Continued from previous message.

Can I list it once for the first instance and note IN THAT ENTRY what 
the future dates are? This would save up to four separate identical 
entries, collapsing the length of NYC Events somewhat. Any support for 
this idea? Any other ideas? 

Special Events 
 ------------ 
    Astronomy/Space Day draws out many clubs to put on special shows. 
They are all-day gatherings in some notable public space in the 
group's market area The one on Manhattan is at the American Museum of 
Natural History on Saturday 24 April. Most of the Astronomy/Space Day 
events this year are on or near this date. 
    Some clubs haven't yet, as at issue time, finalized their plans. 
You should inquire at the clubs near you for updated details. Be sure 
to ask if you must pay an fee to the premises, even if the exhibition 
is free. The New York show, for instance, requires the Museum's 
admission of (suggested) $12. 
    In recent years Space Day and Astronomy Day, assigned by separate 
spheres of society, came near to each other. The strong trend now is 
to merge them into a single public presentation. That's because space 
and astronomy fans have allied interests and they can combine their 
resources and talents for a better fuller exhibition. 
    Northeast Astronomy Forum, Suffern NY, Sat-Sun 17-18 Apr, is the 
nation's premiere astronomy market and exhibition, attracting visitors 
from around the world. Bring moola. Have with you some shopping bags 
and empty out your car trunk. It may be wise to stay overnight in 
Suffern. Be sure to visit the NYSkies booth! 
    Earth Day, April 24-25 Sat-Sun, is also a two-day exhibition. It's 
held under the stars of Manhattan. Fake ones, yes, on the Sky Ceiling 
of Grand Central Terminal. However! Given clear skies, the NYSkies 
booth will show you the one REAL star visible from INSIDE the rail 
depot. How? Come on down; all trains and buses to 'Grand Central' or 
'42nd St'. 
    This gala fair is FREE, like in 'just-walk-in-from-the-street' 
free. You can stay overnight, if you really must, at the adjacent 
Grand Hyatt. For those with smaller wallets, there's the hobo's hide-
away under track 100 inside the terminal. 

Skywatching
 ---------
    February closed on its 29th day with a leapday celebration at 
Belvedere Castle, assisted by NYSkies and National Space Society's New 
York Chapter. The skies were mostly cloudy with only passing views of 
the Moon and four planets and only about twenty visitors showed up. 
Yet NSS's Harold Egeln and several NYSkiers explained some space and 
astronomy concepts and distributed handouts about their groups. 
    March was occupied by the five-planet parade. Starting about the 
12th, NYSkiers were getting hold of Mercury low in the west after 
sundown. By the 20th, most folk who tried to see him did so, whether 
by bare eye or binoculars. 
    The sky was clear a sufficient number of says to allow good views 
repeatedly thruout the month. The one special event, the convention of 
Mars, Moon, and Pleiades was totally clouded out. In some parts of 
NYSkies turf it rained. 
    The next interesting planet event is the pass of Venus next to 
star HR1183, as detailed in the events list for April 3rd. Yes, this 
is merely a close miss, but it IS close! Venus acquired a new moon, 
like one of Jupiter's. The proximity occurs near Venus set, but the 
two bodies are pretty close starting at dusk.
    The other 'event' to watch for is the stepover into daylight 
savings time. This ridiculous chore is best done when you retire for 
the night on April 3rd. Your clock is moved AHEAD one hour. Officially 
(in the US, at least) there is NO valid clock reading from 02:00 to 
02:59. The instant of 02:00 EST becomes 03:00 EDST. 

New York
 ------
    One notable activity in March was the presentation by Dr Neil 
Tyson, Hayden Planetarium, about his role on the Aldridge Commission 
to resume human flights to the Moon. He spoke to the National Space 
Society's NYC Chapter on March 13th, giving both a briefing about the 
commission and his views on reviving human space travel. 
    Interest in the design competition for a new City lamppole really 
heated up in March as the deadline for the first round of entries 
approached. The compo is open to anyone worldwide. You don't have to 
be some kind of 'professional'. Recall that the winning design for the 
World Trade Center memorial came from a backroom low-level engineer. 
    If there ever was the chance to prove that light pollution can be 
conquered, this is it. Think about it. I do mean you, you on the other 
side of this computer screen. Imagine walking with your family or 
friend in New York, slapping a brand new star-safe lamppole, and 
saying 'I designed this sucker'. That'll put your name in [star-safe] 
lights in Times Square! Or get a ticker-tape parade in Tucson! (Maybe 
the town uses leaf-blowers?) 

Astro-Politics
 ------------
    There seems to be new agitations about the File Cabinet Incident 
of January 2004. Reports are conflicting among sources. Apparently the 

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