Dome of 32" research 'scope at upper level, amateur scopes and bovine on either side.
photo by Rick Kang
Website updated 130 AM, Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, updates to sky info. Link added to way cool graphic about scale of Universe. Observatory reopens in May.
Continued alert for possible aurorae, sunspots may produce solar flares.
Check out Planck Length to Size of Universe new graphic.
Have you noticed those two bright dots in evening sky over past months? They're Venus and Jupiter. See four bright planets plus a Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, and watch Venus transit the Sun, events in April through June, details in Newsletter, Current Sky Highlights, and News & Projects sections of this website. Local viewing available in metro areas, check with your local Astronomical Society (see Education Collaborators links). PLEASE TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS WHEN VIEWING SOLAR EVENTS, DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT SUN UNLESS YOU'RE USING PROFESSIONAL GRADE FILTERS!
Teachers: email rkang@efn.org or call Rick to schedule outreach visits to your classroom! I have new programs about the above celestial events: investigations, explanations, diagrams, kinesthetic and manipulative activities, and simulations.
I realize that most District budgets have a deficit. We're asking for donors to underwrite the travel costs of this significant and unique outreach program that provides STEM (Sci-Tech-Engineering-Math) skills lessons. Please contact Rick, rkang@efn.org, to arrange for donations. Thanks!
See http://www.purdue.edu/impactearth/ for simulation of impacts onto Earth, you can set parameters and the software calculates and displays results. (Thanks to Mel Bartels for noting this new site.)
Read the article on the MSNBC website about star in Milky Way that appears to have planet orbiting, this star may be from another galaxy originally, thus a trans galactic exoplanet!
Details of LCROSS lunar impact at LCROSS Website. Several cameras on board did capture small plume, and lots of data indicated presence of water.
Link added to major website about 40th Anniversary of US Landing on the Moon, July 20th, 1969.
If you're into Black Holes, check out this site with FAQs about Black Holes. ------------------------------------------------------------ GalileoScope info added to News and Projects area. This is a "Telescope for all students" concept. The instrument is a simple refracting telescope in kit form, very easy to assemble (no tools needed), and shows you the craters/mountains on the Moon, Moons of Jupiter, and other similar objects that Galileo saw for the first time, 400 years ago. Tip: download the 7 page instruction sheet from their site, much better directions than those that come with the kit. Mounted to a standard camera tripod (scope comes with correct nut securely fastened to bottom of telescope tube) you have an instrument that students of all ages will enjoy readily looking through, across the street, or at a daytime Moon (beware to NEVER VIEW NEAR SUN!). ----------------------------------------------------- Follow the NASA/JPL DAWN mission enroute asteroids Ceres and Vesta. Arrived at Vesta recently, stunning images. Website link under Online Resources listing of Solar System missions.
The "What time is it, Where's the Sun?" international sky education program, with our collaborating school in Japan, may be restarted shortly. Your school is welcome to join us, email me for details!
Click here for details about our CLASSROOM OUTREACH and OBSERVATORY VISIT programs. To schedule outreach/visits and if you have questions, please go to the contact link. Quick info: OUTREACH: Rick Kang at rkang@efn.org or 541-683-1381, Eugene. VISITING PINE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY: Mark Dunaway at markpmo@oregon.uoregon.edu, 541-382-8331, Bend. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
The Friends of Pine Mountain citizens' support group was established in 1978 as default curators of the Observatory pending hiring of a new Director to succeed the late Professor James Kemp. Since 1990, with the advent of UO Professor of Physics Greg Bothun's Electronic Universe concept, some members of the group have provided outstanding classroom and on-site Observatory outreach, plus staff development activities about astronomy and astrophysics to schools throughout Oregon and beyond. Several members continue as TourGuides at the Observatory during summertime. We reach about 100 schools and visit over 200 classrooms each school year. We'd be delighted to visitYOUR school or to have your school tour the Observatory! The formal Friends organization has "sunsetted" in 2009 as our primary mission has been fulfilled. A new group who have expertise in digital imaging, has formed with the mission of organizing high school and college students each summer at PMO to do small scale authentic research projects that result in publishing of actual scientific papers. Contact Rick, rkang@efn.org, if you're interested in joining as a student or a teacher this summer.
Welcome to
Website updated 130 AM, Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, updates to sky info. Link added to way cool graphic about scale of Universe. Observatory reopens in May.
