UPBEAT TIMES • May 2012 • 13


Annular Solar Eclipse of 2012 May 20th Visible in Northern California!


FUN Facts & Trivia - 5


The SUN is just ONE of about 100 billion STARS in our GALAXY.


It has a DIAMETER of 1,390,000 km


Its CORE temperature is 15 million º C.


Its SURFACE temperature is 5,500 ºC. Cooler (3,800 ºC) surface areas are called SUN SPOTS.


Annular Solar Eclipse of 2012 May 20th, On 2012 May 20/21, an annular eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth's northern Hemisphere. The path of the Moon's antumbral shadow begins in eastern Asia and crosses the North Pacific Ocean where it ends in the western United States. The Moon's penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a much larger region covering East Asia, North Pacific, North America and Greenland.


Public Telescope Viewing Saturday, May 19, 2012 - Time: 9 PM - 12 Midnight: the night before the eclipse!


KENWOOD, CA. ~ An evening of public telescope viewing is scheduled at the Ferguson Observatory, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, near Kenwood, CA.


The


night time viewing program begins with the darkness (around 9:00 PM during the spring time daylight savings hours).


A fee of $3.00 per


adult (over 18) is requested to help defer operating expenses. Children are admitted free of charge. The observatory oper- ates three telescopes rooms; one with a 14” telescope con- nected to a computer screen; one with a refracting tele- scope with an 8” objective lens; and one with a reflecting telescope with a 24” mirror. A short presentation in the meet- ing room area of the observa- tory is available.


Other of


our volunteer docents bring their own personal telescopes for the public to look through outside the observatory. Admission to the park


is $8.00 per vehicle. Parking for the night time program is restricted to the area near the stables. It is a short walk along the access road to the observatory.


Handicap park- ing is available at the observa-


tory. Telescope viewing can only occur during clear or partly cloudy weather. In the event of totally cloudy skies a tour of the observatory and an astronomy program or discus- sion will be provided. If the weather appears to be ques- tionable be sure to telephone (707) 833-6979 for a recorded message.


ing is an open air event.


Telescope observ- In


the evening a light jacket is often advisable, even in the summer. Visit the observatory's web-


site www.rfo.org to learn more about the operation and histo- ry of the observatory. Specific information about the obser- vatory entry fee schedule, and State Park admission fees can be found under the heading PROGRAMS. Directions to the observatory and a map of the area can be found under the heading ABOUT.


While getting around in the dark is sometimes difficult, the use of white light flash- lights, or cell phone/mp3 player screens in the obser- vatory area is discouraged because any white light can effect a person's ability to see faint astronomical objects for


Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker


as much as a half hour after being exposed to the white light. Observatory visitors are encouraged to use red colored lenses on any flashlights in order to preserve night vision.


Red colored cellophane and rubber bands are available at the ticket table in the park- ing lot


for use outside the


observatory on public viewing nights.


It is the LARGEST object in the SOLAR SYSTEM and makes up 99.8% of the total MASS of the Solar System.


It consists of 75% HYDROGEN and 25% HELIUM.


The ENERGY output of the Sun is about 386 billion megawatts and is produced by NUCLEAR FUSION, using Hydrogen as fuel.


Apart from HEAT and LIGHT, the Sun also emits a stream of CHARGED PARTICLES called the SOLAR WIND.


We have Positive Solutions to


Unforeseen Interruptions! From time to time mini fender benders and accidents occur when you least expect them. And they do happen. We are a positive solution to these annoying interruptions. We hope you don’t have to call us. But if you do... We’ll be ready!


5800 Guerneville Rd Sebastopol • 829-2477


UPBEAT TIMES • May 2012 • 13


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