From: THall1234@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: MarsWatch
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 14:15:20 -0500 (EST)
In a message dated 97-02-23 14:12:08 EST, wecooks@ix.netcom.com writes: > You all might consider contacting local astronomical >groups or parents with telescopes and see if they're willing to come out for >a comet night . Should be good Mars viewing then, too. This really works! Here in La Canada, California, I was able to have one of our parents (a JPL employee AND an avid astronomer) help us with our MarsWatch "kick-off" session by coming out to our school last week with his telescopes and vast knowledge. Earlier, we had built an instrument with a protractor (1/2 of one, or 90% worth), a split straw and some masking tape (very simple) to use to measure the degrees between Mars and adjacent stars. It was too early to see Mars that night, but we got the students used to "telescope etiquette" and gave them a chance to see the Moon and Saturn (in the Western sky). They also got to practice their instruments (which we called quadrants)--using the Moon and the "Seven Sisters" constellation. They found it took a lot more concentration using it in the night sky than in the classroom! In about a week we will go out again, and this time we will view Mars and try to map its surface. Our Mars tracking can begin in earnest then, and we will try to translate what we see each week on to our big class star chart. I also called our local observatory (Griffith Park) who has a Traveling Telescope program and would send out (for free) the telescope and an astronomer. We might still do this, but having our volunteer parent has actually worked out better. It is really worth the try to see what resources are available. And, we are having a lot of fun! Theresa Hall Paradise Canyon Elementary School --------------------- Forwarded message: From: wecooks@ix.netcom.com Sender: owner-discuss-lfm@quest.arc.nasa.gov To: lindgren@meol.mass.edu, kgs-teachers-1@lists.Colorado.EDU, discuss-lfm@quest.arc.nasa.gov, discuss-lfa@quest.arc.nasa.gov Date: 97-02-23 14:12:08 EST I haven't seen Hale Bopp and it's snowing, so won't for a while, however I have scheduled the Denver Astronomical Society to come out to my school the night of April 7th. It's a new moon and should be a prime viewing night (if it's not snowing!) You all might consider contacting local astronomical groups or parents with telescopes and see if they're willing to come out for a comet night . Should be good Mars viewing then, too. For those of us who missed the lunar eclipse, maybe we can win this time! jkc Janet K. Cook, Science Instructor, Night Program Colorado's Finest Alternative High School 2323 W. Baker Ave., Englewood, CO 80110 Phone (303) 934-5786 (2:00 pm-10:30 pm) Fax (303) 934-9183 Voice Mail (303)806-2000 x 1904 Cook Enterprises Voice Mail (303)692-3872