NYC Events 2009 November

NYC EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER 2009
--------------------------
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 Standard Time.

International Year of Astronomy
-----------------------------
IYA is the commemoration of Galileo's use of the telescope to
explore the stars 400 years ago. A worldwide effort is underway to
promote astronomy to the public with increased visibility of existing
programs and running new ones. In the US, IYA participation for home
astronomers is thru the Night Sky Network of JPL and ASP.
To enhance visibility of IYA participants in NYSkies territory,
they are marked with an asterisk in the Index of Events. Please call
on them for astronomy advice, consultation, service. As new
affiliates
enter IYA, we'll flag them.

Leonid meteor shower
------------------
Some predictions are circulating that there may be a uptick in
the
shower this year. While meteor shower studies made amazing progress
in
the last decade or so, it is still pretty much an art more than
science. However, some astronomy centers are considering meteor
watches for the Leonids.
Please mind well that mid November in predawn hours can be
crudelly
nasty. Expect wind and cold beyond what you put up with by day. Dress
for deep winter! Observe near shelter, like a park pavilion, to for
warmth and rest.

New York mayor elections
----------------------
I skip in NYC Events purely political events, but this year is a
mite different. The slugfest between incumbent Bloomberg, running for
a newly-permitted 3rd term, and his opponents makes for a real
spectacle in the news media. The City's future into the mid 21st
century hangs from the outcome of this race, regardless of who wins.
If you are a registered voter, holding the ticket mailed to you
by
the Board of Elections, please go and vote! Polls are open from 07:00
thru 21:00. Ask your employer about time-off, leaving early or
arriving late, for voting. Progressive conscientious employers have
this option, usually one hour at the start or end of your workday.

Index of Events
-------------
Dates for events in main listing, else  contact if no events
Events in recess may have month of resumption with contact
------------------------------------------------------------
BROOKLYN - BK
Community Bookstore - - -  3
*Floyd Bennett Field - - -  6
Secret Science Club - - -  9, 15

CONNECTICUT - CT
*A S of Gtr Hartford - - - 18
Astro Soc of Greenwich  -  4
*Astro Soc of New Haven  - 24
*Bethany Observatory - - - 20
Boothe Meml Astro Soc - -  6, 20
Bowman Observatory  - - - 10, 24
CT Tripoli Rocketry Assn  15
Litchfield Hills AAC  - - lmaac@hotmail.com,
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/twain/1206/id19.htm .
*Mattituck Astro Soc - - - 19
*McCarthy Observatory  - - 14
Stamford Observatory  - -  6, 13, 20, 27
*Van Vleck Obsy (ASGH) - - 21
Van Vleck Obsy (WU) - - -  4, 11, 18
Western CT St Univ  - - -  7, 12, 21
*Westport Astro Soc  - - -  4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26

LONG ISLAND - LI
*Amat Observers Society  -  1
Astro Soc of Long Island   4, 11, 18, 25
Brookhaven Natl Lab - - - www.bnl.gov, 631-344-8000
Custer Institute  - - - -  7, 14, 21, 28
Hofstra Univ Obsy - - - -  1
Innovative Stone Co - - -  1-indef
Montauk Observatory - - -  1, 6
Natl Space Soc-LISS - - - chapters.nss.org/ny/longisland,
trekker724@aol.com
*Robert Moses St Pk  - - - 13, 14, 17, 20, 21
Science Club of Long Is - www.sciencecluboflongisland.com,
631-421-1523, info@sciencecluboflongisland.com
SUNY Stony Brook  - - - -  6

MANHATTAN - MH
181st Stret station - - -  1-indef
457 Madison Av  - - - - -  1-Nov 7
92nd Street Y (Lex & 92)  18
Anat Astro Assn - - - - -  1, 6
Amer Intl Group - - - - -  1-indef
Amer Musm Natl Hist - - -  4
Cafe' Science - - - - - -  9
Central Park  - - - - - -  1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29
City College Physics  - -  4, 11, 18, 25
*Columbia Univ Astro - - - 11, 18
*Columbia Univ Obsy  - - -  6, 20
Cornelia St Cafe' - - - -  1
Ctr for Atmosp Ocean Stud  4, 11, 18
CUNY Grad Ctr (Sci & Art) 14
Earth Institute - - - - -  4
Eastern Standard Time - -  1
Explorers Club  - - - - -  2, 9
Goddard Inst for Spc Std  www.giss.nasa.gov, 212-678-5540,
pformosa@giss.nasa.gov
Good Housekeeping lab - - 13
Grand Central Terminal  -  1
Hayden Planetarium  - - - 4, 10, 11, 18, 24, 25
History of Science Soc  - jdauben@gc.cuny.edu
home purchase tax credit   1-30
Inst Strings, Cosmology - 12, 13, 20
*Inwood Hill Park  - - - -  4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
Island at the center ...   1-2010 Jan 3
Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT subways  1-indef, 7-indef
Madoff benches  - - - - -  1-indef
Madoff clawback - - - - -  1-indef
Milky Way autumn season -  1-30
Natl Space Soc-NYC  - - -  4, 18
New Amsterdam Trail - - -  1-indef
'New York' navy ship  - -  1-7
New York Univ Astro - - - 13, 20
NY Academy of Sciences  - www.nyas.org, 212-838-0230.
MY Publ Liby, Main Br - -  1-2010 Jun 26
NYC mayor elections - - -  3
*NYSkies Astronomy Seminar  4, 18
Observer's Handbook - - -  1-30
Observing Group - - - - - 24
Phioctetes Center - - - - 14
Physics Club of NY  - - - 20
Pleiades occultation  - -  3
Rockefeller University  - 212-327-8000, www.rockefeller.edu,
pubinfo@rockefeller.edu
SciCafe'  - - - - - - - -              7
Sci Ind Biz Liby  - - - - 212-592-7000, www.nypl.org/research/sibl
Serving Science - - - - -  2
South Street Seaport  - -  1-indef, 1-2010 Jan 3
Space Frontier Foundatn -  4, 11, 18, 25
Swine Flu epidemic  - - -  1-indef
Thnaskgiving Day  - - - - 26
*Top of the Lawn - - - - -  1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29
Urban Park Rangers  - - -  1
Veteran's Day - - - - - - 11

NEW JERSEY - NJ
A A A of Princeton  - - - 10
A S of Toms Rv Area - - - 13
*Amat Astro Inc  - - - - -  6, 13, 20, 27
Buehler-Columbia AAA  - -  7, 14, 21, 28
Dark Sky Observers  - - - www.users.nac.net/gburke/club
Hudson-Bergen railine - -  7
Instt for Advd Study  - -  3, 10, 17, 24
Montclair Telescope Club  973-948-5284, bischoff@garden.net,
users.erols.com/njastro/orgs/mtc.hrm
*Morris Musm Astro Soc - - 12
N W Jersey Amat Astro - - www.nwjaa.org, info@nwjaa.org
Natl Space Soc-NJN  - chapters.nss.org/nj/njn, cpankanin@aol.com
*New Jersey Astro Assn - - 28
North Jersey Astro Group  11
Ocean County College  - - 14
Passaic Co Astro Assn  www.users.nac.net/gburke/PCAA, 973-523-0024
Princeton Univ Obsy - - - 11
Rutgers Univ Astro Collqm  4, 11, 18, 25
Rutgers Univ Astro Semnr   6, 13, 20, 27
*S*T*A*R - - - - - - - - -  5
Schommer Observatory  - - 12
*Sheep Hill Astro Assn - -  1
*Sheep Hill Observatory  - 20
Skyland Stargazers  - - - skylandstargazers.tripod.com
*Utd Astro Clubs of NJ - - APR - www.uacnj.org
Washington Xing St Pk - - APR - www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, drexparker@aol.com

QUEENS - QN
Alley Pond Park - - - - - 14
Queens College Physics  -  2, 9, 16, 23

REST OF WORLD
AAVSO convention  - - - -  5-7

STATEN ISLAND - SI
College of Staten Is - -   9, 23
Great Kills Park  - - - - 21
Staten Is Community TV  -  2

THE BRONX - BX

UPSTATE - NY
Andrus Planetarium  - - -  6, 13, 20, 27
*Anthony Wayne Rec Area  - 201-768-3298, www.rocklandastronomy.com,
webnaster@rocklandastronomy.com,
*Catskills Astro Club  - - 14, 21
Lamont-Doherty Obsy - - -  6, 13, 20
Lwr Hudson Vy Challgr Ctr 15
Mid-Hudson Astro Assn - - 17
Mt St Mary College  - - - 12
Orange Co Astro Assn  - www.ocastronomy.org, info@ocastronomy.org
Rockland Astronomy Club -  7
Swinging Bridge dam - - -  1-indef
Vassar Coll Obsy  - - - -  4, 11, 18
Ward Pound Ridge  - - - - 14
Westchester Amat Astro  -  6
Wilcox Park - - - - - - - 13

Monthly Calendar
--------------
Plain dates are in current month;
-, last month; +, next month.
Moon phase: .FQ), (FM), (LQ., .NM.
--------------------------------
Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat
---  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---
1  ( 2)   3    4    5    6    7
8  ( 9.  10   11   12   13   14
15  .16.  17   18   19   20   21
22   23  .24)  25   26   27   28
29   30   +1   +2   +3   +4   +5

General notes
-----------
'whole City' means the event has no specific or dedicated place.
It may be enjoyed from everywhere in the 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. Some facilities may have limited
hours per day or days per week. Check with the contacts.
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
optional extra fees to consider.

List of events
------------
Sun   1 Nov
all day - whole City - MH - cultural tours & lectures
VARIOUS PLACES, DATES, HOURS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Urban Park Rangers. Tours of parks, lanmdmarks, surrounds.
Lecutres on history and culture of NYC. Program varies each
month. Free. www.nyc.gov/parks
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 clearsky sunviewing. Free, cancelled for
clouds. richard_rosenberg@verizon.net, 718-522-5014
all day - Central Park - NY - cultural exhibit
Indefinite duration. 67 St & 5 Av gate. Several park benches
donated years ago by swindler Bernard Madoff with his
nameplate on them. They are potential targets for his victims
to exert anger, possibly resulting in damage or destruction.
all day - South Street Seaport - MH - Bodies exhibit
CHILDREN SHOULD OBTAIN ADULT GUIDANCE FOR THIS EVENT!
Indefinite duration. 11 Fulton St. About 30 human cadavers,
some intact, some dissected and laid out for inspection of
organs. Specimina replaced with fresh ones from time to time.
$27.50 adm. www.southstreetseaport.com
all day - American International Group - MH - cultural exhibit
Indefinite duration. 175 Water St. Company in 2009 March
removed signs, names, emblems from its building facade. Place
is patrolled by guards and attracts protest rallies.
all day - whole City - MH - Madoff clawback
OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE RESPONDING TO THIS EVENT
Indefinite duration. US Bankrupty Court is sending summonses
to investors who realized income from the Madoff swindle. The
court claims this income and orders its return. Details at
your legal advisor.
all day - South Street Seaport - MH - cultural exhibit
Thru 2010 Jan 3. Museum, 12 Fulton St. 'Island at the center
of the world' maps, paintings, documents from Dutch era of
NYC. $10 adm. www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org.
all day - Hauppauge  - LI - cultural exhibit
COMPANY IS IN CHAP 11; FATE OF CORNERSTONE IS UNCERTAIN
Indefinite duration. Innovative Stone Company, show yard.
Actual 20-ton granite inscribed block for Freedom Tower
cornerstone, placed in tower's foundation on 4 July 2004.
Removed for safekeeping until construction can resume. Free.
631-273-4445, www.innovativestone.com,
info@innovativestone.com
all day - whole City - MH - Observer's Handbook service
Thru Nov 30. NYSkies Astro Inc. The RASC Observer's Handbook
available at discount rate. No minimum qqunatity needed,
single or small requests accepted. $20 each. 212-273-5958,
www.nyskies.org/oh.htm, www.nyskies.org/ohclub.htm,
nyskies@nyskies.org, nyskiesastronomy@earthlink.net,
all day - NY Publ Liby - MH - science exhibit
Main Branch, 5 Av & 42 St. 'Mapping new York's shoreline,
1609-2009'. Free. www.nypl.org
all day - Battery Park - MH -  cultural tour
Thru Dec 31. Natl Pks of NY Harbor & Natl Pk Svc. 'New
Amsterdam Trail'. Self-guided walk thru culture and history
of
Dutch era of Manhattan. Download booklet and audio narration
to play during walk. Free. www.nyharborparks.org.
all day - 181st St station - MH - subway station limited service
Indefinite duration. Ceiling collapse on Aug 16 closed
station.
Station noe open for partial operation, may be shut down from
time to time for repairs. When closed, IRT Upper Broadway
trains skip it. Shuttle buses, IND 175th St and 181st St
stations are alternatives. www.mta.info.
all day - Swinging Bridge - NY - potential flood emergency
Indefinite duration. Flood alert on Mongaup & upper Delaware
rivers due to sinkhole in Swinging Bridge dam. Listen for
news and advice from local emergency management agencies.
www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/safety/swinging.asp
all day - whole City - MH - swine flu epidemic
Indefinite duration. Global outbreak in mid April of swine
flu
(H1N1 flu). Symptoms resemble ordinary flu but comes from new
strain. Some health tips:
* wash hands after handling shared items
* eat healthy food, avoid excess sweets
* drink lots of hot liquids: soup, broth, tea
* keep hands off of face and eyes
* gargle with antiseptic wash or hot salt water
* contain coughs and sneezes in dsisposable tissue
* stay home if sick
* if flu break out, get medical attention quickly.
Details at your physician and public health office.
all day - 457 Madison Av - MH - science exhibit
'Toward the sentient city' on computer aided life in future
City. Free. www.sentientcity.net
all day - whole City - MH - home purchase tax credit
Thru Nov 30. Up to $8,000 Federal tax creidt for buying home
in 2009. Provision in economic stimulus package enacted
earlier this year. www.irs.gov. Some conditions:
* Home is very first purchase, no previously owned home.
* Home is principal residence, not 2nd or business home
* Buyer must live in home, not vacate it, for 3 years
* Sale must actually close from 1 Jan thru 30 Nov 2009
* Credit is taken on either 2008 or 2009 tax filing
* Credit reduces income tax, increases refund
all day - Grand Central Terminal - MH - cultural exhibit
EVENT EXTENDED FROM JULY 5
Thru Nov 1. Transit Gallery. 'The future beneath us' on
various tunnel projects in and around NYC. Jointly with Sci
Ind Biz Liby. Free. 212-878-0106, www.mta.info
all day - Sci Ind Biz Liby - MH - cultural exhibit
EVENT EXTENDED FROM JULY 5
Thru Nov 1. 'The future beneath us' on various tunnel
projects in and around NYC. Jointly with Grand Central
Terminal. Free. 212-592-7000, www.nypl.org
all day - Interpid Museum - MH - visit of 'New York' navy ship
Thur Nov 7. New ship 'New York' with parts made of steel from
World Trade Center open for visits and ceremonies. Details in
preparation. www.ussnewyork.com
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
Every Sunday. Indefinite duration. Many Lwr Manh and
Bklyn Downtown subways are under major work at various
hours. Check posters and flyers for your routes.
www.mta.info/nyct/service/lower_manh
02:00 - whole City - MH - Eastern Standard Time
Set clocks BACK, BEHIND, one hour to return to EST. Most
readers will do this on the previous night when they go to
sleep so they wake up in the proper time.
13:15 - Uniondale - LI - Amat Obsrs Soc meeting
Nassau Commty Coll, Bdg F, Room 123. 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 adm. www.corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
18:00 - Hempstead - LI - clearsky starviewing
Hofstra University, Chem-Phys Bdg, Rm 117. Free, cancelled
for clouds. 516-463-2759, www.hofstra.edu/Academics,
observatory@hofstra.edu
19:00 - whole City - MH - fall Milky Way season
Thru Nov 30. Fall season for sighting Milky Way from within
NYC. Requires dark clear sky, thoro knowledge of normal
luminous graffiti in sky.
19:30 - Boonton - NJ - Sheep Hill Astro Assn meeting
Boonton Town Hall. Free. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm,
ajmonka@att.net
18:30 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
OCCASIONAL SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACTS
Montauk Obsy, Montauk Publ Liby. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing
PLUS OCCASIONAL EXTRA SESSIONS; INQUIRE AT CONTACT
Top of the Lawn. North side of Great Lawn. Free, cancelled
for
clouds. tags_p@yahoo.com, www.nyskies.org,
nyskies@nyskies.org

Mon  2 Nov
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture
Physics Conf Rm, B326. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.physics.qc.edu/colloq.php, 718-997-3350
18:00 - Explorers Club - MH - science lecture
46 E 70 St. 'Terra Antarctica: rediscovering the seventh
contient'. $20 adm. www.explorers.org, 212-628-8383
18:00 - Kouzan Restaurant - MH - Serving Science lecture
685 Amsterdam Av, 93/94 St. Supper/chat with Citu College
profs on sci topics. $10 fee, incl 1 drink, + own meal.
web.cuny.edu/research/Serving-Science-CUNY-Science-Cafe.html
19:30 - Staten Island Community TV - SI - science show
100 Cable Way, Mariners Hr SI. Live audience, televised on
SI cable. Free. www.sictv.org, 718-727-1414

Tue  3 Nov
07:00 - whole City - MH - NYC mayor elections
Go to the voting station noted in your Board of Election
ticket. Show ticket to be steered to proper voting booth.
Polls are open 07:00-21:00. Then rush home to watch the
Pleiades occultation later tonight!
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture
Princeton Univ, Bloomberg Hall, library. Free.
www.sns.ias.edu/astro/astrocal.php,
wserber@astro.princeton.edu
19:00 - Community Bookstore - BK - science lecture
143 6Av. 'Climate change: picture the science'. Free.
718-783-3075, events@communitybookstore.net,
www.communitybookstore.net
19:30 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - science cinema
Kaufmann Thtr. Simulcast via television of Al Gore's
presentation 'Our choice: a plan to solve the climate
crisis'.
$8 tkt. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
22:30 - whole City - MH - Peiades occultation
Moon passes SE and E side of pleiades in midnight hours.
Timetable for New York NY:
===================================================================
Moon 97% illum, 161d W elong, lib lat -3.4d, lib lon -5.0d
-----------------------------------------------------------
EST    Event            Alt-Az  Cusp  Pos  Ver  comments
-----  --------------   ------  ----  ---  ---  --------------
16 48  Sun sets         -- ---   --   --   ---
17 07  Moon rises        0  58   --   ---  ---
17 58  naut twilight     7  66   --   ---  ---  full night in
NYC
22 58  Merope ingress   62 117  -35N   11   59
23 35  Merope egress    67 132  +23N  313  351
23 59  Alcyone miss     70 143   -7N  343  130  misses off N cusp
0  0  midnight         70 144   --   ---  ---  Nov 3 -> Mov 4
0 17  Atlas ingress    72 154  -64N   40   61
0 34  Pleione ingress  73 166  -39N   16   27
0 52  Moon culminates  73 180   --   ---  ---
1 14  Pleione egress   73 198  +20N  317  302
1 23  Atlas egress     72 205  +45N  292  271
---------------------------------------------

Wed  4 Nov
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show
Live skyshow of rocket trip to the Moon. $17, incl mus adm.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture
Ctr for Atmosp & Ocean Srudies. 251 Mercer St. Various
topics in geophysics and earth science. Free.
caos.cims.nyu.edu, shafer@cims.nyu.edu
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture
Marshak Hall, Rm 418N. Various topics in physics and
astronomy. Free. www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/physics/calendar,
physics@sci.ccny.cuny.edu, 212-650-6832
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Astrop Collogm. Rutgers Univ, Busch Campus, Phys Lectr Hall.
Free. 732-445-3974, www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
18:00 - Columbia University - MH - science lecture
Earth Institute. Shapiro Hall, Davis Audm. 'Reinventing the
automobile'. Free. jc2305@.columbia.edu,
www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg
Central Pk S & 6 Av. Informal discussion of spacefaring
topics. Free, RSVP by 12:00.
william.watson@spacefrontier.org,
www.spacefrontier.org,
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: COSMOLOGY'S GREATEST DISCOVERIES - PART 1/2
Combined meeting with Natl Spc Soc-NYC Chap
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show &
tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies
territory. Free. nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org,
212-273-5958
19:00 - St Paul's Luthrn Ch - MH - Natl Spc Soc meeting
DISCUSSION: COSMOLOGY'S GREATEST DISCOVERIES - PART 1/2
Combined meeting with NYSkies Astronomy Inc
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astro/space topics, show
& tell, skywatching reports, news of astro/space activity in
NYC vicinity. Free. chapters.nss.org/ny/nyc,
astrohal@webtv.net
19:00 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - SciCafe' show
Hall of Planet Earth. Music, cash bar, social mixer with Amer
Musm Natl Hist staff. Free, be 21 or be gone, ID reqd.
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
19:30 - Greenwich - CT - Astro Soc of Greenwich meeting
Bruce Museum. Free. rbria@juno.com, www.seocom.com/asg,
203-896-6786-x338
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 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing
Westport Astro Soc. Rolnick Obsy. Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925
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. www.inwoodastronomy.org,
jkendall@moonbeam.net, 917-529-2359
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting
Vanderbilt Plm. Free. www.asliclub.org, info@asliclub.org /
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing
Vassar College, Observatory. Free, cancelled for clouds.
physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html,
845-437-7340

Thu  5 Nov
18:00 - Newton - MA - AAVSO convention
Thru Sat 8 Nov. Crown Plaza hotel. Workshops, tours, talks,
demos, banquet, meals, lodgg. $70 + extras. www.aavso.org
20:00 - Lincroft - NJ - S*T*A*R meeting
Brookdale Commty Coll, Mommouth Museum. Free.
www.starastronomy.org, s-walters@comcast.net
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4

Fri  6 Nov
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture
Rutgers Univ, Serin 385E. Free. 732-445-3974,
www.physics.rutgers.edu/colloquium
15:30 - 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, snooner@ldeo.columbia.edu,
18:15 - Amer Musm Natl Hist - MH - Amat Astro Assn lecture
Kaufmann theater. Free. richard_rosenberg@verison.net,
`
718-522-5014.
18:30 - Montauk - LI - astronomy lecture
Montauk Obsy, Montauk Publ Schl. 'Tectonics from Mars to
Montauk and all around the solar system', also clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.montaukobservatory.com
19:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
Pupin Hall, signs to lecture room. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreach-admin@astro.columbia.edu
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show
Hudson Rv Musm, Andrus Plm. 19:00 show is free, sponsored by
FujiFilm USA Inc. Free, different topics each Friday.
www.hrm.org, 914-963-4550
19:30 - Yonkers - NY - Westchester Amat Astro meeting
Hudson Rv Mus, Andrus Plm. Free.
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
info@westchesterastronomers.org
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting
Union Co Coll, Sperry Obsy. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
19:30 - Stony Brook - LI - astronomy lecture
SUNY Stony Brook, Earth & Spc Sci Hall. Indoor lecture,
clearsky starviewing. Free. www.ess.sunysb.edu/astro,
631-632-8100, slutterbie@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
20:00 - Floyd Bennett Field - BK - clearsky starviewing
Natl Park Svc. Model airplane flying field. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.nyskies.org, stephenlieber@nyc.rr.com,
nyskies@nyskies.org
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg
Boothe Meml Pk, Obsy. Free. www.bmas.org, info@bmas.org
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing
Stamford Obsy. $3 adm, cancelled for clouds.
www.stamfordmuseum.org, cescovil@earthlink.net, 203-322-6537
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

Sat  7 Nov
all day - Lwr Manh-Bklyn DT - MH - subway reconstruction
Every Saturday. Indefinite duration. Many Lwr Manh and
Bklyn Downtown subways are under major work at various
hours. Check posters and flyers for your routes.
www.mta.info/nyct/service/lower_manh
09:40 - Weehawken ferry depot - NJ - cultural tour
Electric RR Assn. Meet at W 39 St depot, Manh, for 09:50 boat
across Hudson Rv. Ride thru history and culture of Hudson-
Bergen interurban line. $25 tkt + own lunch, adv regn reqd.
sidkeyles@optonline.net, 201-684-9408.
16:30 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture
W Conn St Uv, Plm/Obsy. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671,
awsond@wcsu.edu
19:30 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture
Bergen Commty Coll, Buehler Obsy. Free.
www.bergen.edu/buehler, ropstbaum@bergen.edu.
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Suffern - NY - astronomy lecture
Rockland Astro Club. SUNY Rockland. Free.
201-768-3298, webnaster@rocklandastronomy.com,
www.rocklandastronomy.com
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting
Custer Instt. Indoor program, clearsky starviewing. $5-$15
adm, varies with program. www.custerobservatory.org,
CusterDonna@yahoo.com, 631-765-2626

Sun  8 Nov
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

Mon  9 Nov
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see Nov 2
17:30 - PicNic Cafe' - MH - Cafe' Science lecture
2665 Broadway & 101 St. Supper/chat with Columbia Univ
profs on sci topics. $10 fee, incl 1 drink, + own meal.
212-222-8222, alumni.columbia.edu/learn/s3_6.html,
cafescience@columbia.edu
18:00 - Explorers Club - MH - cultural lecture
46 E 70 St. 'The inside view: the Metropolitan Museum of
Art's
mummies '. $20 adm. www.explorers.org, 212-628-8383
20:00 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting
149 7 St, 2/3 Av. Lecture and music on various science
topics. Free. secretscienceclub.blogspot.com, 718-638-4400,
www.unionhallny.com/events
20:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing
Astrophys Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. 718-982-2818,
robbins@mail.csi.cuny.edu, supernova7.apsc.csi.cuny.edu

Tue 10 Nov
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Nov 3
18:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Virtual Universe shoe
Live skyshow of computer graphics and astro databases.
$15 adm. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org/programs
20:00 - Princeton - NJ - Amat Astro Assn of Princeton meeting
Princeton U, Peyton Hall. Free. www.princetonastronomy.org,
609-737-2575, drexparker@aol.com
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of Greenwich. Julian Curtis Elem Schl, Bowman
Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds. rbria@juno.com,
www.seocom.com/asg, 203-896-6786-x338

Wed 11 Nov
all day - whole City - MH - Veteran's Day
Please check with event contact for session falling on this
day by rule or outdated schedule.
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Nov 4
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Nov 4
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture - see Nov 4
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture
Pupin Hall, Rm 1332. Free. www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach,
212-854-3278, outreach-admin@astro.columbia.edu
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 4
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Nov
4
20:00 - Upper Montclair - NJ - No Jersey Astro Gp meeting
Montclair St Univ, Richardson Hall, Room 232. Free.
njastro.org, 973-655-7266,  mwest@pegasus.montclair.edu
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Nov 4
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - aww Nov 4
21:00 - Princeton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Princeton Univ, Peyton Hall. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.astro.princeton.edu/events.htm,
wserber@astro.princeton.edu

Thu 12 Nov
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting
Inst for Strings, Cosmlgy, and Astropartcl Phys. Pupin Hall,
Rm 908. Discussion of cosmology and string theory. Free.
www.iscap.columbia.edu
17:30 - Danbury - CT - clearsky starviewing
W Conn St Uv, Plm/Obsy. Free, cancelled for clouds.
www.wcsu.edu/starwatch, 203-837-8671, awsond@wcsu.edu
19:30 - Morristown - NJ - Morris Mus Astro Soc mtg
Morris Museum. Free. 973-386-1848, tedbarker-JDCO@att.net,
www.morrismuseum.org/static/education/astronomical.html
20:00 - Newburgh - NY - astronomy lecture
Mt St Mary College, Aquinas Hall, Rm 216. 'Light & color in
the universe'. Free. 845-569-3601, petruzze@msmc.edu
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
21:00 - 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 13 Nov
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see Nov 13
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 6
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Nov 6
10:00 - Good Housekeeping Resrch Instt - MH - science tour
Hearst Tower, 57 St & 8 Av.. Walk thru history and science of
porduct testing center of Good Housekeeping magazine. Free,
adv regn reqd. 212-649-5000, ghritours@hearst.com
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture
Meyer Hall, 5th fl. Various topics in astrophys and
relativity. Free. physics,nyu.edu, dgsphys@nyu.edu,
212-998-7706
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Nov 6
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 - Wilcox Pk - NY - clearsky starviewing
Mid Hudson Astro Assn. Free, cancelled for clouds
www.midhudsonastro.org. 845-485-5669, trankin@hvc.cc.com
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Nov 6
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 6
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

Sat 14 Nov
14:00 - CUNY Graduate Center - MH - science show
Science & the Arts. 'The theory of everything'. Free.
212-817-8215, web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp,
continuinged@gc.cuny.edu
14:30 - Philoctetes Ctr - MH - science lecture
247 E 82 St. 'Mathematics and beauty'. Free, 646-422-0544,
www.philoctetes.org, info@philoctetes.org
19:00 - Alley Pond Park - QN - astronomy lecture
Alley Pond Enviro Ctr. Indoor lecture, clearksy starviewing.
$10 fee. www.alleypond.com, info@alleypond.com, 718-229-4000
19:00- Toms River - NJ - astronomy workshop
Ocean Co Coll, Techny Bdg, Lecture Hall. 'How to use a
telescope'. Free. www.ocean.edu/campus/planetarium,
732-255-0343
19:00 - Ward Pound Ridge - NY - clearsky starviewing
Westchester Amat Astro. Meadows Picnic Area. Free, cancelled
for clouds. info@westchesterastronomers.org
www.westchesterastronomers.org,
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing
Catskills Astro Club. Walnut Mountain Pk. Free, cancelled
for clouds. www.catskillsastro.org, kocis@verizon.net.
19:30 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Nov 7
20:00 - New Milford - CT - astronomy lecture
McCarthy Obsy, New Miford HS. Indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.mccarthyobservatory.org,
860-354-1595, contact@mccarthyobservatory.org,
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Nov 7
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 13
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

Sun 15 Nov
12:00 - Bethany - CT - CT Tripoli Rocketry Assn meeting
Bethany Town Hall. Free. www.ctra-narconn.org,
860-583-1690
14:00 - Airmont - NY - science show
Lwr Hudson Vy Challenger Ctr, 225 Rt 29. Multimedia
simulation of space missions. $20 adm. www.lhvcc.com,
director@lhvcc.com, 845-257-3416.
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Bell House - BK - Secret Science Club meeting - see Nov 9

Mon 16 Nov
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see Nov 2

Tue 17 Nov
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Nov 3
19:30 - New Paltz - NY - Mid Hudson Astro Assn meeting
SUNY New Paltz, Coykendall Audm. Free. 845-485-5669,
www.midhudsonastro.org, trankin@hvc.rr.com
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - Leonid meteor watch
Amat Obsrs Soc. Parking field #2, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.aosny.org, suerose@optonline.net
20:00 - Westport - CT - Westport Astro Soc meeting
Rolnick Obsy. Free. www.was-ct.org, 203-227-0925

Wed 18 Nov
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Nov 4
15:30 - Courant Institute - MH - science lecture - see Nov 4
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture - see Nov 4
16:15 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Nov 11
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 4
19:30 - New Britain - CT - Astro Soc of Gtr Hartford meeting
Centl Conn St Uv, Copernicus Plm. Free, www.asgh.org,
860-872-9069, pparkerrs@cs.com
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Nov
4
19:00 - St Paul's Lutheran Ch - MH - NYSkies Astronomy Seminar
DISCUSSION: COSMOLOGY'S GREATEST DISCOVERIES - PART 2/2
Combined meeting with Natl Spc Soc-NYC Chap
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astronomy topics, show &
tell, skywatching reports, news of astro activity in NYSkies
territory. Free. nyskies@nyskies.org, www.nyskies.org,
212-273-5958
19:00 - St Paul's Luthrn Ch - MH - Natl Spc Soc meeting
DISCUSSION: COSMOLOGY'S GREATEST DISCOVERIES - PART 2/2
Combined meeting with NYSkies Astronomy Inc
315 W 22nd St & 8 Av. Discussion of astro/space topics, show
& tell, skywatching reports, news of astro/space activity in
NYC vicinity. Free. chapters.nss.org/ny/nyc,
astrohal@webtv.net
19:00 - 92nd St Y - MH - science lecture
Lexington Av & 92 St. 'Happy birthday, Charles Darwin'. $25
adm. www.92y.org, 212-415-5500
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Middletown - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Nov 4
21:00 - Poughkeepsie - NY - clearsky starviewing - aww Nov 4

Thu 19 Nov
19:00 - Waterbury - CT - Mattituck Astro Soc meeting
Naugatuck Vy Commty Coll, Ekstrom Hall. Free.
mastransit.org, btbrick@mastransit.org
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4

Fri 20 Nov
14:00 - Columbia Univ - MH - ISCAP meeting - see Nov 13
14:30 - New York University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Nov 13
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 6
19:00 - Columbia University - MH - astronomy lecture - see Nov 6
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Nov 6
19:15 - New York University - MH - Physics Club of NY meeting
Silver Ctr, Rm 207. Jointly with Chemistry Teacher's Club.
Free, bring GI photo ID for campus security..
jdepalma@nyc.rr.com, www.sconyc-ny.org
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 6
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 13
20:00 - Stratford - CT - Boothe Meml Astro Soc mtg - see Nov 6
20:00 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc lecture
Union Co Coll, Smith Audm. Indoor talk, clearsky
starviewing. Free. www.asterism.org
20:30 - Boonton - NJ - clearsky starviewing
Sheep Hill Astro Assn obsy, Free, cancelled for
clouds. www.uacnj.org/clubs/shaa.htm, ajmonka@att.net

Fri 20 Nov
15:30 - Palisades - NY - science lecture - see Nov 6
20:00 - Bethany - CT - clearsky starviewing
Astro Soc of New Haven. Yale Univ, Bethany Obsy. Free,
cancelled for clouds. www.asnh.org, prez@asnh.org

Sat 21 Nov
16:30 - Danbury - CT - astronomy lecture - see Nov 7
19:30 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Nov 7
19:30 - Great Kills Pk - SI - clearsky starviewing
Natl Pk Svc. Enter from Hylan Bv, follow signs to field.
Free, cancelled for clouds. www.nps.gov/gate, 718-987-6790
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 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Nov 7
20:00 - Liberty - NY - clearsky starviewing
20:00 - R Moses St Pk - LI - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 13
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4

Sun 22 Nov
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

Mon 23 Nov
12:00 - Queens College - QN - science lecture - see Nov 2
19:00 - Coll of Staten Is - SI - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 9
MEETS AT 19:00, NOT 20:00

Tue 24 Nov
11:00 - Princeton - NJ - Inst Advd Stud lecture - see Nov 3
18:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Celestial Highlights
Live skyshow of current evening sky. $15 adm.
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 - Downtown Youth Commty Ctr - MH - Observing Group meeting
120 Warren St & West St. Indoor meeting, occasional clearsky
starviewing. richard_rosenberg@verizon.net, 718-522-5014.
20:00 - Greenwich - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 10

Wed 25 Nov
10:30 - Hayden Plm - MH - Field Trip to the Moon show - see Nov 4
16:00 - City College - MH - science lecture - see Nov 4
16:45 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 4
18:00 - Whiskey Park - MH - Space Frontier Foundtn mtg - see Nov
4
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:30 - Centerport - LI - Astro Soc of LI meeting - see Nov 4

Thu 26 Nov
all day - whole City - MH - Thanksgiving Day
Please check with event contact for session falling on this
day by rule or outdated schedule.
20:00 - Westport - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4

Fri 27 Nov
15:00 - Piscataway - NJ - astronomy lecture - see Nov 6
19:00 - Yonkers - NY - astronomy show - see Nov 6
19:30 - Cranford - NJ - Amat Astro Inc meeting - see Nov 6
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Stamford - CT - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 6

Sat 28 Nov
19:30 - Paramus - NJ - Buehler-Columbia AAA lecture - see Nov 7
20:00 - Southold - LI - Custer Instt meeting - see Nov 7
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1
20:00 - Inwood Hill Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 4
20:30 - Voorhees St Pk - NJ - NJ Astro Assn meeting
NJAA-HQ, Robinson Obsy. Free, indoor lecture, clearsky
starviewing. www.njaa.org, 908-368-8600

Sun 29 Nov
20:00 - Central Park - MH - clearsky starviewing - see Nov 1

General news
----------
RIGHT NOW is when you should be fixing your events for the new
year of 2010. During December many host facilities close or their
crew
is on holiday. This is specially true if you meet at a school that
has
an intersession break in December.
Among the more embarrassing situations is that in the January NYC
Events you are listed in that awful 'XXX' category. You know, where I
note 'DATES NOT SET YET; INQUIRE AT CONTACT'.
I understand well that things can get crazy near the end of the
year. Please, for your own sake, make a substantial effort to get the
dates lined up for your events, if not the topic or theme.
In this issue I start to list major holidays that could preempt
events normally falling on their dates. Many events are set by a rule
that by mistake conflicts with certain holidays. Please check with
the
event contact before going to an event listed with these holidays
I renamed the events at Courant Institute for the series itself,
Center for Atmospheric and Ocean Studies (CAOS). The Institute runs
many other series rather much beyond NYC Events.
History of Science Society runs a new science-&-culture lectures
series at various places on Manhattan jointly with other history and
science groups. All are free but do mind the location.
Inwood Hill Astronomy Project runs several occasional extra
events
on other days and evenings. I added an alert note to its entry for
November 4th. For instance, it may have a Leonid meteor watch on/
about
November 12th.
SciCafe' is a new offering of the American Museum of Natural
History, an informal gathering of Museum staff and visitors in the
Hall of Planet Earth. No admission fee but there is a cash bar.
Visitors must be 21 years old and over, so please have ID with you.
Science Club of LI still hasn't updated its website since June
2009. In previous years it ran session thruout the year. I leave it
in
the Index of Events for contact.
The Hudson-Fulton celebration is about over but I leave a general
entry under the 1st in case there are more events this month. In the
meanwhile, please do visit the 'Island at the center of the world'
exhibit and walk the 'New Amsterdam trail'. See October 1st.
Sci-Ind-Biz Library may relocate its cultural talks because its
little lecture room is consistently overcrowded. One option is to
hold
them at the Mid Manhattan or Main branches, about 1/2 kilometer
uptown
on Fifth Av.

Event news
--------
NYSkies Astronomy Seminar on 2009 October 7 was one of New York's
World Space Week events featuring 'LCROSS, water, and you'. The
audience took in a customized slideshow about the LCROSS mission,
planned for watching the collision on October 9th by television or
Internet. It then held a cheery dialog about lunar motions, orbit,
observing, topography. As it happened, this Seminar was the City's
ONLY public preparation for the LCROSS crash!
The September 21st Seminar was a spacefarer's orgy! It discussed
several current space missions, notably LCROSS, Planck, Herschel,
Kepler, IBEX. The meeting evolved into a vigorous dialog on
cosmology,
since the space missions are one prime means of studying that topic.
There were lots of show-&-tell booklets, posters, charts, printouts.
The other World Space Week events were at Columbia University. It
hosted the 'From Earth to the universe' exhibit, a riotous success in
its week-long run in front of Butler Library. The University also
presented preliminary results from LCROSS at its regular evening
lecture on the 9th. Not bad for a place so commonly proclaimed unfit
for astronomy by man or beast.
New York was the ONLY place to host the IYA exhibit 'From Earth
to
the universe' TWICE! We displayed it for World Science Festival in
June 2009 and in October it was Columbia University's turn. I myself
got some grousing and griping about 'That exhibit belongs in [your
town here], not in (barf! ralph!) New York.'
You may retch all you want, but if you really want to do
astronomy, you kind of know where to come.
New York was one hell of a science town in October with the
Science Film Festival. NYSkiers, others, filled the theaters and
auditoria to the gills to watch artistic films inspired by science
themes. Most were free but require reservations. Others charge a
modest admission.
Governors Island wrapped up its 2009 season on October 11th. The
island is closed to visitors until next May. 2009 was the busiest
year
ever, partly because of the extended season. The ferries were pushed
to their limit hauling thousands of visitors per day right up until
the very last run on the 11th! Agitation is mounting for a continuous
transport, like a slidewalk or beltway under the East River from
Battery Park.
High Line is an other heavily visited place. It clocks about
20,000 visitors a day on the aerial promenade from Gansevoort Market
thru West Chelsea. Its outdoor lighting is so star-friendly that we
perch on its deck for starviewing! Being elevated 6 to 10 meters
above
the street, it's above the ground clutter of lights and offers
spectacular open views of the sky in all directions. You do have to
meander from spot to spot to see all parts of the sky. Besides
astronomers, photographers are flocking to High Line to get pictures
never before feasible.
Please leave the Madoff benches in Central Park alone. I
appreciate that many readers really have it in for the fellow and
want
to vent their anger against the benches. So far, there seems to be
little physical damage but they are frequently messy from human and
pet toilet functions.
The major convention in November is the American Association of
Variable Stars, this year in newton MA on the 5-7. This is one of
those easy and simple trips, at the eastern end of the Amtrak line in
Boston, then a short taxi ride to the meeting's hotel. I'm presenting
a slide talk on, ta-TAH!, 'the park in the sky'.

Sky news
------
Weather in October turned into glatt autumn, with the first frost
in the City on the 15-16. Some district reported sleet and rain
freezing on the ground. All melted during the following morning.
The Milky Way season continues. So far in October there were no
positive sightings. Please keep an eye out for the band across your
local sky when ever you're outdoors. The season ends on November
30th.
NYSkiers hung by TVs and computers to watch the crash of LCROSS
on
the Moon on October 9th, 1/2 hour after sunrise. There was a single
brief flash fro the actual impact, but no visible uprising plume of
debris. There was a cloud, examined by the LCROSS craft and many
other
observatories, in nonvisual wavebands.
The Inwood Hill LCROSS watch was a mixed success. The predawn
starviewing was called off for clouds but visitors crowded around
laptops hooked up to see the collision thru NASA and mirror websites.
The City got a rare upper tangential arc on Sunday the 11th in
mid
afternoon! It was deeply colored with both 10-degree arms. It was
shortlived, only a few minutes. Lasting for a hour or so was a
sinistrum parhelion, brightly colored even thru thin clouds. It waned
and waxed during the afternoon, finally fading for good by about
16:00. I got no reports of a dextrum parhelion.
We go back to Eastern Standard Time on November 1st. Set your
clocks BACK, BEHIND, by one hour. Please check those clocks that
automaticly switch times. They could be wired for the old daylight
time rule. If they flip to standard time on the last Sunday of
October, just leave them alone. So what if they are an hour behind
for
a week? If you manually push them ahead to show daylight time for
that
final week, you'll have to manually pull them back to standard time
anyway.
The Pleiades is covered by the Moon in the midnight hours of
November 3-4, details under the 3rd. Moon is in high south this time,
slicing across the southeast and east side of the cluster.//
Mars is in the early night sky in October, hovering in Gemini and
Cancer. He rounds opposition in December, a remote one with a small
disc. Saturn emerged from solar conjunction with his north ring face
tilted to us. The rings are still pretty thin, yet easily
discernible.
Neptune is near Jupiter, who can be a good jumpoff point. You do
need a good chart of the area in northeast Capricornus to starhop
from
Jupiter to Neptune. use a planetarium computer program set for the
instant night.
[ Auf dieses Posting antworten ]