This is the 365 Days of Astronomy web site,for the pod casts etc:  http://365daysofastronomy.o...

I read where the full moon last night was to be the brightest and largest this year as the moon was the closest it would get to earth in 2009.  Certainly did not need a telescope and it was a beautiful site.  I tried to take a few good pics, but alas, they just didn't turn out.  Happy star-gazing Sage.

Odd, that's what they said about the moon last month.  I wonder when the brightest it really will be.  I was out with the dog about 11 and it was really bright and clear....and cooooold.

I figure the star guys know best~ but it is all an elaborate optical illusion. The really cool news is the Galileoscopes ~ just think a quality telescope, reasonably priced ,usable even in "bad skies" in a child's hands...for that matter in mine! I am amazed that there isn't more PR about this but I suppose they are waiting for the scopes to be ready.

Grandson has several telescopes incuding one about 12 inches across.   He and son motopoet are big into astronomy so  I'll pass this on to them.

It sure would be nice to see people get interested in Astronomy. Well, even an interest in anything scientific would be nice. Turn off the TV, video games...even, yes, the computer...and go outside to look at planets and stars. What a concept. Perhaps then people will show even a remote interest in NASA and our apparently "secret" space program.

Actually, what we need to do is combine climbing peaks with Kingpen and stargazing with Sage...then we would have something! Kingpen can carry the telescopes...

I am in no shape to comment after days of tiring travel, but thanks for the nice post.

I miss that ALOT..use to back pack into the Sierra's and at night--with a full stomach--kick back and gaze at the stars and listen to the night...they were so bright and the sky was FULL..imagine a telescope up there--and what you could see.....

Thanks Sage for the post - excellent !

Our family spends a lot of time outside;  this is just our kind of thing.

--virgil

Love the mountains and camping. We used to go for a week at a time and hubby had to drag me home! Tent, cooking outdoors, the sight, sounds of the mountains - love it! We would take daughter out of school for a week (took homework with us) packed up the Scout and the dogs and headed for God's country. I camped out every summer at Jamison Ranch Camp - again had to be dragged home! My girlfriends and I "camped out" in our backyards ALL summer! Could see the stars EVERY night.

I've seen in the paper where the BSA are screaming for hispanics to join...which is a good thing..I joined when I was a kid and it taught me that there are things out there MUCH bigger than you...it was an experience and a learning lesson that prepared me for the years ahead--(Troop 318--Fred Caspari--Scout Master).....

But when you gazed into the night sky...it's a narrow mind indeed to think that we are the only ones in this universe...I've learned ALOT of things while in the scouts..merit badges wasn't my thing, but the most important thing was for me to get out of the city and back up into the stars....I always felt AND learned that we are only guests up there...if you are not going to eat it-don't kill it--this is their home...and to always leave it better than you found it..common sense....

I was very blessed to have experenced this as a child--with the right leadership---and it's ALL at our back door.....

this is just my opinion......

Thanks for the nice comments~ and TA-DA : I found this site where you can see the telescope and sign up to be contacted. Teachers,youth leaders,parents and the Grand-kind (lol)...do it!

Here is a summation of all they plan to do this year and some educational resources(left panel under Cornerstone Projects)

Thanks Sage for sharing this. I am a big fan of space. I reference your post in mine.