Walks - - - - - - 1-mid Dec 2018
----------------------------
Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org,
212-608-6164 n
METRO-NORTH - NY
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - S/O
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 10
Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - 19
Rockland Astro Club - - - 18
Vassar College Obsy - - - S/O
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 4
Westchester Amat Astro - S/O
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - S/O
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - ???
*Amat Astro Inc meeting - 33, 10, 18, 24, 31
*Amat Astro Inc lecture - S/O
Joint Base Centennial - 0
Morris Musm Astro Soc - - S/O
New Jersey Astro Assn - - 25
No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - S/O
No Jersey Astro Gp starvg S/O
Peyton Observarory - - - 8
Plasma Physics Lab - - - 3, 17
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm S/O
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr S/O
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - S/O
Schommer Observatory - - 9, 23
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 3
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 17
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 4, 11, 18, 25
Washington Xing St Pk - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
---------------------------
Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
McDowell Obsy - mec.rst2.edu, 201-460-8300
Montclair Telescope Club - 973-948-5284, bischoff@garden.net,
users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.hrm
NW Jersey Amat Astro - www.nwjaa.org, info@nwjaa.org
Passaic Co Astro Assn - www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024
*Raritan Vy Co Coll Plm - www2.raritanval.edu/planetarium
Skyland Stargazers - skylandstargazers.tripod.com
QUEENS - QN
Alley Pond Park - - - - - S/O
York College Observatory S/O
REST OF WORLD
Summer Star Party - - - - 10-19
STATEN ISLAND - SI
Coll of Staten Is Obsy - S/O
Great Kills Park - - - - 11
Staten Is Community TV - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
THE BRONX - BX
=============================
Ongoing and continuing events
--------------------------
all day - whole state - NJ - Joint Base centennial shows
VARIOUS LOCATIOONS ND TIMES; INQUITR AT CONTACT
Thru 2018 Oct 31. 100th annivesaty if Fort Dix and later
worls of McGuire AFN and Lakehurst NAS. These are only
military facilityies jointly run by all three major branches,
army, air force, navy. Events staged at or near bases. Most
ree, some pay. www.nj.gov/state/historical/index.html,
609-292-6062, Feedback@sos.nj.gov
all day - whole City - MH - cultural tour
VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND TIMES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
NYC-H2O. Walk, bike, ride thru history and culture of NYC
muwater system facilities and natural waterways in and near
the City. Events are pay orfree, adn regn reqd. Bike tours
need own bike. www.nych2o.org,
matt@nych2o.org
all day - whole City - MH - clearsky starviewing
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Amat Astro Assn. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk.
Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
president@aaa.org, 718-522-5014, www.aaa.org
all day - whole City - MH - clearsky starviewing
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Jupiter Joe's Sidewalk Astronomy. Sessions convene in parks
usually at dusk. Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. `
Cancelled for clouds. www.jupiterjoesastronomy.org,
jupiyerjoesastronomy@gmail.com
all day - Gullivaer's Gate - MH - cultural exhibit
indef duration. 216 W 44 St, 7/8 Av. Opened in mid April 2017
for preview. Miniature models of landmarks and important
structures from around the world. Rooms arranged by quarter of
world and for New York City. $36, timed ticket, adv regn reqd.
Optional cost for stereopint of visitor into figurine placed
at desired item in exhibit. www.gulliversgate.com.
all day - whole City - MH - cultural tours & lectures
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Urban Park Rangers. Tours of parks, landmarks, nabes, hoods.
Lectures on history and culture of NYC. Program varies each
month. Free. www.nyc.gov/parks
10:00 - whole City - MH - Tri-State Computer Fair
VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GENERALLY ON SUNDAYS
Source of computer systems, software, components, accessories.
$7. www.tri-statefairs.com, 718-227-5586
20:00 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting
OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
149 7 St, 2/3 Av. Lecture and music on various science
topics. Free. secretscienceclub.blogspot.com, 718-638-4400,
List of events
---------
Wed 1 Aug
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural shows
FERRY IS FREE FOR FIRST WEEK, MAY 1-6, THENAFTER $2 RT
Thru 31 Oct. Island is open on every day, 10h-20h weekdayss,
10h-19h weekends. Walk and tour thru former military base and
new urban park. Shows vary each day or visit by foot or bike.
Ferries run every day 10h-17h from Battery Marine Terml, MH,
and on weekdays from Pier 6, BK. Island is free but ferry
fare is $2 RT. www.nps.gov/gois,
www.govisland.com
all day - whole City - MH - Weekend Walks street fairs
VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND DATES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Thru mid Dec. NYC Dept of Transptn closes certain steets in
all boros on Saturdayss for street fairs. Stores and local
orgs offer ntertainment, discount sales, exhibits, food
service Free.
www.nyc.gov/html/dot/weekendwalks/html/home/home.shtml
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 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com,
www.asliclub.org
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Extra session for Mars
opposition. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.was-ct.org,
203-227-0925
20:30 - 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
Thu 2 Aug
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Aug 1
Fri 3 Aug
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour
Plasma Physics Lab. Walk thru history and culture of fproject
to capture energy from controled hydrogen fusion. Free, adv
regn reqd. Photo ID required for campus security.
www.pppl.gov/events
18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: METEORS, COMETS, AND THE PERSEIDS
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
18:30 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy. Montauk Lobraryy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org,
contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net
19:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - astronomy lecture
Flight deck of ship. Indoor/open air lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org
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, hfjacinto6@gmail.com
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture
Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing.
203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org, cescovil@earthlink.net
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing
PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Top of the Lawn. North path of Great Lawn. Free. Cancelled for
clouds. tags_p@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org, nyskies@nyskies.org
20;00 - 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
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky Mars viewing - see Aug 1
Sat 4 Aug
07:00 - Bklyn Bg to Upr E Side - MH - Summer Streets
Streets closed from motor traffic 07h-13h for promenade from
Bklyn Bg to Upr E Side. Only human-powered vehicles aloowed.
Street shows, viewing sites, music, performers. Walk thru Park
Av tunnel under Murray Hill. New attraction in 2017 is
'QuadWash' water-slide at Park Av & 71 St. Free.
www.nyc.gov/dot
--------------------------------
Summer Streets route 5 Av
==================== --O--
|<--Lafayette St/4 Av/Park Av S-->|<--Park Av--/\/-- |72 St
Foley Sq Union Sq Grand Centl Terml |
|--O------------O--------O-----======--|___|-----------------+
Bk Bg Cooper Sq Park Av Tnl
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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 - 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 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg
UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free.
www.uacnj.org
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing
OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Inwood Astronomy Project. Meet at park entrance, Seaman Av
& Isham St. Free. Cancelled for clouds. 917-529-2359
www.inwoodastronomy.org, asonskendall@gmail.com
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:30 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewingh
New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. , cancelled for
clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117,
Sun 5 Aug
10:00 - Upton - LI - Summer Sundays science show
Brookhaven Natl Lab. Visit several BNL facilities with demos
and talks, Four Sundays, each with different activities. Free,
have GI photo ID for campus security. 631-344-2651,
www.bnl.gov/evnts
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Wed 8 Aug
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Aug 1
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
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
Thu 9 Aug
Rutgers Univ, Schommer Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
732-205-0020, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/ast-serin.html
pryor@physics.rutgers.edu
Fri 10 Aug
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
18:00 - Peppermint Park - MA - Summer Star Party
Thru Sun 19 Aug. Rockland Astro Club. Peppermint Park camp.
Talks, demos, dark skies, meals, tourism, prizes, cmapg,
lodgg. $58 + extras. www.rocklandastronomy.com, 845-446-4336,
josealvira@rocklandastronomy.com
18:00 - Peppermint Park - MA - Summer Star Party
Thru Sun 30 Jun. Rockland Astro Club. Peppermint Park camp.
Talks, demos, dark skies, meals, tourism, prizes, cmapg,
lodgg. $45 + extras. www.rocklandastronomy.com, 845-446-4336,
josealvira@rocklandastronomy.com
19:00 - Lk Taghkanic St Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn. West Beach parking lot. Free,
cancelled for clouds. Adv regn reqd with vehicle make,
model, plate number for park security. `
www.nidhudsonastronomy.org
19:30 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg
Central Congregational Church. Free.lhaacsec@gmail.com
lhastro.org
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - dee Aug 3
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Aug 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Aug 3
20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:30 - Bridgehampton - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy. So Fork Natl Hist Musm Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
Sat 11 Aug
07:00 - Bklyn Bg to Upr E Side - MH - Summer Streets - se Aug 4
20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture
McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org, 860-354-1595,
contact@mccarthyobservatory.org
20:00 - 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 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Aug 4
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Aug 4
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Sun 12 Aug
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Wed 15 Aug
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Aug 1
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 8
20:30 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 1
Fri 17 Aug
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see Aug 3
18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: THE MOON IN HER ORBIT
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 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - dee Aug 3
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Aug 3
20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Aug 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for
clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org,
wwestura@optonline.net
20:30 - Litchfield - CT - Litchfield Hills A A C lecture
White Meml Consrvn Ctr. Free. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. lhaac.shutterfly.com, lhaacsec@gmail.com
lhastro.org
Sat 18 aug
07:00 - Bklyn Bg to Upr E Side - MH - Summer Streets - se Aug 4
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Aug 4
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Aug 4
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
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, f
pparkers@cs.com
20:00 - Bear Mountain - NY - clearsky starviewing
Rockland Astro Club. Athony Wayne Rec Pk, picnic field. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.rocklandastronomy.com
Sun 19 Aug
14:00 - Airmont - NY - science show
Ramapo Challenger Ctr, 225 Rt 29. Multimedia
imulation of space missions. $20. wwwlhvcc.com,
director@lhvcc.com, 845-257-3416.
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Tue 21 Aug
20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 \ Wed 22 Aug
10:00 - United Nations - MH - cultural conference
Thru Thu 23 Aug. UN Dpt of Publ Info. UN HQ. 'Finding global
` solutions for global problems'. 67th annual conf preparing
various topics for coming session of?General Assembly. Free,
adv regn reqd, details under 'General newws'.
outreach.un.org/ngorelations/67th-dpibgo-conference
20:30 -
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Aug 1
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Auag 8
Thu 23 Aug
20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 9
Fri 24 Aug
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - dee Aug 3
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Aug 3
20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Aug 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Sat 25 Aug
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see Aug 4
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Aug 4
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting
NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8600
Sun 26 Aug
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Tue 28 Aug
19:00 - 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 29 Aug
20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Aug 1
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see aug 8
Fri 31 Aug
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Aug 3
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - dee Aug 3
20;00 - Wash'n X'ing - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Aug 3
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Aug 3
Events Skipped This Month
-----------------------
EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
[S/O] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
11:00 - 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,
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting.
Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org,
suerose@optonline.net
13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin 401. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar
14:00 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture
726 Broadway, Rm 940. Various topics in astrophys and
relativity. Free. Have GI photo ID for campus security.
physics.nyu.edu/events.htm
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture
Ctr for Atmosp & Ocean Studies. Weaver Hall, 251 Mercer
St. Various topics in geophysics and earth science. Free.
caos.cims.nyu.edu, shafer@cims.nyu.edu
15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Greenwich Public Library. Free with musm adm.
rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762, astrogreenwich.org
16:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Colloquium series. Rutgers Univ, Busch Campus, Astro & Phys
Lectr Hall. Free. www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium,
732-445-3974
17:00 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture
160 5 Av & 21 St. 'How and why Mercury is different from its
sibling rocky planets?'. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654-0066,
ww.simonsfoundation.org
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
18:00 - Bethpage - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture
Bethpage Public Library. Various topics in aeronautics and
astronautics. 'Nars sample return missiOn'. Free, optional $5
pizza-soda. 516-458-8593, davidparis@twc.com
18:00 -CUNY Graduate Center - MH - Ctr for Sci & Soc lecture
385 Fifth Av. 'Early modernb science intertwine An
Iberoamerican perspective'. Free, adv regn reqd, Free,
limited seating. 212-854-7211,
scienceandsociety.columbia.edu
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
19:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing
Astrophys Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 718-982-2818,
csivc.csi.cuny.edu/supernove7/files/home.html,
robbins@mail.csi.cuny.edu,
19:30 - 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 - Morristown - NJ - Morris Museum Astro Soc meeting
Morris Museum. Free. 973-386-1848, 973-386-1848,,
www.mmastrosociety.org, info@morrismusem.org,
ckkrish@gmail.com
19:30 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting
Pace Univ, Miller Hall, Free. www.westchesterastronomers.org,
waa-president@westchesterastronomers.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 - New Brittain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting
Central CT St Univ, Copernicus Plm. Free. www.asgh.org,
860-872-9069, pparkerrs@cs.com
19:30 - 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 - Princeton - NJ - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting
Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, info@princetonastronomy.org
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 - 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 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting
Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free.
www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net
20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture
Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
20:00 - 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 - 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,
tpaglione@york.cuny.edu
20:00 - 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
20:0:0 - 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 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing
No Jersey Astro Gp. Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall.
Free, cancelled for clouds. njastro.org, 973-655-7266,
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing
Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing
Vassar College, Observatory. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
845-437-7340
--------------------------------------
[???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY
--------------------------------------
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
18:00 - 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
18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - Science and the Arts show
'TNo, No, Nobel' on women who missedthe Nobel Prize for
their work. Free. 212-817-7521, bschwartz@gc.cuny.edu,
scienceandarts@scienceandarts.pmailus.com,
19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting
Ocean Co Coll, Student Ctr, Solar Lounge. Free.
www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webmaster@astra-nj.org
19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture
'The unification of physics: The ques for a Theory of
General News
----------
A couple issues ago I promised to alert you to public events
staged by the United Nations. There is a two-day conference at
the UN HQ on 2018 August 22-23 about finding solutions to global
problems. for sure it has no astronomy content. I list it as 'cultural
conference'. Altho the event is free, the registration is an
officious two-step process. First to set up an 'account' and then to
to go and register. Fill in the on-screen forms for ONLY the required
items, marked with '*', skipping all others. Yes, some questions are,
uh, nervy. For 'institution' or 'affiliation' enter 'National Space
Society' because that org is a recognized UN NGO and is about as
innocent as any can be. You get a couple email responses, which you
better print and keep handy. The final one is an 'approval'.. CLose to
the 22nd you get email instructions for entering the UN campus. If
this occasion is your first peek into the interior realms of the UN,
please study my piece at
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/un-open.htm
It offers tips for a pleasant rewarding visit. Attending a UN event
requires a high order of world-wiseliness. It's not just an other talk
or meeting now in a fancier venue.
Rockland Astro Club started in July 2018 monthly clearsky
starviewing in Bear Mountain NY. Sessions are on Saturdays, starting
on the 18th.
Stamford Observatory adjusted its admission fee to $5. It was $3.
Westport Astro Soc in late July 2018 opened its Rolnick Obsy for
nightly viewing of the Mars opposition. The sessions continue on
August 1, 2, and 3, then revert to normal Wednesday schedule.
No Jersey Astro Group skips it/s monthly meeting for August. It
resumes in September, with the fall season of Thursday starviewing.
The crater in 5th Av from the steam explosion on 2018 July 19 is a
must-see attraction! It is walled in to contain dust and hazardous
particles. You can peek between the wall panels.
City News
-------
Joey Chestnut on 4 July 2018 held his title at the Nathn's
annual hotdog contest. He also set a new world record by downing 74
hotdogs in the ten-minute round. That's 8.1 second per hotdog! Miki
Sudo held her title in the women's round with 37 hotdogs in 10
minutes. No new record for her, she chomping 43 hotdogs last year.
A trunk steam main exploded on 19 July 2018 ~06:40 EDST under 5 Av
at 21 St, Flatiron Dist MH. It tore a 5m diameter crater in street,
threw debris 30m into air , billowed steam to ~200 meters high.
Adjacent buildings were evacuated for potential hazardous dust
contamination, streets closed for cleanup and repairs. Some NYSkiers
stopped there before the Seminar on the 20th to see the crater and
repair teams.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 6 July 2018 looked at the summer
stars. We walked thru major constellations and asterisms spanning the
zone from Jupiter thru Delhinus and Antares thru Vega. We inspected
the planets strung along the ecliptic from Venus in northwest to Mars
in southeast. Venus is still growing slowly in size and shrinking in
phase. Binoculars follow her as she matches eastward thru Gemini,
Cancer, Leo. Saturn in the mid 20s of June passed his 'ring flash'
phase but I have no positive reports of it. The effect requires a
close inspection or imaging of Saturn for a couple weeks centered on
opposition. Else the planet shows no evident increase in brightness.
Mars is now the brightest of the three full-night planets, passing the
luster of Jupiter by July 1st. We cruised thru the galactic center
area and Summer Triangle, noting their astrisms and deepsky targets.
We explored the 'dark' region of Ophiuchus, Hercules, Draco. Two
interesting asterism here are Caput Draconis and the Summer Hyades. We
saw how the alignment of the Milky Way affects the kinds of target for
summer observing. Open clusters and nebulae hug the Milky Way from the
south horizon, thru the Summer Triangle, to the north horizon. The
City's air -- specially under haze of summer -- subdues nebulae. A few
do show thru on the less humid nights: Lagoon, Trifid, Eagle,
Dumbbell, Ring. Globular clusters are sprinkled all over but a hive of
them sit in the galactic center, in Sagittarius-Scorpius. For our
latitude this area is low on the horizon. NYSkiers favored with trips
to a southern location can examine these clusters in higher sky.
Galaxies are spread all over, away from the Milky Way band, but
probably none are easily found by small scopes. We noted two new
planetary stars. 24 Bootis has one planet; gamma Librae, two. We
recalled that the autumn stars in the east can be studied in summer by
waiting for owl hours. With the adverse weather of summer this is
hardly a convenience. On the other hand, watching the winter stars in
the cool breezy nights of autumn is a pleasure. We stepped outside to
preview Manhattanhenge. The sky was hazy wth a soft Sun. He slided
across 14th St to set behind buildings on the right side.. Takeaways
were charts of the summer sky, list of targets visible from the City,
explanation of 'dog days of August', table of lunar occultations, maps
of deepsky objects location in the Milky Way galaxy.
Astronomer Dr Dinah Levine Moche' passed away on 2018 May 22 at
age 81.She fell to medical complications from a 2017 hip replacement,
She got her BA in physics at Radcliffe College and her MA/PhD in
astronomy & science education at Columbia University. Dinah was a
life-long educator in astronomy and general science, author of some 20
books,member of many college administative offices for science
education. In the 1950s-60s she taught physics and astronomy at New
York Univ, Columbia, Fashion Instt of Techny, Bronx CC She joined
Queensborough CC in 1965, retiring as professor of physics in 2016
after 50 years of service. At QCC Dr Moche' won an NSF grant for its
observatory in 1975. Her books were mainly for children, to read ny
themselfs or with grownups, showing astronomy and space science as
exciting, fun, and realizable. Her best work is 'Astronomy: A self-
teaching guide', a home-study textbook now in its 8th edition. Dinah
gave lectures, consulting, dialog to astronomy and civic orgs at all
age levels. She took part in science education conferences and studied
education practices overseas.. Dr Moche' headed Spacelady LLC to
handle her authorship business and worked a web 'spacelady.com' and
Facebook page for correspondence about her books and general
astronomy. She was a strong effective advocate for women's concerns in
the educational world, often exerting grievance or court action, nd
mentored women, young and old, with their careers. Dinah worked with
others to improve her teaching and writing and from time to time she
discussed with me ways of explaining or demonstrating assorted
astronomy topics. Dr Moche' was widowed with two daughters and lived
in Rye NY.
Jim Hendereson headed to the annual world Wikipedia conference in
Cpae Town, South Africa, in mid July 2018. While there he may explore
the southern sky with binoculars and planetarium software. He probably
may miss the August 27 lunar eclipse due to trip scheduling. he may
visit the site of Heerscel's observatory, the Cape observatory Table
Mountain.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 20 July 2018 discussed lunar
occultations, the hiding and unhiding of a star by the Moon as she
travels thru the zodiac. The Moon, being solid rock and nearest of all
permanent celestial orbs, passes in front of stars and planets
frequently. For stars brighter than 4th magnitude there are a dozen or
so occultations over New York City each year. A binocular or scope is
needed to comfortably witness an occultation because by eye the star
can be lost in lunar glare when it is close to the Moon. The Moon
throws a shadow of herself on the ground, like for a solar eclipse,
equal to her own diameter of some 3600km. Because the star is a point
at infinity, the shadow is a cylinder, not a tapered cone, and it has
bo paenumbra zone. Every one in the shadow sees a total occultation
and those outside see the Moon miss the star. Like for a solar eclipse
the aspect of an occultation is sensitive to the observer's location.
For casually watching the event prediction for a close-by town are
good enough. Set up watch some 20 minutes before the star goes behind
the Moon to be sure of the correct star and get ahead of differences
of time due to observer displacement from the base location. For
predictions for a specific place, like your own observing site, you
need computer software. Two strong and free programs are 'Occult-4'
and 'Lunar Occultation Workbench', both for Windows. The output is a
table of occultations with many parameters listed for each. The
software instructions explain what these parameters mean but a few
common ones are:
* star catalog designation, with a Bayer or common name alias.
* illuminated fraction of Moon's disc and elongation from Sun
* alt-azm of Sun and Moon, clues for daytime or twilight events
* location of star on limb of Moon by several angle methods
* lat-lon libration on Moon Some software alert if the star is so
n close to the north or south limb that a graze occurs near your site,
with directions to the closest point of the craze line. A graze is
when a star skims across the Moon's limb,, doing peek-a-boo behind the
lunar mountains. You have to lay down the graze limit on a roadmap to
assess feasibility of going to it. The lunar limb looks smooth in a
telescope, even under moderate power. Under high power the edge has
rugged relief, like distant hills on Earth. Some software can generate
a simulated view of the Moon with this relief to alert you to tall
mountains or deep valleys that could distort the predicted time of the
occultation. The program reads a file of laser altimeter data compiled
by lunar orbiting spacecraft, available to software authors. We
cleared up a confusion, specially in new astronomers, about the Moon's
orbital movement versus her diurnal motion. As the Moon is carried
east to west by the rotation of the celestial sphere, she is circling
the Earth west to east thru the zodiac. This makes it seem 'wrong' for
a star to go behind the Moon on her east side and then come out on her
west side, all the while the Moon is moving east to west with the rest
of the sky.This can be shown thru a planetarium program. The sky moves
westward some 15 deg/hr while the Moon moves east by 1/2 deg/hr. If
the planetarium has 'realtime' mode it animates the screen's sky in
step with the real sky. This is good to show people what is happening
while they wait for their look thru your scope and to keep track of
activity during a block by clouds. We saw how a prediction can yield
only a disappearance and not a reappearance, or vice versa. In high
sky we see the star's ingress, immersion, behind the Moon and then the
star's egress, emersion, from behind the Moon. If the Moon is low in
east the ingress can occur before moonrise but the egress takes place
after the Moon rises. Similar logic applies to the Moon near setting.
The ingress is seen but not the egress. We banterd about occultations
of planets, there being none recently for the City. These come once or
twice per decade and are always spectacular sights. The planet's disc
sinks into the Moon at immersion and oozes out at emersion. We showed
how occultations in theory could monitor Earth rotation, a spinoff of
my new article on delta-T uploaded on the 19th. Ocuultations were just
too crudely recorded in early years because it is really tough to see
a star just at ingress or egress only by eye. In the 1960s home
astronomers were hyper on occultations to assist in the Moon Race. We
had to know precisely where the Moon is to let astronauts land on her
safely. Occultations were tried as a means of finding longitude but
the calculations needed on the ship were too hard for most navigators
and the observation was too tricky on a ship in open sea. An altenate
method, lunar distances, was used in the stead, even into the early
20th century. Since about 1990 we know the Moon's motion and position
at any instant to within a few centimeters by ranging off of mirrors
on the Moon and radio links with lunar orbiters. Observatories still
collecting occultation data do so by robootic scopes deployed at know
locations along a highway. The scope cofigures by GPS for time and
position, does photometry on the star, and stores the data on disc.
The observatory picks up the scopes after the event. Home astronomers
today watch occultations mainly for pleasure. it demonstrates in
realtime the lunar movement in her orbit far more frequently than with
eclipses. After the meeting we stopped outside to admire the Moon &
Jupiter conjunction. Saturn and Mars were behind buildings. Takeaways
were maps of Moon's zodiac corridor, mechanics of occultations, sampe
occultation predictions for late July, simlation of several
occultations, limb profile charts, grazes of Mars and Saturn.
At the Seminar on 20 July 2018 I passed around a desk toy that
folds out to a world and celestial globe. MY late ladylove Hania
Bartle Gave it to me from the Bank of Poland. She didn't know about
the asterisms Scutum Sobieski and Taurus Poniatowski, both in the
night sky when we examined the toy. Hamia, a Polish refugee from WW
II, and I went outside to inspect the asterisms in binoculars. She
was thrilled to see how astronomers honor two of her national heros.
At the Seminar of 20 July 2018 I brang printouts of a story and
homework exercises from webs on learning hieroglyphs. The astronomers
were amazed how the bizarre pictograms could be an actual language.
During the 1980 transit strike I roomed with lady friend Mabel Georgi
on Manhattan and commuted to work by riding post office trucks! She
was a hieroglyphs translator for the Brooklyn MuSeum! To 'earn my
stay' she made me learn hieroglyphs, which I continued with her for
year after the strike.
Radio Shack on 2018 July 12 announced it will open ~50 mini-sores
in outlets of HobbyTown USA. In summer 2017 RS closed all of its own
locations, including those on Manhattan. HobbyTown has only four sites
in NYSkies: Fairfield CT, New Milford CT, Stamford CT, Stanhope NJ.
There are none in Metro North, Long Island, New York City.
On 23 July 2018 NY Daily News laid off some half of its editorial
staff and started massive spending cuts. The newspaper previously
moved its design and layout office to Chicago, home of its parent
TranC. In 2017 it dropped several feature sections and columns. The
paper was losing readers for many years, partly from the mass shift of
news resources into digital media.
Walt Disney Company on 2018 July 9 aired plan for a new campus in
Hudson Sq MH, near West Village and SOHO. It will bring together its
various NYC operations, such as ABC and ESPN. Already ABC's property
in Lincoln Sq was sold for residential development. Disney inked a 99-
yr lease from Trinity Church land bounded by Spring St, Varick St, Sn
Dam St, Hudson St to start moving into existing vacant space and
later into new office towers.
I uploaded a new article into the web to explain the arcane topic
of delta-T. I started to write it in January 2017 but them it went
missing and I forgot about it. It turned up on weekend of July 14,
when i completed and revised it. I included a worked example of delta-
T for the sunrise solar eclipse of 2013 November 3 and a calculation
of lunar and terrestrial angular momentum. Soonest it hit the web I
got several inquiries about it, which I'm studying for possible
revision of the piece. While working on the delta-T piece I found a
topic that belongs in my leapsecond article. I added into it the
section 'Intervals of time'. I also updated the table of leapseconds.
The articles are at
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/delta-t.htm
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/leap-sec.htm
An article of use for playing with occultations, which i missed
telling about for the July 20th Seminar, is
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/occ-freq.htm
It discusses the chances of a given star being occulted and the
application of the 'rule-of-19'.
Statue of Liberty was closed for several hours on 4 July 2018 to
clear off a band of protesters. They spread out a banner agitating
against certain immigration rules and one woman among them scaled the
pedestal of the statue.
NYC DEP on 2018 July 5 invited the public to catch idling trucks
and buses. In general the vehicle may not idle, with motor running and
no person minding it, for longer than 3 minutes. Else it violates DEP
air quality regs eith penalty of $250, or higher, fine. Any one may
submit time-stamped photos/videos of candidate vehicles and, if the
violation sticks, be rewarded with a portion of the fine. Exceptions
and conditions apply, explained on www.nyc.gov.
Sky News
------
Manhattanhenge was well observed in 2018 July on the 9th thru
11th, plus shoulders at each end. Sky was hazy on all days with temps
in the low 30Cs. NYSkies observed a preview on July 6 at its Seminar.
July 2018 opened with a heat storm of torridity and humidity, the
first severe one of the summer. Temps hovered in the high 30Cs, with
some districts in NYSkies reaching 40C. Skies, tho thick with haze,
gave hard sharp views of the planets and double stars.
Some observers ny NYSkies were surprised at the rising 'eclipsed'
Mon on July 27, 2018. She was in deed blood red, from thick moist
haze, not the Earth's shadow. The real eclipse on the 27th occurred
over Europe and Asia during our daytime.
In early June 2018 a dust storm erupted on Mars. It interfered
with both rover and orbiter study of the planet It gradually spread
over the whole planet by mid July, covering its maria and red lands
with yellow-white dust. Most astronomers in NYSkies got first good
look at the storm by eye on July 20, after the Seminar or at
concurrent starviewings. To me, when I got home from the Seminar,
Mars was white, not his normal reddish, from the dust coating. Mars is
the only planet where physical activity on it can be observed by eye
from Earth. The storm could last well into August before ebbing to
reveal the normal surface details.
The occultation of gamma Librae over midnight between 2018 July
21-22 was rained or clouded out in NYSkies. This is the first of three
occultations in late July illustrating a variety of Moon-over-star
cases. The others, mu Sagittarii on the 25th and omicron Sagittarii on
the 26th, were observed in some parts of NYSkies thru partly cloudy
skiES. These two events were grazes near the City but so far I have no
reports of any one seeing them along their graze lines.