NYC EVENTS FOR jJANUARY 2020

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NYC EVENTS FOR JANUARY 2020 -------------------------- 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 hHours are Eastern Standard Time (UT - 5h). Betelgeuse is fading! -------------------- In fall 2019 Betelgeyse began fading, more rapidly and deeper than normally. Assessments of the star's brightness should be taken on every night, even in bright Moon and impaired sky conditions. Betelgeuse is among the brighter stars, with few other stars to confidently judge its magnitude. Here is a table of stars in the Winter Hexagon to bracket Betelgeuse for a magnitude estimate. Do this for different sets of star. ------------------------------- COMPARISON STARS FOR BETELGEUSE ------------------------------ star | name | magn -----+--------------+----- alp Ori | Betelgeuse | var ---------+-----------+-------- alp CMa \ sirius | -1.4 alp Aur | Capella | +0.1 bet Ori |Rigel | +0.2 alp CMi | Procyon | +0.4 alp Tau | Aldebaran | +0.9 bet Gem | Pollux | +1.2 alp Gem | Castor | +1.6 bet Tau | Elnath | +1.7 gam Ori | Bellatrix | +1.7 gam Gem | Alhena | +2.0 bet CMa | Mirzam | +2.0 kap Ori | Saiph | +2.1 --------------------------- The report emialed to me, which may beassembled weekly, gives the observer's name, address, contact; observing location (town or district). For each magnitude assessment give the date, hour, timezone, assessed magnitude (to 1/10 magnitude accuracy), names of comparison stars sued, general sky conditions. ----------------------- Betelgeuse is well up in east and southeast at nightfall and is in night sky thru April 2020. Our Seminar on January 3rd brief us about Betelgeuse, with latest news and instructions. 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 c 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 16:41 5 6 7 8 9 (10) 11 16:48 12 13 14 15 16 (17#. 18 16:56 19 20 21 22 23 .24. 25 17:04 26 27 28 29 30 31 .+1) 17:13 ---------------------------------------------- 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 - - - - 15 Canarsie line curtailment 0 *Floyd Bennett Field - - - SPR Secret Science Club - - - 0 CONNECTICUT - CT *A S of Gtr Hartford - - 15 Astro Soc of Greenwich - SPR *Astro Soc of New Haven - 28 Bowman Observatory - - - 1, 15 *Litchfield Hills AAC mtg ??? *Litchfield Hills lecture SPR *McCarthy Observatory - - 11 New Pond Farm - - - - - - ??? Stamford Observatory - - 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 *Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - SPR Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - SPR Western CT St Univ Obsy - SPR *Westport Astro Soc mtg - 21 *Westport Astro Soc starvg 8, 15, 22, 29 ------------------------- Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933, www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society LONG ISLAND - LI *Amateur Observers Soc - - 5 *Amat Obsrs Soc starviewing 0 Amer Instt Aero & Astro - 14 Astro Soc of Long Island 8, 15, 22, 29 Brookhaven National Lab - ??? Custer Institute - - - - 4, 11, 18, 25 Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - SPR Montauk Observatory - - - 17 SUNY Stony Brook - - - - SPR *Susan Rose Observatory - 4, 11, 18, 25 MANHATTAN - MH *Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0 *Amat Astro Assn lecture - 3 Amer Instt Archarology - 16 Bloomingdale's storer - - 1-5 Canarsie line curtailment 0 Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Sci - SPR Ctr for Science & Society SPR Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 3.4.5.10.11.12.17.18.19.24.25.26.31 City of Science - - - - - SPR Civl Rights Day - - - - - 20 *Columbia Univ Obsy - - - SPR Earth Institute - - - - - ??? Globe at Night - - - - - 16-26 Hayden Plm 'Frontiers' - SPR Hayden Plm 'Live!' - - - 28 Instt Stud Ancnt World - 23 Intrepid Museum - - - - - SPR *Inwood Astronomy Project 4, 11, 18, 25 Natl Musm of Mathematics ??? New Year's Day - - - - - 1 NY Academy of Sciences - ??? NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 0 New York Map Society - - 25 NYU Astrop & Relatvty - - SPR *NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 3, 17 Perihelion Day - - - - - 5 Rockefeller Center - - - 1-5 SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 1 Simons Foundation - - - - 8 *Top of the Laawn - - - - 3.4.5.10.11.12.17.18.19.24.25.26.31 United Nations - - - - - 27-30 Urban Park Rangers - - - 0 WTC station closings - -- 0 ------------------------------- Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org, 212-608-6164 n METRO-NORTH - NY Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - SPR measles epidemic - - - - 0 Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - ??? Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - ??? Rockland Astro Club - - - SPR Vassar College Obsrvatory SPR Ward Pound Ridge - - - - SPR Westchester Amat Astro - 10 NEW JERSEY - NJ A A A of Princeton - - - 14 *Amat Astro Inc meeting - 3, 10, 24, 31 *Amat Astro Inc lecture - 17 A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 13 Liberty Sci Ctr - - - - - 1-Feb 13 Morris Musm Astro Soc - - SPR New Jersey Astro Assn - - SPR NJ Perf Arts Ctr - - - - 16 North Bergen Viaduct - - 0 No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - 8 No Jersey Astro Gp starvg ??? Peyton Observarory - - - ??? Plasma Physics Lab - - - 3, 17 Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm SPR Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr SPR *S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 2 Schommer Observatory - - 9, 16 *Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 3 *Sheep Hill Observatory - 17 *Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - SPR Washington Xing St Pk - - SPR WTC station closings - - 0 --------------------------- Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club McDowell Obsy - mec.rst2.edu, 201-460-8300 Montclair Telescope Club - 973-948-5284,, users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.htm NW Jersey Amat Astro - www.nwjaa.org, info@nwjaa.org Passaic Co Astro Assn - www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024 *Raritan Vy Co Coll Plm - www2.raritanval.edu/planetarium Skyland Stargazers - skylandstargazers.tripod.com QUEENS - QN York College Observatory SPR REST OF WORLD Franklin Institute - - - 1-5 STATEN ISLAND - SI Coll of Staten Is Obsy - SPR Great Kills Park - - - - SPR Staten Is Community TV - 3, 10, 17, 14, 31 THE BRONX - BX ============================= Sun 1 Dec Ongoing and continuing events -------------------------- all day - ehole county - NY - measles epidemic Indef duration. Outbreaks of measles in several counties in NYSkies. Of the 1,500+ cases in US, some 1,000 are in NYSkies! UN WHO warned that if epidemic continues thru yearend, it may 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 - MH - WTC station closings Thru late 2020. World Trade Center station closes every weekend to repair tunnels under Hudson River ruined by hurricane Sandy. Station closes at 00h on each Saturday, reopens at 05h on following Monday. WTC-bound trains turn at Exchange Pl station. For service to WTC, use 33 St line to connect to NYC subways. www.panynj.gov all day - H&M WTC line - NJ - WTC station closings Thru late 2020. World Trade Center station closes every weekend to repair tunnels under Hudson River ruined by hurricane Sandy. Station closes at 00h on each Saturday, reopens at 05h on following Monday. WTC-bound trains turn at Exchange Pl station. For service to WTC, use 33 St line to connect to NYC subways. www.panynj.gov all day - North Brgen Viaduct - NJ - road closings and rebuild Thru end 2020. One lane in each direction is closed during major rebuild of viaduct on NJ495 between NJ Tpk and Lincoln Tnl. Buses have priority on remaining lanes. On-off ramps for local street close from time to time. www.restorenj495.com all day - Canarsie line - MH - night and weekend slowdown Thru mid 2020. Curtailed service 20h to 05h daily and 20h Fri-05h Mon on weekends. Trains run single-track thru one tunnel between Bedford Av statio aand 8th Av terminal. Round- trip takes about 20 minutes. Other track and tunnel are closed. Service may change according as progress of work. Normal two-way service runs 05h-20h on weekdays. www.mta.info. all day - Canarsie line - BK - night and weekend slowdown Thru mid 2020. Curtailed service 20h to 05h daily and 20h Fri-05h Mon on weekends. Trains run single-track thru one tunnel between Bedford Av statio aand 8th Av terminal. Round- trip takes about 20 minutes. Other track and tunnel are closed. Service may change according as progress of work. Normal two-way service runs 05h-20h on weekdays. www.mta.info. 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 - 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 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 Jan all day - whole City - MH - New Year's Day Please check with event contact for session falling on this day by rule or outdated schedule all day - Philadelphia - PA - 'Museum of the Moon' exhibit Thru Jan 5. Franklin Institute, Franklin Py & 20 st. World's largest most detailed model of Moon, 7m diam, ~200 micron print res. This is exhibit's only show near NYC. Explore and enjoy Instt science museum and planetarium. $23 genl adm. www.fi.edy, guestservices@fi.edu, 215-448-1200. all day - Bloomingdale's store - MH - holiday exhibit Thru Jan 5. Store windows celebrate 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 with space-themed animations and displays. Exhibit in both both Lexington Av and 3 Av sides. all day - Rockefeller Center - MH - street closings Thru Jan 5. Streets bordering RockC closed to motor traffic for shoppers and tourists. Additional closings on Dec 4 for Christmas tree lighting ceremonies. all day - Jersey City - NJ - astronomy show Liberty Sci Ctr. Two planetarium shows during visit. ''Search for lifer' and 'Black holes' at different hours. $34.99remium Pass, incl both plm shows and run of museum. www.lsc.org, 201-200- 1000, guestcomments@lsc.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 19:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing Astro Soc of Greenwich. Curtis Elem Schl, Bowman Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762. , astrogreenwich.org Thu 2 Jan 20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free. www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net Fri 3 Jan 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 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 :WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH BETELGEUSE? 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 Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asterism.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 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Top of the Lawn. North path of Great Lawn. Free. Cancelled for clouds. tags_p@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org, nyskies@nyskies.org 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture Stamford Obsy. $5. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. 203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org info@stamfordmuseum.org Sat 4 Jan 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 - 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 - 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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sun 5 Jan all day - whole City - MH - Perihelion Day Celebrate Earth's closest point in her orbit around the Sun. Experience strongest sunbathing and brightest photogrpahy. Exchange homemade preihelion greeting cards. 13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting. Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Tue 7 Jan 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 Wed 8 Jan 16:15 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture 160 5 Av & 21 St. 'Escher and the Droste Effect'. Buffet smacks 16:15, lecture 17:00. Free, adv regn reqd. 646-654- 0066, ww.simonsfoundation.org 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com, www.asliclub.org 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free. njastro.org, 973-655-7266 jjj Thu 9 Jan 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 10 Jan 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 - see Jan 3 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Jan 3 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Jan 3 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sat 11 Jan 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 Jan 4 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 sun 12 Jan 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Tue 14 Jan 18:00 - Bethpage - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture Hofstra Univ, Breslin Hall, rm216 . Various topics in aeronautics and astronautics. 'Observations from the Apollo LM to the Shuttlre and ISS, and beyond'. Free, $7 opt pizza-soda, adv regn reqd.718-812-2727, greghomatas@msn.com 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 15 Jan 19:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 1 20:00 - Way Station Pub - BK - Astronomy on Tap meting 683 Washington Av & Prospect Pl (Prospect Hts). Informal astronomy discussion in pub setting. Free, one drink purchase reqd. astronomyontap.org/locatons/new-york-city 19:30 - New Brittain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting Central CT St Univ, Copernicus Plm. Free. www.asgh.org, 860-872-9069, pparkerrs@cs.com 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 8 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting- see Jan 8 Thu 16 Jan 18:30 - Italian Cultl Instt - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture 686 Park Av, 68 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 9:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Dec 6 19:00 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise Thru Dec 27. NYSkies runs its own Globe at Night exercise in 2018-2019 while Orion is in sky at nighfall. Same method and procedure as for prior years for documenting sky transparency over City. Details at www.nyskies.org/gannyc.htm 19:30 - Newark - NJ - Neil Tyson show NJ Perf Arts Ctr, shuttle from Newark Penn Station. 'The inexplicable universe'. $40-$99, adv regn reqd. www.njpac.org, ticketservices@njpac.org, 973642-8989 20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng - see Jan 9 fri 17 Jan 18:00 - Bridgehampton - LI - astronomy lecture Montauk Obsy. South Fork Natl Hist Musm. Indoor talk, clearsky sunviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com 10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see Jan 3 18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar DISCUSSION: 2020, YEAR OF THE PLANETS 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 Jan 3 20:00 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net 20:00 - 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 Jan 3 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sat 18 Jan 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Jan 4 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sun 19 Jan 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Mon 20 Jan all day - whole City - MH - Cjvil Rights Day Please check with event contact for session falling on this day by rule or outdated schedule Tue 21 Jan 20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 Wed 22 Jan 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 8 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting- see Jan 8 Thu 23 Jan 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 Fri 24 Jan 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jan 3 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Jan 3 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Jan 3 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sat 25 Jan 14:00 - Avenues HQ - MH - New York Map Society lecture 11 E 26 St, 17th floor. Various topics about map making, cartography, geography. Free, adv regn reqd. Have GI photo ID for caampus security. www.newyorkmapsociety.org, mapsocietyny@gmail.com 20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH cleasky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see Jan 4 20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 4 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Sun 26 Jan 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 Mon 27 Jan all day - United Nations - MH - Holocaust Remebrabce memorial Thru Jan 30. UN HQ. Details here for 27th, other days in full schedule from contact. Sign up for each event separately ` (3 on 27th). Food service in Bienna Cafe. --------------------- 11:00 - General Assembly chamber - memorial ceremony 13:30 - Visitors Lobby - exhibit 'Seeing Auschwitz' 15:00 - Conf Rm 4 - dialog 'Refugees in the Philippines' -------------------------------------------------------- Free, adv regn reqd, have GI photo ID for campus security. Sign-up links in full schedule. HolocaustRemembrance@un.org Tue 28 Jan 19:00 - Hayden Planetarium - MH - 'Astronomy live!' lecture Live narrated planetarium show. Enter at 81 St/Cntl Pk W. $15, adv regn reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs 19:30 - 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 29 Jan 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 8 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting- see Jan 8 Fri 31 Jan 19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see Jan 3 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Jan 3 20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Jan 3 20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see Jan 3 Events Skipped This Month ----------------------- EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- [SPR] SPRING RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 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+ 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin W330. Free. 732-445-3974, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar 15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting Greenwich Audubon Center. Free. rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762. astrogreenwich.org 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 17:00 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture Westn Conn St Uv, Obsy/Plm. Indoor planetarium show, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671, dawsond@wcsu.edu 17:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - Free Friday show Pier 86 and ship. Exhibits, demos, talks. Clearsky movies and starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org 18:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell Audm. 'our changing planet'. Free, 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu, suzana@ldeo.columbia.edu, 18:00 - 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 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 18:30 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH -'Ciry of sceince' lecture 365 5 Av & 34 St, Skylight Room. 'Navigating the maze of science and technology policy'. Free, adv regn reqd. www.gc.cuny.edu/publicprograms 19:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture Pupin Hall, signs to lecture room. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. outreach-admin@astro.columbia.edu, www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach, 212-854-3278 19:00 - Hayden Planetarium - MH - 'Frontiers' lecture Kayfnamm Thtr. Enter at 81 St/Cntl Pk W. $15, adv regn reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs 19:00 - 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, 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 - 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 - 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 - Litchfield - CT - Litchfield Hills A A C lecture White Meml Consrvn Ctr. Free. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. lhaacsec@gmail.com, lhastro.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 - 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 - 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 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.uacnj.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 - 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 20:30 - 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 - Bear Mountain - NY - clearsky starviewing Rockland Astro Club. Anthony Wayne Rec Pk, picnic field. Free, cancelled for clouds. www.rocklandastronomy.com 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, 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 -------------------------------------- [???] UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 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, 15:00 - Upton - LI - Summer Sundays science show Brookhaven Natl Lab. Bldg 510. 'A new paradigm for dark matter search at the LHC'. Free, have GI photo ID for campussecurity. 631- 344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts 19:00 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewing New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. cancelled for clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117 19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture 'The nystery of our mathematical universe'. $20. www.nyas.org 19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting Ocean Co Coll, Novins Planetarium. Free. www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webmaster@astra-nj.org 19:30 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg Central Congregational Church. Free. lhastro.org, lhastro@gmail.com 20:00 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free. Cancelled for clouds www.astro.princeton.edu/observatory/publicobserving.php, jeg@astro.princeton.edu, lee@astro.princeton.edu 20:00 - 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 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 ---------- The January NYC Events is the hardest one of the year to compile. Many events are held in facilities short-staffed or closed for yearedn holidays. Event sponsors may also be short-staffed. Schedules for 2020 can't get be fixed until early January. Check with event's contact for updates.re more '???' entries than usual. Inquire at the e NYSkies renewed its room agreement with McBurney House for 2020. The rent notched up a little bit, still well within our budget. The Seminar page in our web will be updated soonest with the new schedule. Hayden Plm runs two distinct series of lecture, 'astronomy live!' and 'Frontiers'. I list them separately. Liberty Sci Ctr, Jersey City NJ, has two different planetarium shows, during a day's visit. Its 'Premium' ticket admits to both, besides a run of the museum. The planetarium is newly built into LSC's former IMAX chamber. Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford has no starviewing at Van Vleck Obsy in January. The next session is February 1st. 1There's still time to see the Bloomingdale's Apollo window displays and the Franklin Instt's Moon globe. Both shows end on January 5th. Natl Musm of Math moved its January 'Math encounters' show o Tue the 7th. It's normally the first Wednesday of the month, whih is New Year's Day. Holocaust Remembrance at the United Nations is Jan 27-30. This year is extra important for being the 75th anniversary of Aushwitz liberation and the spike in assaults against Jews in the NYSkies region. You must sign up for each event separately, there being no union ticket.. Advance registration and GI photo ID is required. The full schedule has the sign-up links for each event. City News ------- National Grid resumed hookup for new piped gas customers on Nov 25, after working out agreement with NYS Gov Cuomo. The utility serves Brooklyn, Queens, Long island. It suspended new hookups in July 2019 due to concern about shortfall of supply from a delayed pipeline in upstate New York. On Dec4 Amazon began full-scale test f cargo bikes on Manhattan. In place of trucks, small packages are delivered by electric bikes pulling a cargo wagon. Wagon holds ~130kg load. Bike returns to depot to recharge and load for next run. UPS and DHL start cargo bike tests in early 2020. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on December 6 was a short one to let us get some sleep for the Philadelphia bus trip in early morning of the 7th. We discussed deepsky objects as targets for observing, leaving out for now their astrophysics. We walked thru history of DSOs, for short, with Ptolemaeus's catalog including a few nebulous stars. There were a few new ones found since the to the 1900s by eye, such as Al sufi's cluster of the Coathanger. Halley collected notes of known nebulous stars, such as Hercules cluster and Andromeda nebula. laCaille in mid 1700s surveyed the whole sky, first to do so, and listed some 40 nebulae and clusters. He grouped them as all nebula, all stars, mixed stars and nebula. Messier in late 1700s found 103 nebulae and clusters, some overlapping laCaille's. His assistant Mecahin found more for a total today of 110. while the Messier catalog does not cover all the easy objects, it has a variety of targets from easy to challenges for small telescopes. Observing all of Messier's objects prepares us to look for any other target within our scope range. We saw that in 17th to 19th century we thought a nebula, a cloudy misty patch in the sky, would resolve into stars with the next improvement in telescope design and technique. it seemed that way until we discovered that many nebulae were really dust and gas with no stellar composition. In the 20th century we learned that many nebulae were really external galaxies.we related the mix of DSOs in the sky to the path of the Milky Way. Open cluster and most nebulae trend along the Milky Way band. In summer thru spring the MW is in high sky, filling the sky with these targets. In spring, for NYC latitude, the MW is near or under the horizon , removing most open clusters from the sky. We found that globular clusters envelop the galaxy with a concentration in the galactic nucleus. In summer we see the nucleus, filled with globular clusters, low in south where Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Sagittarius meet. galaxies we saw are all over the sky, being outside our own galaxy, with a thinning out along the MW path. Dust in our galaxy blocks their view. We learned several tricks for seeing faint DSOs such as averted vision and gently tapping the eyepiece. many DSOs require skill in star-hopping from a bright jumpoff star. We cautioned that from graysky zones we may see the cluster embedded in a nebula but not the very nebula. Takeaways were historical articles about nebulous stars, table of laCaille objects, example pictures of open clusters, globular nebulae, globular nebulae, article on DSOs, table of sample DSOs to observe, summer and winter charts of Messier objects. NYSkiers sat a lecture at Linda hall Liby, Kansas City MO on Dec 12! They did so by live webcast from camera in library's lecture room. Talk discussed separation of astrology and astronomy in 16th- 17th centuries. NYS Gov Cuomo on Dec 13 approved new statue of Mother Cabrini for Battery Pk, MH. Statue is reaction to NYC Mayor deBlaasio's rejection of honor, after his public survey for new statues gave Cabrini ~60% of vote, more than all other candidate combined. The statue will be near Holocaust Museum, looking across New York harbor and Statue of Liberty, Installation set for 2021. By mid Dec 2019 the new OMNY tap-&-go turnstiles were spreading rapidly thryout the subway system At the Dec 20 meeting we noted that our own 14th St/6th Av station now has the new turnstiles. Several of us examined them on the way home. Turnstiles accept current MetroCard and also have a sweet-spot to tap a phone, with an OMNY software onboard, to pay fare. . Larry Elder radio show on Dec 13 posed an astronomy question in its 'Can you beat Kurt?' segment: 'What is the name of the final human visit to the Moon in 1972?' Contestant answered correctly 'Apollo 17' but lost the game from low total score. NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 20 December 2019 overviewed the winter stars over the City. For the yearend holidays Myrna Coffino set out a plate of crunchy cookies and John Gale handed out, hold your hat, genuine Eisenhower dollar coins! We then studied starcharts of the sky, looking south and northeast. The latter showed how some spring stars are coming into view while some summer ones were finally leaving out sky. We explored the Winter Hexagon and learned the distinction between constellations and astreisms. A couple asked why many asterisms are called 'Caput'. They are in the caput, head, of the classical figure of the constellation. We noted that stars of a given season or month are those along the local meridian at nightfall. stars of an earlier period are in the west while those of the later period are in the east. We can observe the spring stars by waiting a few hours for them to cross over to the meridian. We examined the arrangement of deepsky targets in the sky by their location within the Milky Way galaxy. Open clusters, open nebulae, globular or planetary nebulae hug the Milky Way band. This runs southeast, thru overhead, to northwest. Globular clusters are sprinkled all over the sky, being in a cloud surrounding the galaxy. Galaxies are also all over the sky, beyond our galaxy, but there is a shortage of them along the ME band. Dust in our galaxy blocks view of other galaxies. We discovered that in winter we look toward the outer edge of the Milky Way, while in summer we look inward to the denser zones and the core. The MW band in summer is brighter and more prominent than that in winter. That's why the NYSkies Milky way watch targets only the summer sector of the MW. In the two MW watches of 2019 we had no sightings of the MW from the City due to poor sky quality. We saw two evening planets, Venus and Uranus.Venus is starting to be well noticed after sunset by eye. She still is small and mostly fully lighted. Uranus is in Aries, followed by binoculars. We noted Vesta in her opposition thru Cetus, Aries, Taurus. We learned why we look for asteroids near their opposition. They are then closest to us and brightest.They also are in their retrograde loop, more a lazy 'S' sweep from their high inclination from the ecliptic. We learned that asteroid orbits change significantly within a few years. To track asteroids in a planetarium or solar system software we need current orbital parameters, like from the JPL web. The parameters built into the software are surely ediurnate. We correlated Vesta's distance and brightness, seeing how she is brightest near opposition and dimmest near superior conjunction. We stepped thru example deepsky objects for winter observing, most with binoculars. We reminded that Messier did not capture all the bright objects. The Rosette cluster in Monoceros is one, he missed, yet it is visible by eye from the City on a darker clearer night. We admired a couple antique starmaps covering the orion region, with Monoceros galloping in the triangle of Betelgeuse, Procyon, Sirius. We reminded that wo of autumn's variable stars are still in good view in winter, Algol and Mira. Mira is on its decline from an October peak brightness but is still easy to find in binoculars. a third star, mekbuda is now in high sky. This is an uncommon proper name for zeta Geminorum, an delta Cephei variable star. We finished with reminder about current Globe at Night campaign, started on Dec 18 and running thru the 27th. takeaways were skymaps for winter season, detail map of Winter Hexagon, diagram of Milky way galaxy with segments of MW lines of sight, charts of deepsky objects in winter sky, finder charts for Uranus and Vesta, current JPL orbit elements for Vesta, graphs of Vesta distance and brightness, article for winter observing cautions, selection of targets, atlas plates for winter, antique atlas plates for Orion area, articles for Algol, Mira, Mekbuda. Some 35 local astronomers on Dec 7 did day trip to Franklin Institute, Philadelphia PA.. The group was greeted by FI's astronomer Dr Derrick Pitts, who explained some exhibits and opened the roofftop observatory for evening starviewing. They saw 'Museum of the Moon' Moon globe, special planetarium show, Apollo-11 IMAX film, besides individually exploring the science museum's attractions. Trip was arranged by Amat Obsrs Soc and welcomed members of NYSkies, Astro Soc of LI, Amat Astro Assn. A few local astronomers joined ~60 artists on Dec 9 at preview of new astronomy-inspired artpieces. The show was at office of creator Stellina/Vaonis, of France, on Manhattan during an evening of heavy rain. The pieces were built around Stellina's new line of tabletop telescopes fitted with flat video screens. Each piece displayed artistic motifs of celestial objects, both static and kinetic. The scopes are all-digital imaging instruments controlled by software on a smart phone. Wine, canapes, soft music filled the show with cheer. NY Post on Dec 27 had headline 'total eclipse of the sun'. Not for the solar eclipse of Dec26, the word was 'son', not 'sun'. It was title on ex-US VP Biden's holiday family portrait. Son Hunter, and his wife, were left out. Sky News ------ December was a poorer month for observing with few clear nights. Cloud and rain came erraticly, upsetting observing plans. In spite of overall adverse weather, The clear nights did yield good views of routine targets, even some dimmer DSOs. On the other hand, temperatures wee moderate for a winter season, with only a couple sub- zero-C days. First winter storm of 2019-20 crossed NYSkies on Dec 1, owl hours thru late night. Chilly or cold temps, low visibility, blustery wind, steady rain or wet snow. Airports closed or airlines cancelled flights, road travel was impeded by icing. The national light pollution reward program, TransitChek, increases its maximum amount to $270/month on 2020 January 1.It was previously $265/mo. Apply at your employee benefit office to update your account. Self-employed persons should update thru their accountant or legal advisor. In NYSkies some 1-1/2 million people earn rewards, totaling around 200 million dollars per month. NYSiers, other observers, scrambled during yearend holidays to mount watch on Betelgeuse. Star in fall 2019 began a rapid deep fading, beyond its normal fluctuations of brightness. betelgeuse, alp Ori, is well up at nightfall and remains in night sky thru April 2020. NYSkies Seminar on Jan 3 highlights the star and its history. perihelion Day is 'late' in 2020. It's on Jan 5, purely a calendar glitch. It falls back to the normal 3rd or 4th after leapday on Feb 29.a0 Astronomers on the AOS trip to Franklin Instt on Dec 7 were excited by a parhelion dextrum in early morning. They observed from it the left windows of their bus on the way to Philadelphia. After studying the apparition for a while they realized it was a horizontal contrail that happened to line up with the Sun.