Astronomy Jamboree - Day 2 - October 26, 2013

Custer Observatory's Astronomy Jamboree

On Saturday, October 26, the Custer Observatory held the second day of their 35th Annual Astronomy Jamboree at the eastern campus of the Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead. There were Lectures, Planetarium Shows, Solar Observing and a Raffle.

Registration Table

Barbara Lebkuecher, Custer Treasurer, Astronomy Jamboree Volunteer

Roberta Eisenberg, Astronomy Jamboree volunteer

Jude Finger, Astronomy Jamboree volunteer

Susan Harder, Long Island Environmentalist of the Year and guest speaker on Light Pollution

________________________________________________________________________

Solar Observing

David van Popering, Custer Vice President, with Solar Scope

John Speroni, Custer and ASLI member and volunteer, with double Solar Scopes

David Barnett, Astronomy Jamboree volunteer, with his double Coronado Solar Scopes

Dave van Popering, Steve Bellavia and John Speroni

John Speroni, Bill Bogardus (Custer President), Dennis Wilde, David Barnett

Chuck Cardona, Chris Cardona and David Barnett

David Barnette and Elias Bonaros with double Coronado Solar Scopes

________________________________________________________________________

Presentation: OPPORTUNITY MARTIAN PROBE: One Year Out with Dr. Scott McLennan, Professor of Geochemistry, Stony Brook University, Department of Geophysics

Dr. Scott McLennan

________________________________________________________________________

Presentation: HIDDEN OCEAN OF EUROPA: Exploring A Habitable World with Dr. Robert Pappalardo, Pasadena California, Chief Editor of "EUROPA" published by University Arizona Press.

Dr. Robert Pappalardo

________________________________________________________________________

Dinner Break at DIGGER's of Riverhead

Mrs. Eileen Hess

Mrs. Eileen Hess, Fred Hess' wife

Steve Bellavia ran the Planetarium Shows for the Astronomy Jamboree

 ________________________________________________________________________

Astronomy Jamboree Raffle

Chuck Cardona and Tom Carey

Ted Koukounas - Associate Professor, Dr. Shaun L. McKay - President SCCC, ?, William Bogardus - President Custer Institute, Tom Carey, George Lomaga

________________________________________________________________________

Keynote Presentation in Honor of Fred Hess:  

GHOSTS FROM SPACE: Getting Acquainted with Comets keynote speaker - Joe Rao,  the News 12 Westchester meteorologist

Joe Rao, News 12 Westchester meteorologist, had some great stories about Dr. Fred Hess.

"The City Dark" @ the IFC Center, NY, NY

"The City Dark" 

A Documentary on Light Pollution

Last night I had the opportunity to view "The City Dark" about light pollution and its effects on the planet, people, wildlife and the night sky. It was an excellent and thought provoking film and did a great job illustrating what light pollution is doing to our planet and ourselves and its implications for the future. It illustrated some great ways to reverse the impact of light pollution but seems like it will take no less then changing the laws and regulations on lighting ordinances at a minimum. 

After the showing there was a Q & A with director, Ian Cheney; Cosmos co-writer, Ann Druyan, who is also Carl Sagan's wife and Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist of the Hayden Planetarium, NY.

Ian Cheney, Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson

?, ?, Ian Cheney, Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson

Ian Cheney, Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson

?, Ian Cheney, Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson

Also in the audience were others who worked on the film along with Carl Sagan's daughter, Sasha Sagan.

Sasha Sagan (center)

Ann Druyan (left), who is also Carl Sagan's wife and Carl Sagan's Daughter, Sasha (on right)

Before and after the showing there were telescopes set up by the Amateur Astronomers Association of NYC for sidewalk stargazing. People there for the film and passerby's were able to get glimpses of Jupiter through the number of telescopes set up on the sidewalk.

Being from Long Island and having the opportunity to see the night sky from darker locations really illustrated the difference light pollution's impact on the night sky made. Before the film I was only able to see Venus and Jupiter. After the film, when it became a little darker, I was only able to see the two brightest stars in Orion and two stars on his belt, naked eye. Sirius was also visible. Not being able to see all the stars in a constellation makes it that much more difficult to figure out what you are looking at without the relationship of the other stars, planets and constellations visible. Hopefully this film will open some eyes!

If you or your organization would like to host a  viewing or check for local screening please check their website at http://www.thecitydark.com/


Thanks for visiting!

Clear Skies,

Annette DeGiovine Oliveira