Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

Your Bridge to the Stars

Archives for February 2018

AAAP Meeting, March 9, 2018, “Storms in Space – Ion Dynamics in the Earth’s Magnetosphere and It’s Implications on Earth” by Amy Keesee, PhD

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Update: Due to the weather there will be no 6:30 PM Rooftop Stargazing.  The AAAP Meeting convenes at 7:30 PM inside the Science Stage. There is another group meeting at 7 PM inside the Science Stage for a brief orientation.

We wish to extend a warm welcome to AAAP members, guests, AAAP Facebook Fans, Wagman Star Party Fans, Mingo Star Party Fans, etc.! Join us as we kick-off the 2018 Astronomy Weekend with a pre-meeting Meet & Greet with Roof Star Gazing at 6:30 PM (weather-permitting) at the Carnegie Science Center Planetarium-Rooftop Observatory, 1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Members may bring their telescopes. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM in the Planetarium. AAAP members remain for the business meeting after the lecture.

The meeting presentation features Dr. Amy Keesee, a Research Associate Professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at West Virginia University. Dr. Keesee’s research focuses on ion dynamics in the Earth’s magnetosphere. As a member of the NASA TWINS Mission of Opportunity Science Team she studies ion heating during geomagnetic storms using Energetic Neutral Atom data from the TWINS and the MENA (from previous NASA IMAGE Mission) instruments. Additionally she works in Dr. Earl Scime’s Lab, using laser-induced fluorescence to understand ions and neutral atoms in helicon source plasmas. Through a collaboration with NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center she teaches workshops and a summer course for pre-service and in-service educators to learn about Sun Science and Space Weather using iPads. She is very involved with the West Virginia Chapter of the Association for Women in Science. Dr. Keesee has three sons she is raising in Bridgeport, WV where her husband is a hospitalist internal medicine doctor. Get ready to enjoy a talk on delving into current NASA heliophysics research on Sun activity at an ionic level and its implications to Earth as well as how school age children can learn Sun Science and Space Weather.

These AAAP events are free and open to the public.  There is a $5 Parking Lot Fee.

 

Astronomy Weekend at Carnegie Science Center, March 10 & 11, 2018

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AAAP kicks off Astronomy Weekend with the Friday, March 9, 2018 AAAP meeting at the Carnegie Science Center, followed by AAAP member volunteers sharing telescopes, table displays and hands-on activities in the Lobby and entrances Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11 as the Carnegie Science Center celebrates Space Out! Astronomy Weekend. Astronomy weekend at the science center showcases the astronomy that happens at the Science Center, as well as the latest astronomical news, tools and hands-on activities visitors can experience throughout the year. This event is “free with the cost of admission.” See the Carnegie Science Center website for more information. AAAP volunteers will be happy to answer questions about astronomy, telescopes, our club and more.  AAAP volunteers can see the AAAP’s Guide Star newsletter for details on how to volunteer for this event and on the members email list. The public will find updates on both the Carnegie Science Center Facebook and on AAAP’s Facebook, too.  The AAAP meeting on Friday is free and open to the public.  There is $5 Parking Lot Fee at the Science Center.