See the Moons and Planets at the Troy Public Library

Interested in the moons and the planets?

Drop by the Troy Public Library after dark (about 6:30 pm) on Wednesday, October 28, and Thursday, October 29, and let members of the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club help put your head in the clouds.

Club members will set up telescopes to give you a great view of Earth's moon - now in its first quarter. Viewers should be able to see mountains and craters on the lunar surface. You should also be able to see the giant planet Jupiter -- 465 million miles away -- and a few of its moons.

The telescopes will be on the sidewalk on the east side of the Library, at the north end of the handicapped parking area, right in front of the current construction. There will be minimal interference with pedestrian traffic.

If you have an interest in seeing what else is out there, here's your chance. The early weather forecasts are clear and mild for both evenings -- perfect nights for sky gazing.

Fun Friday: Colbert on Galileo

How often do you see an articulate, funny astronomer on the television?

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Derrick Pitts
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

[via Bad Astronomy]

Sagan's Cosmos Series Online on Hulu

Here is a good resource for teachers, from Bad Astronomy.

Hulu is carrying the entire popular and highly acclaimed Public Broadcasting Service series Cosmos. First broadcast in 1980, Cosmos won an Emmy and a Peabody Award, and popularized astronomy to more than 600 million people in 60 countries. The series made its narrator, astronomer Carl Sagan, a household name.