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New Yorkers might be interested in the public
nights we have here at Columbia. Always Friday
nights, typically two a month, 7-9 p.m., roof
of Pupin Hall (120th and Broadway, but have to enter campus at 116th). There is sometimes a
public talk, and definitely stargazing when
weather permits. Next one is Fri Dec 14, when
there will be a talk on "Life in the Universe".
More info about public programs at the astro
dept's website: www.astro.columbia.edu, and
click "public outreach". Not exactly the
Adirondacks, but OK on those cold, clear nights!

The guests mentioned Sidewalk Astronomers just before the segment ended. There are 2 of these organizations in NY: the Guild of Manhattan Sidewalk Astronomers (tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/guildofmanhattansidewalkastronomers/) & New York SideWalk Astronomy (nyswa.org/).

The effects of light pollution are incredible. My wife and I went to the South Pacific for our honeymoon and were astonished by the night sky there. You can see the Milky Way span the sky like a giant faint cloud.

If you ever get away from the city, to the mountains, desert or on a cruise, remember to take some time to see the night sky.

thanks for this show!
it's a topic that interests so many, across cultural divides. so inspiring to know that i can get excited about skygazing with binoculars! i'm looking online now for astronomy clubs!
T in Manhattan

I missed seeing Comet Holmes last month--even when the sky was clear, I couldn't see it from the city (might've been behind the buildings, although I tried to get away from them), & the times I was away from the city it was cloudy! I was using binoculars & had my copy of Muirden's *Astronomy With Binoculars* with me. But one thing about comets is that they go around the sun & come back around the other way. When is Holmes going to be visible on its way back out? Will it be visible from the Northern Hemisphere? (Sorry to hear it won't be as bright!)

There are local planetariums which can be a good place to get the hang of recognizing objects in the night sky... The Andrus is in Westchester, just off the Metro-North Hudson line, 35 minutes from GCT; for listeners in northern NJ, there is the Dreyfus planetarium at the Newark Museum; for Long Island there is the Vanderbilt; and of course withouth leaving NYC you can see one of the live shows at the Hayden. At the Andrus we still have live shows - Friday at 7 they're free.

Marc Taylor
Coordinator, Andrus Planetarium
Hudson River Museum
511 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10701
914 963 4550 x223
Fax 963 8558
mtaylor@hrm.org

Re red flashlight.
Your guest said that we see better after being in dark a while because pupil gets bigger.
This is not the main reason,
The rods on the retina are the receptors for dimmer light (and do not "see" colors). They take about a half hour to adapt to dim light (to dark adapt). They are not sensitive to red light. So in red light they can dark adapt. In red light vision continues by use of the cones in the retina.
Red goggles can be used instead of a red light.

what about the new high tech telescopes
that allow you program in the location of a star or planet?

The Meadowlands Environment Center, Lyndhurst, NJ is expanding with the construction of the Center for Environmental and Scientific Education with three new laboratories, classrooms and the addition of the William D. McDowell Observatory.

The new observatory will house a 20” Optical Guidance System telescope equipped with a spectrograph, photometer and other associated equipment.

One of the “many” programs here at the new center will to work with members of the community of all ages to develop their interest in becoming amateur astronomers and with current amateur astronomers who might wish to take advantage of the technologies offered by the new facility in advancing their interest in this exciting field.

If you would like additional information and dates for the various programs here at the facility, as we prepare to open, please email me at:

observatory@njmeadowlands.gov

John S. Sloan, PhD
Astronomer/Director
William D. McDowell Observatory

Why can't I see the Lockheed Constellation in the NYC skies anymore?

We camped recently at Jenny Jump State Forest in NJ, where the United Astronomy Clubs of NJ have an observatory and run a free program Saturday evenings in the spring, summer, and fall.

Their website is: http://www.uacnj.org/
and they also have some info on combating light pollution locally.

I'd like to hear recommendations for books and websites for beginning astronomy with children. I have several star guides that are just confusing, and Find the Constellations by HA Rey, which is terrific.

Please address the issue of light pollution, and what we can do to make the issue more prominent.

Astronomy is not much fun anymore due to the light pollution.

One of the most conspicuous objects in the night sky right now, 2nd in brightness only to the moon, even from the NYC is the planet Mars. It rises a little after sunset in the east and by 10 or 11 pm is very high up in the sky. It is discernible by it's orangish red color and the fact that unlike stars it will not appear to twinkle. Amateur astronomers have made many discoveries in the past few years like finding exoplanets with CCD imaging and comets. In fact one of the most brilliant comets in decades, Comet McNaught (which was manily a souther hemisphere event,) was discovered by an amateur astronomer. Light pollution is the bane of astronomers across the globe. Even in the suburbs the skies are getting less and less dark due to urban sprawl and poor lighting techniques. When one does escape the glow of light pollution, The Milky Way in all it's splendor is a truly breathtaking and humbling sight. You can really get a perspective of our place in things when you look up and realize that glow our galaxy is the glow of billions and billions of stars just like our own sun. And not to mention the fact that many, if no most of them may harbor other planets.

I don't have a favorite stargazing spot, b/c the only thing I can see with the naked eye here is the moon!! Even from the depths of Prospect Park, away from the streetlights.
Is there any way I can see more, WITHOUT the aid of a telescope, or traveling outside of the city?

I heard somewhere that professional astronomers don't spend a lot of time gazing at the stars, and that oftentimes new discoveries and spotted by amateurs. Is this true?