International Year of Astronomy   2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first use of the telescope for astronomical observations.  Planetariums, Science Centers, and Astronomers around the world will offer activities allowing the citizens of the world to rediscover their place in the Universe.  Continue to check here for RVCC's offerings.

Friday, January 9, 2009  The Legacy of Galileo: An Encounter with Genius  This program is done in two parts, one in the RVCC Theatre to meet Galileo himself, and another in the Planetarium, reproducing one of his discoveries.

Did you see that satellite last night?  What?  You've never seen a satellite pass overhead?  There are many satellites that pass by each night.  Type in your zip code and find the times you can see them. 
http://www.spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=28ger19f2ns4t2qnb6eeigc6t4

Astronomy is known for its many "pretty pictures," and Astronomy Picture of the Day shows them off well.  They also include a paragraph describing the image and links to follow to learn more.  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Mission News

• Phoenix Mars Lander is safely on Mars's icy surface.  http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/

• The Mars Rovers are still Exploring....Their Missions have been extended, again!
  http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

• Cassini continues to orbit Saturn and its moons.  Find out more: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

• New Horizons continues to head for Pluto and other Kuiper Belt Objects.  It will fly past Pluto in 2015.