An Excerpt from Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology

Posted on September 5, 2011 by ST Editors

by David J. Kaplan

Writers, as we all know, cannot wait for inspiration and must rely upon the hard reality of persistence. However, occasionally there comes a time when the muse gives rise to a period of unexpected productivity. A while back, I had an idea for a short story, finally titled Professor Moon. It involves a retired professor of astronomy, a young boy and his grandfather. The child has saved up enough money to purchase, at a used book market, an early edition of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, which he intends to read to his blind grandfather. Daniel McBride, the retired astronomer, has also eyed the same edition, but has no idea of the young boy’s ultimate purpose. Therein lays the conflict.

Professor Moon was recently published in U.S. 1, a Princeton, New Jersey newspaper that runs an annual summer reading collection of short stories and poems.

Edgar Lee Masters’ premise, souls who lived in the fictitious town of Spoon River, speak from the grave and as to what brought them to an early demise. Within Spoon River, originally published in 1915, I came across the following stanza. A perfect fit for my short story.

ALFONSO CHURCHILL

They laughed at me as “Prof. Moon,”
As a boy in Spoon River, born with the thirst
Of knowing about the stars.
They jeered when I spoke of the lunar mountains,
And the thrilling heat and cold,
And the ebon valleys by silver peaks,
And Spica quadrillions of miles away,
And the littleness of man.
But now that my grave is honored, friends,
Let it not be because I taught
The lore of the stars in Knox College,
But rather for this: that through the stars
I preached the greatness of man,
Who is none the less a part of the scheme of things
For the distance of Spica or the Spiral Nebulæ;
Nor any the less a part of the question
Of what drama means.

Posted in September 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Space Capsule on Display

Posted on September 5, 2011 by ST Editors

by Michael Wright

Local space enthusiasts have an opportunity to see and touch the capsule that returned entrepreneur and space tourist, Greg Olson, to Earth after his 2005, 8-day stay at the International Space Station. The three-man craft is on display at Princeton Marketfair until October 18, 2011 after which it will be permanently installed at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum in New York City.

Space Capsule of Soyuz TMA-6. Credit: Michael Wright

Shoppers at Princeton Marketfair examine Soyuz TMA-6’s descent module on display until October 18, 2011

Like the US’s Apollo spacecraft, Russia’s Soyuz crafts have three modules: orbital, descent and services modules. The bell-shaped capsule on display is the descent module of Soyuz TMA-6, which contains the crew launch and entry couches, spacecraft controls and parachutes. It is 2.2 meters in diameter and weighs two tons. A heat-shield protects the module during re-entry. Also, the spacecraft has several retro rockets that fire moments before touchdown to soften the landing.

The AAAP was fortunate to have Mr. Olson speak to us in 2009 about training for his trip and living on the ISS.

Posted in September 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico

Posted on September 5, 2011 by ST Editors
Arecibo Observatory, largest single dish radio telescope. Credit: Michael Wright

Antenna platform of the largest single dish radio telescope, Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico. Credit: Michael Wright

by Michael Wright

While on vacation in Puerto Rico over Memorial Day weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the Arecibo Observatory, the largest single-dish radio telescope ever constructed. The 1000-foot diameter dish was impressive, but the antenna platform grabbed my attention. Suspended on cables from 360-foot high pylons, it looked like a giant arachnid alien guarding its nest. This impression inspired my rendering of this photo that I took of the platform.

The proboscis-like object sticking below the platform is a 96-foot long, narrow-band, line feed antenna. The gregorian dome houses two reflectors that focus the radio waves into horn antennas. To get a feel for the immensity of the structure, note that there are two full-size doors between the brown stain on the dome.

The observatory is a pleasant one-hour trip from San Juan to the karst country-side near Arecibo. Also, nearby is the Rio Camuy Cave Park, which has the third largest underground river in the world. I recommend a visit if you are ever in Puerto Rico.

Posted in September 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ghostly Twilight Landing of Atlantis Closes NASA’s Space Shuttle Era

Posted on September 5, 2011 by ST Editors

by Dr. Ken Kremer

Barely discernable in the pre-dawn twilight and appearing as an eerie, ghost-like figure, Space Shuttle Atlantis and her four-person crew swiftly glided to a triumphant landing at the Kennedy Space Center to close out NASA’s storied three-decade-long Space Shuttle Era. In the wink of an eye, it was all over and the final shuttle chapter was written.

Atlantis touched down almost invisibly on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 5:57 a.m. EDT on July 21 and rolled to a stop to conclude the history making 13-day flight to the International Space Station and back. During the STS-135, mission Atlantis orbited the Earth 200 times and journeyed 5,284,862 miles.

STS-135 was the 135th and last shuttle mission. This was Atlantis 33rd flight and the 37th overall to the station. Atlantis was the last of NASA’s three shuttle orbiters to be retired.  Her future retirement home will be a short distance away at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

STS-135 crew

Atlantis 33rd and last flight crew. Credit: Ken Kremer

Chris Ferguson led the all veteran STS-135 crew of space flyers and will be recorded in history as the final Space Shuttle Commander for the Grand Finale of the shuttle program. This was Ferguson’s third shuttle flight and his second as Commander. Joining Ferguson was Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

I witnessed many key STS-135 processing events on the path to flight including the payload preparations, orbiter rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility, Lift and Mate activities inside the VAB, the terminal countdown demonstration test (TCDT) crew training. Also, I saw the  shuttle stack rollout to the launch pad and an extremely rare post-rollout up close tour of the shuttle stack on top of the Mobile Launch Platform including exquisite viewing from all over the launch pad gantry from top to bottom.

On June 28, NASA Shuttle managers announced a unanimous “GO” for liftoff and officially set July 8 as Atlantis launch date. They emphasized how absolutely crucial STS-135 is to the future well being and basic functioning of the $100 Billion International Space Station (ISS) and for sustaining ISS operations for about one year into 2012.

Tucked inside Atlantis cargo bay was the Italian- built “Raffaello” logistics module, which functions as  a ‘moving van’ in space. The primary goal was to deliver “Raffaello” to the million pound orbiting outpost during the 13-day flight.

Raffaello was packed to the gills with more than 9,400 pounds of critical spare parts, food, water, crew provisions, gear, equipment and science experiments that will keep the station stocked and the crew fed for a year.  About one third of the cargo is food; most of it provided by Russia.  The secondary nestled payload was the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) which will demonstrate tools and techniques to repair and refuel satellites already in orbit.

On July 4, blastoff was finally at hand and the final shuttle crew flew into the Space Coast launch site on a wave of T-38 training jets from in Houston, Texas and touched down at the shuttle landing strip. The countdown clock began ticking backwards on July 5 ahead of a gloomy weather forecast.

In the final hours before launch. the crew departed crew quarters, lingered long to wave goodbye to the cheering crowd of thousands of gathered NASA employees, officials and media and then sped off to Pad 39A in the Astrovan to be strapped into their waiting seats of eternal adventure. I’ll never forget these stirring and exhilarating moments of Launch Day.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Credit

Space Shuttle Atlantis Credit: Ken Kremer

Space Shuttle Atlantis soared to space for one last history making time on July 8 at 11:29 a.m. EDT despite the dauntingly poor weather, low lying clouds and a last moment countdown glitch at T – 31 seconds that threatened to derail the launch.

Ultimately all coalesced and combined for an unpredictably tense shuttle drama that went down to the wire and put on a pulse pounding and spectacular sky show that we who were lucky to witness will remember forever.

About 750,000 hugely excited spectators jammed the Florida space coast beaches, roadways and hotels to witness a historic event that we will sadly never see again.   That morning, no one expected to see a launch. Then, all of a sudden about 45 minutes before launch time the sky brightened and spirits rose. Miraculously, a small hole appeared in the sky above the Kennedy Space Center and headed directly for the launch pad as if on cue.

Just 29 seconds later as the crescendo of blazing fire, brimstone and crackling thunder mounted, Atlantis disappeared into the cloud deck on a huge plume of smoke and ash.

All objectives were accomplished during the flight. Shortly after the landing I was one of the very small group of media allowed to visit Atlantis at the runway. This was the first time NASA allowed media at the runway. We then watched the orbiter towed back to the processing hanger for the final time – a bittersweet moment.

Atlantis

Atlantis Space Shuttle being towed back to hangar from the runway. Credit: Ken Kremer

Altogether Atlantis flew 33 missions, spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles.  Atlantis was the last of NASA three orbiters to be retired and closed out the Space Shuttle Era.

Wheels stop marked the dreaded end of American manned spaceflight from American soil for many years to come. No one can say with certainty how or when America will again launch humans to space.  America is now fully dependent on the Russians to loft Americas to space and the ISS for the next three to five years.  However, with the recent failure of the Russian Progress cargo carrier, there is no assured access to space from Russia either.
Check all my STS-135 features online at Universe Today:
Last Towback of a Flight Worthy Space Shuttle – Atlantis Post Touchdown Photo Album,
Wheels Stop ! With Awesome Atlantis on the Shuttle Runway

Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association (BMAA): Ottsville, PA, Oct 5, Wed. 8 PM, “7 Years of Mars Rovers”   Website: http://www.bma2.org/Sdv.html

Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton:  Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Nov 8, 8 PM  “Atlantis, the End of America’s Shuttle Program and What is Beyond for NASA”.  Website: http://www.princetonastronomy.org/

Washington Crossing State Park:  Titusville NJ, Nov 12, Sat, 1 PM.  “7 Years of Mars Rovers (in 3-D)”

Ken Kremer, Spaceflight magazine & Universe Today

Please contact Ken for more info or science outreach presentations:
Email: kremerken@yahoo.com   website:  www.kenkremer.com
http://www.universetoday.com/author/ken-kremer/

Posted in September 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

From the Director

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

by Ludy D’Angelo, Director AAAP

I cannot believe that it is already half way through the year. Time passes us by so quickly. Blink, and many months have come and gone.

I’m hoping that everyone can attend our last meeting until September. It will be held at the New Jersey State Museum Planetarium on June 14th at 7:30 PM (please note the earlier meeting time). For those of you who have not been there, I encourage you to come along and experience the newly renovated planetarium. Club member Bill Murray will be our host and will give us a presentation not to be missed.

We have decided to cancel the June 4th picnic because of a lack of responses for that date. By the time you read this, that date would be long gone anyway. This was very disappointing to me personally. I always look forward to a good picnic, and it is a new moon week, so going to the observatory afterwards would have been fun too. But alas, even after mentioning this date for the last few months, there was very little response to two emailed invitations requesting an RSVP. If anyone has a better date in mind, please let a board member know. We’ll announce a rescheduled event in the near future.

Last weekend, my family traveled to Oberlin, Ohio for my wife’s college reunion. As part of the festivities during the three-day weekend, the college’s observatory was open day and night for solar and nighttime observing. Suffice to say, it was cloudy and rainy during the three days and evenings except for a small patch of clear sky on Sunday afternoon. On one evening when there was maybe a 1% chance of the clouds breaking up, I went to the observatory, which was perched high atop a five-story building. There I met many of the students who were running the open house and the woman who ran the observatory for Oberlin, Karina Leppik. I also found out that Ms. Leppik was starting a new job as of June 1st as one of many astronomers for the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) project. They will fly an infrared telescope very high in a 747 plane to observe and take astronomical data. This NASA project is based in California. So, overall, a very interesting encounter with very enthusiastic individuals.

Some upcoming dates to remember:

AAAP Picnic – To be rescheduled

June 14th – AAAP at the New Jersey State Planetarium, Trenton NJ at 7:30 PM

See you all there!

Ludy D’Angelo, Director AAAP

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From the Outgoing Program Chair

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

By John Church, Program Chair-Retired

Congratulations to Ken Levy on his election to Program Chair for the 2011-2012 AAAP session, which of course goes with a seat on the Board of Directors.  It has been my pleasure to serve in this position for the last year and the latter part of the 2009-2010 session.  It has been a very rewarding experience, and I have had the pleasure of meeting many outstanding speakers.

We are a club of volunteers, and it is always a good idea to get some new people on the Board.  Any number of club members could serve in these positions.  I hope that in future years others will be willing to step up and give something back to the club that has served them well.

To round out our current session, on June 14th we will have our traditional presentation by former AAAP Director Bill Murray in the New Jersey State Planetarium in Trenton, starting at 7:30 pm.  This is always a great show, and we’ll be looking forward to it.  There will be no pre-meeting dinner this month, but we hope to start these up again in September.

I would again like to express my sincere thanks to John Giles, Ira Polans, and Director Ludy D’Angelo for their much-appreciated support in helping to arrange speakers for this past year.  To assist Ken, there are several other possible speakers already lined up for the next session.  Ken has many ideas of his own in this area.  I wish him the very best of luck and will be looking forward to seeing his selections for the upcoming club year.

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged | Leave a comment

From the Outreach Chair

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

by David W. Letcher, Outreach Chair

The Sun Team of “The Three Davids” took advantage of a pleasant, mostly clear day at the Super Science Saturday on May 7, 2011 to show a small group of sunspots to a large group of folks who attended the event at the State Museum.  David Letcher, David Kaplan, and David Zahler represented the AAAP that day.

The morning was quite clear but as the hours passed by, increasing clouds prevented us from seeing the sun.  But we had fun and lots of parents and children got to see some sunspots.

Let’s hope that we have some clear nights for our upcoming open houses.  To that end we expect to have a cub scout troop visit the observatory on Friday evening, June 17th.  We’ll probably have about 50 scouts and parents show up.

Another opportunity for outreach has arisen. An email from Dr. Donald Lubowich, the Coordinator of Astronomy Outreach, for Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York indicates he is applying for a NASA-sponsored education and public outreach grant to fund telescope observations and astronomy demonstrations at the Ronald McDonald Houses within 200 miles of NYC.  If this grant is approved, it would provide all of the funding pay for telescopes, posters, astronomy demonstrations, astronomy videos, etc.

He would like to invite any interested clubs in the NJ, PA, or DE regions to participate in this program.   It will involve a few outreach programs,  assisting with the training of the RMH staff, and being available to help with questions. There would be a small stipend of $500 to reimburse the clubs for any travel expenses.

On May 25, Director Ludy D’Angelo responded to Dr. Lubowich by saying “On behalf of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton (AAAP), we are very interested to participate in these activities. Good luck with the grant. Let us know when we can help.”

Posted in June 2011 | Tagged | Leave a comment

May 10, 2011 AAAP Meeting Minutes

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

by Michael Wright for Larry Kane, Secretary

The meeting was called to order by Director Ludy D’Angelo at 8:00PM.

Ludy verified that a quorum of the members was present to elect the 2011-12 officers.  He presented the following nominations to the membership:

  • Director: Ludy D’Angelo
  • Assistant Director: Jeff Bernardis
  • Treasurer: Michael Mitrano
  • Secretary: Larry Kane
  • Program Chair: Ken Levy

There were no additional nominations from the floor.  Hamilton Potter motioned to accept the candidates, which was seconded by Saul Mroz.  The members present approved the slate of officers for 2011-12 by a voice vote.

Princeton Astrophysical Sciences graduate student Khee-Gan Lee presented a talk entitled:  “Quasars and the Lyman-alpha Forest: A Look into the Cosmic Boom Town,”

After a brief intermission, Ludy called the business meeting to order.

Super Science Saturday: Ludy said that the club had a table and solar telescopes at the event on May 7.  Volunteers came forth at the last minutes to help out.  He emphasized that club participation is important because of AAAP’s relationship with the State Museum and Washington Crossing Park.

Picnic:  Ludy asked for opinions on holding a picnic for members and their families on June 4.  It was agreed that the picnic will be held at Ludy’s house beginning at 4:00PM.   The club will provide the basics and members will be asked to contribute other items.  An observing session will be held after dark at the observatory.  Ludy will email an announcement to all members.  Prompt RSVPs will help the planning.

Treasurer’s Report:  Michael Mitrano reported that the AAAP now has 87 members, which is two less than last year.  See Treasurer’s Report.

Star Quest: Ludy and Jeff Bernardis will coordinate requesting prize donations from vendors.

Program:  Retiring Program Chair John Church announced that the next meeting will be a planetarium show by Bill Murray at the State Planetarium on June 14 at 7:30PM.  This is a members-only event.  Reminders will be sent to the membership, and press releases will not be sent out.  Ludy thanked John for his work.  John received a round of applause. John said he enjoyed arranging and meeting the speakers, and hoped the tradition would continue.  He wished luck to incoming Program Chair Ken Levy and offered his help with next season’s speakers.  Ken said that he is arranging speakers and will announce them when dates are confirmed.  Gene Ramsey said that graduate students who are working for leading researchers make great speakers because they can present the latest research.

Outreach:  Bill Murray announced that the State Planetarium will be bringing guests to the observatory on Friday, May 13 after their evening planetarium show so this may be a busy public night.  Ludy D’Angelo requested that members come out to help and bring scopes.

Observatory:  Gene Ramsey said that he and Jeff Bernardis are finalizing the plans to upgrade the alarm system at the observatory.  Gene asked for a volunteer to cut the grass because the park staff is not cutting it.  After a brief discussion, Ludy said that he would speak to the park director about the problem and point out the benefits that AAAP brings to the park.

Sidereal Times:  Michael Wright announced that the deadline for the June issue will be June 3 and encouraged members to submit articles.  John Church thanked Mike for sending press releases to the local media announcing AAAP’s meetings this year.

Bill Murray requested a keyholder to cover his observatory duty night on May 27 because he will be at the Cherry Springs Star Party.

A Board meeting will be held over the Summer.  Ludy will announce the date and time via email.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00PM.

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged | Leave a comment

Treasurer’s Report

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

by Michael Mitrano, Treasurer

We are approaching the June 30 end of our fiscal year, and the AAAP has had very little financial activity in recent weeks.  At this point, our surplus for the year is about $2,500. On a cumulative basis, it is nearly $21,000.

I will have a detailed report in July.

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged | Leave a comment

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

Obviously, we generally don’t have a Poet’s Corner in the Sidereal Times.  However, when I came across a fellow New Jerseyan’s 19th century poem, it gave me pause, and we should not take offense. The purity of thought, as to why we’re all members is more important than his seeming boredom with the technicalities of it all.

David Kaplan

When I heard the learn’d astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in col-umns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lec-tured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

by Walt Whitman (1819 – 1892)

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Historic Final Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ST Editors

by Dr. Ken Kremer

Ken Kremer and Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Ken Kremer

Ken Kremer and Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Ken Kremer

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – After a 16 day journey of more than sixteen million miles. Space Shuttle Endeavour and her six man crew glided to a safe nighttime landing at 2:35 am EDT on June 1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I watched from close by the shuttle landing strip as the ghostly ship flew past, preceded by shocking twin sonic booms.

The STS-134 mission marked the end of Endeavour’s spaceflight career. It was the penultimate flight of the shuttle program and the 25th and final one for the youngest orbiter in NASA’s shuttle fleet. Altogether, Endeavour has logged 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles.

STS-134 Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly. Credit: Ken Kremer

Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly led the STS-134 mission. He was joined by Pilot Greg H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Greg Chamitoff and the European Space Agency’s Roberto Vittori.

The primary goal of the highly productive flight was the delivery of the $2 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station. AMS is a state-of-the-art cosmic ray detector that seeks to unveil the invisible universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter.

The AMS may revolutionize our understanding of how the universe was born and evolved over time. The AMS science instrument is sponsored by the United States and 15 other countries across the globe. Nobel prize winner Samuel Ting of MIT leads the international science project.

“What a great ending to this really wonderful mission,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Space Operation at a briefing for reporters “They’re getting great data from their instrument on board the space station. It couldn’t have gone any better for this mission.”

Mike Leinbach, the Space Shuttle Launch Director, said, “It’s been a great morning at the Kennedy Space Center.”

The crew conducted the last four spacewalks that will ever by carried out by shuttle crew members. Simultaneously, they completed the construction of the US portion of the ISS.

Space Shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39 A prior to blastoff on May 16, 2011. Credit: Ken Kremer

STS-134 was the 36th shuttle mission dedicated to ISS assembly and maintenance.

“You know, the space shuttle is an amazing vehicle to fly through the atmosphere, hit it at Mach 25, steer through the atmosphere like an airplane, land on a runway. It is really, really an incredible ship,” said Kelly. “On behalf of my entire crew, I want to thank every person who’s worked to get this mission going and every person who’s worked on Endeavour. It’s sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy.”

Endeavour blasted off on her historic final spaceflight on May 16 following a two week delay caused by a heater malfunction in the fuel line that powers the orbiters hydraulics. Endeavour lifted off from Pad 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 8:56 am EDT.

Space Shuttle Endeavour blasts off on her 25th and final mission from Pad 39 A on May 16, 2011 at 8:56 a.m. View from the world famous countdown clock at T Plus 5 Seconds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer

Overcast skies moved in over the pad in the last 30 minutes of the countdown and nearly derailed the launch again. I witnessed Endeavour’s majestic launch from the KSC press site next to the world famous countdown clock.

Endeavour’s three main engines roared to life six seconds before the twin, solid-rocket boosters were ignited and pushed the shuttle off the pad atop a tremendous roar and brilliant flames shooting from Endeavour’s tail. The rumbling thunder seemed much louder than normal, perhaps due to the cloud cover. Endeavour disappeared into the clouds at about T plus 25 seconds.

Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from Pad 39 A on May 16, 2011. My view from the countdown clock at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour will deliver the $2 Billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. The AMS will search for dark matter, dark energy and antimatter to determine the birth of the Universe. Credit: Ken Kremer

Nearly half a million people crowded into the Florida Space Coast to witness history first hand.

“This mission represents the power of teamwork, commitment and exploration,” Commander Mark Kelly said shortly before liftoff. “It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop. To all the millions watching today including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for your support.”

Endeavour was towed back into the Orbiter Processing Facility after the landing where she will be cleaned and “safed” in preparation for her permanent retirement home and public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

The stage is now set for the July 8 blastoff of STS-135, the very final flight of the 30-year long shuttle era.

Space Shuttle Endeavour landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center on June 1, 2011 at 2:35 a.m. EDT. Endeavour delivered the $2 Billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. Credit: Ken Kremer

Read my STS-134 & 135 features online at Universe Today with more story links:

Era of Space Shuttle Endeavour Ends with June 1 Landing at the Kennedy Space Center
Endeavour Blasts Off on Her 25th and Final Mission
Last Ever Shuttle Journeys out to the Launch Pad; Photo Gallery

Astronomy Outreach by Ken Kremer

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) at the Franklin Institute: Philadelphia, PA, Jun 8, Wed, 7 PM.  “Mars Rover Update”, “NASA Flybys of Comets Hartley 2 & Temple 1”

Website: http://www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org

Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton:  Princeton, NJ, Fall 2011 TBD,  “What’s Beyond for NASA: Shuttle, Station, Orion, SpaceX & Robots”.

Website: http://www.princetonastronomy.org/

Posted in June 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

From the Director

Posted on May 2, 2011 by ST Editors

by Ludy D’Angelo, Director AAAP

There is not much to say, so I will say very little.

There hasn’t been very much activity since the weather has been so bad. We opened the observatory on April 1st and it seems that April fool’s joke is running all month long.  We have had to cancel the first five public observing nights this season. We hope that the next public observing night on May 6th will turn out to be clear.  Nonetheless, we will persevere; we’ve got to catch a break sometime.

At our last meeting, I appointed Rex Parker to lead a task force to decide the best use of our new donated Gemini G-11 mount.  This process will take some time, I’m sure. The results will hopefully be something that we can all participate in.

Some upcoming dates to remember:

May 7th– Super Science Day at the State Museum and Planetarium complex in Trenton. We need volunteers to staff a table with exhibits and information and to set up some solar/terrestrial scopes for outside if it is clear. We will be inside if it is raining because this is a rain or shine event. Please contact David Letcher (letcher@tcnj.edu) if you can participate.

May 10th – AAAP Club Meeting.  Ken Kremer had to cancel his talk, but we have found a substitute for the lecture. See the Program Chair’s report for more information.

June 4th – AAAP Annual Picnic.  Location and time will be announced. We need some help to set this up.  Please contact me if interested.

As I indicated above, our next meeting will be May 10th at 8 PM in Peyton Hall.

See you all there!


Posted in May 2011, Sidereal Times | Tagged | Leave a comment