VOLUNTEER UPDATE 09.13.13
Click below for quick access to:
Space Odyssey News
Trainings and Meetings
Educator Uplink
Space Science Lectures & Events
Museum News and Lectures
Volunteer Enrichment Committee (VEC) Events
SPACE ODYSSEY NEWS
EVERYBODY OKAY?
What a week! Truly one for the record books. I hope everyone out there is doing okay and staying as dry as they can. We've been open for business everyday this week, but if you have too much going on at home, or are concerned about traveling here, no worries. Stay home if you need to, just take care.
HELP NEEDED OCTOBER 29
Is anyone interested in helping out in Space Odyssey for a special event associated with the Geological Society of America Conference being held here in Denver? We'd need you to be here from 6 PM to 9:30 and could use help in Space Odyssey...possibly telescopes as well...but not sure on that one. Please let me know, thanks!
HELP NEEDED NOVEMBER 2
Denver Arts Week culminates on the 11/2 with all local museums open to the public, including DMNS. We could really use help in Space O this night. The shift will run from 5 PM to 10 PM. Please let me know if you're interested.
HELP NEEDED FOR MUSEUM AFTER DARK NOVEMBER 8
We will have Space Odyssey open and will need help with telescopes on the West Pad--Sky Terrace will probably be closed. Please let me know if you'd like to help in Space O or with Telescopes. The shift will run from 6:30 till 1 AM. This is the Museum's annual fundraising gala. Please let me know, thanks!
ASTRONOMY DAY
...is coming up: Sunday September 29!
SOS UPDATES
We've added several new datasets to the SOS. Under Astronomy, you'll notice several exoplanet datasets. These datasets are artists' conceptions of what these various planets look like--we of course don't have any actual imagery of these planets. Also you'll find a new Mercury color-enhanced dataset based on Messenger data. Under Land, you'll find a dataset entitled "Black Marble." This is similar to Earth with Nightlights, but shows the whole planet at night. There's also a couple of climate change related datasets, including one showing the tropics widening. And remember, you can click on the Web Page button on the SOS app to view the info pertinent to each dataset. Below you can click on links to all the datasets that have been added (save for Future Paleo, I don't know if that's on there yet). These links will take you to the SOS website.
- Climate Changes 1901-2100
- Earth Now: Tropic Widening
- Future Paleo
- Tropical Widening
- Earth at Night: Black Marble
- Earth-like Exoplanet
- Mercury Color Enhanced
- Exoplanet Kepler 9b
- Exoplanet Kepler 10b
- Exoplanet Kepler 22b
- Exoplanet Kepler 37b
- Exoplanet Kepler 47c
AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MEETING IN DENVER
On the first weekend of October, the AAS will hold their annual meeting in Denver, which means, we should see some guests here who might uh be kinda experts..? On Monday October 7, there will be a public talk:
Sagan Medal Public Talkby Donald Yeomans (JPL)"Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us"Sheraton Hotel, Downtown Denver, 7.30pm Monday Oct 7th,in the main ballroom downstairs.This evening event is free and open to the public. It is part of theAmerican Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Sciences Annual meeting in Denver (October 7th-11th).
For more info about the annual meeting, click here:
FROG LIVES ANOTHER DAY
Check out this great video of a frog leaping to safety after the Minotaur booster ignites:
COMET ISON UPDATES
Thanks to Steve Lee for passing along this info...
SPACE SCREEN SIDE MONITOR REPLACED
We replaced the custom unit with one "off the shelf" and it seems to be working fine. You might notice a slight difference in the color of the text, but that's it.
SUNDIAL CART
Fixed!
ORBITS TABLE RINGS
Fixed! You may notice some squeaking, but not nearly as bad as before. Let me know what you think.
ASTROTOT REPAIRS
We're still waiting on parts for this repair.
TRAININGS AND MEETINGS
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS FOR 2013
These trainings are required for all new volunteers. Please sign up by contacting Shelley Knepley at , or call her at 303.370.6419. All the trainings run from 9-1:30 unless otherwise noted.
- Tuesday, September 17: VIP Room
- Saturday, October 5: VIP Room
- Tuesday, November 12: VIP Room
EDUCATOR UPLINK
Hi Museum Galaxy Guides,
Today (Thursday) has been quite a day in the Denver area. In Boulder county, where I live, it has been particularly bad. Flooding, major damage, lives changed in an instant, lives lost. All because a particular set of natural coincidences conspired to pack a major blow to our area. It is a reminder of the enormous power of nature.
It reminds me of something we say all the time in Space Odyssey. That Earth is a planet. And is subject to all of the planetary forces that you see throughout the universe.
We see it all the time. Giant storms on Jupiter which make the Colorado weather today seem like a blip. Asteroids crashing into planets which make the storms on Jupiter seem like a blip. And supernovae which can rip an entire solar system apart which make just about everything else seem like a blip. That is not to diminish what is happening here to our neighbors. But it is a reminder of how powerful natural forces in the universe can be.
All of the energy that was released over the past 48 hours came from the Sun. The Sun sends photons of light which carry energy almost 100 million miles through empty space. When those photons hit the Earth some are reflected and some get "caught." The energy of those photons must go somewhere, and it often is converted to heat energy. Some of that heat energy evaporates water which rises in the sky filling the clouds. The water up in the clouds stores energy as potential energy of height, which, when the rain falls is released as energy of motion. Raging flood waters coming down Boulder Canyon is energy of motion which can be traced back to the Sun.
Other heat energy from the Sun heats some parts of the planet more than others. When you have that situation you get wind. So, even the wind energy comes from the Sun.
And, of course, Earth's gravity plays a big part of all this. That is why water flows downhill. That is why lower lying areas are more apt to be flooded than higher areas. That is why the rain falls from the clouds. And that is why the colder air falls and warm air rises causing the winds. It is also why bridges collapse and buildings crumble.
It is one thing to talk about all of these abstract concepts when it applies to some other planet. Or comet. Or star. But, when it applies to your neighborhood it takes on a whole new meaning.
Let's send all of our good wishes to our friends and neighbors who have had a really tough day. And give them a hand if they need it.
It is days like this which remind you that Earth is a planet after all.
- - Eddie
SPACE SCIENCE LECTURES & EVENTS
RESERVATION INFO
Volunteers may attend some events for free on a space available basis by calling Adult Programs at 303.370.6303 or emailing .
This is only for lectures, for other programs, like Science Lounge, please call Reservations, 303.370.6000, thank you!
60 MINUTES IN SPACE
Go "behind the stories" in space science using the best images and animation available to help understand new developments. Seating is limited to first come, first served.
Wednesday, September 25
7 p.m.
Gates Planetarium
Free
The next 60 Minutes in Space will be on Wednesday,October 30.
ASTRONOMY DAY: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Stay tuned for info about events.
A CONVERSATION WITH BUZZ ALDRIN IS SOLD OUT
MUSEUM NEWS
MORE MUSEUM INFO
Click here for Lunchtime Lectures
Click here for Evening Lectures
Click here for Museum IMAX information
Click here for Museum Planetarium Information
VOLUNTEER ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE EVENTS
See bulletin board in the Volunteer Lounge for more info
DaveBlumenstock
Coordinator of Volunteers for Space Science
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Phone 303.370.8344
Fax 303.370.6005
Join the Museum's Online Community