2010 Events Schedule
All General Meetings occur on the fourth Saturday of the month, are open to the public and begin at 8:30PM. New in 2009, our youth/family
programs will be held the second Saturday of the month from May through October and will feature hands-on activities. Many additional activities
will be offered throughout the year, we have something to offer every Saturday of the summer. Following meetings, lectures and other programs the 26"
telescope will be open for public viewing until 10:30 PM, weather conditions permitting. Note that the programs will be held rain or shine.
All NJAA events are open to the public unless otherwise stated.
WINTER HOURS UPDATE
NJAA is closed to the public the fourth Saturdays in December and January. We are open to the public on the fourth Saturday of February.| f e b r u a r y | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 8:30pm SPECIAL EVENT:
Weather permitting the Observatory will be open to view the red planet. Opposition is actually 1 week earlier, but the full Moon will impede optimum
observing conditions. The evening will commence with a presentation on current Mars exploration and the dedication of the Billy Reiner planetarium.
.Mars at Opposition rain date: Saturday, February 13th |
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| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 8:30pm SPEAKER: Bonnie Witzgall, NJAA member "Keeping Count of the Solar System" |
| 28 | ||||||
| m a r c h | ||||||
| sunday |
m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 AWAITING CONFIRMATION
Solar Committee Road Trip
Merrill Creek Reservoir, meet at "Inlet/Outlet" Tower Parking Lot. Date subject to change.
Members Only |
8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 8:30pm SPECIAL EVENT:
Video presentations, speakers and observing of the planet Saturn. Opposition is when Earth is exactly between an outer planet and the Sun,
placing that planet at its closest point to the Earth and best time of the year for observation.
Saturn at Opposition no rain date: Saturn observing will be offered the following Saturday. |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 meet 9:30, tour 10am FIELD TRIP: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab Road Trip
Our third annual field trip to PPPL for a guided tour into the world of plasma physics. RSVP required, limited to 30 people.
Public invited, sign up offered to members 2 weeks in advance of public |
27 8:30pm SPEAKER: Al Witzgall, NJAA member "Space Telescopes – The How, Why, When and Discoveries Made by our Orbital Observatories" |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
| a p r i l | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | thursday |
f | saturday |
| 1 8:00 - 10:00pm Spring Adult Ed Class I |
2 | 3 7:00pm So You Want to Buy a Telescope
What you need to know before making a telescope purchase. |
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| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 8:00 - 10:00pm Spring Adult Ed Class II |
9 | 10 5:00pm Spring ScopeSchool
Seasoned NJAA staff will work with telescope owners who are having problems with their telescopes. |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 8:00 - 10:00pm Spring Adult Ed Class III |
16 | 17 7:00pm Spring SkySchool
Seasoned NJAA staff will work with telescope owners who are having problems finding night sky objects. |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 8:00 - 10:00pm Spring Adult Ed Class IV |
23 | 24 AWAITING CONFIRMATION
10:30am - 4pmEarth Celebration: Solar Observing Session
Solar observing will be offered by the NJAA Solar Committee at the Readington Township Earth Day celebration, Deer Path Park. Date subject
to change.
8:30pm SPEAKER: Dr. Haimim Wang, New Jersey Institute of Technology Solar physicist Dr. Wang will speak about the present unusual solar cycle and low solar activity exemplified by reduced sunspot numbers. |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |
| m a y | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 AWAITING CONFIRMATION
7:00pmQualified Observer Training Session 1
First of two sessions to learn the basic aspects of running the observatory on public nights, introduction to operating the big telescope.
Members Only |
8 6:30pm NJAA Youth/Family Night
A short presentation will be followed by hands-on activites, designed to create a fun learning atmosphere. Sign up required. NO WALK INS! |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 AWAITING CONFIRMATION
7:00pmQualified Observer Training Session 2
Follow up to session 1, detailed focus on operating the 26" telescope.
Members Only |
15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 8:30pm SPEAKER: Dr. Charles Liu, American Museum of Natural History Astrophysicist Dr. Liu returns to share his research with us. He has also recently published The Handy Astronomy Answer Book. |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
| j u n e | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 6:30pm NJAA Youth/Family Night
A short presentation will be followed by hands-on activites, designed to create a fun learning atmosphere. Sign up required. NO WALK INS! |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 6:30pm Revenge of the BBQ from Planet Voorhees
50's classic sci-fi party. BBQ, draft soda, misic, indoor and outdoor movies (one in 3D!). Rain date Friday, June 25
Members Only |
19 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 8:30pm SPEAKER: Michael Lemonick, Princeton University Mr. Lemonick will discuss the lives of William and Caroline Herschel, subjects of his new book, The Georgian Star. This history of this 18th century
brother and sister team covers their groundbreaking sky surveys, bizarre theories and personal lives. |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |||
| j u l y | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 6:30pm NJAA Youth/Family Night
A short presentation will be followed by hands-on activites, designed to create a fun learning atmosphere. Sign up required. NO WALK INS!early evening |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 8:30pm SPEAKER: Todd Jobson, JPL Ambassador Is There Life on Mars?
Mars is a hotbed of planetary exploration. It is kept under constant surveillance by orbiters and the two Rovers on the ground, plus the more recent visit
by the Phoenix lander. Mr. Jobson will give us an update. |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. |
| a u g u s t | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 Family Campout Star Party
The club will reserve a group site rated for 50 people. Participants can set up tents and enjoy the park. Observing session will happen in
campsite open field. Parents are encouraged to bring kids for a great astronomy and general bonding experience. 3 days after new Moon.
8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 6:30pm NJAA Youth/Family Night
A short presentation will be followed by hands-on activites, designed to create a fun learning atmosphere. Sign up required. NO WALK INS! |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 8:30pm Video Night
Video presentations, a hand out and open discussion covering the most destructive and creative objects in the cosmos. No speaker, subject TBA. |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 8:30pm SPEAKERS: 3 near-Earth neighbors Solar System Real Estate
Alien beings will explore the varied living conditions in the solar system - as they were, as they are and as they may become. |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
| s e p t e m b e r | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 8:00pm End of Summer Drive-In Movie Night
Forbidden Planet projected on the tower wall, members and immediate family welcome. Free pop corn!
Members Only |
4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 7:00pm New Member Reception
Open to all members joined between joined during the year. Orientation to familiarize new members with the club, presentations, opening the
big scope weather permitting.
Strictly Members Only (no guests) |
11 6:30pm NJAA Youth/Family Night
A short presentation will be followed by hands-on activites, designed to create a fun learning atmosphere. Sign up required. NO WALK INS! |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 8:30pm SPECIAL EVENT:
Video presentations, speakers and observing of the planet Jupiter. Opposition is when Earth is exactly between an outer planet and the Sun,
placing that planet at its closest point to the Earth and best time of the year for observation.
Jupiter at Opposition no rain date: Jupiter observing will be offered the following Saturday. |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 8:30pm SPEAKER: Art Bianconi, NJAA member This will be special extended presentation about practical telescope design and fabrication. Mr Bianconi is an experienced telescope
builder and will emphasize the techniques of building scopes from materials that are inexpensive and readily available. |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||
| o c t o b e r | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 7:00pm So you want to by a telescope?
What you need to know about telescopes before making a purchase. |
|||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 2:00 - 7:00pm NJAA Youth Astronomy Carnival
The NJAA grounds and observatory will be open for various kid-friendly activities, games and presentations. Free BBQ. Sign up NOT required |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 5:00pm Fall ScopeSchool
Seasoned NJAA staff will work with telescope owners who are having problems with their telescopes. |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 8:30pm SPEAKER: Dr. David Hogg, New York University The Open-Source Sky Survey
One of Dr. Hogg’s many projects is the creation of a huge, accessible sky survey archive that pulls together both digital amateur and professional data. |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 7:00pm Fall SkySchool
Seasoned NJAA staff will work with telescope owners who are having problems finding night sky objects. |
| 31 | ||||||
| n o v e m b e r | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | friday |
saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 8:30pm 15th Annual NJAA Members’ Projects Night Our members have the floor to share their projects, observations and astrotrips. |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
