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NYC EVENTS FOR APRIL 2021 ------------------------ John Pazmino NYSkies Astronomy In+c nyskies@nyskies.org The following astronomy activities in the commuting ring enclosing New York City are operated by various organizations. A few cultural tems of special importance to City astronomers are also included. Altho NYC Events confirms the listed items, they are subject to change by their sponsors. Check with their contacts. Let the sponsor know that you learned of its event thru NYC Events. Frequently asked questions and explanation of NYC Events is at 'www.nyskies.org/nyc-faq.htm'. You may ask for previous NYC Events thru 'nyskies@nyskies.org' because only the current issue is in the website. It is replaced by next month's issue. For events which missed NYC Events, check the NYSkies email group. This is the relocated 'nysky' yahoogroup, which Yahoo teminated on 2020 December 15. The new 'nydkird'group started on 2020 November 10. By late December the active astronomers from the old group are dialoging in the new one. Join the nyskies group by sending an empty, balnk, email to 'nyskies+subscribe@groups.io'. Any text in the email, including the subject, is ignored. The email address you used to subscribe from is the one you then after converse with the group. Messages come to you when posted in the group. Send messages to the group by emai to 'nyskies@groups.io'. Locksown ------ on 1 March 2021 Texas junked most of its lockdown limits! Several other states also threw away their restrictions, including Connecticut in NYSkies. Its assorted lockdown mandates were relaxed to routine health reccommendations. Occupancy and hours of most premises were drasticly expanded. Premises nay set their own capacity and flowthru operations as under regular safety rules ibefore the lockdwon era. Even New York loosened constraints on indoor activity. The easing is, to be fair, languid. On the whole the state is still running a tight lockdown. For instance, our in-person on-site Seminars and starviewings are still on hold. Altho Connecticut threw open its doors on march 19, astronomy activities may not crank up in time for April resumption. Hosts and venues may at first concentrate on getting their own operations in gear before welcoming back community events. It also may take a while for the event to assemble its program and crew after so long a perdormition. As at late March no member of NYC Events positively scheduled open public events in Connecticut. When I lean of renewed astronomy operations, I'll note them in our email group or in the next NYC Events. The original reason for the lockdowns, coronavirus, is fully exhausted. The people know far more about the virus by now and just no longer treat it as a death or disabling sentence. The use prevetives like tonic water, throat gargling, asthma spray, hand washing, bleach/alcohol wipes. Most in congested streets and indoors do wear masks and keep a meter or so apart. President Biden no longer stresses the virus in his actions, focusing mostly on providing virus vaccine to the people. He no longer requires his officials to wear masks during travel. His meetings are held in care-free settings. Biden's 'come on in' program at the Mexican border doesn't factor in virus risk. Newcomers are bunked in close quarters with no bulk testing, preventive treatment, special ventilation, quarantine, sanitary practices. States receiving the newcomers -- even those with strict lockdowns! -- haven't put up serious effective concerns about the influx of potential new virus infections. Vaccination is proceding steadily thruout the country. As at March 19 fully 100 million inoculations were given. Since then the pace ramped up to some 2 million per day. Most states by late March allow any adult to take the shot. At this pace, fully half of american could be vaccinated by <Memorial Day. This percent, together with that already developing d resistance to the virus, herd immunity can be reached by Independence Day. Then after there is no more excuse to continue lockdowns any where in the country General notes ------------ 'whole City' means the event has no specific or dedicated place. It may be enjoyed from the whole NYSkies territory or at a number of individual places. Celestial events are typicly 'whole City' events. 'all day' means the event is continuous or repeating during the open hours of the host facility. Facilities may have limited hours per day or days per week. Check with the event contacts. 'adv regn reqd', for 'advance registration required/requested' means that the event requires or requests signing up before the event. You must have your ticket in hand at the gate. There could be a deadline some days before the event, after which no more signups are accepted. Check with the event contact for specifics. Prices cited are the 'rack rate'. You could qualify for discounts as may be offered by the sponsor. Besides the base price there may be noptional extra fees to consider. Current Month calendar -------------------- Plain dates are in current month; -, previous month; +, next month. #, NYSkies Astronomy Seminar Moon phase: .NM., .FQ), (FM), (LQ. Sunset is noted for each Saturday --------------------------------- Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat sunset --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---------- -(28) -29 -30 -31 1 2# 3 19:23 (4.. 5 6 7 8 9 10 19:31 .11. 12 13 14 15 16# 17 19:38 18 19 .20) 21 22 23 24 19:45 25 (26) 27 28 29 30 +1 19:53 --------------------------------------------- Index of Events ------------- * = NASA-JPL Night Sky Network affiliate date = entry in 'list of events' section 0' = entry in 'ongoing and continuing events' section 'AUT'= entry in 'skipped, autumn resumption' section 'SPR' = entry in 'skipped, spring resumption' secrion '???' = entry in 'skipped, uncertain resumption' section, '!!!' = entry in 'skipped, encumbered due to lockdowns ------- ----------------------------------------------- BROOKLYN - BK Secret Science Club - - - !!! CONNECTICUT - CT *A S of Gtr Hartford - - !!! *Astro Soc of New Haven - !!! Litchfield Hills AAC mtg !!! *McCarthy Observatory - - !!! Westport Astro Soc mtg - !!! Westport Astro Soc starvg !!! ------------------------- Boothe Meml Astro Soc - 203-377-9933, www.facebook.com/Boothe-Memorial-Astronomical-Society LONG ISLAND - LI *Amateur Observers Soc - - !!! *Amat Obsrs Soc starviewing!!! Astro Soc of Long Island !!! Brookhaven National Lab - !!! Custer Institute - - - - !!! Hmaptons Observatory - - !!! SUNY Stony Brook - - - - !!! *Susan Rose Observatory - !!! 2 MANHATTAN - MH *Amat Astro Assn starvwg - !!! *Amat Astro Assn lecture - !!! Amer Instt Archarology - !!! Ctr for Science & Society !!! Central Pk (Great Lawn) - !!! Earth Institute - - - - - !!! Globe at Night - - - - - 3-12 Gvvernors Island - - - - SPR Hayden Plm 'Frontiers' - !!! Hayden Plm 'Live!' - - - !!! Instt Stud Ancnt World - !!! *Inwood Astronomy Project !!! Jupiter Joe's Astronomy - !!! mandatory face masks - - 0 Natl Musm of Mathematics !!! 'Nature of Color' exhibit !!! NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - !!! New York Map Society - - !!! NYU Astrop & Relatvty - - !!! nova Cassiopeiae 2021 - 1-indef *NYSkies Astronomy Seminar !!! omega Centauri challenge 1-May 31 SciCafe' - - - - - - - - !!! *Top of the Laawn - - - - !!! Urban Park Rangers - - - !!! ------------------------------- Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse. org, www.nyccsse.org, 212-608-6164 n METRO-NORTH - NY Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - !!! Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - !!! Ward Pound Ridge - - - - !!! Westchester Amat Astro - !!! NEW JERSEY - NJ A A A of Princeton - - - !!! *Amat Astro Inc meeting - !!! *Amat Astro Inc lecture - !!! A S of Toms Rv Area - - - !!! Morris Musm Astro Soc - - SPR New Jersey Astro Assn - - !!! North Bergen Viaduct - - 0 No Jersey Astro Gp mtg - !!! Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm !!! Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr !!! *S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - !!! *Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - !!! *Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - !!! ----------------------------- Dark Sky Observers - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club Montclair Telescope Club - 973-948-5284,, users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.htm NW Jersey Amat Astro - www.nwjaa.org, info@nwjaa.org Passaic Co Astro Assn - www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024 *Raritan Vy Co Coll Plm - www2.raritanval.edu/planetarium Skyland Stargazers - skylandstargazers.tripod.com QUEENS - QN REST OF WORLD STATEN ISLAND - SI Staten Is Community TV - !!! THE BRONX - BX ============================= Ongoing and continuing events -------------------------- 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 - whole City - MH - mandatory face masks Indefinite duration. US CDC face mask order from Mon 1 Feb 2021 at 23:59 EST. It requires all riders and crew in public transport systems to wear face masks. Order covers usual transport modes and also taxis, ride-share, ride-hire services. It applies to support facilities ike depots, terminals, stations, ports. Mask may be momentarily removed for eating & drinking, as transport system may allow. Violators subject to federal penalties and removal from system at next upcoming safe opportunity. CDC order overlays existing local rules for face masks on public transport. List of Events ------------ ################################################################# # Events with dates are on-site events, all running pm lockdown # # restrictions for attendees. Have in hand your facial mask and # # follow all procedures at the event. Inquire at each event's # # contact for specific instructions. Mind well that local lock- # # down authorities may intervene on site against violators. # ################################################################# Thu 1 Apr all day - whole Ciry - MH - nova Cassiopeiae 2021 Adapted from AAVSO Alert Notice 75. Nova Cassiopeiae 2021 discovered by Yuji Nakamura, Japan, on 2021 Mar 18 at 9.6 magn. Steaily brightening into late Mar. RA 23h 24m 47.73s, Decl +61d 11m 14.8s (2000), from alp Cas to bet Cas then one length beyond. Magn ~8.2 on 28 Mar, requies small scope, large binoculars, good finder chart. Cas in ow NW in Apr eve, low NE in predawn. www.aavso.org 00:00 - whole City - MH - omega Centauri challenge Thru 31 May. When cluster ome Cen, NGC5128, is on meridian it's about 1 deg alt, yet is observable from within NYC. Requires good observing skills, dark sky, clear horizon. www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/51285139.htm. Sat 3 Apr 21:30 - whole CIty - MH - Globe at Night exercise Thru Apr 12. NYSkies runs its own Globe at Night exercise in 2020-2021 while Orion is in sky at nighfall. Same method and procedure as for prior years for documenting sky transparency over City. Details at www.nyskies.org/gannyc.htm. Events Skipptl This Month ----------------------- EVENT MAY RESUME AT DIFFERENT PLACE OR HOUR; INQUIRE AT CONTACT -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- [SPR] SPRING RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY -------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------- [!!!] ENCOMBERED DUE TO LOCKDOWNS; UNCERTAIN RESUMPTION -------------------------------------------------------- all day - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - 'Nature of color' exhibit Thru 2021 August. 4th floor. Explore light, wavelength, vision, pigments, radiation, sprctra. $28 adm & exh. 212-769-5100, www.ammh.org/exhibitions/color 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 - cultural tour VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND TIMES; INQUIRE AT CONTACT NYC-H2O. Walk, bike, ride thru history and culture of NYC muwater system facilities and natural waterways in and near the City. Events are pay orfree, adn regn reqd. Bike tours need own bike. www.nych2o.org, matt@nych2o.org all day - whole island - LI - clearsky starviewing VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Amat Obsrs Soc. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk. Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net all day - whole City - MH - clearsky starviewing VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Jupiter Joe's Sidewalk Astronomy. Sessions convene in parks usually at dusk. Occasional daytime sunviewing. Free. ` Cancelled for clouds. www.jupiterjoesastronomy.org, jupiyerjoesastronomy@gmail.com all day - whole City - MH - cultural tours & lectures VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT Urban Park Rangers. Tours of parks, landmarks, nabes, hoods. Lectures on history and culture of NYC. Program varies each month. Free. www.nyc.gov/parks = = = = = = = = = = 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;15 - Unionsale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. free. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net = = = = = 13:30 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture Seminar series. Rutgers Univ, Serin W330. Free. 732-445-3974, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/seminar = = = = = 14:00 - 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 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 = = = = = 15:30 - Upton - LI - Summer Sundays science show Brookhaven Natl Lab. Small seminar room. 'What is the Higgs boson hiding?'. Free, have GI photo ID for campussecurity. 631- 344-2651, www.bnl.gov/evnts = = = = = 16:00 - Natl Musm of Mathematics - MH - science show Also 19:00. 'Mathematical Encounters'. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-542-0566, www.momath.org, info@momath.org = = = = = 17:30 - Intrepid Museum - MH - Free Friday show Pier 86 and ship. Exhibits, demos, talks. Clearsky movies and starviewing. Free. www.intrepidmuseum.org = = = = = 18:00 - Earth Institute - MH - science lecture Columbnia Univ, Lerner Hall, Arledge Audm.. 'Sea level rise: Causes, impacts and options for solutions'. Free, adv regn reqd. ei.columbia.edu 18:00 - Columbia University- MH - Ctr for Sci and Soc lecture Fauerweather Hsll, Rm 513. 'The triumph of scientific imagination, 1760-1900'. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-854-7211, scienceandsociety.columbia.edu 18:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell audm. 'Climate, carbon ``` ` dioxide, and sea level: Past is prologue'. Free, 845-365-8634, www.ldeo.columbia.edu, 845-365-8988 18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecruee 15 E 84 St, 5/Madison Av. Various topics on history and culture of ancient societies. Free, adv regn reqd. isaw..nyu.edu, isaw@nyu.edu, 212-992-7800 18:00 - Amagansett - LI - astronomy lecture Montauk Obsy. Amagansett Library. Indoor talk, clearsky sunviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com = = = = = 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 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH -'GC presents' lecture 365 5 Av & 34 St. 'Climate change:The effects on coastal environments''. Free, adv regn reqd. 212-817-7000, www.gc.cuny.edu/publicprograms +++ = = = = = 19:00 - Toms River - NJ - Astro Soc of Toms Rv Area meeting Ocean Co Coll, Novins Planetarium. Free. www.astra-nj.org, 732-255-0343, webmaster@astra-nj.org 19:00 - 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 18:30 - Hunter College - MH - Amer Instt Archaeolgy lecture Hemmerdinger Screening Room. Various topics on archaeology and anthropology. Free, adv regn reqd. GI photo ID required for campus security. www.aia-nysociety.org, info@aia-nysociety.org = = = = = 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 - 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 19:00 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - SciCafe' show Hall of Ocean Life or Hall of planet Earth. Music, drinks, chat with Museum scientists. Free, be 21 or be gone. GI photo ID reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs = = = = = 19:15 - Lk Taghkanic St Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing Mid-Hudson Astro Assn. West Beach parking lot. Free, cancelled for clouds. Adv regn reqd with vehicle make, model, plate number for park security. ` www.nidhudsonastronomy.org = = = = = 19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org, contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net 19:30 - 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, www.mmastrosociety.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 - Torrington - CT - Litchfield Hills Amat Astro Club mtg Central Congregational Church. Free. lhastro.org, lhastro@gmail.com 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 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting Pace Univ, Lienhard Hall, Free. www.westchesterastronomers.org, waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org Sat 8 Feb 19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org = = = = = 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 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free. www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net 20:00 - York College - QN - astronomy lecture . Core Academic Bdg, Rm AC-2E01. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free, adv regn reqd. 718-262-2082, www.york.cuny.edu/centers-institutes/observatory, 20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org 20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg UACNJ Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.uacnj.org info@princetonastronomy.org 20:00 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free. Cancelled for clouds www.astro.princeton.edu/observatory/publicobserving.php, jeg@astro.princeton.edu, lee@astro.princeton.edu 20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free. njastro.org, 973-655-7266 jjj 20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925 20:00 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com, www.asliclub.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 - 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 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 - 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 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT 149 7 St, 2/3 Av. Lecture and music on various science topics. Free. secretscienceclub.blogspot.com, 718-638-4400, 20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org, 860-354-1595, mccarthyobservatory@gmail.com = = = = = 20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing. Free. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8500 20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewng Rutgers Univ,`Schommer Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds. 732-205-0020, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/ast-serin.html pryor@physics.rutgers.edu = = = = = general news ---------- During March significant loosening of the genral lockdowns took place in NYSkies. We may see in the months ahead a restoration of astronomy services approaching pre-lockdown levels. Mind well that hosts and venues may have to take care of their own operations first before welcoming back community guests,, like astronomy clubs. Astronomy centers have to rebuild their crews and programs after so long a latent period, already over a year. As at issue time no astronomy events are scheduled to run normally in April. They remain for now in their lockdown mode. Northeast Astronomy forum and Earth Day, both crash-cancelled in 2020 when the lockdowns began, are again call off as free-air events. They are running remote webcasts. Their hosts, SUNY Rockland for NEAR and Union Sq for ED, aren't ready yet for community events. Astronomy activities starting in spring, mainly starviewings, did not put up schedules yet for April. Please inquire at their sponsors for latest news. A further reason to leave all NYC Events entries in place is the late March disruption of Internet service in Nw Jersey and Connecticut (within NYSkies). Trouble, coupled with phone and TV, seems to center on Cablevision, wither directly or by relaying signal from other providers. Some outages were sporadic and temporary, but I fond it unreliable to check on events in these states. City news ------- The in-person NYSkies Astronomy Seminars on March 5 and 19 were cancelled due to lockdown. The new digital Seminar, with three sessions as at end March, were widely welcomed. With the sessions in our web, they are attracting remote audiences. I got requests to let clubs use the sessions for a feature of their meetings, like playing a movie, followed by discussion about them among the members. The sessions are publicly to hand in our web and may be used for astronomy erudition. They are at www.nyskies.org/av-files/av-files.htm Only the current and previous two sessions are online. Older ones are put into offline archive. Please download them before they migrate away for future enjoyment. some movement started in March to relax the lockdown situation in NYSkies. Theaters in NYC reopened for limited occupancy and indoor dining was bumped up to 50% capacity. Connecticut let down most lockdown rules, leaving many as recommendations. Premises may set their own limits for occupancy, spacing, flowthru.New Jersey allowed certain businesses to resume with limited capacity. Pi Day on March 14 seems to be passed over in 2021. Normally a light ceremony convenes around snacks and cake/pie/pizza (cut into 2- pi slices). I didn't hear of any remote or virtual workarounds for this year. Next Pi Day is July 22. The St Patrick's Day parade was cancelled for march 17, a second +call-off after the precipitous one in 2020right after the lockdown started. A skeleton precession of Irish bagpipers did a march from the lexington Av armory to St Patrick's Cathedral to keep the parade continuity like a similar show did in 2020. Parade began in the 1750s[!] in what is now Lower Manhattan. On March 19 US Prez Biden announced the US reached its 100 millionth vaccination and the current pace is some 2 million per day. March 14 was the anniversary of the first death from coronavirus in New York City. Several local officials held memorial shows. Johnson & Johson's virus vaccine eas approved in March. Distribution began immediately, along side the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Health officials note that it doesn't matter which serum you get, with all being highly effective against the virus. J&J vaccine may be more widely available because it is stored under slight cooling and needs only one shot. These factors allow more facilities to offer it. Pfizer and Moderna need two shots and deep refrigeration. Still no walkin service. Prior appointment, usually thru webs,is required. Larry Elder radio show on March 12 had astronomy question. In its 'Can you beat Kurt' segment he asked for average Earth-Moon distance in miles without going over. (A 'mile' is ~1,600m.) One contestant gave '238,000 miles' recalled from science class. Other to be smart gave 238,999 miles. he was over and lost. Average distance is about 238,800 miles (384,500km). Sky news ------ March 2021 was a good observing month with many clear dark nights. The main inhibitent against starviewing was windy conditions. Several times in march wind warnings and bridge speed restrictions wee ordered as wind reached 80-90 KPH. Damage was inflicted on loose outdoor furniture, flimsy structures, trees and power lines all over NYSkies. Globe at Night wraps up with its April 3-12 run in NYSkies. Ten after orion is way to far into evening twilight for good readings. he March run scored many clear nights with transp of 4th magn in the City; 5th beyond. Details ar www.nyskies.org/gannyc.hrm Some observes tried for First Crescent on mArch 14. No luck reported as at issue time but all had a fun time of it. The NYSkies digital session for March 5th probably was a boost toward the effort. Jupiter and Saturn are now in the dawn sky, several degrees apart. Jupiter is running ahead, east, of Saturn toward mutual opposition in 2030. On Mar 18 nova Cassiopeiae was found by Yuji Nakamura of Japan. It could rise into binocular range in early Apr. Deep Cut finder chart, with stars to 10th magn or fetch one from nova obsrving webs. Cas skirts horizon in spring in NYSkies, hiddn in landscape around midnight. Get view at nightfall in low NW or in presawn in low NE. See April 1. Venus is technicly an evening star, but is drenched in strong twilight. she gradually eases east from the Sun and climbs into darker twilight in late May. Mars is in Taurus, heading toward Gemini. a modest pink star, he'll eventually slide into evening twilight in the fall. March 26 gave the City its first summer weather of 2021! in midday temps peaked at high 20Cs, causing most people outdoors to shed their winter coats. Some walked about in shirt sleeves. Late afternoon brang the winds, up to 80KPH. Loose furniture and weak structures were blown around. April and May are the months for the omega Centauri challenge, topic of our april 2 digital Seminar. full instructions are at www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/51285139.htm Challenge requires good observing skill,clear southern horizon, clear day horizon sky. On March 26 assured that asteroid Apophis will not collide with Earth in 2036 or 2068. It swings by Earth in 2029 and 2036, with comfortable misses. Until now Apophis orbit was loose enough to allow a small chance of 2068 collision. Earth Hour on March 27 was totally clouded out, hiding the Full Moon. I inspected the sky just before, in middle of, and just after Earth Hour for any changes in hotspots or other luminous graffiti effects. There were no hotspots due to the ongoing lockdown and the Full Moon was obscured. Except for the sky getting darker as evening progressed there were no changes from alteration of luminous graffiti.