Mount Diablo State Park,

Mount Diablo Astronomical Society,

and the Mount Diablo Observatory Association

present

2008 Public Astronomy Programs on Mount Diablo

DATE 2008	Program Starts	SPECIAL EVENT AND TOPIC
8-Mar	6:00	Explore the magnificent constellation of Orion. Which of its stars will one day explode as a supernova? Which stars are just being born? Take home the story of the lives of stars. Bonus: See the rings of Saturn and the surface of Mars.
26-Apr	7:30	Can you find the constellations of the Zodiac? Find out why were they important to ancient astronomers. Get a map of the sky that shows where to find the planets of the Solar System.
10-May	7:30	Why is there abundant life on Earth and not on Venus or Mars? Where are scientists searching for life in our Galaxy? Discover the answers to these questions and get a star map showing which stars have planets around them.
7-Jun	8:00	Can you see the shadow of Earth? Discover why the Moon has phases and why eclipses happen. Last chance this year for good views of Saturn and Mars in the telescopes!
5-Jul	8:00	Will you learn to point to the center of our Galaxy? Where are we in it? Experience telescopes as time machines – see light from parts of our galaxy that has been traveling for hundreds to thousands of years.
2-Aug	7:00	Take a Trip around the Triangle: the Summer Triangle holds many treasures, including a black hole. Will you collect all of them on your trip through the telescopes?
6-Sep	6:30	See our neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy. Build a model of the universe. Which galaxy will you get to be?
4-Oct	6:00	Why is there a North Star? Learn how to find it and how mariners used it to navigate. Find out how telescopes work and what you can expect from them.

Program: Participate in hands-on astronomy activities, followed by supervised observing through the many different telescopes of MDAS members to view the Moon, planets, stars, galaxies and more.

Time: Evening, beginning about an hour before sunset and lasting up to several hours. Plan to enter the park gate at least 45 minutes before the program starts.

Where: Lower Summit parking lot of Mt. Diablo State Park, Walnut Creek.

Cost: The astronomy program is free; there is a nominal park entry fee.

Bring: Kids, binoculars, warm clothes (temperature can drop significantly), snacks, water. If you bring a flashlight, please cover it with red cellophane, red cloth, or a red balloon.

Leaving: The Park gates will be locked and visitors will only be able to leave the summit and exit the park by escorted caravans through the north gate several times during the evening. Caravans will be announced at various intervals following the program discussion and visitors should only leave with these escorts.

NOTE: Astronomy Program is weather permitting (including “High Fire Danger”). Check the Public Programs Calendar: http://www.mdas.net/publicprogram/publicprogram_calendar.htm or call Mt. Diablo State Park – 925-837-2525.

Mount Diablo Astronomical Society: www.mdas.net

A proud member of the NASA Night Sky Network: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov

Email: outreachinfo@mdas.net