Meteor Showers

The Geminids meteor showers last night were AMAZING!! It was a cold, sparkling, and absolutely clear night in the valley and the stars were out in force. I only stayed out a short while but saw lots of shooting stars! I know the peak of the showers were last night but I am going to go out again tonight and see if I can see any more. It is so very, very beautiful. We are lucky that our skies are free enough from light pollution to be able to enjoy this awesome show.

Star Trails

Dennis Havel has been having great fun with his new digital camera. The photo above is one of several time exposures he did of the stars in the night sky. Here is what he said about it.

"Stars appearing to rotate like a pinwheel around Polaris, the North Star. This effect is due to the Earth's rotation about it's North-South axis. Polaris is the bright object in the center. This was taken Saturday night from my back yard. My house is visible to the left."

Cool shot Dennis! Thanks for sending it!

Comparative Astrology Conference

Woodland Community Association members Alexander Mallon and Robert Thurman will be participating in this conference at the Menla Center. If you are interested in this subject you can learn right in your our backyard! Here are the details.

Astrology, Mythos and Spirit: Bridging East and West

with Komilla Sutton, Jhampa Kalsang, A.T. Mann, Alexander Mallon, Jhampa Shaneman & Robert Thurman

Menla Mountain Retreat Center, September 17-20 2009

Comparative Astrology Conference
- Only 2 hours drive from NYC, near Woodstock, NY !!

Co-sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the NCGR. NCGR members receive a $50 discount


The conference will feature lectures, panel discussions, breakout sessions facilitated by speakers, and question and answer sessions.
Topics covered will include:

• the philosophies of Tibetan, Vedic and Western astrology
• astrology’s role in mythological and spiritual worldviews
• practical applications of astrological techniques including: Fate or free-will, the Concept of
Time-Who are we and Where are we going?, Lunar Nodes and Phases as Karmic indicators, Saturn as the 'last planet' vs. Trans-Saturnians and newly discovered planets, Astrology and Holistic Medicine in Tibet-the Kalachakra Tantra, Hindu or Jyotish astrological techniques, Lunar Nakshatras and their role in Ayurvedic Medicine, an introduction to the Tibetan/Chinese zodiac of Twelve animals and Five Elements, the Western zodiac vs. Constellations and hands- on nightime viewing of a dark-sky site with a university sized telescope!!
• predictions for the Obama administration, views on the anticipated end of the Mayan
calendar in December, 2012 and discussions about our collective future.

Special Bonus- If you register early and provide your birth information (date, time & place), you will receive
a free computer printout of your Vedic and Western charts. Also, each evening our panel of astrologers will draw several names from the 'Magic Hat' and provide in-depth analysis of attendees charts!

Attend the entire four-day conference or individual days for as little as $42 per day!
go to the Menla Mountain Center home page for details at http://www.Menla.org/Menlahome.html

You can also visit Alexander's website at www.astrologyspirit.com or call him at 845-688-9751.

Stargazing Event A Great Success

We were lucky last night that the sky was clear and stayed that way until some where around midnight. A group of about 25 people gathered in the dark to look into the heavens. With Alexander as our guide we saw many wonderful things and had great fun viewing the stars and gallaxies. It was all amazing! Thanks to Alexander for generously volunteering to share both his vast knowledge and his impressive equipment!! It was a wonderful, informative evening!

Stargazing Event TONIGHT!

OK folks, we are going to try and do the stargazing event tonight. I just got off the phone with Alexander and he felt that tonight's weather could still go either way but the forecast looks pretty good so we are going to give it a shot. Remember to DRESS WARMLY and BRING A FLASHLIGHT!!! The Larkin Farm property is down at the end of Woodland Valley road about a quarter mile before the campground. It is on the right. For those of you who know Terry Savage it is the property that formerly belonged to him. It is just past the Holz farm. You access it by going down the road just before the small bridge (Dougherty Brook for those who know). I will put out a sign with balloons. Remember to park on the road and walk back. Alexander plans on arriving at dusk (around 8:30 - 9:00). See you there!!

PS - We will be out for a while so remember to bring a blanket or chair for sitting. Remember whatever you bring into the property you must bring back out with you.

Stargazing Event - NOT Friday Night

I just spoke with Alexander and he said we are definitely not going to do the stargazing event tonight because the weather is calling for possible thunderstorms. The NOAA site is saying clear skies for Saturday night so we are keeping our fingers crossed and trying for tomorrow night but with the weather being as unsettled as it has been it may change. I will keep everyone posted.

Stay tuned!
Carol

Stargazing Event This Weekend

The weather for this weekend has been changing just about every few hours so we are still unsure which night will be clearest (if any) for stargazing. I will call Alexander tomorrow and let you know what he thinks. If you want me to email you directly send me a message here at wvview@gmail.com and I will put you on the list. If you don't have Internet in the valley send me your phone number and I will give you a call. Sorry for waiting until the last minute to decide on a date but the weather has been very volatile lately. Stay tuned!!

Astronomy Club - Second Meeting

Here is a note from Lauren Altman and Miriam Rose

Hi all,

Get ready for meeting #2 of the Catskill Astronomy Club. The next meeting is at 4:30 (please note time change), on Monday July 13th, upstairs at the Phoenicia Library. Please bring your newly discovered fact about the moon to share. We have some stuff to start working on our planet-mobiles, feel free to bring some other bits of trim, glitter, glue, etc.

Hope to see you there,

Lauren & Miriam Rose

Astrological Study with Alexander Mallon

Here is a message from WCA member Alexander Mallon.

Astrological Study with Alexander Mallon

Phoenicia location ... near Woodstock, NY
845-688-9751

Starting Thursday June 25, 2009

* 7pm Thursday eve's ..
* Five Session 'tracks'...Class to be on-going in '5 session sign-ups'
* Each class roughly 2 hrs in length
* In depth student participation and personal chart review
* Astrological and astronomical interweaving .... with telescope time!!
* Some beginner material through Intermediate and Advanced-Level study....
.... Best of All .....
* Only $15 per class!!...keeping costs low to enable student participation!!

....some of the topics to be covered....

-Principles of Astrological Practice
-Planetary concepts and mythos
-Forecasting techniques
-Asteroids
-Fixed Stars in chartwork
-Chart interpretations (... plenty of this!!)
-Houses and house systems
-Horary Astrology
-New Planetary bodies discovered

- and as always ... much much more!!!

Astronomy Club

Here is a message from WCA members Lauren Altman and Miriam Rose.

Greetings,
The first meeting of the Catskill Astronomy Club (working title) will be Monday June 29, 4pm at the Phoenicia Library. All ages are welcome, please bring your ideas and enthusiasm. We may alternate meeting sites with the Olive Library if that is desirable to folks.

Hope to see all of you starry-eyed Terrans there.

Miriam & Lauren

Stargazing Opportunity

I am an avid amateur astronomer, a professional astrologer by trade however ... a rare combo! Maddy (my wife) and I own a 20" diameter reflector telescope, the largest in the Hudson Valley (most universities scopes are way smaller ... to give you an idea). So far I've only shared it with a few..... and I've only done one or two workshops with it at Mirabai Books in Woodstock... (I lectured there recently on Pluto). I'd love to share the heavens with others here in the Valley, and even start a local astronomy club to observe together if any are interested ..... I often observe in the Day Use area and on top of Belleayre Mtn.

If the Valley has any open fields perhaps we can arrange a viewing for locals one clear night!! ...

From - Alexander Mallon
Email: astroskywatcher@yahoo.com
Phone: 845-688-9751