(please excuse the multiple postings if you get this more than once - we
want to be sure you know about this)


In response to the countless requests from folks looking for a domestic
online masters program in astronomy teaching, we now have a really great
program for you.  Offered through the University of Wyoming Department of
Physics and Astronomy, in collaboration with the College of Education, and
the CAPER Team, this innovative MS-Teaching program is designed for students
interested in teaching at the community college, 4-year liberal arts
college, or high school level, among many other venues.

The online program can be done part time, includes 18 hours of graduate
PHYS/ASTRO credits, and 12 hours of graduate science education courses.
Additionally, this program is requires a thesis project based on experience
in the classroom or studying the nature of teaching and learning. The
specific classes students take are to be decided every semester between you
and your faculty advisor based on what courses happen to be available.
Every semester, at least two courses are available, sometimes more.

[1] If you'd like to try out one of our courses to see if online graduate
coursework is for you, you can
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/info.asp?p=2238.  Courses cost about $250
per credit hour, in-state or out-of-state, plus any books.

or, if you already know that this program is right for you

[2] Apply to the program online by following the instructions at
http://faraday.uwyo.edu/grad/ . The GRE-General is required unless you
already have a MS degree; the GRE-Physics is optional.  An undergraduate
degree in physics or astronomy is preferred, but certainly not required.

Once you've decided to try out a class OR have completed your application
procedures, send us an email at caperteam@... so that we can watch for
your name and be sure you get enrolled and that your materials are processed
quickly.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled interruptions.

Cheers,

Tim and Stephanie Slater
University of Wyoming
Cognition in Astronomy, Physics & Earth sciences Research (CAPER) Team
http://www.uwyo.edu/caper   and   caperteam@...
..










**********
Timothy F. Slater, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming Excellence in
Higher Education Endowed Professor
of Science Education
cell:  520-975-1373
email: timslaterwyo@...
**********

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------
  Date claimer: 2010 Queensland Astronomy Education Conference
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
---------------

Major sponsors (at 3 November 2009): Extravision Australia, Sirius
Optics and Watson Road State School


The Brisbane Astronomical Society will convene the sixth Queensland
Astronomy Education Conference (QAEC 2010) on Saturday 6 March 2010.

The conference theme is ‘Expanding the Universe in the classroom’.

Conference topics will include:

·       Daytime astronomical activities for your classroom (primary
and junior high school).
·       Astronomy freeware for your classroom
·       Safe solar observing
.       Getting to know the night sky in a portable planetarium
(subject to confirmation)

  ------------------------
  Call for speakers
  ------------------------

Primary and Secondary teachers and others active in the ‘Earth &
Beyond’ component of the Queensland Yrs. 1–10 Science Syllabus are
invited to nominate themselves to present at the QAEC 2010.
Expressions of interest (identifying your target outcomes) can be
emailed to Paul Floyd at p.n.floyd@...

  ---------------------------
  Conference details
  ---------------------------

Date:           Saturday 6 March 2010
Venue:        Watson Road State School (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Time:           9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fee:            $90 (includes resources, certificate of attendance,
lunch and afternoon tea).

-------------------------------------------
Conference registration prizes
-------------------------------------------

Thanks to our major commercial sponsors, the following prizes will be
made available to fully paid (on the day) conference registrants.

* Sirius Optics have donated 25 pairs of binoculars. The first 25
conference registrants will each receive one (1) pair of binoculars.
* Extravision Australia has donated a Hugo telescope. This will be
given away as a lucky draw prize to one lucky person.

Note that the prizes are not exchangeable for cash.

  -----------------------------
  For more information
  -----------------------------

Further information can be found at the conference website at
http://www.nightskyonline.info/confer/10_confer/10_conference_index.html

A two page registration flyer can be downloaded from that website now.

Further inquiries can be directed to Paul Floyd at p.n.floyd@...



For the Brisbane Astronomical Society Inc.
www.bas.asn.au
P.O Box 15892, City East
Brisbane 4002 QLD
Australia
ABN: 90 130 679 791

• Assist with the development and execution of a project communication and dissemination plan, in a team environment.
• Assist in the development of project services and documentation.
• Assist with presentations and demonstrations.
• Coordinate, document, and report on events including project meetings and seminars.
• Communicate progress and coordinate communications among STU team and advisors.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature as assigned.
• Report to the Director of Education.

• Experience coordinating projects in support of a team, with an emphasis on timely and cost-effective deliverables.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, with experience in document preparation, proofing, and editing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage one’s time and budget effectively.
• Ability to plan schedules and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaborate as a strong team member.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Software products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Preferred: Proficiency in the use of new media and communication technologies.
• Preferred: Experience as an amateur astronomer.

USA Science & Engineering Festival

The inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival -- a multicultural,
multigenerational, multidisciplinary celebration of science and technology
-- will be held in Washington, DC, next fall. It will culminate with an expo
on the National Mall that will give more than 500 science and engineering
organizations from all over the U.S. the opportunity to inspire the next
generation of scientists and engineers. Participating organizations are
asked to create engaging, hands-on activities to be presented in a
10-by-10-foot tent (or multiples thereof) during the expo. The goal of the
festival is to have 1 million people celebrating science and technology on
the Mall.

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is modeled after similar events held
in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, and Australia. These
are typically 1- to 2-week festivals; they draw between 100,000 and 1
million people and celebrate all aspects of science through lectures,
activities, exhibits, contests, theater, comedy, poetry, art, and music.

The organizers of the USA Science & Engineering Festival created the highly
successful San Diego Science Festival, which drew more than 200,000 people
in March 2009 (see http://www.scivee.tv/node/12528). They're inviting all
professional- and amateur-astronomy associations to participate in next
fall's national festival and expo. There is no cost to participate if you
indicate your interest by October 30, 2009 -- except the time, energy, and
creativity to assemble and staff your booth. After October 30th, a small
table-and-tent rental fee will be charged.

If you're interested in becoming involved with what promises to be the
Woodstock of Science, contact Larry Bock at biobock@... or 760-846-3473.
For more information, see http://usasciencefestival.org/ or
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46922645272.

Astronomy Education Activities done at the
White House Star Party on October 7th

http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/ShowcasePublic/index.cfm?FileName=Showcase

More links related to the WHSP are below.

Cheers, Andrea

Andrea Schweitzer, Ph.D.
U.S. Project Manager
International Year of Astronomy
http://astronomy2009.us/
aschweitzer -at- Astronomy2009.us
schweitz -at- frii.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Many people have requested news and information
links about the White House Star Party.  Here is a
current listing, including links to videos, photos, and
educational activities done at the White House.

Congratulations on a successful star party, and thank
you to all who helped to make it a success!

Cheers, Andrea


White House Star Party Links
compiled as of 10 October 2009

Videos of the President speaking about astronomy:

President's speech at the White House Star Party from NASA TV
http://www.whitehouse.gov/video/President-Obama-Presents-a-Night-of-Astronomy/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSgtXggeUKA

Text of the President's speech:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-an-Astron\
omy-Event-with-Students/

President's earlier speech awarding the national medals for science and
technology
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33212402#33212402
just after 5:30 - talks about the WHSP
at approx 9:45 - quotes Carl Sagan
at approx 14:30 - medal to Jim Gunn


Photos from the White House Star Party:
http://www.wisn.com/slideshow/slideshows/21233931/detail.html

NASA Flickr site for posting White House Star Party photos:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=White+House+star+party
(or go to Flickr.com and search on "White House Star Party")


Main links about the White House Star Party:

WHSP announcement on the main page of the U.S. IYA website:
http://astronomy2009.us/home/

White House announcement
on the main page of WhiteHouse.gov; see the link to the left under the WH
blog
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/White-House-to-Host-Star-Party/


Astronomy Education Activities done at the WHSP
http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/ShowcasePublic/index.cfm?FileName=Showcase


Most widespread news story about the WHSP (with a great quote!):
Associated Press (many newspapers)
White House aims middle schoolers eyes to stars
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091007/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_stars_1
So with the telescopes, astronomers, and costumes, was there an element of
geekiness on the White House lawn?  "Does the geekiness need to be
questioned?" answered Howarth, who hadn't quite donned his Newton costume
yet.  "The nice thing is that people are paying attention to geeks."

forwarded from Jim Hesser:

Quantum to Cosmos Festival is about to begin and we invite you share the
news with others.

Events will be live online at www.q2cfestival.com
<http://www.q2cfestival.com/> .  We encourage you to spread the word and
help make Q2C an online success.  You can help by:

1.       Forwarding this email directly to friends and colleagues who will
appreciate having the link.

2.       Forward the short description, below, to your database of
organizations/networks/associations as you see fit.

3.       Discuss the events with others and hang the poster available
through the Q2C site.

4.       Share Q2C  information on social media sites: Facebook, Twitter,
etc.

5.       Post this description on websites, intranets, blogs and in
newsletters.

Enjoy a wide range of interesting online presentations at
www.q2cfestival.com <http://www.q2cfestival.com/> .  The "Quantum to
Cosmos: Ideas for the Future" Festival marks the 10th Anniversary of
Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.   The innovative
online activities, from October 15th to 25th, will take a global audience
from the strange world of subatomic particles to the outer frontiers of
the universe.  Please share this link with others who will enjoy the free,
online programming.



Lastly, you will see a listing (below) of some of the online lectures that
are coming up.



Starting October 15th, the first day of our 10 day festival, check
www.q2cfestival.com
<http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/campaign_trackerv2.php?track=ddd5ecd5-2c1a-5bc\
2-ea64-4ad4b59b1f8b&identifier=ed6251be-df4e-413a-0195-4ad4f89afcea>
   for a daily list of live-streamed events.  Complete program information
is available at www.q2cfestival.com/program
<http://www.q2cfestival.com/program> . If you miss a live-streamed event,
don’t worry! You can watch it on-demand later. Look for the 'Play'
button on the image to the left of the event at
http://www.q2cfestival.com/program <http://www.q2cfestival.com/program> .
If you would like a daily reminder to tune in to the live broadcasts then
please click here
<mailto:alittle@...?subject=Reminder%20of%20Q2C%20live%20broad\
casts>
.


Thank you for sharing news of Q2C.


Respectfully,


John Matlock

Director of External Relations and Outreach

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics



Sample of Online Presentations:



Quantum to Cosmos

Panellists:  Katherine Freese, Leo Kadanoff, Lawrence Krauss, Fotini
Markopoulou, Neil Turok, Sean M. Carroll, Anton Zeilinger, Gino Segrè,
Andrew White, David Tong

Thursday Oct 15, 2009 @ 7:00 pm



Everyday Uses for Quantum Processors - Lecture Series presented by KPMG

David Cory

Saturday Oct 17, 2009 @ 11:00 am



9 Billion People + 1 Planet = ?

Panellists:  Andrew Revkin, Vaclav Smil

Saturday Oct 17, 2009 @ 1:00 pm



The Origin of the Universe and the Arrow of Time - Lecture Series
presented by KPMG

Sean M. Carroll

Saturday Oct 17, 2009 @ 8:00 pm



Does Reality Have a "Genetic" Basis? -Lecture Series presented by KPMG

S. James Gates

Sunday Oct 18, 2009 @ 11:00 am



The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent it Yourself! -Lecture
Series presented by KPMG

Peter Diamandis

Sunday Oct 18, 2009 @ 1:00 pm



Harnessing Quantum Physics

Panellists:  Michele Mosca, Avi Wigderson, Daniel Gottesman, Peter Shor,
Ignacio Cirac, Dorit Aharonov

Sunday Oct 18, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



State of the Universes

Panellists:  Jennifer Ouellette, Katherine Freese, Neil Turok, Lawrence
Krauss

Sunday Oct 18, 2009 @ 6:00 pm



Seeing Science Through Fiction

Panellists:  Lee Smolin, Jaron Lanier, Neal Stephenson

Sunday Oct 18, 2009 @ 8:00 pm



Life, the Universe and Nothing: Life, and Science, in an Ever Expanding
Universe -Lecture Series presented by KPMG

Lawrence Krauss

Monday Oct 19, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origin of the
Species -Lecture Series presented by KPMG

Sean B. Carroll

Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



Copyright versus Universal Access to All Human Knowledge and Groups
Without Cost: the state of play in the global copyfight -Lecture Series
presented by KPMG

Cory Doctorow

Thursday Oct 22, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



Sense from Chaos: Controlling the Dynamic Networks of the Brain -Lecture
Series presented by KPMG

Larry Abbott

Friday Oct 23, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



Whole Earth Discipline -Lecture Series presented by KPMG

Stewart Brand

Saturday Oct 24, 2009 @ 4:00 pm



Worlds Beyond Earth

Panellists:  Ivan Semeniuk, Ralf Gellert, John Grant

Saturday Oct 24, 2009 @ 6:00 pm



Communicating Science in the 21st Century

Panellists:  Kathryn O'Hara, Ivan Semeniuk, Nadia El-Awady, Kylie Ahern

Saturday Oct 24, 2009 @ 8:00 pm

   Q2C Festival Sp<http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/images/q2c/q2c_full.jpg>


To remove yourself from this email list click here
<http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/removeme.php?identifier=ed6251be-df4e-413a-019\
5-4ad4f89afcea>
  
<http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/image.php?identifier=ed6251be-df4e-413a-0195-4\
ad4f89afcea>

Hello Fellow Educators:

I want to apologize to those of you who
got my email to the Yahoo list this morning
and tried to get on the web and check out
the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
resource on "Doomsday 2012."

Our webmaster had some trouble getting
the site not to require the username and
password for ASP members.  This is now
fixed and we invite those of you who gave
up (or saw a vast shadowy conspiracy to
silence the skeptics) to try again.

Sorry,
Andy Fraknoi

For immediate release

No Doomsday in 2012, But Lots of Profits for Purveyors of Doom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-----------------

The widespread Internet belief that Dec. 21, 2012 will
be doomsday for planet Earth because some
astronomical event will destroy or decimate our
planet is a complete hoax, according to NASA
scientist David Morrison. His concise summary
of the claims and the scientific response is being
published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
as a public service at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/2012

For several months, NASA and many astronomers have
received increasingly worried letters and e-mails from
members of the public about the possibility, widely
touted on the Internet, that the world will end in 2012.
Many mechanisms for doomsday are being proposed,
including a collision with a fictional planet called
Nibiru, deadly activity on the surface of the Sun that
lashes out at Earth, alignments with the center of
our Galaxy, etc.  David Morrison has coined the term
"cosmophobia" -- fear of the cosmos -- for these
concerns, and has seen a huge increase in the
phenomenon this year.

Dr. Morrison, a world-renowned expert on the solar system
(and asteroid impacts), also serves as the public scientist
for NASA's "Ask an Astrobiologist" service, where he answers
questions for the public.  He has received so many questions
about 2012 and the end of the world, that he felt he had to
investigate and set the record straight.

One of his most interesting findings is that the distributors of the
science fiction motion picture "2012", to be released this November,
are purposely feeding the flames of the internet panic (in what
is called a viral marketing campaign) by creating fake science
websites and encouraging people to search for "2012" on the
web.  Most of the sites such searches encounter are full of
nonsense and misunderstanding, often by people who have
written books on coming disaster that they are trying to sell.

Morrison's article is in the form of questions and answers, and
is followed by a resource guide that allows readers to find even
more scientific information about why no 2012 disaster
is in the cards.  There are many reasons to worry about the
future of planet Earth, of course, but absolutely no reason to
single out the winter solstice of 2012 as a special time to be
concerned.

Founded in 1889, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific is
an international scientific and educational organization, with a
goal of providing reliable, authoritative information to help the
public understand and appreciate astronomy.   Their website
at http://www.astrosociety.org has a host of information and
resource guides for those who want learn more about the
exploration of the universe.



================================
Andrew Fraknoi, Chair, Astronomy Program
Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd.,
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, USA

Telephone: (650) 949-7288
E-mail: fraknoiandrew@...
================================

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Invites Nominations for the Society’s 2010 Awards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is now
accepting nominations for the Society’s 2010
awards honoring accomplishments in astronomy
education and public outreach.  Recipients
receive a cash award and engraved plaque, as well
as travel and lodging to accept the award at the
Society’s Annual Meeting, to be held at the
University of Colorado at Boulder from July 31 ­ August 4, 2010.
(This meeting will include a 3-day "Cosmos in the
Classroom" Symposium on teaching introductory astronomy.)

* The Richard Emmons Award celebrates a life-time
of outstanding achievement in the teaching of
college-level introductory astronomy for non-science majors.

* The Klumpke-Roberts Award recognizes those who
have made major contributions to the public
understanding and appreciation of astronomy.

* The  Thomas J. Brennan Award is given for
excellence in the teaching of astronomy at the
high school level in North America.

* The  Las Cumbres Amateur Outreach Award honors
outstanding educational outreach by an amateur
astronomer to K-12 students and the public.

Submission guidelines, and lists of past recipients can be found at
http://www.astrosociety.org/membership/awards/awards.html.

The deadline for nominations is December 15,
2009.  You do not need to be a member of the
Society to make or second a nomination.

If you have questions or need additional
information, please contact Albert Silva at
415.337.1100 x 100 or asilva@....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
---------------------------------

(Founded in 1889, the Astronomical Society of the
Pacific is an international scientific and
educational organization, which brings together
scientists, educators, and amateur
astronomers.  One of its key goals is to enhance
and support the work of those engaged in science education and public outreach.)

Good news:  the press embargo has been lifted on the White House
Star Party (WHSP), as of an announcement that was dated October 2nd.
You are welcome to widely distribute this email and the attachments!

Here is the official statement from the White House Office of the Press
Secretary:

"On Wednesday, the President will award the National Medal of Science and
the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White
House. The President will also meet with his national security team on
Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the evening, the President and  First Lady
will host an event at the White House for middle-school students to
highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math
education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and
economic leadership and to express his support for astronomy in particular
- for its capacity to promote a greater awareness of our place in the
universe, expand human knowledge, and inspire the next
generation by showing them the beauty and mysteries of the night sky."

Further details are in the attached informational letter about how to make
the most of this wonderful opportunity, and how to tie-in to
the International Year of Astronomy and your own local programs.

Also attached is a flyer highlighting some of October's largest
IYA events.  Please help promote all of these fall astronomy events:
    October 4-10 -- World Space Week www.worldspaceweek.org
    October 9 -- NASA's LCROSS impact lcross.arc.nasa.gov/education.htm  and
groups.google.com/group/lcross_observation
    October 13 -- Hubble's Amazing Rescue premieres on NOVA
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hubble
    October 9-23 -- Great World Wide Star Count www.starcount.org
    October 19-25 -- Fall Astronomy Week, including Fall Astronomy Day on
Saturday, October 24, with the Astronomical League www.astroleague.org
    October 22-24 -- IYA Galilean Nights global star party
www.galileannights.org
    November 10-30 -- NASA's Image Unveiling
hubblesource.stsci.edu/events/iyafinale

If you would like to show an IYA video before or after the
President's WHSP announcement, you can find the IYA trailer at:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/multimedia/videos/detail/iya_trailer/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJmZmo6kzI
and additional IYA videos are listed in the third attachment.

Thank you very much, and enjoy celebrating the International
Year of Astronomy!

Best regards, on behalf of the entire IYA team,

Andrea Schweitzer, Ph.D.
U.S. IYA2009 Project Manager
and
Stephen Pompea, Ph.D.
U.S. IYA2009 Project Director

Exciting news!

I tried to post this to AstroEd on Saturday evening
but it did not go through, so I am trying again
without the attachments.

Note:  You can find the letter referenced below at:
www.astronomy2009.us

Cheers, Andrea

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Good news:  the press embargo has been lifted on the White House
Star Party (WHSP), as of an announcement that was dated October 2nd.
You are welcome to widely distribute this email and the attachments!

Here is the official statement from the White House Office of the Press
Secretary:

"On Wednesday, the President will award the National Medal of Science and
the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White
House. The President will also meet with his national security team on
Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the evening, the President and  First Lady
will host an event at the White House for middle-school students to
highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math
education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and
economic leadership and to express his support for astronomy in particular
- for its capacity to promote a greater awareness of our place in the
universe, expand human knowledge, and inspire the next
generation by showing them the beauty and mysteries of the night sky."

Further details are in the attached informational letter about how to make
the most of this wonderful opportunity, and how to tie-in to
the International Year of Astronomy and your own local programs.

Also attached is a flyer highlighting some of October's largest
IYA events.  Please help promote all of these fall astronomy events:
    October 4-10 -- World Space Week www.worldspaceweek.org
    October 9 -- NASA's LCROSS impact lcross.arc.nasa.gov/education.htm  and
groups.google.com/group/lcross_observation
    October 13 -- Hubble's Amazing Rescue premieres on NOVA
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hubble
    October 9-23 -- Great World Wide Star Count www.starcount.org
    October 19-25 -- Fall Astronomy Week, including Fall Astronomy Day on
Saturday, October 24, with the Astronomical League www.astroleague.org
    October 22-24 -- IYA Galilean Nights global star party
www.galileannights.org
    November 10-30 -- NASA's Image Unveiling
hubblesource.stsci.edu/events/iyafinale

If you would like to show an IYA video before or after the
President's WHSP announcement, you can find the IYA trailer at:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/multimedia/videos/detail/iya_trailer/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJmZmo6kzI
and additional IYA videos are listed in the third attachment.

Thank you very much, and enjoy celebrating the International
Year of Astronomy!

Best regards, on behalf of the entire IYA team,

Andrea Schweitzer, Ph.D.
U.S. IYA2009 Project Manager
and
Stephen Pompea, Ph.D.
U.S. IYA2009 Project Director

USIYA: White House Star Party Kicks Off Astronomy Events

THE FOLLOWING RELEASE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF
ASTRONOMY 2009 PROGRAM OFFICE AND IS FORWARDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
(FORWARDING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL
SOCIETY.)

Rick Fienberg, American Astronomical Society:
rick.fienberg@..., 1-202-328-2010 x116.

October 5, 2009

Contacts:
Stephen M. Pompea
U.S. IYA2009 Program Director
spompea@...
+1 520-907-2493

Andrea Schweitzer
U.S. IYA2009 Program Manager
schweitz@...
+1 970-691-4747

Doug Isbell
U.S. IYA2009 Single-Point-of-Contact
dougisbell@...
+1 520-991-0380

WHITE HOUSE STAR PARTY KICKS OFF
A BUSY SEASON OF ASTRONOMY EVENTS

A bountiful fall harvest of astronomy events kicks off this week with
a star party at the White House. On Wednesday evening, October 7th,
professional and amateur astronomers will set up more than 20
telescopes on the White House lawn to give President Obama, his
family, and a group of lucky middle-school students an
up-close-and-personal look at lunar craters and mountains, the giant
planet Jupiter and its moons, and other celestial wonders. The event
coincides with the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first glimpse of the
heavens through a telescope, a milestone being celebrated worldwide
throughout 2009, declared by the United Nations as the International
Year of Astronomy (IYA2009).

According to a statement issued on October 2nd by the White House
press office, the star party is being held “to highlight the
President’s commitment to science, engineering, and math education as
the foundation of this nation’s global technological and economic
leadership and to express his support for astronomy in particular —
for its capacity to promote a greater awareness of our place in the
universe, expand human knowledge, and inspire the next generation by
showing them the beauty and mysteries of the night sky.”

The gathering has been organized by the White House, the Office of
Science & Technology Policy, and NASA. But the idea originated with
Chicago-area amateur astronomer Audrey Fischer and has been actively
promoted for six months by the U.S. IYA2009 team. “We’re delighted
that President Obama will take a break from his pressing terrestrial
concerns to personally witness some of the same celestial spectacles
that Galileo first studied 400 years ago and that revolutionized our
understanding of the universe and our home planet,” says astronomer
Stephen M. Pompea of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
(NOAO). Pompea is U.S. IYA2009 Program Director and will attend
Wednesday’s star party.

President Obama will kick off the event with a brief address that will
be streamed live on the White House website and on NASA TV around 8
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Even if clouds or rain intervene to
prevent telescopic viewing, attendees will still have plenty to do.
The star-party program features interactive planetarium presentations
and hands-on activities such as the construction of scale models of
the solar system, simulations of impact cratering, and investigations
of meteorites and Moon rocks.

The White House Star Party is just one of many family-friendly
astronomy events and activities happening this fall. Among the others
are these:

   * October 4-10 -- World Space Week
     (www.worldspaceweek.org)
   * October 9 -- NASA’s LCROSS impact on the Moon
     (lcross.arc.nasa.gov/education.htm,
     groups.google.com/group/lcross_observation)
   * October 13 -- Hubble’s Amazing Rescue premieres on
     NOVA (www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hubble)
   * October 9-23 -- Great World Wide Star Count
     (www.starcount.org)
   * October 19-25 -- Fall Astronomy Week, including Fall
     Astronomy Day on Saturday, October 24, organized by
     the Astronomical League (www.astroleague.org)
   * October 22-24 -- IYA2009 Galilean Nights
     global star party (www.galileannights.org)
   * November 10-30 -- NASA’s Great Observatories image
     unveiling (hubblesource.stsci.edu/events/iyafinale)

While only a lucky few will be able to join President Obama for
telescopic viewing at the White House, many more citizens will get to
look through telescopes on October 7th and throughout the fall thanks
to the many “sidewalk astronomers” who will take to the streets all
across the country. Among them will be Pompea’s NOAO colleague Robert
Sparks; he’ll set up telescopes near the White House this week so that
visitors without invitations to the star party can still do some
astronomical observing supervised by an expert. Among the telescopes
Sparks will employ is the Galileoscope, which he, Pompea, and others
developed as a Cornerstone Project of the global IYA2009 effort. While
not quite a replica of one of Galileo’s telescopes, the Galileoscope
is similar in design to the ones Galileo used but much improved thanks
to its 21st-century optics.

                                 # # #

More information about the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is
available at these websites:
   * www.astronomy2009.org
   * www.astronomy2009.us
   * astronomy2009.nasa.gov

More information about the Galileoscope is available at www.galileoscope.org.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you do not wish to receive press releases that are forwarded to the
news media by the American Astronomical Society, please unsubscribe by
replying accordingly to any incoming press release, or send e-mail to
rick.fienberg@.... Requests for referrals to experts on astronomy
and space exploration should be sent to the same address. Rick
Fienberg, AAS Press Officer: rick.fienberg@..., telephone
1-202-328-2010 x116.

For circulation to educators
----------------------------------------

RESOURCE GUIDE TO THE MOON
Available from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific


An annotated list of resources for helping students
and the public to understand and appreciate
the Moon is now available on the web site of the
nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/family/resources/moonguide.html

The guide -- for educators, amateur astronomers,
and everyone who would like to know more about
the Earth's only natural satellite -- covers our
scientific understanding of the Moon as a world,
the appearance of the Moon in our skies, and
tips for observing the Moon through binoculars
or small telescopes. It also suggests a few ways to
learn more about the Moon in popular culture
and historical events.

(This resource list is part of a series of guides for
educators from the 120-year old Society, which is
dedicated to improving the public understanding of
astronomy and advancing science literacy. See
all their materials at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education.html )

1) Nov. 2 - Premiere of "Cosmic Reflection" symphony as part of the
2009 Fermi Science Symposium. The "Cosmic Reflection" concert will be
presented at 8PM on November 2, 2009 at the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. Visit
http://www.classicalarchives.com/CR/ for the complete program. A limited number
of free seats will be available for teachers and high-school students. Please
contact Lynn Cominsky to reserve your seats:
lynnc@..., 707-664-2655.

2) Black Hole Educator's Workshop on Nov. 3. In conjunction with the
1009 Fermi Science Symposium in Washington DC, we will be holding an educator's
workshop for middle and high-school teachers on Tuesday evening Nov. 3, from
5:30 - 8 pm. The workshop will be held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Visitor's Center, and is free of charge. The planetarium show "Black Holes: The
Other Side of Infinity" will be shown in Goddard's new GeoDome planetarium,
followed by interactive activities featuring black holes. Free NASA materials
and a light dinner will be provided to workshop participants!  Please contact
Lynn Cominsky to register for this workshop: lynnc@.... Space is
limited,
so be sure to register by October 15, 2009.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for any cross postings, but I'd appreciate it if you could pass along the
following job announcement to anyone you think might be interested.

Thank you!

Dan


*******************************

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY SPACE SCIENCES LABORATORY SENIOR FELLOW
PROGRAM IN EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.

Applications are invited for the position of Senior Fellow and Director of the
Center for Science Education at the Space Sciences Laboratory (CSE@SSL).
Appointment will be awarded to Ph.D. scientists who have demonstrated
leadership, creativity, and research in education and public outreach in the
space sciences. Candidates with Ph.D. degrees in either space science or science
education will be considered for the position. Senior Fellow will receive
Principal Investigator status and will be expected to pursue outside funding
with the goal of continuing the strong track record of science education work
conducted by the CSE@SSL group. The incumbent will lead a group of scientists,
educators, and support staff in the implementation of a variety of science
education and public outreach activities and science education research for the
K-12, informal education, and outreach communities. Some start-up funds are
available. The level, to be determined at the time of appointment, will be
Coordinator of Public Programs VI-VII, depending upon qualifications.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2009.  Anticipated start date December 2009, or
to be negotiated.  Interested applicants should send CV, list of science
education related publications, track-record of awarded grants, statement of
science education and public outreach experience, and three reference names and
contact information to: Daniele Meilhan, UC Berkeley, SSL Silver 203, 7 Gauss
Way MC 7450, Berkeley, CA 94720-7450. Email: daniele@.... PH: (510)
642-1361; FAX: (510) 643-7629.  Salary will be based on education and
experience.  The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. AAE/EOE. More
detailed job description: http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/SeniorFellow.html



***********************************************************************
Dan Zevin
Project Manager, Center for Science Education
Space Sciences Laboratory
7 Gauss Way, MC 7450
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-7450

(510) 642-8326
(510) 643-5660 [fax]
dzevin@...
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu

Hello everyone! LPI's next webcast is tonight with Native American storyteller
Lynn Moroney. Go to http://nasa-nai.acrobat.com/moroney at 8pm Eastern to
participate.

Does anyone know of a professional group, or a professional development in New
England that brings high school Astronomy teachers together in one place?

Every couple of week's, LPI hosts a webcast through its new website, MyMoon. The
next webcast is Wednesday August 26th at 7pm CDT. This week's speaker will be
batik artist Mary Edna Fraser. Mary Edna will briefly discuss the lunar
influence in her work and then the rest of the conversation is up to you! Submit
your questions for Mary Edna now at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/mymoon (click on the
webcast poster), then be ready to have a conversation with Mary Edna Fraser. You
can learn more about Mary Edna's work at www.maryedna.com.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY SPACE SCIENCES LABORATORY SENIOR FELLOW
PROGRAM IN EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.

Applications are invited for the position of Senior Fellow and Director of the
Center for Science Education at the Space Sciences Laboratory (CSE@SSL).
Appointment will be awarded to Ph.D. scientists who have demonstrated
leadership, creativity, and research in education and public outreach in the
space sciences. Candidates with Ph.D. degrees in either space science or science
education will be considered for the position. Senior Fellow will receive
Principal Investigator status and will be expected to pursue outside funding
with the goal of continuing the strong track record of science education work
conducted by the CSE@SSL group. The incumbent will lead a group of scientists,
educators, and support staff in the implementation of a variety of science
education and public outreach activities and science education research for the
K-12, informal education, and outreach communities. Some start-up funds are
available. The level, to be determined at the time of appointment, will be
Coordinator of Public Programs VI-VII, depending upon qualifications.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2009.  Anticipated start date December 2009, or
to be negotiated.  Interested applicants should send CV, list of science
education related publications, track-record of awarded grants, statement of
science education and public outreach experience, and three reference names and
contact information to: Daniele Meilhan, UC Berkeley, SSL Silver 203, 7 Gauss
Way MC 7450, Berkeley, CA 94720-7450. Email: daniele@.... PH: (510)
642-1361; FAX: (510) 643-7629.  Salary will be based on education and
experience.  The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. AAE/EOE. More
detailed job description: http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/SeniorFellow.html

Greetings, all!

For those of you who love to celebrate the Moon in art and song, or learn more
about the current scientific exploration of the Moon, I wanted to let you know
about our new site.  We'd also appreciate your help in sharing this with your
students, particularly those in college.

MyMoon is an evolving site created for the Net Generation, by the Lunar and
Planetary Institute (LPI). We're collaborating with lunar scientists, engineers,
artists, storytellers, and with you to share interactive information about the
Moon and opportunities for you to be involved.

Through the MyMoon groups on facebook, YouTube, and flickr, we invite you to
share your thoughts, your creations, and your experiences. We will host
contests, discussion groups, and live Web-conferenced presentations.

Come join the lunar scientists, lunar artists, and lunatics!

http://mymoon.lpi.usra.edu

We're grateful (thrilled, in fact) to report that this project is funded by
NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

For those who want to physically post something, there are also flyers at:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/announcements/mymoon-color-flyer.pdf
And
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/announcements/mymoon-black-white-flyer.pdf


Please let me know what you think!

Christine
________________________________
Christine Shupla
Education Specialist
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX  77058
(281) 486-2135
fax (281) 244-2031
shupla@...

Celebrate the Culmination of the International Year of Astronomy with
More Spectacular Images from NASA's Great Observatories!

NASA's Great Observatories -- the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space
Telescope, and Chandra X-Ray Observatory -- are again collaborating to
produce another spectacular multiwavelength view of our universe.

The Great Observatories invite U.S.-based science centers, museums,
planetariums, nature centers and other informal education venues to apply
for selection as a site for a national unveiling and display of a new
multiwavelength image in November 2009. We are looking for enthusiastic
partners that will hold an image unveiling event between November 10 and
November 30, 2009.

Visit http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/events/iyafinale/ to learn more and
to sign up.

Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2009.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Carolyn Slivinski
Education Specialist
Office of Public Outreach
Space Telescope Science Institute
410-338-4883
slivinski@...

http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/

Lead Formal Educator Position
at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)

The ASP is looking for a creative person with good knowledge
of astronomy and experience in K-12 education to work
on a number of existing and developing programs in
astronomy education.  Current duties include
coordinating Project ASTRO (a program that links volunteer
astronomers with 4th - 9th grade teachers), managing a web-based
quarterly newsletter for teachers, conducting training
programs for school districts interested in hands-on
astronomy, helping with grant writing, and assisting with other
initiatives in education.

More detailed information about the position and specific
instructions for applying can be found at the Society's web
site at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/about/career.html

More information about the education programs of the
120-year old international Society, headquartered in
San Francisco, can be found at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education.html