Outside
under a spectacular starry sky, members of the Door Peninsula
Astronomical Society and Crossroads visitors often find themselves
pondering those "big questions ." DPAS is delighted to announce that
Dr. Heidi Fencl is returning to Crossroads at Big Creek for their 7:00
Tuesday meeting to present the lecture "Asking the Big Questions:
Observations and Understandings that Lead Us to the Big Bang."
Dr. Fencl is an Assistant Professor at the University of
Wisconsin-Green Bay where she trains teachers of physics. She has been
involved in Project Kaleidoscope and other programs for discovering how
people learn science and how best to provide instruction. Everyone who
attended her program last year understand fully why she has received a
number of awards for teaching.
Heidi Fencl is a talented, enthusiastic and inspiring speaker with a
knack for presenting difficult concepts in a logical progression and in
terms assessable for learners high school aged and older. Members of
the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society encourage visitors to join them
for this free presentation. Refreshments will be served.
Speaking of DPAS, this organization offers public viewing nights at
Crossroads at least monthly, but for the past few years, they have
experienced abysmal viewing conditions on the scheduled nights. This
was made all the more heartbreaking when the skies were absolutely
stunning a day or so later.
DPAS will continue to schedule viewing nights at the Leif Everson
Observatory, In addition, on those coveted perfect nights, members of
the society may open the Leif Everson Observatory and welcome visitors.
So, nights when conditions seem good, call 920-746-5896. The society
has established this designated telephone number so when the
observatory is open, a recorded message will give you the information
you will need.
What makes a perfect viewing night? Obviously, a cloudless sky is
perferable, but astronomers also talk about a conditions they call
"transparency" which refers to how well light can travel through our
atmosphere. The more material the light must travel through, the more
difficult the viewing.
For Leif Everson Observatory at Crossroads, industrial pollution is not
noticable and light pollution, while problematic, is not as serious as
it would be in a big city. Our greatest transparency problems are
caused by moisture in the air. Clouds and brigh moonlight, of course,
obscure most celestial images, but even humidity and heat waves can
decrease transparency significantly. So can dust, pollen, and smoke.
Even the nothern lights decrease transparency, but their beauty reduces
the frustration.
Perfect nights occur when cold, dry air masses decend from the Arctic.
These nights can be chilly, but the superb viewing make it worth the
minor discomfort. Call and if the observatory is open, you will have an
unforgetable experience.
On Thursday, September 27, t at 7:00PM John Hippensteel, resident
spokesman of Community Wind Energy LLC, will present "Wind Energy &
Door County" to provide policy makers and interested individuals an
opportunity to bring any questions and concerns they may have about the
impact wind turbines in Door County .
Mr. Hippensteel will outline how well-suited Door County is for
producing pollution-free energy for homes, farms and businesses without
further harming our very diverse and fragile ecosystem. He will discuss
many of the myths surrounding wind energy systems, as well as the
actual historical incidents which have given rise to misconceptions of
the dangers wind turbines pose for lands, residents and wildlife.
