September 2008

September 5: Monthly Meeting

Chasing Shadows: Occultation Surveys of the Outer Solar System

Federica Bianco
The outer solar system is still largely unprobed and unknown. I will describe the occultation technique -- the only known method to explore the small and the very distant objects that populate the outer solar system. I will talk about the difficulties encountered and the achievements of this peculiar observational method, with particular attention to the TAOS and the MMT/Megacam surveys.

Exploring the Southern Constellations

: By Craig Cortis
Of the 88 constellations covering the entire sky, would you believe that only 15 are not ever visible from our latitude? We can see small extreme northern sections of many, but just 15 never rise at all here.

Astronomical Potpourri in September

: By Dave Huestis
Planetary conjunctions in the evening sky, a lunar occultation of the Pleiades, and the giant planet Jupiter highlight September's skies.

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