FREE ASTRONOMY SYMPOSIUM - Oct. 9, 2004

UNITED ASTRONOMY CLUBS OF NEW JERSEY
P.O. BOX 150
HOPE, NJ 07844
www.uacnj.org


For Immediate Release:
Friday, September 24, 2004
Contact: Karl Hricko at or Barry Malpas at


FREE ASTRONOMY SYMPOSIUM - Oct. 9, 2004

The UACNJ's annual free Astronomy Symposium will be held at the UACNJ
Observatory at Jenny Jump State Forest on Saturday October 9, 2004
from 1:30 to 11:00 p.m. This event is directed towards individuals who
wish to learn more about amateur astronomy as well as having topics
for more advanced amateurs. There will be presentations by several
professional and amateur astronomers. We invite you to bring your
telescopes to observe in both the afternoon for solar viewing, and
during the evening. If you have done any projects or astrophotography
that you would like to display we invite you to do so. Admission is
free, food will be available and we would like to see as many amateurs
and observers as possible. The programs include both general and
technical presentations:

* Solar Observing - Observe sunspots and the Sun
* CCD Imaging Display - Electronic images of the night sky
* Displays by Astronomy Member Clubs - Astrophotography, antique
astronomy items, meteorites and other Projects, as well as the
..7-meter mirror, will be on display
* Astronomy Sales - Books, Maps, and other astronomy items will be
available
* Evening Star Party - View galaxies, nebulae and other deep-sky
objects through the observatory's 16-inch Newtonian, as well as a
variety of UACNJ observer telescopes (weather permitting)
* Refreshment Stand - Walk around food will be available on site

Admission is free and all are encouraged to participate. The UACNJ
Observatory is located at Jenny Jump State Forest in Hope, NJ. Visit
the UACNJ web site for directions: www.uacnj.org.

The presentation schedule is as follows:

3:00 p.m. Dr. Suzanne Staggs, Physics Dept., Princeton University

"The Oldest Photons in the Universe" - The 21 centimeter microwave
background radiation is a relic of the birth of our universe. By
examining these fossil photons, astronomers can surmise the space-time
architecture of our universe just after the "Big Bang."

4:00 p.m. Mr. Ernie Rossi, Teacher and writer in Astronomy

"Observing the Skies of New Mexico" - This will be a personal account
of astronomy at "New Mexico Skies". The beauty of the heavens as seen
from this dark sky site will be demonstrated in a display of personal
photos, showing a rich variety of celestial objects, An explanation of
photographic techniques, and a description of these objects will be
given.

5:00 p.m. Dr. Terry Matilsky, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers
University

"Armchair X-Ray Astronomy" - You don't have to get time on any of the
X-ray satellites in order to do X-ray astronomy. The astronomical
imaging and data visualization application called "SAO Image DS9"
allows the amateur to accomplish this. At this presentation, you will
learn how to be an armchair X-ray astronomer.

8:00 p.m. Mr. Craig Small, Astronomy Instructor at Hayden Planetarium

"Metropolitan Transit Authority" - This presentation addresses the
solar transit of different planets. The presenter's experience with
the observation of many of the recent transits will be demonstrated in
such a fashion, that you will be prepared to view the next solar
transit with much excitement and awe.

For questions contact Karl Hricko at or Barry
Malpas at Hope to see you there.

END

ABOUT THE UACNJ
The United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey, Inc. (UACNJ) was formed in
1988 as a loosely associated umbrella and networking group for New
Jersey area amateur astronomy clubs. The UACNJ itself is not a club,
but a consortium of a dozen clubs, united to better help support,
coordinate, and communicate ideas between the over 1400 individuals
who make astronomy their hobby, in and around the state.

The UACNJ helps promote and support amateur astronomy in the New
Jersey area by representing its member clubs with its astronomical
displays at major area events. The UACNJ's presence has been seen
regularly at the Rockland Astronomy Club's "North East Astronomy
Forum" in the spring, the Amateur Astronomers Association of
Princeton's "New Jersey StarQuest" June camp weekend, the Bucks-Mont
Astronomical Association's "Stella-Della-Valley" camp weekend in the
fall, as well as the UACNJ's own Astronomy Day and "UACNJ Symposium"
events, held at the UACNJ Observatory. The UACNJ maintains a Speakers'
Bureau for member clubs, awards Messier, Asteroid and Spectroscopic
Certificates to qualifying observers, and maintains this web site
which provides information on member clubs and links directly to all
their web sites.