1. NORTHE RN C OLORADO
ASTRONOMICA L S OCIETY
This year’s Rocky Mountain Star Stare is here.
Click for fees, pictures
and to learn about what’s new in 2014.
It’s that time again: the June Solstice happens
at 10:51 Universal Time on June 21st
June 2014 Newsletter
Page 2: Even more COSMOS
Page 3-4: Current events
Page 5: www.ncastro.org info
Page 6-7: June & July event calendars
Page 8: NoCo resources
CONT ENTS
Date: Thursday July 3, 2014
Dinner: 6:00 pm
Meeting: 7:15 pm
Location: FoCo Museum of Discovery
Speaker: Quintin Schiller & Lauren Blum
Topic: CU Lab for Atmospheric and Space
Physics (LASP): CubeSat for Measuring
Earth’s Radiation Belts
MEET INGS
add @ncastro.org to email
2014 OFF IC ERS
EMAIL:
pres@
vp@
sec@
treas@
objview@
web-edit@
NAME:
Dave Karp
Greg Halac
David Auter
Jeff Blume
Amanda Bell
Greg Halac
TITLE:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Newsletter Editor
Web Editor & Outreach Coordinator
Want more? Click here for the Museum of
Discovery summer schedule and here for
NCAS events or meetings held the first
Thursday of the month.

2. LIGHT FROM EXPLOSION 12-BILLION YEARS AGO REACHES EARTH:
Intense light from the enormous explosion of a star more than 12 billion years ago
- shortly after the Big Bang - recently reached Earth and was visible in the sky. “We
have the brightest detection and the earliest response because our telescope is
fully robotic and no human hands were involved,” Ferrante said.
COORDINATED INVESTIGATIONS OF COMETS (CIOC):
A NASA-backed program tasked with encouraging and facilitating an
international Earth and space-based observing campaign for Comet C/2013 A1
(Sliding Spring) prior to, during and after its extremely close brush with Mars on
19 October 2014. Follow CIOC for up-to-date information about Comet Siding
Spring.
FAR SIDE OF THE MOON:
The “man in the moon” appeared when meteoroids struck the Earth-facing side of
the moon but no “face” exists on the far side. Now Penn State astrophysicists think
they know why. The absence of maria, which is due to a difference in crustal
thickness between the side of the moon we see and the hidden side, is a
consequence of how the moon originally formed. Read more about this 55-year-
old mystery!
CURRENT
EVENTS
Share your favorite stories, articles, photos or
events with your fellow members! Submit
anything and everything to your newsletter editor,
Amanda Bell, at objview at ncastro.org.
KEPLER: REVIVED AND WORKING AGAIN:
When the Kepler spacecraft failed in May 2013, its planet-hunting days seemed
permanently over. Luckily, NASA’s scientists and engineers weren’t so quick to
give up on Kepler. Read the details of how NASA’s crippled spacecraft has been
reworked for at least two more years of productive new explorations.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK NIGHT SKY PROGRAMS:
Here you can find the 2014 RMNP schedule. Join a park ranger and local
astronomers to discover the magic of the night sky at ‘Astronomy in the Park’.
Program will be followed by viewing with telescopes. Don’t forget to bring the
kids for ‘Stories Behind the Moon and Stars’. where the night sky comes alive
through storytelling and activities.

3. WHAT WILL ROSETTA FIND?
You have just four days left to enter the “What will Rosetta find?” contest. Fill out
the online form with your best ideas about Comet 67P shape and size, and what
you think about the Rosetta mission. The best answers will win ESA swag! You can
also visit the main page of the Rosetta blog, replay Rosetta’s wake-up webcast,
read about Rosetta’s current big burns and so much more.
AIAA SPACE AUGUST 4-7 2014:
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space 2014 will
examine the impacts of space activity on society. Speakers and panelists will
address issues like facilitating global connections, monitoring the planet,
expanding boundaries and advancing technologies.
HOUSE PASSES FY 2015 FUNDING BILL:
The House passed this legislation on Friday morning by a vote of 321-87.
Although scores of amendments were offered the bill’s provisions regarding the
four science agencies were left largely unchanged. Read the details in an AIP
Bulletin of Science Policy News.
MAVIN SCIENCE MISSION ON TRACK:
All of MAVEN’s science instruments are working as expected, which means it’s on
track to carry out its full science mission as planned. Designed to explore Mars’
upper atmosphere, The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) will
determine the role that escape of gas from the atmosphere to space has played
in changing the climate throughout the planet’s history..
THE KAVLI PRIZE IN ASTROPHYSICS:
Andrei Linde, Alan Guth and Alexei Starobinsky
have been recognized for developing the theory
of cosmic inflation, which explains the origin and
structure of the universe.
Also enjoy their video resources: Introduction to
Observational Astrophysics and Introduction to
Theoretical Astrophysics (both narrated by Alan
Alda).

4. Membership dues are only $20 /
year, collected in January and pro-
rated for new members who join at
other times of the year. Membership
benefits include: membership in the
Astronomical League (and their
Reflector Magazine), use of club
equipment and books and a
discount on Sky and Telescope
Magazine and/or Astronomy
magazines.
FROM NCAS TRO.ORG
NCAS was officially established in 1995 as a non-profit organization to promote interest in
the science and hobby of astronomy. We meet the first Thursday of each month to discuss
our interests and share our experience in the universal world of astronomy.
MEMBER PHOTO
ALBUMS:
You'll want to see all
of the amazing
photos taken by our
members.
NCAS EMAIL:
Anyone can join the
email lists but
subscription requests
are monitored. Only
approved subscribers
are allowed to post.
NCAS
ADMINISTRATIVE
INFO
Renew your
membership here.
Find group bylaws
and constitution.
Don’t forget to renew your
membership today!
BORROW
EQUIPMENT
HERE:
Club items may be
borrowed at NO
COST to NCAS
members. Find out
more here.
CLUB MEETING
OVERVIEW:
Recommend a future
speaker or find out
how to join speakers
for dinner before the
NCAS meeting.
NCAS PUBLIC
OUTREACH
PROGRAMS:
Help NCAS fulfill its
primary mission: to
educate and engage
the public with year-
round public events.

5. NCAS Event Calendar
May
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
NCAS Meeting
7:15pm
FoCo MOD
Bobcat Ridge
Skygazing 8pm
Public Skygazing
8:30pm
Mercury-Redstone
Peak Eta Aquarids
Irish ES (Private)
8:30pm
Peak Eta Aquarids Peak Eta Aquarids
NASA Grand
Challenge
Public Skygazing
8:30pm
Saturn at
Opposition 8pm
Astronomy Day
Part 1
Saturn at
Opposition 8pm
Tavelli ES (Private)
8:30pm
Campground
Skygazing 8:30pm
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
NASA Asteroid
Deflection
Strategies
Globe at Night
Camp Skygazing
Meteor Shower?
Globe at Night
Camp Skygazing
Meteor Shower?
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
Expedition 40/41
Launch to ISS
Globe at Night
Bobcat Ridge
Skygazing 8:30pm
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6. NCAS Event Calendar
June
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
NCAS Meeting
7:15pm
Fort Collins MoD
RMNP Skygazing
8:30pm
Public Skygazing
9pm
Little Shop of
Physics Teacher
Workshops, CSU
School Outreach:
(Private) 8pm
Cygnus readies for
launch: resupply
mission to ISS
Campground
Skygazing 9pm
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
RMNP Skygazing
8:30pm
Globe at Night
Carter Lake
Skygazing 9pm
Globe at Night
Globe at Night
International
Conference of
Learning Sciences
(ICLS) 6/23 - 6/27
Globe at Night Globe at Night
Rocky
Mountain Star
Stare: Gardener, CO
6/25-6/29
Globe at Night Globe at Night
Bobcat Ridge
Skygazing 8:30pm
SBO Telescope Free
Public Open House
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29 30
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7. Astronomy Clubs, Museums, Observatories and Planetariums
NORTHE RN C OLORADO
BOULDER ASTRONOMY &
SPACE SOCIETY (BASS):
Meetings are hosted by the UC
campus at the Fiske
Planetarium. Open to students
and the public. Membership
and meeting info here.
BASS
FORT COLLINS MUSEUM
OF DISCOVERY:
The MoD isn't just where we
hold our meetings. Check out
their events like adult night at
MoD or schedule a visit.
MOD
LONGMONT
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(LAS):
Promotes amateur astronomy
through monthly meetings, star
parties and public observing
sessions. Meetings are open to
the public.
LAS
LITTLE THOMPSON
OBSERVATORY:
No-charge public access to the
universe during regularly-
scheduled public star nights or
a private event.
LTO
SOMMERS BAUSCH
OBSERVATORY:
Operated by the Department
of Astrophysical and Planetary
Sciences (APS) at CU Boulder.
Check out their visitor’s guide.
SBO
ESTES PARK MEMORIAL
OBSERVATORY:
Has many goals, including
raising interest of kids in K-12th
grade in math, physics and
science. Facility is available free
of charge to everyone.
EPMO
DENVER ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (DAS):
Promotes understanding of astronomical
phenomenon through monthly meetings, outreach
and activities at the University of Denver’s historic
Chamberlin Observatory. You can even follow
Chamberlin Observatory on Twitter.
DAS
FRONT RANGE ASTRONOMICAL
SUPERCLUSTER:
Confederation of regional astronomy clubs to share
information and host joint summertime star parties.
Includes societies in Denver, CO Springs, Pueblo,
Cheynne, FoCo (That's us!), Longmont, Boulder and
many m ore locations. FRASC is affiliated with the
Astronomical League.
FRASC