Welcome to the Crosby Middle School
ASTRONOMY CLUB
Mr. Eric F. Timerding, sponsor Email: Eric.Timerding@Jefferson.kyschools.us School Phone: (502) 485-8235
NEXT MEETING
Your next meeting will be Friday, February 19 at 7:00 PM in room 108a. If it is clear enough, we will be outside for a short period of time to view the great nebula in Orion. Please dress warmly and remember to bring your parent.
Our next meeting is February 26 at the school.
See you Friday,
Mr. Eric F. Timerding
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CROSBY ASTRONOMY CLUB INFORMATION
Welcome to the Crosby Middle School Astronomy Club. Our goal is to introduce students and their families to the wonders of the night sky and to provide opportunities to learn about space. Meetings are held on Friday evenings 1-2 times each month during the fall semester of the school year. Activities include observing the night sky with the unaided eye, binoculars and telescopes (There are telescopes that are available for student use.); watching video programs related to astronomy and space; becoming familiar with astronomy sites on the internet; visiting the planetarium; learning to keep a log of observations; presentations by outside personnel from various local Astronomy Clubs; and linking with other local astronomy clubs for special observation sessions.
Since astronomy is an activity which is conducted at night in the dark, and since safety is of utmost importance, parents will need to personally accompany their students or will need to appoint a responsible adult in their place. Several Astronomy Club members may come to meetings with one adult who will be responsible for them. Students should arrange this prior to each meeting to avoid confusion. Astronomy is a family affair. Brothers and sisters of Astronomy Club members are encouraged to join the student and their parents.
SEE PERMISSION FORM IN THE "FILES TO DOWNLOAD" SECTION
ASTRONOMY LINKS
OBSERVING THE MOON
THE MOON'S PHASE: http://www.briancasey.org/artifacts/astro/moon.cgi
THE MOON (SKY AND TELESCOPE): http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon
OBSERVING THE MOON (STARGAZER): http://www.stargazing.net/David/moon/index.html
MOON PHASE CALCULATOR (STARDATE): http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/
CURRENT MOON PHASE: http://www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases/phasenow.php
LUNAR FEATURES: http://www.cmf.nrl.navy.mil/clementine/clib/features/comp.html
LUNAR MAP: http://www.amlunsoc.org/lunar_maps.htm
THE OUTER PLANETS
THE OUTER PLANETS (SCHOLASTIC): http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4854
SOLAR SYSTEM: http://www.siec.k12.in.us/west/proj/space/solar2.htm
THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM: http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/more_stuff/flashlets/outerplanets.htm
GAS GIANTS: http://www.solstation.com/stars/jovians.htm
HEAVENS ABOVE WEB SITE http://heavens-above.com/main.asp?Loc=Louisville&Lat=38.254&Lng=-85.759&Alt=128&TZ=EST
THE NINE PLANETS www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/
SKY CHARTS AND FINDING OBJECTS
ON-LINE SKY MAP http://www.sky-map.org/
IN THE SKY TONIGHT http://skytonight.com/observing/ataglance
TODAY'S SKY ALMANAC http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/almanac/
METEOR SHOWER CALENDAR http://www.farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/meteorshowers.html
HEAVENS ABOVE WEB SITE http://heavens-above.com/main.asp?Loc=Louisville&Lat=38.254&Lng=-85.759&Alt=128&TZ=EST
THIS MONTH'S STAR CHART http://www.telescope.com/content/inthesky/content6main.jsp?chart=true
INTERACTIVE STAR CHART http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/ #
HOW TO SPOT THE SPACE STATION http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/satellites/
LOUISVILLECLEAR SKY CLOCK http://cleardarksky.com/c/LouisvilleKYkey.html
LINKS FOR THOSE JUST GETTING STARTED
GETTING STARTED IN ASTRONOMY http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/article_260_1.asp
CHOOSING YOUR FIRST TELESCOPE http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/article_241_1.asp
ASTRONOMY BASICS http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/default.asp
VISUAL OBSERVING http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/visualobserving/3304621.html
TELESCOPES AND BINOCULARS http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/default.asp
GENERAL WEB SITES
LOUISVILLE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY http://www.louisville-astro.org/
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION http://i.usatoday.net/tech/graphics/iss_timeline/flash.htm
AFTER SCHOOL ASTRONOMY CLUB PAGE http://afterschoolastronomy.org
SKY TONIGHT http://skytonight.com/
NASA FOR KIDS http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/
CASSINI WEB PAGE
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/
THE NINE PLANETS www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/
THE ELECTRONIC SKY http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/default.htm
SPACE.COM www.space.com/
LOUISVILLE PLANETARIUM http://www.louisville.edu/planetarium/
SKY AND TELESCOPE MAGAZINE ONLINE www.skyandtelescope.com/
EARTH AND SKY www.earthandsky.com/
POWERS OF 10 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/
ADVANCED OBSERVING AND IMAGING
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/astrophotography
US NAVY ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION http://aa.usno.navy.mil/

JOHN DOBSON VISITS CMS ASTRONOMY CLUB
Mr. John Dobson, internatinoally recognized as the "Father of Sidewalk Astronomy," visited Crsoby Middle School on September 27, 2007. Mr. Dobson spoke to a group of 65 students and parents using his Desert Valley slide show. The following evening CMS astronomers again were able to be with Mr. Dobson at a Louisville Astronomial Society sponsored Star Party at Tom Sawyer Park.
COURIER-JOURNAL ARTICLE MENTIONS CMS ASTRONOMY CLUB
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/04/23in/A1-stars0423-10650.html
LOU MAYO VISITS CMS ASTRONOMY CLUB
Mr. Lou Mayo, a planetary scientist from the Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA visited with the Crosby Middle School Astronomy Club on Friday, November 12, 2004. He gave a very age appropriate hands-on demonstration of how solar panels are used to collect infrared radiation (I have a 6 minute video) and used a PowerPoint presentation to talk about his work studying Saturn's moon, Titan. Following his demonstration and lecture, he took an additional thirty minutes to respond to questions from Crosby Middle School students.
When the meeting concluded, he congratulated the club on their efforts. This club, with 22 student members, an established list of curriculum-based activities, internet resources to study astronomy, opportunities to observe the night sky, the support of the Louisville Astronomical Society, and public activities such as the planetarium and IMAX theater, was described by Mr. Mayo as being "one of the top after school astronomy clubs in the nation!"
"Thanks for the information and all of the work you do with this organization.
I truly appreciate and applaud your efforts."
- E--mail from Mr. Lattimore





