Continued from previous message.

 Vanderbilt Planetarium  - XX
 Vassar C - physicsandastronomy.vassar.edu/observatory.html, 845-437-7340
 Ward Pound Ridge  - - - - 19
 Washington Xing Pk  - - -  4, 25
 Waterfront Park - - - - - www.aosny.org
 Wesleyan University - - - 12
 Westchester Amat Astro  - 11
 Westport Astro Soc  - - -  2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24
 Wilcox Park - - - - - - - 18
*York College  - - - - - - natsci.york.cuny.edu/~yco, 718-262-2082

General News 
 ----------
    June continues the transition from winter to summer events. It's 
typical for clubs and colleges to run sessions during the school year 
and recess during the summer. Other series of event begin in late 
spring and run thru early fall, with recess in the frostbite months. 
In 'Sponsors and places' I leave in those recessed items so you can 
contact them for out-of-season activity. I do this for places which 
routinely offer astronomy, not for isolated or occasional ones. 
    Mid Hudson Astronomical Association has a new web address 
mhaa.whodeanie.com. 
    Amateur Astronomers Association completely revamped its website so 
it now contains actual schedules and real details for its activities. 
It debuted on 19 May 2004, despite a failed demo due to apparently 
dead phone line. Have a look at www.aaa.org. 
    Amherst Astronomical Association, to be a new regular member of 
NYC Events, ended up being beyond NYSkies territory, I do list its 
summer solstice show for June 18th. If you're in mid massachusetts, 
visit the club at www.amastro.org. 
    There is no 'Northeast Astronomical Society' after all. The 
attempt to convert Rockland Astronomy Club into a supersociety for the 
whole northeast fizzled. In act, only Rockland Astronomy Club is 
mentioned in advance notices for the Summer Star Party in Savoy MA. 

Special events 
 ------------
    The one special event of the month is the transit of Venus. Every 
where in NYSkies land the final stages of the apparition are visible, 
from local sunrise on June 8th to about 07:25 EDST. As at issue time 
Many plans to watch this event are still not finalized. I list those 
to hand but I know there will be others to be unveiled in the first 
week of June. Check with the local clubs, nature centers, planetaria, 
science museums for their transit watches. 
    In addition to formal sessions, astronomers will gather here and 
there for private viewings. They welcome visitors, if the premises 
they use allow it. The places you ask at for the formal sessions can 
refer you to individual astronomers for the casual viewings. 
    NYSkies is buzzing with members arranging for or asking about 
viewing the transit. Go there to get in on the action. 
    Other special events are the Sun show at the newark Museum, talk 
by Dr Edward Belbruno, and the March of Dimes excursion. The Newark 
museum exhibit is a year=long work in conjunction with Big bear 
Observatory. recall that the facility, physicly in California, is now 
run by new Jersey institute of technology, in downtown Newark. 
    The Belbruno lecture, on 26 June, is an explanation of low energy 
orbital dynamics. Belbruno developed it in the late 1980s and is now 
gaining wide favor among astrodynamicists. That's the 'A route to the 
Moon' part in the lecture title. 
    The 'and a red rectangle' is something I must remain silent about. 
Dr Belbruno gave clues to insiders (yeah, I got roped in), compelling 
me to say that you will not soon forget his lecture. In fact, he 
offers to refund your $2 admission if you do forget! Before you pester 
me, I did say I must stay quiet. So, there. 
    The March of Dimes tour has little direct astronomy in it, but you 
better read my article in NYSkies on 'Crossing the bridge'. I posted 
it in early March. Readers were fascinated by the idea of tooling 
around the City in a vintage subway train. So I list one of the 
excursions run in June. The RdV is Times Square station of the IRT 
Flushing line,the lowest deck of the Times Square hub. Pay on the 
train with cash or check to 'March of Dimes' Maybe I'll see you there? 

Skywatching 
 ---------
    May was a dismal month for the sky. Only a few clear evenings 
between long spells of clouds and rain. We missed the planet gathering 
on May 21st and 22nd. We just barely caught sight of comet 2001-Q4 
thru thinner clouds. It took some larger aperture; handheld binoculars 
and totable scopes failed us. 
    We did see the passing of International Space Station next to 
Jupiter on May 13th. The sky was hazed over, but Jupiter, ISS, and a 
couple brighter stars were visible. NYSkiers north and west of the 
City saw an occultation of Jupiter by the spaceship! 
    We're hoping for clear views of the Stonehenge effect on Memorial 
Day weekend. Otherwise it's a mean wait until July 10-12. A similar 
hope holds for the venus transit. Losing it to adverse sky means a 
LONG wait until year 2012! Even then, we'll have to travel out of the 
City 'coz the whole transit occurs during local nighttime. 


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