Pizza Gram
From: Starlord (starlord_at_despammed.com)
Date: 06/18/04
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Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 08:41:25 -0700
From: "MacYoda"
Beyond Earth Pizza Delivery!
Greetings Fellow Stargazer,
Is Earth the only place that delivers Pizza? I don't think so! If
you
haven't seen the DVD movie "Contact"
http://contact-themovie.warnerbros.com/main.html
yet, you should watch it with your entire family to see it right now!
There's no doubt that "Contact" is indescribably more accurate in its
depiction of SETI than any Hollywood film in history!
Yes that is SETI and it is not a type of SPAGHETTI! Then what is SETI
(http://www.seti-inst.edu/) you ask? Well...the SETI Institute serves
as
a home for scientific research in the general field of Life in the
Universe with an emphasis on the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence
(SETI). Their research is designed to answer the question: Are we
alone
in the Universe and if not, do they deliver?
Help find E.T. by downloading the Seti Screensaver at:
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
If you want to join my group who have logged just under 100,000 hours
then enter this when it asks you to return and log in:
macyoda@aol.com
(do this after you download the program and start it up)
Well... if you bring a Pizza to this month's Star Party, I will be
able
to confirm that one is not alone when eating pizza at a Star Party!
Sooo... join us for the June 19th Star Party at Dillingham Air
Field and bring an "Out of this World" Pizza with you!!!
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Star Party Invite for June 19th
Sponsored by the Hawaiian Astronomical Society
http://www.hawastsoc.org
Dillingham Airfield - before sunset (7:15 pm)
(Star Party Directions are at the end of this message)
Bring:
http://bishopmuseum.org/planetarium/skyWatch/2004/06/june04.pdf
Here is where I go to check the weather on a Star Party Night:
http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?num=6&delay=15&scale=1&noclu
tter=0&ID=HMO&type=N0R&lat=0&lon=0&label=you
If it is clear, you will be able to see many astronomical sights.
It's now that time of year to see the Southern Cross, Omega
Centauri, Jupiter, Vega, the Summer Triangle, as well as many other
heavenly sights!
If you won't be in Hawaii, fear not. Check this link for a Star
Party near you!
http://SkyandTelescope.com/resources/organizations/
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If you miss this month's HAS Star Party then join us at the next:
***** 2004 *****
July 10th
August 7th
September 18th
October 16th
November 6th
December 4th
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The movie "Contact"
"Contact" focuses around a star call Vega that you can see at this
month's star party, and I will through in the Ring Nebula as well.
And if you stay long enough you can even see Saturn!
In the movie "Contact", a radio message comes to Earth from the
distant
star Vega, and the Radio Astronomer, Ellie receives it. As the
countries
of the world unite in an effort to decode the transmission, the planet
faces the message with equal parts hope and fear, for contained within
it
are blueprints for a machine of intergalactic travel capable of
transporting its passenger to deep space. It could mean the dawning of
an
astounding new era -- or certain Armageddon.
As the world wrestles with the questions raised by the message, and
humanity warily approaches the brink of a new millennium, Ellie vies
to
be selected as the single representative who will leave the Earth to
explore the galaxies, seeking the unknown extraterrestrial source --
and
becoming the first person to make contact.
But her personal voyage will take her beyond theory, beyond knowledge,
beyond experience, to the realization that true vision is ultimately
the
union of fact and faith.
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THE Drake Equation
The Milky Way galaxy contains over 400 billion stars (and is only one
of
billions of other galaxies). Could it be that ours is the only planet
where life arose? Perhaps. Or maybe life is common, but too often
destroys itself as technology becomes too powerful to handle. But we
should also consider that the sheer vastness of space and the great
number of stars and planets has given rise to a number of
technological
civilizations capable of communication.
The Drake Equation (http://www.seti.org/drake-eq.html) gives a means
for
estimating how many communicating civilizations may be out there. The
results can vary widely, depending on the optimism of the numbers you
yourself plug in.
The equation computes N: the potential number of communicative
intelligent civilizations in our galaxy. It is computed using the
following equation...
N = R* x fs x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L
...using the following factors:
R* is the rate of formation of stars in the galaxy fs is the
fraction of stars that are suitable suns for planetary systems
fp is the fraction of those stars with planets (thought to be
around
1/2) ne is the number of "earths" per planetary system -- planets
suitable for liquid water
fl is the fraction of those planets where life develops fi is the
fraction of planets with life where intelligence develops
fc is the fraction of those planets that achieve technology which
releases detectable signals into space L is the lifetime of such
communicative civilizations
Depending on the numbers used, the Drake equation can yield wildly
differing results. Possibilities range from a few (relatively)
short-lived technological civilizations scattered far apart among the
stars, never contacting each other before they disappear, to a more
probable (considering the vastness of the cosmos) large number of
life-bearing planets. There are over 400 billion stars in our galaxy
alone, and it is estimated that approximately 1/2 of all suitable suns
have planetary systems of some sort.
It is not known how likely it is for life to develop on a suitable
planet. Once life does exist, however, it is quite evident from our
own
evolutionary history that it is quite adaptable and tenacious. The
jury
is still out, however, on how long species survive once they have
developed intelligence and powerful technology.
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Project Phoenix
(http://www.seti.org/ao_02_04/background.php)
Project Phoenix is the world's most
sensitive and comprehensive search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
It
is an effort to uncover extraterrestrial civilizations by listening
for
radio signals that are either being deliberately beamed our way, or
are
inadvertently transmitted from another planet. Phoenix is the
successor
to the ambitious NASA SETI program that was cancelled by a
budget-conscious Congress in 1993.
Phoenix began observations in February, 1995 using the Parkes 210 foot
radio telescope in New South Wales, Australia. This is the largest
radio
telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.
Phoenix doesn't scan the whole sky. Rather, it scrutinizes the
vicinities
of nearby, sun-like stars. Such stars are most likely to sport
long-lived
planets capable of hosting life. There are about one thousand stars
targeted for observation by Project Phoenix. All are within 200
light-years distance.
Because millions of radio channels are simultaneously monitored by
Phoenix, most of the "listening" is done by computers. Nonetheless,
astronomers are required to make critical decisions about signals that
look intriguing.
Phoenix looks for signals between 1,000 and 3,000 MHz. Signals that
are
at only one spot on the radio dial (narrow-band signals) are the
"signature" of an intelligent transmission. The spectrum searched by
Phoenix is broken into very narrow 1 Hz-wide channels, so two billion
channels are examined for each target star. Observations are
currently
being made using the 140 foot radio telescope in Green Bank, West
Virginia.
By mid-1996, Phoenix had examined approximately one-third of the stars
on
its "hit list." So far, no clearly extraterrestrial transmissions have
been found. But the faint whine that would betray an alien
civilization
might be heard tomorrow.
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The Arecibo Message
The Arecibo Message, sent on November 16, 1974 from the Arecibo
Observatory in Puerto Rico, consisted of 1,679 bits of information,
which
is divisible by two prime numbers -- 73 and 23 -- which suggest laying
out the message in those dimensions, revealing this image.
The picture sent shows our chemical makeup, our population, our
height,
our planetary system, and the telescope transmitting the message.
The message was aimed at the M13, the Hercules Globular Cluster; it
will
reach its destination in about 25,000 years. Check back 25,000 years
after that with me and I will let you know what kind of pizza they
have!
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The Wanderers (The Planets) this Month
Mercury is hidden in the glare of the Sun.
Venus is buried deep in the glow of dawn, having passed inferior
conjunction
during its transit across the Sun's face on June 8th.
Mars (magnitude +1.8, in central Gemini) is disappearing into the glow
of
sunset low in the west-northwest. As twilight fades, look for it to
the
left
or lower left of similarly-bright Pollux and Castor. Binoculars will
help.
Jupiter (magnitude -2.0, between the feet of Leo) shines in the
west-southwest during evening - the brightest point of light in the
sky.
Look for fainter Regulus roughly a fist-width at arm's length to its
lower
right.
Saturn (magnitude +0.1) is very low in the west-northwest in
twilight -
about a fist-width to the lower right of Mars. Look early after sunset
with
binoculars!
Uranus and Neptune (magnitudes 6 and 8, respectively, in Aquarius and
Capricornus) are well up in the southeast before the first light of
dawn.
Pluto (magnitude 14, in Serpens Cauda) is well up in the southeast
after
dark.
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Annual Meteor Showers
Quadrantids: January
Virginids: March/April
Lyrids: April
Scorpiids: May
Delta Aquarids: July
Perseids August
Piscids: September
Orionids: October
Leonids: November
Geminids: December
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Find what is moving overhead after sunset:
http://www.bester.com/
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/3d/JTrack3d.html
Check out when the next Iridium Satellite is available for you to
see:
http://www.heavens-above.com/Neighbours.asp?PlaceID=593409
(for non Oahu Star Gazers...)
http://www.heavens-above.com/selecttown.asp?CountryID=US
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Check out:
http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/12months/m-jun-i.html
and bring the above list...
As for the rest of the Messiers, check out
http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky/messier.html It also has a link to:
http://www.hawastsoc.org/messier/index.html
(all the Messier Objects as photographed by HAS's local Jay Wrathall)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Star Party Directions
(http://www.hawastsoc.org/directions/dillingham.html)
To reach the Dillingham observing site, take the H2 to the end at
Schofield Barracks. Drive past Schofield and follow the signs to
Waialua. At the Y intersection at Waialua, bear left and pass under
the bridge. Drive out of town a few miles until you reach Dillingham
Airfield. Dillingham is several miles long. It has three gates. You
need to drive to the far end to the third gate (marked as Gate 1 on
the color map). When you enter the gate, the road will curve left
behind some hangars. It will then take you through a very sharp S
curve. 1/4 mile beyond that is a stop sign in the middle of nowhere.
Turn right at the stop sign, and you will be there. You can find me
by looking for the big red telescope in the corner with a table with
lots of pizza on it.
You will need to reach the site before sunset in order to find the
gate open!!!
A few words on light. We try to maintain dark conditions at the site.
Therefore we have certain rules about light. First, no white
flashlights. The only flashlights that you should use are not too
bright, red ones.
When entering and exiting the site, do not use headlights. Some cars
now can't turn off their headlights. If you have a car like that
please park nearer the windsock then the telescopes. Point it away
from the telescopes. Headlights make you lose your night vision for
up to 30 minutes. It immediately ruins any astro photography that
might be in progress.
Bring some warm clothes, something to sit on, some real powerful bug
spray, a dim or red covered flashlight and some munches to share with
your friends.
Remember there is an absolute need to remain clear of the runway, and
anyone attending the star party needs to remain in the immediate star
party area. Do not be wandering around in areas where we are not
permitted. Especially near any planes (parked or moving)!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Bishop Museum Planetarium Happenings
Daily Planetarium schedule:
(808) 848-4136 for pre-recorded sky information and planetarium
schedule.
11:30 a.m.Ý Explorers of the International Space Station (45 Minutes)
12:20 p.m.Ý Explorers of Polynesia (in Japanese , 30 Minutes)
1:00 p.m.Ý The Planet Show (in English , 45 Minutes)
3:30 p.m.Ý Explorers of Polynesia (45ÝMinutes)
„The Sky Tonight,¾ an hour-long sky talk with Sam Rhoads, occurs on
the first Monday, at 7:00 PM. Reservations are necessary, since Sam¼s
shows often fill. $4 for adults, $3 for kids, free to Bishop Museum
members and Hawaiian Astronomical Society members. Reservations for
„The Sky Tonight¾: 848-4168.
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After Dark with Stars in the Park
Waikele Community Park
OR... Kahala Park
(Weather permitting)
***** 2004 *****
Jun 26th
July 24th
August 21st
September 25th
October 23rd
November 20th
December 18th
FROM DUSK to 9:30 PM
Bring your children! Tell your friends!
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Visit the cosmos via:
The HAS HomePage: http://www.hawastsoc.org/ or go to
(or show up at meeting 7:30pm first Tue of month)
and check out the Bishop Museum Planetarium Home Page
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium/
and the Institute for Astronomy Colloquia/Seminars
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/
http://apollo-society.org/launchpad39_A.html
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Keep Looking Sky Ward...Gary Ward
http://homepage.mac.com/macyoda/PhotoAlbum6.html
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"The computer is to the mind as the amplifier is to sound."
Paul Maurer
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The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground!
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-- Dragons Must Fly when Thread's in the Sky www.starlords.org --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.706 / Virus Database: 462 - Release Date: 6/14/04
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