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P
U B L I C
P R O G R A M S |
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―
PUBLIC LECTURES ― |
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2009 - 2010 |
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The
following are Dennis Mammana's public lectures during
the 2009-2010 season.
Many are presented under the glistening stars in Borrego
Springs―California's first official
International Dark Sky Community.
To learn more about each, scroll down and click on these
links.
Or to
arrange a custom program for your own group in Borrego
or elsewhere,
please contact Dennis directly |
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SPRINGTIME
IN THE
HEAVENS
Sunday,
March 14,
2010;
6:00 p.m.
Borrego
Springs
Resort
Borrego
Springs,
California
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It's March,
and the
desert is
coming
alive!
And,
in equally
glorious
fashion, the
other half
of the
desert―the
heavens―signal
this
marvelous
change of
seasons.
Join us for
a glimpse
into the
springtime
skies over
The
Anza-Borrego
Desert, and
learn what
makes them
so special.
You may just
find
yourself
enjoying
springtime
even more!
This
terrific
package at
the Borrego
Springs
Resort
includes
deluxe
accommodations
for one
night,
buffet
dinner,
indoor
lecture & slide
program, and
naked-eye
and
telescope
viewing of
the sky with
large
telescopes
and expert amateur
astronomers
(weather
permitting),
all tax and
gratuity.
Non-hotel
packages are
also
available.
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For more
information and
reservations, call
888-826-7734
or visit
the
Borrego Springs
Resort. |
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Sixth Annual
DESERT SKIES LECTURE
SERIES
Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park
Visitor Center's
Nierenberg Plaza
Amphitheater
Borrego Springs,
California |
Join popular astronomy
lecturer and syndicated columnist
Dennis Mammana as he
enlightens and inspires
us about the mysteries
of the cosmos visible
from Anza-Borrego
Desert. |
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Each of these exciting
programs will be followed by telescope
viewing of the desert
sky―weather permitting.
Please dress warmly and
bring a blanket to sit
on. While it isn't
necessary, feel free to
bring binoculars and a
flashlight covered with
red cellophane (to
preserve night vision).
Suggested donation (per program): $5.
For more
information and
directions, please call
760.767.4063 or visit
the individual links
below. |
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RAIN OF FIRE
Saturday,
November 7,
2009;
7:00 p.m. |
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The Leonid
meteor
shower could
be a doozie
this
month,
possibly producing
more than
500 shooting
stars per
hour!
Learn the
origins of
this
potentially
spectacular
storm and
how to view
and
photograph
it like a
pro.
And get a
sneak peak
at
December's
dramatic
annual
Geminid
meteor
shower as
well!
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OUR COSMIC
ADDRESS
Saturday,
December 5,
2009;
7:00 p.m. |
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If you were
to receive a
letter from
some far-off
corner of
the cosmos,
how might
its envelope
be
addressed?
In this
intriguing
program
we'll
explore just
where we're
located in
this vast
universe and
how
difficult it
might be for
anyone―or
anything―to
find us!
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2010:
A CELESTIAL
PREVIEW
Saturday,
January 23,
2010;
7:00 p.m. |
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As we once
again turn
the calendar
page, an
exciting new
year of
celestial
events comes
into view:
eclipses,
lunar and
planetary
conjunctions,
meteor
showers, and
more.
Don't miss
this
fun-filled
preview of
what
promises to
be a most
fascinating
year of
cosmic
wonder!
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FROM DUST TO
DUST
Saturday,
February 13,
2010;
7:00 p.m. |
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We are made
of star
dust, all
forged in
stellar
furnaces
eons ago and
blasted into
space by
colossal
explosions.
Journey back
into time in
search of
our cosmic
roots, and
ponder how
we will one
day again be
recycled
into new
stars, alien
worlds and,
possibly,
other life.
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A CELESTIAL
BUCKET LIST
Saturday,
March 6,
2010;
7:00 p.m. |
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The heavens
are filled
with amazing
sights.
Some can
appear in
our
beautiful
desert sky;
some we must
travel far
to see.
Learn about
the most
remarkable
celestial
events that
must be
included on
everyone's
celestial
"bucket
list". This
is one
presentation
you won't
want to
miss!
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SUNDAY STARGAZING
AT THE SPRINGS
The Springs at Borrego
RV Resort
Borrego Springs, California
No RV Necessary! |
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In each of these monthly
programs, Dennis Mammana
introduces visitors to
amazing phenomena taking
place in the skies over
Borrego. All
programs are followed
by live telescope
viewing of the desert
sky with expert amateur
astronomers in The Springs' own
Astronomy Park, weather permitting.
Please dress warmly. While it isn't
necessary, feel free to
bring binoculars and a
flashlight covered with
red cellophane (to
preserve night vision).
And, no, you don't need
to have an RV to join in
the fun!
Fee: $15. (includes indoor
presentation, outdoor
sky tour and telescope
viewing, dinner and a
no-host bar). For more
information and
registration, call
toll-free 866.330.0003 or visit
The Springs at Borrego.
Or to arrange a private
star event for your own
group at The Springs, call
toll-free 866.330.0003. |
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GIANT WORLDS
OF GAS
Sunday,
October 18,
2009;
6:30 p.m. |
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Our season
will begin
by gazing
outward
across the
solar
system,
toward the
giant gas
worlds that
orbit our
sun near the
edge of our
solar
system―Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune―and
even farther
toward some
of the stars
known to be
home to
planetary
systems of
their own.
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HOME STAR
CITY
Sunday,
November 8,
2009;
6:30 p.m. |
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Few
celestial
sights are
as stunning
as a warm
November
desert
night.
Stroll with
us along the
Milky
Way―from the
nearest of
stars and
nebulae to
the most
distant
stellar
clusters of
our
galaxy―and
witness some
of the most
remarkable
sights
anywhere. |
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SEVEN
WONDERS OF
THE HEAVENS
Sunday,
December 6,
2009;
6:30 p.m. |
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Spend any
time under a
desert sky
and you're
bound to see
some of the
most amazing
phenomena
the universe
has to
offer.
From the
majestic
Milky Way
arching
overhead to
the drama of
a fiery
meteor
shower to...
yes, even in
the
desert...
the magical
waves of the
aurora
borealis.
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ENCOUNTER
WITH THE RED
PLANET
Sunday,
January 24,
2010;
6:30 p.m. |
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Join us for
an exciting
and close-up
glimpse of
Mars―a world
of massive
canyons,
meandering
arroyos,
whirling
dust devils
and towering
volcanoes―and
discover why
this
enigmatic
desert world
has captured
our
imaginations
like no
other.
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GODDESS OF
THE NIGHT
Sunday,
February 21,
2010;
6:30 p.m. |
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She's been
known
throughout
the ages as
Diana,
Aphrodite,
and Isis,
and she's
inspired us
in poetry,
art,
mythology, song
and science.
Tonight
we'll
explore the
many ways we
are touched
by the
magical
light of
this great
celestial
goddess―the
moon―and get
a close-up
look at its
time-battered
terrain.
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IN SEARCH
OF... OUR
COSMIC ROOTS
Sunday,
March 7,
2010;
6:30 p.m. |
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We are made
of star
stuff. All
of the
materials in
our bodies
were forged
in stellar
furnaces
eons ago,
and blasted
into space
by colossal
explosions.
Hear how our
study of the
universe
takes us
back into
time in
search of
our cosmic
roots, and
get a peek
at some of
the places
where this
occurs even
today.
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SATURN:
LORD OF THE
RINGS
Sunday,
April 4,
2010;
6:30 p.m. |
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Saturn is
often
regarded as
the most
stunning
planet of
our solar
system. And
now that
it's at this
year's
closest
point to
us , it's
even more
spectacular.
Join us for
a close-up
look at this
remarkable
world, its
rings and
brightest
moons, and
what we're
learning
from
spacecraft
orbiting
nearby.
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