Author: Roland Roberts
Astronomy 001
I’ve been asked to lead an astronomy club for PS 102 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. That invitation sounded interesting, but….
How do you run an astronomy club for young children? It’s easy enough to do a sidewalk astronomy event for them and their parents, but there’s a world of differences when you’re it, the parents are not there and you have to maintain their interest and attention a lot longer than 60 seconds at the eyepiece.
So, I’m starting this "notebook" of experiences, lesson plans, and whatever else seems appropriate so I can keep track of what makes a successful club (and what makes an unsuccessful one!).
Lunar Eclipse
Well, the Eclipse Party is on, but the Eclipse will probably be eclipsed by bad weather here in NYC and other parts of the northeast. I’ve been working with Celestia to have a simulation of the earth/moon as seen from the Earth-Sun L1 point. That lets you see both the geometry that results in eclipses …
Northeast Astronomy Imaging Conference
The third annual premier imaging conference here on the east coast of the US. See the Rockland Astronomy Club NEAIC web page for details.
Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF)
The premier astronomy form and show in the northeast US, possibly the whole US. Too many guest speakers and activities (including those for children) to count. See the Rockland Astronomy Club NEAF web page for details.
Total Lunar Eclipse
Weather permitting, this will be visible to all New Yorkers who can get outside. At this point, the weather looks like it will not be visible here in the northeast US.
Halloween Comet
Last night was Halloween (how’s that for stating the obvious). I brought out the 8-inch Dob and set up by our stoop to show trick-or-treaters the comet (and yes, we also gave out candy). The weather was not very cooperative with clouds in the northeast until about 7:50pm by which point most trick-or-treaters were packing …
Comet 17/P Holmes
Wow! I haven’t been paying attention lately; I heard there was a comet which had undergone an significant outburst, but my experience with comets hear in Brooklyn as been "that’s nice" and that’s about it. But after reading how bright it was, I went outside tonight with my 10×50 binoculars and tried to find it. …
Boring Stuff
Last week, I took a class on Spring and Hibernate which sounds pretty strange unless you happen to be a Java programmer in which case it makes perfect sense. So this week, I’ve been busy trying to put my new-found knowledge to work at work. Okay, I warned you, boring stuff. Meanwhile, the basement continues …
Too Much Happening
Hmm, since I last took time to write we’ve come back from our vacation to Missouri, went on a vacation to the Berkshires (annual camping/astronomy trip), came back from that, emptied our basement and begun "remodelling" (in quotes because ripping out the walls and digging out the floor is more like "reconstructing"). Oh yes, and …
Crayfish in Hubble Creek
Hubble Creek is a small creek that runs through the edge of town in Jackson, MO and, except in the driest of conditions, always has a small flow of water with a few pools where water may be as much as three feet deep. There are some small bluegill and sunfish, plenty of minnows and …