Tag Archives: astronomy

New astronomy show focused on STEM comes to Chaffee Planetarium

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The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is pleased to announce a new show titled: Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries, is coming to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium which features three observatories located in Chile, in some of the world’s most extreme and remote places. The show will be part of the schedule of programmatic offerings at the Chaffee Planetarium beginning Friday, Nov. 25.

“Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries” showcases the people needed to run an observatory. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

Through stunning visualizations, Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries shows examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep these great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer. This new show will be featured in the Chaffee Planetarium’s winter schedule among audience favorites such as Ice Worlds and Let it Snow!

“What I love about Big Astronomy is that it shows visitors, especially students and children, the real people who work on these world-class observatories. We get to meet not just the astronomers, but the engineers, technicians, and teachers who contribute to the work of astronomy,” said Jack Daleske, the GRPM’s Planetarium and Theater Manager. “We want audiences to see themselves in the people they see in our shows, and Big Astronomy will help make that connection for viewers.”

Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries will be part of the regular show schedule at the GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, beginning on Friday, Nov. 25. Tickets are $4 with general admission, $5 for planetarium-only access, and $2 for Museum members. Capacity is limited and advance ticketing is recommended. Tickets to Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries are available by visiting grpm.org/planetarium. Showtimes can also be reserved for school groups in English or Spanish by visiting grpm.org/schools.

Big Astronomy is a multifaceted research and outreach project supported by several partners and funded by the National Science Foundation.

Move over Blue Moon, Jupiter and Saturn are planning a rare meet up

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The above image shows where Jupiter and Saturn will be around 8 p.m. Halloween night in the southern sky (right side). In the eastern sky (left) is Mars and the Blue Moon. (Supplied)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

While many people are discussing the Blue Moon happening this Halloween, there is even a rarer astronomical occurrence taking place right now: the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

“The last time that Jupiter and Saturn were this close was in 1623,” said Chaffee Planetarium Manager Jack Daleske. “That was when Galileo was alive and he was the first person every to point a telescope to the moon.”

According to earthsky.org, astronomers use “conjunction” to describe the meeting of planets and other objects in the sky. The term “great conjunction” is used to describe the meeting of Jupiter and Saturn, the two biggest worlds in our solar system.

Because Saturn and Jupiter are the slowest-moving visible planets in the solar system — it takes Saturn 29.5 years to move around the sun and Jupiter about 11.89 years —their conjunctions are the rarest. Jupiter and Saturn meet up on average about 19.6 years and the last time that happened was in 2000.

A closer look at Saturn and Jupiter on Halloween night. (Supplied)

However, what makes the 2020 meet up special is that the two planets will be about six minutes or .1 degrees apart. That distance is about a fifth of the diameter of a full moon. 

“So if people look to the southern sky, just after the sun sets, they will see Saturn and Jupiter,” Daleske said. The two planets will continue to move closer and closer until Dec. 21. On that date, astronomers will be able to point a telescope at Jupiter and see Saturn behind it.

“Unfortunately for us, the planets will be right on the horizon in our area, so it will be difficult to see,” Daleske said. “This means we will have to relay on others who have a better view.” 

This makes for a good reason for people to head out now to see the two big planets together.

“Even in the city with the light pollution making it difficult to see the stars, the planets are brighter and should be visible,” he said.

Also, local weather focusers and the National Weather Channel are showing Halloween to be a clear night, making it a great night —and also a COVID safe activity — to look at the stars.

Blue Moon and Red Mars

While outside, Daleske said people should be able to see that famous red planet, Mars, in the eastern sky.

And of course, there will be that Blue Moon.

“First, the moon won’t be blue,” Daleske said. “Because it is harvest season which means there is a lot of debris in the air which tints our atmosphere, the moon will be more orange.”

Mars and the blue moon will be visible in the eastern sky. (Supplied)

The cycle of the moon is how the current year-calendar was created with there being one full moon a month. A Blue Moon simply refers to two full moons in one month, which Daleske noted shows how the human calendar is not completely accurate (which is the reason some months have 30 days and others have 31 and one month can’t decide between 28 or 29 days). The Blue Moon, which has a host of names depending on when it appears, happens on average about 2.7 years.

What makes the October 2020 Blue Moon unique? Well, it happens on Halloween, the first time in about 76 years according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

 

“I’m sure it will make it more spooky this Halloween,” Daleske said with a laugh. The real truth? “To be honest, it is just chance. Pure chance,” he added.

Astronomer and space science enthusiast makes a stop at Schuler Books

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Nebil Y. Misconi
Nebil Y. Misconi

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) in partnership with the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA) will host a presentation by the Iraq born astronomer and space science enthusiast, Dr. Nebil Y. Misconi, at Schuler Books & Music on Thursday, May 19.

 

Misconi is an accomplished astronomer and solar system researcher. In his book “An Immigrant’s Journey into the Cosmos – a Personal Memoir,” Misconi tells the journey of an immigrant astronomer from youth in Iraq to the United States. His presentation of the same name will highlight the political history of the Middle East and the struggles of living there during religious and political unrest through to his life and accomplishments in astronomy in the United States.

 

Misconi fell in love with astronomy when he read a book about stars as a high school student in the 1960s. He could not further his pursuit in his homeland and was able to study in Turkey and later immigrated to the United States, where he went on to a career in Florida.

 

“I decided to write about my life to inspire young students on what they can do when they put their minds to it, using what our country has to offer,” Misconi said.

 

41UcMIxlUAL._UY250_Working first for the Space Institute Center at Florida Tech, and then for 16 years at the University of Central University in Orlando,  Misconi has not only inspired students and  the public with his instructional skills, but also contributed technical expertise to a number of high profile NASA space efforts, including SkyLab and the space shuttle programs. He has worked closely with notable space science personalities, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

 

The presentation “An Immigrant’s Journey into the Cosmos – A Personal Memoir” will take place at 7 p.m. on May 19 at Schuler Books, located at 2660 28th Street SE. The event is free. Marconi’s book of the same title will be available for purchase and a book signing by the author will take place following the talk.