Category Archives: Organizations

Bob Piekiel Hosts Observing Sessions At Baltimore Woods – 2013 Observing Schedule

Posted on February 1, 2013 1:02 am - - 4 Comments

I’m pleased to have obtained the official schedule for Bob Piekiel’s Baltimore Woods programs for the 2013 observing season and have added them to the CNYO Calendar. For those who have not had the pleasure of hearing one of his lectures, attending one of his observing sessions, or reading one of his many books on scope optics (or loading the CD containing the massive Celestron: The Early Years), Bob Piekiel is not only an excellent guide but likely the most knowledgeable equipment and operation guru in Central New York. I’ve (Damian) attended two of the Baltimore Woods sessions already and plan to be present for as many of the scheduled events below as possible.

Note:

The Baltimore Woods events calendar is updated monthly. As such, I’ve no direct links to the sessions below. Therefore, as the event date nears, see the official Calendar Page for more information and any updates on the event.

Also…

* Registration for these events are required. Low registration may cause programs to be canceled.
* $5 for members, $15/family; $8 for nonmembers, $25/family.
* To Register By Email: info@baltimorewoods.org
* To Register By Phone: (315) 673-1350

* Friday, February 8th (Backup – Saturday 9th), 7-9 p.m.

(Available link HERE) Another fabulous look at the bright winter skies and all the glories surrounding the constellation of Orion, the Hunter. The king of the planets, Jupiter, visible as well, as will the ice giant Uranus.

* March 15 (Friday) – 16 (Saturday), 7-9 p.m.

Comet Panstarrs should be visible in the west shortly after sunset. Its brightness is a guess at this time, but it could be quite a stunning sight. Jupiter will be visible, along with the winter skies and some of the brightest examples of nebulae and star clusters.

* April 5 (Friday) – 6 (Saturday), 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Comet Panstarrs will be visible in the northwest after sunset, right next to the Andromeda galaxy! While we can’t be certain of its brightness, it may be a stunning sight. Jupiter will be visible all evening, and Saturn will be rising in the east.

* May 4 (Saturday) – 5 (Sunday), 8-10 p.m.

Eta Aquariids meteor shower, Saturn and Jupiter visible all evening, and hello to spring skies.

* June 14 (Friday) – 15 (Saturday), 9-11 p.m.

Because it gets dark very late in June, it makes sense to do a 1st-quarter moon program, as we don’t need dark skies to get great views of the moon. Saturn will also be visible, and the start of summer skies.

* July 12 (Friday) – 13 (Saturday), 9-11 p.m.

The summer milky way at its finest. During the summer, we look directly into the core of our own milky way galaxy, giving great views of many beautiful star clusters and nebulae. The planet Saturn will be visible as well.

* August 12 (Monday) – 13 (Tuesday), 9-11 p.m.

It’s the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, one of the year’s finest, along with great views of the summer Milky Way, the ringed planet Saturn, and also Uranus and Neptune. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to lie back and watch for meteors when you’re not at a telescope.

* August 24 (Saturday) – 25 (Sunday), 1 p.m.

Solar observing session, with safe views of solar detail using specially-filtered telescopes.

* September 27 (Friday) – 28 (Saturday), 7-9 p.m.

Uranus will be in best viewing position all night long, plus Venus and Saturn in the west just after sunset. We will say goodbye to the Summer Skies.

* October 11 (Friday) – 12 (Saturday), 6:30-9 p.m.

Oct. 12 is National Astronomy Day, Part 2, but let’s do our usual Friday the 11th with Saturday being the backup. This will be our best chance to see Mercury for the remainder of the year, along with a crescent Moon and Venus as well, plus hello to Fall skies. We will need to start early to glimpse Mercury.

* November 4 (Monday) – 5 (Tuesday), 7-9 p.m.

Nov. 4-5 for the Taurid Meteor shower, plus hello to Winter skies. The Taurids are a modest shower, but in contrast, the Leonids, which occur on the 17th, are going to be completely washed out this year by a full Moon.

* December 13 (Friday) – 14 (Saturday), 7-9 p.m.

The Geminid Meteor Shower – the year’s best (it sure was fantastic last year!) and Winter skies, with the brightest examples of clusters and nebulae, such as the great Orion Nebulae.

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TACNY John Edson Sweet Lecture Series – Technology for the Onondaga Lake Cleanup

Posted on January 31, 2013 3:49 am - - Leave a Comment

Tuesday, February 12 2013

Onondaga Community College, 101 Whitney Applied Technology Center

John McAuliffe, Honeywell Program Director for the Onondaga Lake Cleanup, will present Technology for the Onondaga Lake Cleanup, a talk about the multiple technologies used as part of the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Program.

People interested in learning more about the Onondaga Lake Cleanup technologies are invited to attend the free TACNY Sweet Lecture presentation on Tuesday, February 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 101 of the Whitney Applied Technology Center on the Onondaga Community College campus. Networking starts at 5:30 p.m., the speaker is introduced at 6 p.m., the presentation is slated to run from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the event ends at 8 p.m. following questions from the audience. Admission is free and open to the public. Walk-ins are welcome, but we ask that people RSVP by emailing sweet.lecture@tacny.org by February 7, 2013.

John McAuliffe, P.E., is Honeywell’s Syracuse Program Director with responsibility for Honeywell activities being conducted for Onondaga Lake and associated sites and former Allied Signal properties. Special interests include the areas of environmental stewardship, and green remediation. John is a STEM advocate, supporting programs such as the MOST developed Honeywell Summer Science Week which has provided unique learning opportunities to help excite and inspire a new generation of scientists in Central New York.

John is a lifelong resident of Central New York with over 30 years of experience in environmental remediation and construction. He began his career as an Environmental Engineer with the consulting firm of O’Brien & Gere in Syracuse, NY. Subsequently, he was with Parsons in Liverpool, NY, as Vice President and NY Operations Manager. He has been with Honeywell for over 10 years. McAuliffe is a Registered Professional Engineer and earned both a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering at Clarkson University

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.

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2013 Cherry Springs Star Party Announcement – June 6th – 9th

Posted on January 30, 2013 10:21 pm - - Leave a Comment

Central New York is fortunate to have several locations within reasonable driving distance for observing the Night Sky with, as Barlow Bob calls it, “attitude.” One of the best locations for both dedicated observing and meeting fellow amateur astronomers (and their equipment) is the annual Cherry Springs Star Party, held this year from June 6th to 9th. Cherry Springs State Park is just outside of Coudersport, a leisurely 3.5 hour drive to Northwestern Pennsylvania. Ryan Goodson and I (Damian) enjoyed two nights of great skies, an unbelievable assortment of factory and homemade scopes, several lectures on topics of astronomical interest, and a great weekend with members of the Kopernik Astronomical Society at the 2012 Star Party. Registration is now open for 2013! Details from the official announcement are provided below. The Registration PDF can be downloaded HERE.

Hello friends

Mark your calendars now for this summer’s prime astronomy experience, the Cherry Springs Star Party in beautiful Potter County, PA. Make your plans now for a wonderful astronomy vacation under the darkest skies in the Northeast. Enjoy old and new astronomy friends. Families will enjoy the fun, too. Nearby Lyman Run State Park has a great lake and beach area for relaxing. They also provide shower facilities for those who are camping.

Registration for this years star party is currently open. A registration form is attached to this email. Currently, the website for the star party is being reconstructed, so PayPal registration as of this time is currently unavailable. We are working hard on the website and hope to have it up in operation shortly. Registration by mail is currently open. You may send in your registration at any time.

A Facebook page for this years star party has been created for up-to-date information regarding speakers, vendors, door prizes and weather updates. You do NOT need a Facebook account to access this page and the material on this page. The Facebook page will be updated periodically until the day of the star party.

A update email will be sent out closer to the star party with a list of all the vendors, door prizes and other information that becomes available.

Clear Skies,
Max Byerly
Trustee,
Astronomical Society of Harrisburg
astrohbg.org

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TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique: “Physics of Feathered Flight: A Look at What Lifts Live Birds of Prey”

Posted on January 16, 2013 3:39 am - - Leave a Comment

Saturday, January 19, 9:30-11:00am

Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse NY

Join us as Frank Moses, Center Director of the Montezuma Audubon Center, looks at the wonders of how birds are able to take to the skies and how they have inspired engineers throughout the years to mimic their magnificence. The presentation will include hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to “WOW!” the mind. The program will conclude with a special guest visit from Cynthia Page of the Page Wildlife Center. Cindy will introduce various “Live Birds of Prey!” and highlight their power of flight.

People interested in learning more about the physics of flight are invited to attend the free Junior Cafe presentation on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse’s Armory Square. Walk-ins are welcome, but we ask that people RSVP by emailing jrcafe@tacny.org by Jan. 16, 2013.

Frank H. Moses has been Director of the Montezuma Audubon Center since October 2006. Frank is a graduate of Paul Smiths College, and former Development and Outreach staff member and graduate of SUNY ESF. He was also a Program Coordinator for an outdoor education company, Nature’s Classroom, and Director of an Environmental Education Camp for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Frank currently sits on the Executive Committee for the SUNY ESF Alumni Association, is a co-founder of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, and a graduate of FOCUS Greater Syracuse’s Citizen’s Academy. Frank is a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Operation Green Eyes” award, as well as the 2010 Audubon Cares about Excellence “ACE” award for individual achievement.

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique, a program for middle-school students founded in 2005, features discussions about topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an informal atmosphere and seeks to encourage students to consider careers in these areas. Students must be accompanied by an adult and can explore the MOST at no cost after the event.

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.

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