Monday, May 5, 2008

Space Stuff: Skymaps.com Update -- May 2008 & Spaceweather.com, Marathon Spaceship Flybys

Space Weather News for May 1, 2008
http://spaceweather.com
FLYBY ALERT: This is a good month for spaceship spotting. On May 1st, the International Space Station (ISS) begins a 4-week series of bright flybys over North America and Europe. In early May, the ISS joins Jupiter and the stars of the Summer Triangle in a glittering pre-dawn sky. Later in the month, increasingly-frequent flybys shift to evening hours and the ISS will be crossing paths with Saturn, the Moon and Mars. US and Canadian readers, check our Simple Satellite Flybys tool to find out when to look: http://spaceweather.com/flybys . (European readers, an international version of the flybys tool will be available in the near future. Stay tuned.)
EXPLORE THE IONOSPHERE: The ionosphere is our planet's "final frontier." A realm of dancing auroras, radio-bending plasma bubbles and dangerous ultraviolet rays, it is the last wisp of Earth's atmosphere that astronauts leave behind when they enter space. Now you can explore the ionosphere from the safety of your own home. Yesterday, NASA-supported researchers unveiled a "4D" computer model for the general public. Download a few files and presto--you're flying through the ionosphere. The model shows the ionosphere as it is right now; it's a real-time display based on current solar activity and atmospheric conditions. Visit http://spaceweather.com to get started.

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Welcome to the latest issue of Skymaps.com Update!

IN THIS ISSUE:
* The Evening Sky Map -- May 2008
* Save on Telescopes, Binoculars & Accessories
* Compare Printed Star Atlases
* Astronomy a Go-Go! Podcast
* Distribution of Printed Handouts

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THE EVENING SKY MAP -- MAY 2008

The latest issue of The Evening Sky Map is now available!

This month's Sky Calendar features:
* Saturn closes in on Regulus
* Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
* Occultation of Mars
* Mercury well placed in the evening sky (Northern Hemisphere)
* Occultation of Antares
* Locate Saturn and Mars in the evening sky
* plus... the best celestial objects for binoculars, telescope, or using just your eyes.

Sky Calendar and event links:
http://www.skymaps.com/articles/n0805.html

Download The Evening Sky Map:
http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html
Click your browser's Reload/Refresh button if you do not see the May 2008 links.

Thank you for your support and generous donations.
http://www.skymaps.com/donate/

Clear skies!

Kym Thalassoudis
http://Skymaps.com
Quality sky maps each month to explore, learn & enjoy the night sky.

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SAVE ON TELESCOPES, BINOCULARS & ACCESSORIES

http://www.skymaps.com/store/cat05a.html

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COMPARE PRINTED STAR ATLASES

Quickly compare the key features of all current printed star altases.
http://www.skymaps.com/compare_star_atlases/

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ASTRONOMY A GO-GO! PODCAST

AaGG is a weekly podcast that covers what you can see in the sky for the
month, astronomy news, astronomy how-to, music and more. A podcast is an
Internet audio program you can listen to on your computer or portable audio
player (iPod). AaGG is free just like the vast majority of podcasts. Have a
listen, I'm sure you will agree that Alice Few does an excellent job at
producing AaGG. Look out for this month's Guided Tour of the Sky due to be
released in the next few days. We'll have a direct link from Skymaps.com
once it's out.

You can listen to the show online at the AaGG Web Site:
http://astronomy.libsyn.com/

or subscribe using a free tool, such as iTunes:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/

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DISTRIBUTION OF TESM PRINTED HANDOUTS

Skymaps.com has a new policy for the distribution of printed handouts of
The Evening Sky Map (TESM). Commencing with the January 2006 issue,
Individuals and Astronomy Education Groups wishing to distribute printed
handouts of TESM no longer need to submit a Copyright Permission Form for
non-commercial educational use.

Under the new Non-Commercial Educational Use policy, Individuals may make
and distribute up to 30 printed handouts of TESM each month for use by
their family or friends. Astronomy Education Groups may make and distribute
up to 300 copies of TESM each month for non-commercial educational use.

Individuals or Astronomy Education Groups wishing to make use of the new
policy must comply by the Terms of Use detailed at:


The new policy makes it quicker and easier for Astronomy-related groups and
educators to make timely use of The Evening Sky Map. Please contact me if
you have any questions or comments regarding the new policy.


Note, reprint fees *may* apply in the following cases:
* Any use of a commercial nature
* Publication including bundling with other publications
* More than 300 copies per month

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HELP SUPPORT THE EVENING SKY MAP & SKY CALENDAR

You can support the continued production and distribution of The Evening Sky Map
& Sky Calendar by making a small donation. Simply click the link below.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your support!
http://www.skymaps.com/donate/

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Skymaps.com Update is a mailing list service offered by Skymaps.com.

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Copyright (C) 2008, Kym Thalassoudis. All Rights Reserved.

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