NYSkies
Astronomy Inc |
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NYC EVENTS FOR MAY 2017
---------------------
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 Daylight 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
------------------------------------------------
-30 1 .2) 3 4 5 6 19:58
7 8 9 (10) 11 12 13 20:05
14 15 16 17 (18. 19 20 20:11
21 22 23 24 .25. 26 27 20:17
28 29 30 31 .+1) +2 +3 20:23
----------------------------------------------
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 - - - 12
Secret Science Club - - - 0
CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - - 17
Astro Soc of Greenwich - - ???
*Astro Soc of New Haven - 30
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - - 5, 19
Bowman Observatory - - - 3, 17
*Litchfield Hills AAC mtg 12
*Litchfield Hills starvg 26
*McCarthy Observatory - - 13
New Pond Farm - - - - - - ???
Stamford Observatory - - - 5, 12, 19, 26
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 27
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - - 3
Western CT St Univ Obsy - 6, 20
Westport Astro Soc mtg - 9
*Westport Astro Soc starvg 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amateur Observers Soc - - 7
Amer Instt Aero & Astro - 17
Astro Soc of Long Island 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Brookhaven National Lab - 19
Custer Institute - - - - - 6, 13, 20, 27
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - - 7
Jones Beach - - - - - - ???
Montauk Observatory - - - ???
Ringling Bros circus - - 12-21
SUNY Stony Brook - - - S/O
*Susan Rose Observatory - 6, 13, 20, 27 / ------------------------
-
National Space Soc-LISS - chapters.nss.org/ny/longisland,
trekker724@aol.com
MANHATTAN - MH
*Amat Astro Assn starvwg - 0
*Amat Astro Assn lecture - 5
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - 3
Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Std 3
Ctr for Science & Society S/O
Central Pk (Great Lawn) - 5,6,7, 12,13,14, 19,20,21, 26,27,28
*Columbia Univ Obsy - - - 5, 19
Cornelia Street Cafe' - 7
Earth Institute - - - -- 2
Fleet Week - - - - - - - 24-30
Good Housekeeping lab - 12
Governors Island - - - - 1-Sep 25
Gullicar's Gate - - - - - 0
Instt Stud Ancnt World - 2, 4, 19
*Inwood Astronomy Project 6, 13, 20, 27
Manhattanhenge -- - - - - 29-31
Memorial Day - - - - - - 29
Milky Way spring season - 1-Jun 30
Natl Musm of Mathematics 3
NY Academy of Sciences - ???
NYC-H2O - - - - - - - - - 4
NYPL Mid-Manhattan - - - 11
New York Univ Astro - - - S/O
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar 5, 19
omega Centauri challenge 1-31
SciCafe' - - - - - - - - 3
Science & the Arts - - - ???
Simons Foundation - - - - ???
South Ferry station - - - 0
Top of the Lawn - - - - - 5,6,7, 12,13,14, 19,20,21, 26,27,28
TriState computer fair - 0
Urban Park Rangers - - - 0
Woeld Science Festival - 31-June 4 -----------------
-----------------
Ctr for Space Sci Edu - - info@nyccsse.org, www.nyccsse.org,
212-608-6164
Physics Club of NY - - - jdepalma@nyc.rr.com, www.sconyc-ny.org
NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton - - - 9
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 12
*Amat Astro Inc meeting - 5, 12, 26
*Amat Astro Inc lecture - 19
Instt for Advd Study - - S/O
Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 11
*New Jersey Astro Assn 27
No Jersey Astro Gp mtg 10/
No Jersey Astro Gp starvg S/O
Peyton Observarory - - - 17
Plasma Physics Lab - - - 5, 12, 19, 26
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm S/o
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr S/O
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - - 4
Schommer Observatory - - 4, 18
Sheep Hill Astro Assn - - 7
*Sheep Hill Observatory - 19
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - 6, 13, 20, 27
Washington Xing St Pk - - 5, 12, 19, 26
---------------------------
Buehler-Columbia AAA - - www.bergen.edu/buehler,
ropstbaum@bergen.edu
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
Natl Space Soc-NJN - chapters.nss.org/nj/njn, cpankanin@aol.com
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 - - - - - 20
York College Observatory S/O
REST OF WORLD
STATEN ISLAND - SI
Coll of Staten Is Obsy - 4, 18
Great Kills Park - - - - 20
Staten Is Community TV - 5, 12, 19, 26
THE BRONX - BX
UPSTATE - NY
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - - 5, 12, 19
Ramapo Challenger Ctr - - 21
Vassar Coll Obsy - - - - S/O
Ward Pound Ridge - - - - 20
Westchester Amat Astro - 5
----------------------------
Mid-Hudson Astro Asson - www.midhudsonastro.org, 845-485-5669
===============================================================
Ongoing and continuing events
--------------------------
all day - South Ferry - MH - South Ferry station reopened
Indefinite duration. Old closed South Ferry station
reopened on April 4 for access to Battery Pk and SI Ferry.
You must Be in 1st 5 cars to get off at South Ferry.
www.mta.info
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 - 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. $25 preview until May 8, #36 full
show then after. 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 R
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
---------
Mon 1 May
00:00 - whole City - MH - spring Milky Way season
Thru Jun 30. Spring season for sighting Milky Way from within
NYC. Requires dark clear sky and thoro knowledge of normal
luminous graffiti in sky. Milky Way is in high east sky at
about 02:00. www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/milky-ny.htm
all day - Governors Island - MH - cultural shows
Thru 25 Sep. Island is open on every daym 10h-20h weekdayss,
10h-19g weejebds.Walkand 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.governoreisland.com
22:00 - whole City - MH - omega Centauri chaleenge
Thru 31 May. When cluster ome Cen, NGC5128, is on meridian
it's
about 1 deg alt, yet is observable from within NYC. Requires
dark sky and clear horizon.
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/51285139.htm.
Tue 2 May
18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture
15 E 84 St, 5 Av/Madison Av. Various topics in history and
ulture of ancient civilizations. Free, adv regn reqd.
isaw.nyu.edu, isaw@nyu.edu,
212-992-7842
18:00 - Earth Institute - MH - science lecture
Columbnia Univ, Faculty House, 64 Morningside Dr. 'New York's
renewable energy future'. Free, adv regn reqd.
ei.columbia.edu, energypolicy@columbia.edu
Wed 3 May
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture
Ctr for Atmosp & Ocean Studies. Weaver Hall, 251 Mercer
St. Various topics in geophysics and earth science. Free.
caos.cims.nyu.edu, shafer@cims.nyu.edu
16:00 - Natl Musm of Mathematics - MH - science show
aLSO 19;00. 'Mathematical Encounters'. Free, adv regn reqd.
212-542-0566, www.momath.org, info@momath.org
19:00 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - SciCafe' show
Hall of Ocean Life or hall of planet Earth. Music, drinks,
chat with Museum scientists. Free, be 21 or be gone. GI photo
ID reqd. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of Greenwich. Curtis Elem Schl, Bowman Obsy. Free.
Cancelled for clouds. rickbria@optonline.net, 203-415-6762. ,
astrogreenwich.org
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing
Wesleyan U, Van Vleck Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
860-685-3664, www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events
20:00 - Centerport - li - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. asliastronomy@yahoo.com,
www.asliclub.org
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free. Cancelled for n
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
Thu 4 May
18:30 - Central Park - MH - cultural tour
NYC-H2O. Walk thru history and culture of underground harlem
Ctrrk in park and nearby streets.. $32.49, adv regn reeqd.
www.nych2o.org, matt@nych2o.org
18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture - see May 2
20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting
Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free.
www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net
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,
20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Rutgers Univ, Schommer Obsy. Free. Cancelled for clouds.
732-205-0020, www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/ast-serin.html
pryor@physics.rutgers.edu
Fri 5 May
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
11:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture
Lamont-Doherty Earth Obsy, Monell Audm. Various topics in
geophysics and earth science. Free, 845-365-8634,
www.ldeo.columbia.edu, suzana@ldeo.columbia.edu,
18:15 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - Amat Astro Assn lecture
Kaufmann Theater. Free, no musm adm fee. 718-522-5014,
president@aaa.org, www.aaa.org
18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: THE MILKY WAY, IN THE SKY AND IN SPACE
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
nion Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org, hfjacinto6@gmail.com
territory. Free. nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org
19:30 - Pleasantville - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting
Pace Univ, Miller Hall, Free. www.westchesterastronomers.org,
waa-president@westchesterastronomers.org
info@princetonastronomy.org º
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
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 - 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 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg
Boothe Meml Pk, Obsy. Free. www.bmas.org, info@bmas.org
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture
Stamford Obsy. $3. Indoor lecture, clearsky starviewing.
203-322-6537, www.stamfordmuseum.org, cescovil@earthlink.net
20:30 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Amat Astro Assn of Princeton. Simpson Obsy. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.princetonastronomy.org, 609-737-2575,
Sat 6 May
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.custerobservator
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 - 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 - clearsky 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
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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
Sun 7 May
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting.
Hofstra Univ, Berliner Hall. Free. www.aosny.org,
suerose@optonline.net
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
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Senior Ctr. Free. www.sheephillastro.org,
contacts@sheephillastro.org, wwestura@optonline.net
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
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
Tue 9 May
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 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
Wed 10 May
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting
Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free.
njastro.org, 973-655-7266
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Apr 5
20:00 - Centerport - li - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 3
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 3
Thu 11 May
18:30 - NYPL Mid-Manhattan Liby - MH - cultural lecture
'Quarks of culture: How we came to be'. Free.
w.nypl.org/calendar/index.cfm
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
Fri 12 May
all day - Uniondale - LI - Ringling Brothers Circus
Thru 21 May. Nassau Coliseum. Final season of traditional
American circus.lAbsolute ast run inUniondale, then tents fold
forever. All acts and performances eexcept those with the
elephants. ~$30-~$90, adv regn reqd. www.nassaucoliseum.com,,
www.ringling.com
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see May 5
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
11:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see May 5
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
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see May 5
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see May 5 r
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 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see May 5
20:30 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
Sat 13 May
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see May 6
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 6
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
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,
Sun 14 May
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
Wed 17 May
18:30 - Mitchell FField - LI - Amer Instt Aero & Astro lecture
Cradle of Aviation Museum. Various topics in
aeronautics and astronautics. Free, optional $5 pizza-soda.
516-458-8593, davidparis@optonline.net
19:30 - Middletown - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting
Wesleyan Univ, Van Vleck Obsy. Free. www.asgh.org,
860-872-9069, pparkerrs@cs.com
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 3
20:00 - Centerport - li - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 3
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 3
21:00 - 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
Thu 18 May
20:30 - Piscataway - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 4
20:30 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing - see May 4
Fri 19 May
10:00 - Upton - LI - science lecture
Brookhaven Natl Lab, Bldg 510.. 'Tiny bubbles in the mine: New
trsults from thr PICO-60 dark matter detector'. Free, have GI
photo ID for campus security. www.bnl.gov/physics/evnts,
631-344-2651
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see May 5
11:00 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see May 5
18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture - see May 2
18:30 - McBurney House - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: MANHATTANHENGE AND WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL
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 May 5
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 May 5
20:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see May 5
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:30 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn Obsy, Free. Cancelled for
clouds. sheephillastro.otg, contacts@sheephillastro.org,
wwestura@optonline.net
Sat 20 May
19:30 - Alley Pond Park - QN - clearsky starviewing
Alley Pond Enviro Ctr. $14 at door. Cancelled for clouds.
www.alleypond.com, info@alleypond.com, 718-229-4000
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 - 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 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture - see May 6
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 6
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see May 6
Sun 21 May
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 May 5
Wed 24 May
all day - whole City - MH - Fleet Week show
VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Thru 30 May. Dozens of navy ships from several countries
dock in NYC for tours and visits. Demos ofair-sea operations a
various places in City. Exhibts at Intrepid Museum. Free,
possible limitedroom or long waits. Local news media,
20:00 - Centerport - li - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 3
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 3
Fri 26 May
10:00 - Princeton - NJ - science tour - see May 5
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see May 5
19:30 - Staten Is Community TV - SI - science show - see May 5
20:00 - Stamford - CT - astronomy lecture - see May 5
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:30 - Wash'n Xing S P - NJ - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
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 27 May
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,
pparkers@cs.com
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Institute meeting - see May 6
20:00 - Jenny Jump St Forest - NJ - Utd A C of NJ mtg - see May 6
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
20:00 - Susan Rose Obsy - LI - clearsky starviewing - see May 6
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting
NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Free. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8600
Sun 28 May
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see May 5
Mon 29 May
all day - whole City - MH - Memorial Day
Please check with event contact for session falling on this
day by rule or outdated schedule
20:00 - Manhattan gridiron - MH - Manhattanhenge
Thru 31 May. Sun sets in line with E-W streets within
Manhattan gridiron. Requires clear view along street to
horizon in NJ. www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/stone-ny.htm
Tue 30 May
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 31 May
all day - whole City - MH - World Science Festival
VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Thru Sun 4 Jun. Lectures, shows, performances, exhibits for
all sciences. Some events are free, some pay. Many concurrent
events in different locations. www.worldsciencefestival.com,
info@worldsciencefestival.com
20:00 - Centerport - li - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see May 3
20:30 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see May 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 - Princeton - NJ - Instt Advd Stud lecture
Princeton Univ, Bloomberg Hall, library. Free.
www.sns.ias.edu/astro/astrocal.php,
wserber@astro.princeton.edu
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
Meyer Hall, 5th fl. Various topics in astrophys and
relativity. Free. Have GI photo ID for campus security.
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
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
18:00 - Inst Stud Anc World - MH - cultural lecture
15 E 84 St, 5/Madison Av. Exhibition lecture 'Weeks, months,
yeats in Greek and Roman calendars' with 'Time and Cosomos'
showw.. Free, adv regn reqd. isaw..nyu.edu isaw@nyu.edu,
212-992-7842
19:30 - Stony Brook - LI - astronomy lecture
SUNY Stony Brook, Earth & Spc Sci Hall. Indoor lecture,
clearsky starviewing. Free. www.ess.sunysb.edu/astro,
631-632-8100, slutterbie@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - clearsky starviewing
No Jersey Astro Gp. Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall.
Free, cancelled for clouds. njastro.org, 973-655-7266,
20:30 - York College - QN - astronomy lecture .
Core Academic Bdg, Rm AC-2E01. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free, adv regn reqd. 718-262-2082,
www.york.cuny.edu/centers-institutes/observatory,
tpaglione@york.cuny.edu
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
--------------------------------------
15:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Bruce Museum. Free with musm adm. rickbria@optonline.net,
203-415-6762, astrogreenwich.org
17:00 - Simons Foundation - MH - scinece lecture
160 5 Av & 21 St. 'Strange new worlds'. Free, adv regn reqd.
646-654-0066, ww.simonsfoundation.org
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 - Southampton - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy, Southampton Cultural Center. Indoor talk,
clearsky starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
19:00 - NY Academy of Sciences - MH - astronomy lecture
'The unification of physics: The ques for a Theory of
Everything'. $15, adv regn reqd. wwww.nyas.org, 212-298-8600
19:45 - West Reading - CT - clearsky starviewingh
New Pond Farm, obseratory. $10, adv regn reqd. , cancelled for
clouds. www.newpondfarm.org, 203-938-2117,
info@newpondfarm.org
20:00 - Jones Beach St Pk - LI - astronomy lecture
Amat Obsrs Soc. Roosevelt Natr Ctr. Indooe lecture, clearsky
starviewing. $4, adv regn reqd. www.aosny.org, 516-785-3614,
suerose@optonline.net
General News
----------
I clarified the meaning of the notations in the 'index of events'
section. Please recall that NYC Events ended the 'XXX' notation a
couple years ago. I also renamed the 'ongoing conditions and
situations' section to 'ongoing and continuing events'.
NYSkies freshened its web homepage to remove aged material and
clean some text. It notes that PazMiniBits and SpaceWalk are suspended
with their last issues left in place as examples.
May 2017 is the ABSOLUTE AND UTTER LAST CHANCE to enjoy the
Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus! And that chance is in
NYSkies land!! The last of the greatest show on Earth plays in Nassau
Coliseum on May 12-21. Some dates/hours may already be sold out.
Gullivaer's Gate is a new long-term, maybe permanent ,exhibition
in the Theater District of Manhattan. It opened in mid April for
preview at reduced ticket price, then goes full show on May 9. GG
displays in exquisitely detailed miniature models many iconic
buildings and places thruout the world, with a special area for New
York City. See under 'ongoing and continuing events'.
Governors Island opens in 2017 on May 1, a month earlier than
previously. Ferries run every day from Manhattan, on weekends from
Brooklyn.
World Science Festival runs 31 May-4 June in 2017. It stages a
formal opening on the 30th with a black-tie theater/dinner/dance for
Festival supporters . Please lay out your plans carefully because
events may run concurrently or with too short time between them. See
under May 31.
NYSkies at World Science Festival this year has a new function! In
the stead of fielding an exhibit at the washington Square science
street fair on June 4th, we provide technical and reference services
at the starviewing in Brooklyn Bridge Park on June 3rd. Particulars
under discussion with the Festival.
Astro Soc of New haven no longer uses Bethany Observatory, Yale
University. Club does public starviewing at parks and beaches near New
Haven, detailed in its web.
I moved Institute for Advanced Study to 'S/O' in case it opens a
new season of seminars or similar meetings in the fall. It apparently
had none in the 2016-2017 school year.
Institute for Study of Ancient World has a few remaining cultural
talks in May, as noted in the 'index'. Mistaken advice earlier had
ISAW finishing its lecture series in April.
City News
-------
Several NYSkiers sat a short-notice lecture about Iohannes
Kepler on 30 march 2017. It was at Bard Graduate Center, UWS MH with
some 20 scholars attending. The presentation discussed Kepler's work
in the 1590s, prior to his planetary motion laws. Kepler was already a
COpernicus advocate and tried to show that the planet orbits fit into
a set of nested polyhedra. Besides making drawings of the polyhedra,
he built modles and mechanisms with them.
Penn Station was hit by rolling delays and service cuts, affecting
all rail traffic thru it. On April 4, 2017, an Amtrak train derailed
in the yard west of the depot, usually a minor incident. The train
happened to rip out equipment tied to 8 tracks in Penn Station,
slashing capacity for Amtrak, LIRR, and NJ Transit. While repairs are
underway, expect service changes, delays, suspensions.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 7 April 2017 examined the astronomy
features of astrology software. By the 1990s astrology programs were
using the same ephemeris algorithms as for astronomy, both producing
the same planet and lunar data. Astrology concentrates almost
exclusively on the zodiac, represented in the classical 'wheel' chart,
horoscope' as a circle graduated in signs/degree scale. Planets are
marked by their symbols. The horizontal divide thru the center of this
zodiac is the observer's horizon. The half above the horizon is the
observer's sky, that below is hidden. At a lance we see which planets
are up or not and the angular displacement among them. Some programs
have a central angle dial to read out the elongation between any
points in the zodiac, a feature crucial for astrologers but missing
for astronomers. The inclination of the ecliptic is shown by the
location of 'medium coeli', the crossing of ecliptic with local
meridian. it is generally not centered at the top of the wheel but is
shifted left or right. A left shift means the ecliptic runs in the sky
more southeast to northwest; contrary for a right shift. The Moon has
usually two additional markers: the apogee of her orbit and the
ascending node. Both clue the astronomer to the Moon's latitude from
the ecliptic and speed and angular size in the sky. When a new or full
Moon is close to the ascending node, or opposite at the unmarked
descending node, an eclipse is possible. Some program display info
about immediately upcoming eclipses. Some programs mark the place of
the previous and next full/new Moon, to judge the dates of dark Moon
during observing hours. Astrologers monitor not only the instance of
conjunction, or other alignment, but also the speed it develops and
dissolves. Each planet in astrology, considering it as a bug on a flat
sky, has a aura or 'orb' around it. When the orbs of two planets first
touch the conjunction begins, when in the sky the planets are treated
as somehow associated. Equality of longitude is the 'realization', the
only event usually noted by astronomers. When the orbs break away the
event is over, the planets no longer look associated./ Some programs
generate charts for the event with the one planet 'attacking' the
other, then 'retreating'.Astrologers note the start and end of
retrograde, but astronomy software commonly don't show which state a
planet is in. The wheel chart flags retrograde planets with a 'r' next
to its symbol. A powerful astrology tool, not found in astronomy
software, is a query for an arbitrary event. By keying in, thru a
database-query code, a desired configuration of planets, the astrology
program hunts up and tabulate instances of the configuration.
Astronomy program do this for only a certain canned set of alignment,
almost all with the Sun. Takeaways were several wheel charts labeled
for different astronomy features, comparison of wheel to regular
skymap, examples of event query, speed-position chart of planets.
The NYSkies astrosocial on 2017 March 31 was rained out. I was the
only NYSkier for our delegation. An irritating steady rain held others
away. In total there were only 6 visitors, three being students of
ISAW. The tour explored several of the exhibit's sundials and
calendars to illustrate cosmic view of the Greek and Roman world.
Ifeomia White-Thorpe, Morris Hills HS,Rockaway NJ, on April 5,
2017, won the last of all eight acceptances for Ivy League colleges!
She received several earlier in March-April but the final one, for
Harvard, won her the clean sweep. The schools are Brown, Dartmouth,
Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, U of Pennsylvania, and Yale.
The new network of city-operated ferries starts on May 1 with the
Rockaway route. It runs from Bh 108 St and Jamaica Bay,stopping at
Brooklyn Army Terminal and Pier11-Wall St. Service has all-new
catamaran boats with food service and WiFi. Fare is $2.75 with ferry's
own tickets, not MetroCard. Transfers are allowed to other ferry
routes but not to the City transit system. Four more routes start up
in summer-fall 2017.
On 31 March 2017 ~19:50 EDST a manhole exploded in broadway at
12th St, Manh. Caused by festering underground fire, the blast
shattered windows along adjacent streets, including Strand books on
the corner. Several streets were closed for repairs and Broadway
subway line was closed for several hours.
On 13 April 2017 ~06:45 EDST a downtown M101 bus burst into fire!
The driver hobbled it to Lexington Av & 45 St, where he discarded the
riders. The fire consumed the motor bay and took firefighters about an
hour to put out. Bus will be salvaged for spare parts else where in
the vehicle.
Besides train problems at Penn Station, a stampede of some 10,000
riders erupted on 2017 April 144 ~18:30 EDST. An Amtrak police downed
a unruly man in the waiting room with a stun-gun. The gun-like device
and its zap-crackle sound were taken as gunshots by rush hour crowds.
Mobs in fleeing the depot caused at least 16 injuries from falls and
bangs. On street, shouts of gun fire filtered into Macy's store,
forcing a brief lockdown. Stampede was subdued by several police
forces.
NYS MTA in early April 2017 began investigating Daniel Brucker,
about possible privately-run tours of Grand Central Terminal. Brucker
is Director of Tours, taking groups along GCT-approved tours thru the
depot's public and off-limits areas. Some NYSkiers took one of his
walks, like on March 25 with a subway fan club. He is suspected of
doing tours on his off-days without GCT knowledge, with stops at
certain off-limits areas. Brocker is suspended during the
investigation.
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on April 21, 2017, discussed lunar
observing. We treated the motion and position of the Moon in the sky
several sessions ago and now looked at the lunar topography. It really
requires at least a good binocular to appreciate the surface details
of the Moon, there being few positively discernible by bare eye. We
noted the sense of directions, according as we treat the Moon as a
flat disc on the celestial sphere or a separate world. Before the
space projects, we only used the flat disc directions, the side of the
Moon facing west in the sky is the western limb; east, eastern limb.
Older lunar litterature adhaered to this convention. As a globe in
space, when we starting sending spaceprobes to the Moon, the side on
the east in the sky is the western limb; west, eastern. In the 1970-
1990 period lunar authors employed the one or the other, commonly with
no notice of which. An other quirk was that traditionally astronomers
placed south at top of photos and diagrams, matching the classical
inversion of images in simple refractors. When the Moon is regarded as
a globe, north is at top. Current lunar references have a north-up
placement. in spite of the direction shift, older lunar material is
still valuable for observing from Earth with small telescopes. Because
the Moon has no air, there is no aerial perspective or soft shadows,
or diffused sunlight. The scene is gross light and shade, making it
hard to correlate a map with the scope view. The scene changes during
the lunar day from sunrise, thru midday, to sunset. We suggested a
exercise of photographing a landscape repeatedly during a sunny day,
sunrise to sunset, like from a high floor window. The features look
radicly different under the changing Sun angle. The line of
sunrise/sunset is the terminator. For evening viewing the sunrise
terminator is on the disc; morning, sunset. Some lunar observing
programs have a database of mapping from an orbiting probe like
kaguya, Clemetine, LRO. The program renders the data into
photorealistic displays, with appropriate shading and shadows. This
is, a recent innovation of software authors,. The web has many
atlases and maps of the Moon, some digitized from former print
editions. The plates are downloadable graphics which can be printed or
examined on screen. We saw the effect of libration to nudge craters
and maria to and from the lunar limb. The value of libration, in
latitude and longitude, is the lat-lon on the Moon's selenographic
scale that is centered on the disc. Or it's the lat-lon where Earth is
in the zenith of the lunar sky. A good lunar software incorporates
libration in the display for a given date and hour. Even a small scope
may amplify the Moon's light to annoy or dazzle the eye. For casual
viewing, the scope can be fitted with a subdiameter aperture made of
cardboard. Or, to keep the telescope's full resolution, place a small
ND1 photographic filter in the eyepiece tube. We chatted up the
origin of the Moon and wondered why it took so long to realizw that
the massive bombardment on the Moon must also fall on Earth. on Earth
weather, tectonics, earthquakes, glaciers, human land modifying,
vegetation, more erase or hide the craters. Takeaways were map-photo
comparisons, views of Copernicus crater at various points in the lunar
day, set of evening Moon phases with and without feature labels,
cartographic lunar atlas, examples of libration.
NYSkies starred at both NEAF and Earth Day in April 2017. Our
table was handled a continual flow of visitors. For some reason this
year thee was a higher interest in New York astronomy then normal,
with banter and chat about the astronomy in the City and other towns.
I presented my talk about Manhattanhenge at NEAF on April 9th,
igniting additional inquiries about new York astronomy. Since many
visitors are convenient to the City, we may see them at our Seminars.
Sky News
------
April 2017 was a lousy stargazing month, with most nights clouded
over. many were also rainy. The adverse sky killed off the omega
Centauri challenge and GLOBE at Night. I heard of wide-spread
cancellations of regional starviewings due to recurring clouds
The final round of GLOBE at Night for NYSkies, 2017 Apr 18-27, was
almost a total cloud-out. On the two evenings of clearish sky, on the
18th and 23rd, twilight dulled Orion to only 1st or 2nd magnitude
transparency. GaN dates avoid evening Moon, which were in mid-late
April, when Orion was edging into twilight.
Observers are watching Jupiter, well up in southeast at nightfall
in April 2017. Some were surprised that the moons weren't lined up
neatly across Jupiter. Jupiter's moon plane this year is titled a from
edge-in, causing the moons to pass on the north or south side of the
Jovian disc.
Midnight observers are starting to inspect Saturn in Ophiuchus-
Sagittarius. He'll be in southeast at nightfall in mid May.
Occultations of Hyades and Aldebaran continue thru spring and
summer 2017, now in the predawn sky. Astronomers are already psyching
up for the Porrima occultation in July! We then see TWO occultations
at once.
The omega Centauri challenge in April 2017 was killed by cloud and
haze. No night was clear enough for a good chance to see this cluster.
2017 is the first year we extended the program into April. Until now
it was only in May. The challenge continues into May but twilight may
then interfere. See under May 1.
The spring season for seeing the Milky Way from within the City
opens on May 1st. Hopefully weather will improve to let the brighter
patches of the summer Milky Way be seen in predawn hours. See under
May 1. Season runs thru June 30.