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Astronomical League News
Volume I Number 1
October 3, 2000
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Top News:
>>> Whither the Pluto-Kuiper Express?
NASA has “stopped” the Pluto-Kuiper Express mission due to increasing costs and lack of funds. However, a small group of Pluto enthusiasts have formed the “Save the Pluto-Kuiper Express” Campaign. They have a goal of pressing NASA to continue with the Pluto-Kuiper Express and begin work on the mission once again.
NASA has plans to develop a "new mission" but with an arrival date of 2020, which is too late as Pluto will have moved farther from the Sun causing it's atmosphere to freezes over. Once the atmosphere freezes over, the opportunity to get quality data ceases until the atmosphere thaws again in 2230. NASA’s a redeveloped mission will arrive too late to meet the science goals of the original mission.
You can join the fight by visiting the “Save the Pluto-Kuiper
Express Website” at http://www.plutomission.com/,
and signing their petition to restart the mission to Pluto in 2004.
>>> Upcoming Events:
October 20-22, 2000: Starry Nights Festival
The Annual Meeting of the Western Region of the Astronomical
League and I.D.A. California Meeting, at Yucca Valley, California. Guest
speakers David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker, dark sky observing, and astronomical
vendors. For additional information, contact: 2000 Starry Nights Festival,
Town of Yucca Valley, Attention: Frank Sheckler, 57090 29 Palms Highway,
Yucca Valley, CA 92284, (760) 369-7212.
>>> Celestial Happenings:
Oct. 5 (Thursday):
Mercury at greatest elongation, 26-degrees from the Sun and 6-degrees
to the lower right of Venus;
First Quarter Moon 5:59 a.m. CDT (00:59 UT)
Oct. 7 (Saturday):
USSR’s Luna 3 returns first images of Lunar farside in 1959.
>>> Planet Situation Report:
Evening Twilight: Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, PlutoMidnight: Saturn, Jupiter
Morning Twilight: Mars
>>> This message is brought to you by Astronomical League Sales
Stop by the Astronomical League Sales Website at http://www.astronomicalleague.com to see David Levy’s 16-inch planisphere. Designed from the ground up by David Levy and Ken Graun, this is the large and easily read planisphere. Lots of useful information is on the back, including yearly meteor showers, planet facts, the Moon, and binocular objects. There are summer and winter sky tours on front. For northern latitudes 30° to 60° and made in the USA of 100% durable plastic. Ink cannot be scratched off. Great for the beginning astronomer, as well as the seasoned stargazer!
While you are there take a look at all the other goodies you can get directly from the Astronomical League!
Next Issue of A.L. News (October 9, 2000);
Subscribe to A.L. News E-Mail List.
Index of Volume I of A.L. News;
Index of All Volumes of A.L. News;
Return to Astronomical League Home Page.
©2000 by the Astronomical League. This page is maintained by Matt Ganis for the Astronomical League. Comments, corrections, and suggestions can be addressed to webmaster@astroleague.org. This page last updated January 10, 2001.
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