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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 2012 with a full day of astronomy exhibits, demonstrations,
presentations, and observing activities on Saturday,
October 20th 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,
which is now in an extremely active period.
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.
SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF
CAD 2012 EVENTS
Scheduled Activities at
DMNS (10am - 4pm)
Solar Observing on the West Terrace
(10am - 4pm) through safe solar-filtered telescopes
operated by Denver Astronomical Society members.
DAS Local Astronomy Information Table
(Space Odyssey - 10am - 4pm)
Astronomy Demonstrations
(Space Odyssey - 10am - 4pm)
Norm Rosling, DAS - Table top demonstration - Exploring how
Telescope optics and lenses work
Aaron Reid, DAS - Selecting and installing light shields to
reduce light pollution
Astronomy Talks
(Galaxy Stage)
Neil Pearson, DAS
- Lunar Geology
(12:00 noon)
Naomi Pequette, DAS -
Cultural/Archaeo-Astronomy - Exploring the
astronomy of ancient peoples
(1:15pm)
DMNS Speaker -
Voyager, A Solar System Ambassador
(2:00pm)
DMNS Speaker - The
Galactic Habitable Zone
(3:00pm)
Dan Wray, DAS - Identifying and collecting meteorites
(4:00pm)
Evening Activities at the
University of Denver's Historic Chamberlin
Observatory in Observatory Park.
-
DAS
volunteers will provide displays and informative
lectures inside the observatory.
-
The short version of the film
The City Dark will be shown (53
minutes).
-
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 118-year-old
Clark-Saegmuller Telescope for public observing of the
Moon, bright nebulae and star clusters. Jupiter
and its 4 bright moons may be visible through amateur
telescopes in Observatory Park late in the evening.
Click
HERE to
view a photo album of past 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:
