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A daytime view of
Venus was a highlight of a recent CAD in Denver (at
DMNS)
Photo: Ron
Pearson, DAS |
Colorado professional and amateur
astronomers will again be celebrating Colorado and National Astronomy
Day in 2011 with a full day of astronomy exhibits, demonstrations,
presentations, and observing activities at the
Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) and
the University of Denver’s Historic
Chamberlin Observatory.
Starting at 10am Saturday,
Denver Astronomical Society solar
astronomers will set-up on the west patio of DMNS
provided museum visitors with safe views of the Sun in
White, Hydrogen Alpha (deep-red) and Calcium K (deep
purple) spectral colors of the Sun. Hopefully the Sun and
Earth's weather will cooperate and allow visitors to
view
sunspot groups, huge prominences -– many times the size of
Earth -- and other changing features visible on the nearest star.
John Anderson's solar spectroscope will enable viewing the entire
spectrum of light and elements in the Sun. DAS members
and museum volunteers will provide an information table
in the DMNS Space Odyssey
space to answer questions about Astronomy, telescopes and
local astronomy activities. DAS members and DMNS
curators will presented a series
of “How-To” talks in the Space Odyssey theatre on topics
for amateur astronomers, from novice to expert.
The currently scheduled DAS talks are
listed below. See the full schedule
HERE.
-
"Binoculars: Your Best First
Telescope" with a lunar theme - Norm Rosling, DAS
-
"Geology of the Moon from Latest
Investigations" - Neil Pearson, CSM-DAS-USGS student
-
"Meteorites - A Lunar Connection?"
- Ron Hranac, DAS
In the evening of October 1st the action will move to the
University of Denver's Historic Chamberlin
Observatory in Observatory Park. DAS
volunteers will provide displays and informative
lectures inside the observatory. Several dozen DAS members
will set up their telescopes for public observing of the
night sky on the south lawn of the park. DAS
members also will operate the DU 117-year-old
Clark-Saegmuller Telescope for public observing of the
Moon and king of the planets, Jupiter, as well as other
stars or star clusters.
Click
HERE to
view a photo album of 2010 Colorado Astronomy Day
activities.
Colorado Astronomy
Day was established by
governor’s proclamation
in 1997 and it has been observed as a major public
outreach and education event during the months of September
or October ever since. These
activities are coordinated with the Astronomical League's
Fall National Astronomy Day.
Highlights
of Colorado Astronomy Day Activities:
PARTICIPANTS
The following Colorado
Organizations participated in Colorado
Astronomy Day Activities:
