It Must be Astronomical ...

 

Loaners

The loaner program offers members a means to try scopes of various sizes and technologies before you buy. It is one of the real jewels of being a member of the club. Scopes are available for all experience levels. The inventory is constantly changing. The following list is a sample. For more information please see the loaner program web page: http://www.sjaa.net/loaners

 

Hot Dates

May 12 - Scheduled launch date of STS-125, the shuttle mission to repair the HST.

May 20 - Patricia Burchat speaks at Foothill College. Her topic is "Dark Matter and Dark Energy"

http://www.foothill.edu/ast/SVL.htm

June 20-24 - Golden State Star Party - http://www.goldenstatestarparty.blogspot.com/

[Looking for a quick way to increase your astronomy knowledge. Check out the One Minute Astronomer at http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/ ]

 

 
Deep Sky Objects

Here are three recommendations for deep sky objects in May. For more information see http://www.resource-intl.com/Observing.Lists/Deep.Sky.Apr.09.html

 

Difficulty

Name

RA

Dec

Easy

M83

13h 37m 00s

-29? 53? 04"

Great barred spiral galaxy in Hydra. Mag 8.2

Medium

N 5084

13h 20m 16s

-21? 49? 39"

Elongated galaxy with bright nucleus - in Virgo. Mag 11.6.

Difficult

N 5134

13h 25m 18s

-21? 08? 04"

Fairly large oval galaxy with mottled halo - Vir. Mag. 12.1

 

 

  

"Yes, you can have it all ... try to ignore gender biased counseling, and do whatever it is you love to do." - Jill Tartar, Director of the SETI Institute’s Center for SETI Research

 

 

Q: What is the very best day for a meteor shower in 2009?
A: It’s not certain but the shower with the best Zenithal Hourly Rate and the least moon light appears to be during the Geminids on the night of Dec. 14. (RASC 2009, pg. 258)