[AANC Contacts] GSSP, Yosemite Dates, Kepler Launch, Seeing Stars and You Decide

[Kenneth Frank]

Hello Folks,

Anyone lucky enough to see Comet Lulin, or Saturn's quadruple moon transit...or both at 
the same time?
In the meantime here are a few things to keep looking up.

Ken

The Early Registration period for the Golden State Star Party is underway, and 
registrations are well ahead of last year at this time. We expect an even bigger and 
better event this year. GSSP will be held June 20-24 at our very dark sky site on Frosty 
Acres Ranch in Adin, California.

Our plans for the 2009 star party include door prize giveaways, an expanded speaker 
program featuring Tony Hallas and others, an Observers Round Table Discussion, encores of 
last year’s popular Ranch Day, home-grown barbeque's served by our local hosts and 
neighbors, further improvements in amenities including on-site showers, and various other 
site enhancements to make GSSP even more enjoyable for the attendees.

The Early Registration Period ends March 30, 2009. The adult registration fee for all four 
days is $50. The fee will increase to $60 on April 1, 2009, and to $75 after June 12, 
2009. Children under 18 years of age are free.

For more information and updates on this dark sky star party, go to the Golden State Star 
Party official website:
http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org

Whether you’re a seasoned long-time observer or brand new to the hobby, GSSP 2009 is an 
event you won’t want to miss. Register soon to take advantage of the lower early 
registration fee.

*****

Ranger Dave Balogh has awarded our beloved Yosemite Star Party at Glacier Point.
Dates and Club contacts are listed here:
http://aanc-astronomy.org/calendar/yosemite.html

*****

NASA’s  Kepler mission is launching in only 7 days on March 5th!
If you'd like to download some activities about the Kepler mission:
http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=180

More info on the Kepler mission:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html

*****
Can You See the Stars?
GLOBE at Night March 16-28th:
http://www.globe.gov/GaN/

*****

Choose where to point HST for IYA2009
"Hubble's Next Discovery -- You Decide" is part of the International Year of Astronomy 
(IYA), the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's observations.
Vote to select the next object the Hubble Space Telescope will view. Choose from a list of 
objects Hubble has never observed before and enter a drawing for one of 100 new Hubble 
pictures of the winning object. The winning image will be released between April 2 and 5, 
during the IYA's 100 Hours of Astronomy. Vote by March 1 to swing Hubble toward your 
favorite target at: http://youdecide.hubblesite.org/