WHERE: AT EXPLORIT Science Center, 3141 5th Street, Davis.

Naked Eye Planets & Sidewalk Astronomy!
Saturday, May 6, 2006
7:30 to 10:00 p.m. at Explorit
Hosts: Vinita & Calvin Domier (530) 756-0191, vcdomier@yahoo.com

Join us Saturday evening, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., when we will discuss the planets that are visible in the sky without the aid of binoculars or telescopes. We will also look at some of these planets, the stars, and deep sky objects in the night sky.

We will have amateur astronomers from the Davis Astronomy Club and the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society setting up telescopes and sharing the wonders of the night sky with you. If you own a telescope or a pair of binoculars, you are welcome to bring them. After a short presentation about naked eye planets, we will look at planets, stars, nebulae, clusters, galaxies, etc. (weather permitting). Please come to this free event and see celestial wonders!

Planets are mostly spherical masses in our solar system that revolve around the Sun and rotate about their own axis. To a casual observer, planets look like thousands of other stars in the sky. There are ways to identify planets though:

1) All nine planets (and the Sun and the Moon) are visible only in a narrow belt across the sky called the ecliptic, whereas stars are found all over. The ecliptic is low in the sky during summer nights and winter days, and high in the sky during summer days and winter nights.

2) Planets move in the sky from night to night, whereas stars appear to be in the same spot when observed over a short time span. In fact, 'planet' is derived from a Greek word that means wanderer.

3) Planets shine by light reflected from the Sun, and appear to shine steadily, whereas stars shine with their own light and appear to twinkle in the sky.

4) Planets appear as small disks of light when observed through a telescope, whereas stars appear as points of light.

Planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, & Saturn can be seen with the naked eye. One or more of them is usually visible in any given night. Presently, all four planets are visible in the predawn or evening sky. Venus looks silvery in color, Mars looks reddish, Jupiter looks white, and Saturn looks yellowish. Venus and Mars are small rocky planets, whereas Jupiter and Saturn are giant gaseous planets. As Venus's orbit lies within Earth's orbit, it also exhibits phases (like the Moon).

May 6 is also Sidewalk Astronomy Day (Astronomy by the People, for the People). From the Astronomical League's web site: "Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement to share the joy of astronomy with the general population - "Bringing Astronomy to the People." On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited. Astronomy clubs, science museums, observatories, universities, planetariums, laboratories, libraries, and nature centers host special events and activities to acquaint their population with local astronomical resources and facilities. It is an astronomical PR event that helps highlight ways the general public can get involved with astronomy - or at least get some of their questions about astronomy answered."

To Receive These Bulletins via E-mail Contact Explorit at: Explorit Science Center

The Astronomy Club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.