[AZ-Observing] Re: astro advice needed
- From: <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 8:37:48 -0700
Stan,
I think Light Pollution would certainly be a relevant topic to add to the c=
urriculum. Discussions on what it is how it can be minimized and its effect=
on the local Arizona economy would be topics to pursue.
I'll lay odds the kids will want to know all about why Pluto is no longer a=
planet. I know my daughter still hasn't forgiven the IAU :). At any rate y=
ou mention that you're looking for topics not necessarily covered in the re=
gular texts. Pluto=E2=80=99s new classification could lead into discussion=
s on the latest discoveries in our solar system.=20
One that would surely whet their appetites would be to talk about the Mars =
Phoenix Mission. The science will be just coming in when school starts and=
it has a very solid Arizona Connection. I would think you'd be able to con=
tact someone involved to come up and talk to your students.=20
Peter Smith was recently scheduled to speak at SAC, although a last minute =
conflict came up he sent one of his colleagues, Patrick Woida Who gave a ve=
ry interesting & enthusiastic talk. I'm sure the student would love somethi=
ng like that.
My 0.858800 Bhutan Ngultrum worth.
Rick
---- stanfm@xxxxxxx wrote:=20
> Looking for advice...
> I have the new opportunity of including 6 weeks or so of astronomy into m=
y middle school classes in the fall.?? I'd like to include some observation=
al component along with the textbook material (after all, we live in Az rig=
ht?).?? So two things... 1.)? In your experience, is there a topic you woul=
d consider a "must cover" in my? few weeks of classes that may or may not b=
e in the standard textbook materials (for example: urban light pollution-- =
not at all mentioned in the texts);? and,? 2.)? I have a 12.5" Orion dob w=
ith Dob Driver II that I can no longer transport in my small car.? Although=
I've had many a great star party with it over the years (in fact EVAC stil=
l had a picture of it in the gallery last time I looked) I would love to pa=
rlay or trade it for one or two small dobs (6") that the students could eas=
ily use and transport.? I have a couple equatorial mounted units that requi=
re too much fiddling for their skill level and attention span.? I would lov=
e it if even a co
> uple students came away with a fascination for astronomy-- many of us ca=
n remember a key experience when we were young that planted a seed-- for me=
it was looking through a scope and seeing Saturn for the first time one co=
ld October night when we were out trick-or-treating in the neighborhood as =
kids.
> Thanks for any input you may have!
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Heim <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 12:06 pm
> Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Going Green out at the observing field
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> Jimmy, that's amazing that you can boil water with something that size.
> Does it use a concentration system to get that hot? I ask, because my
> attempt to boil water with the Sun fell a few degrees short of the goal. =
To
> see my DIY attempt at solar cooking, check out:
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> http://www.heimhenge.com/cooker.html
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> At least it worked out well for cooking hotdogs. :) And how about that
> cool image showing the rays of light getting concentrated?
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> Dan Heim
> President
> Desert Foothills Astronomy Club
> http://www.dfacaz.org
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> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "Jimmy Ray" <jimmy_ray@xxxxxxx>
> To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 1:48 PM
> Subject: [AZ-Observing] Going Green out at the observing field
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> > Some of you may have noticed that out on observing weekends I have star=
ted
> > to move toward a "greener" method of maintaining gear, cooking, etc.
> During
> > 5 mile meadow I successfully deployed a solar charging system, using a
> large
> > panel , charging circuits, etc. Now I have a new solar item I have not
> only
> > worked with all this weekend but am very excited about its overall
> > performance for field use. Sun Ovens international sells a totally
> > self-contained and extremely light and portable solar oven. It's inter=
ior
> > is about 14"x14"x14" and with it I have cooked casseroles, rice, cooked
> meat
> > and boiled large quantities of water (yes BOILED water). It maintains a=
n
> > interior temp between 325 and 350 degrees. Is very simple to use. As su=
ch
> > items like Hot pizza, etc. at the field will probably a new menu items.
> They
> > say baking bread is a snap but as of yet I have not tried it. (but will=
).
> I
> > find it pretty amazing at what the energy of our nearest star can do. I=
t's
> > out there might as well put it to work.
> >
> >
> > Jimmy Ray
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and plea=
se
> > send personal replies to the author, not the list.
> >
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> --
> See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please=
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> send personal replies to the author, not the list.
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> --
> See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please=
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> send personal replies to the author, not the list.
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--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please
send personal replies to the author, not the list.
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