This is a special pre-"Day of Carleton" event. The reservation form for this event only is at the bottom of the page.
Beginning at 7:45pm on Saturday night, July 21, Professor of Physics and Astronomy Joel Weisberg will begin sharing stories of the the sky, stars and star lore at the Chabot Space and Science Center. The Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd in Oakland. The Center will charge a $3 per person Special Event fee. The fee does not include general admission.
Joel Weisberg has been a Professor of Physics and Astronomy and the Natural Sciences at Carleton since 1984. While he is a serious professional astronomer who studies pulsars and gravitation with radio telescopes, he maintains a great love for sharing the sky and its various phenomena, mostly via the naked eye. He has led several astronomically-themed alumni trips to eclipses and archaoastronomical sites, and loves spending time with alumni.
Professor Weisberg has been sharing stories of the sky, stars and star lore since his high school days in New Mexico. He is especially excited to share the sunset and antisunset, as well as all of kinds of subtle phenomena that happen in the sky in the hour following sunset. Professor Weisberg will also share a trick that will always allow you to be the first among your friends to pick out the planets in the evening.
Professor Weisberg says,
"I greatly look forward to sharing the sky, the stars, and my star lore with you. I have been telling various versions of these stories since my high school days in New Mexico. I also deeply look forward to sharing the sunset and antisunset with you – also among my very favorite experiences. I will show you that there are all kinds of subtle phenomena going on throughout the sky in the hour after the sun drops below the horizon. I will show you a trick so that you can always be the first among your friends to pick out the planets in the evening. . . . You may also look through the Science Center telescopes, although I will not be involved in that. "
Schedule for Saturday night, July 21:
--For sunset / twilight / baby Moon / planet watch: Gather at 8:00pm and identify yourself as a Carl. You will be directed to a special area for the sunset watch. The Sun sets at 8:26 PM. The three-day-old crescent Moon will be visible around this time. Saturn and Mars will pop out as the sky darkens. The sunset watch will continue until it is dark enough to morph into a star and star lore watch at about 9:15.
--For star and star lore watch only (no sunset / twilight / baby Moon / planet watch): Gather at 9:00pm and identify yourself as a Carl. You will be directed to a special location for the star watch. Feel free to come and go and to see Chabot's open telescope as you wish.
What to bring:
--Dress very warmly! Even in July, this means hats gloves socks coats; and a blanket or sleeping bag to lie on or inside. The best way to enjoy the stargazing part is lying on the ground for an hour or more, looking up. You won't be moving much so you can easily get very cold unless you are adequately prepared. We are at higher elevation than the Bay, so it may be quite cool!
--Binoculars (optional)
--A flashlight to help you to find your way (please not a bright one because we don't want to blot out the stars!!!)
Professor Weisberg has been sharing stories of the sky, stars and star lore since his high school days in New Mexico. He is especially excited to share the sunset and antisunset, as well as all of kinds of subtle phenomena that happen in the sky in the hour following sunset. Professor Weisberg will also share a trick that will always allow you to be the first among your friends to pick out the planets in the evening.
Joel Weisberg is Carleton's Herman and Gertrude Mosier Stark Professor of Physics and Astronomy and the Natural Sciences
Joel is a radio astronomer who studies pulsars, gravity waves, and the interstellar medium at the Arecibo, Green Bank, and Very Large Array radio telescopes. He also has strong interests in science policy, and frequently teaches in the Environmental and Technology Studies Program.
Joel is a radio astronomer who studies pulsars, gravity waves, and the interstellar medium at the Arecibo, Green Bank, and Very Large Array radio telescopes. He also has strong interests in science policy, and frequently teaches in the Environmental and Technology Studies Program.