Are you ready to take your astronomical interest to the next level? Welcome!
   The Rittenhouse Astronomical Society is the astronomy club for everyone.
You are invited to join us on the second Wednesday of each month September through June at the Franklin Institute.
~ Consider meeting with others who share an interest in astronomy!
~ Wondering what is in the sky this month?
~ Bring your questions, and your enthusiasm to learn, that's all that is needed to get started.   
~ Free, informative ,enlightening and fun.  No obligation to join.

What's up in the Sky?
 More about David Rittenhouse
 Local Astronomical Activity

Rittenhouse Silver Medal
How do I Join?
Volunteers

 ~~What's New on the Society Website:~~

Our next meeting is September 10, 2008.  Tim Kent, author of  "StarQuest: A Beginners Guide to Digital Astrophotography," will be our guest presenter.  If you ever wanted to try you hand at astrophotography, you can learn how to start.  Our student lesson includes a demonstration on visible light by Don Knapp (Planetarium Director of Centennial School District.)   This meeting is open to the pubic. Students invited.
   

September Newsletter now available for download.  Look above in our Title Bar and to the Left on our Menu for Newsletter access.

Sneak Peek at some of the articles in this month's Newsletter!
Photograph by: Peter Rejcek -
National Science Foundation
Date Taken: January 9, 2008
Article: Roughing it, Thousands of Miles from Earth - Eric Van Osten		 Credit: Ken Kremer and Marco Di Lorenzo NASA/JPL/University of
Arizona/Max Planck Institute. Article: Daring Flight of the Phoenix - Dr. Ken Kremer.		 Ted Williams addresses the International Planetarium Society.  Article: RAS, Reputation Confirmed Expanding Article: Epsilon Aurigae: The Eclipsing of a Giant -  by Ivin Williams

Call for Member Presentations!  October 8 is our Member's night.  Members are invited to present a short astronomy, science or RAS related topic.  Consider this an excellent opportunity to share your interest(s) with fellow members.  Contact us if you want to present.  You may want to look at previous presentations for some ideas.

Observatory Training module has been moved to the Bloom Observatory page.

Please note our new mailing address!

Rittenhouse Astronomical Society
P.O. Box 283
Feasterville, PA.  19053-0283

Check out "WorldWide Telescope" now on-line by Microsoft.  (Terry Underkoffer 6-09-08)

Sky Talk has a new time!  Monday evening at 6:20 PM .  Derrick Pitts along with Dave Heller can be heard on WHYY 91.0 FM Radio.  Our menu bar (on left) is a direct link to this past Monday's presentation, please listen in!  Other  past presentations listed here.

Sky Talk topics for week of September 1: - Just one year ago Mars Rover opportunity headed down into Victoria Crater with no assurance it would ever leave. One year later it's on it's way out of the crater! Meanwhile Phoenix has dug to a depth of 7 inches into Martian soil, still analyzing what's there... and it was 32 years ago this Wednesday that Viking 2 landed on Mars. New Space Telescope will look for star-swallowing black holes - Gamma-ray telescope named for physicist Enrico Fermi will survey the universe for massive explosions, the type created when say a black hole swallows a star. Meanwhile the ESA's XMM Newton X-ray telescope has discovered the most massive cluster of galaxies ever seen. Theorists say its' existence proves the existence of dark energy. Venus, Mars, and Mercury gather in the evening twilight 45 minutes after sunset, very low in the west. Jupiter still rules the low southern sky after dark. Looking for Pluto? It's four billion miles out beyond the moon Friday and Saturday night this week.

Interested in being an active Amateur Astronomer? Contact Derrick Pitts at the Franklin Institute to see how you can volunteer.  We are developing training materials for the observatory in the operation of the newly refurbished historic Zeiss telescope.  Now is an excelling time to step forward. Members of surrounding astronomy organizations are welcome and encouraged also.  The Bloom Observatory is a resource for the entire Delaware Valley Area and beyond.  

                                                         

Bloom Observatory
 Open Daily Weather Permitting 
 Franklin Institute
   [ Details  ] 

 
     Bloom Observatory Evening Hours:  
All astronomical special events
Second Thursday Every  Month
   Second Wednesday of Month - Sept. to June - after Rittenhouse Meeting 
[ Details ]

 

 
CURRENT MOON

~~Rittenhouse Neighborhood~~
Local Astronomical Activity
Black Forest Star Party hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers  at Cherry Springs State Park in PA on September 5-7, 2008
"Looking for Life on Mars: Phoenix and the Twin Rovers in 3-D"  will be presented on Wednesday Oct 22, 2008 at 8 PM.  Dr. Ken Kremer will be presenting at The David Sarnoff Library in Princeton, NJ as part of a festival called "Martians for Education". 
Launching DAWN to Asteroids; Landing Phoenix on Icy Martian Jackpot: Behind the Scenes at KSC , to be presented by Dr. Ken Kremer on October 25, 2008 at Stella Della Valley.
Stella-Della-Valley XXII -  October  24,25,26  -Camp Onas, Ottsville, Pennsylvania.  Hosted by our neighbors the Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association.
"Undaunted" is now on exhibit at the American Philosophical Society located here in Philadelphia (www.apsmuseum.org):
 

 

In 2009, the world commemorates a simple act.  Four centuries ago, Galileo turned his telescope upward and gazed deep into the firmament.  While the act itself was simple, what Galileo did with his observations was a triumph.  He recognized the profound implications of a few key observations and set out to share that insight.
 

 

Learn More about David Rittenhouse
Back to What's New on our Website

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
  Please contact us to apply
Members are always welcome to get involved.  We are a volunteer organization which means the volunteers are key to the success of our society.
Membership Certificate Coordinator ~ Print and distribute members certificates at meetings
Students ~ Our new student web page is always looking for content.  Check out our student website and see if a category interests you, or if you have suggestions that may interest others
Meeting Review ~ If you attend regularly, consider posting a review of our meetings for our website.  This position would be for an active member that attends 8 of 10 meetings each academic year.
Observatory Operators ~ The Joel Bloom observatory atop the Franklin Institute is looking for enthusiastic volunteers (some astronomy knowledge helpful) to receive training to operate the 10" Zeiss refractor and 8" Meade reflectors.  Contact Derrick Pitts-Chief Astronomer TFI
Financial Auditor -Member or non-member with background experience in auditing financial records to review RAS treasury records.  Willing to document work for current employer.  Thanks to Sharon Williams for stepping forward to assist us in this endeavor.

Last Updated 9-3-08


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