A ohe lokomaika i i nele i ka pāna i.

Transcription

1 Aloha VIS volunteers! Hi all, we re looking for those interested in participating in the Merrie Monarch Parade and volunteering for the Earth Day Fair at HCC. See more information in the segments below. A big mahalo to our fireweed removal volunteers an estimation of close to 8,000 plants were removed! We would like to make this a monthly event, so if you re interested in joining us next month on April 28th, me to sign up. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 Have: Have: 1 4 Cheers, Kim Stargazing Volunteer Schedule for 3/25 4/7 26 Have: Have: 3 2 * - driver is needed! 27 Have: Have: 2 *5 28 Have: Have: Have: Have: Have: Have: 1 4 Interested in coming up? Give us a call we d love to have you! If possible, let us know a week in advance. If you need to cancel, please let us know asap. Mahalo! March 25 th, 2012 A ohe lokomaika i i nele i ka pāna i. No kind deed has ever lacked its reward. (as of 3/25) 31 International Students * 7 International Students Upcoming Events /7/12 The Universe Tonight! Contact Janet for more information. Saturday 6pm 4/14/12 Merrie Monarch Parade. Saturday 10:30am 4/14/12 University Astrophysics Club at the VIS. Saturday Stargazing 4/20/12 Earth Day Fair at HCC. Friday 9:00am- 4:00pm 4/21/12 Malalo I Ka Lani Po. Come join us for Culture Night! Saturday 6pm `ao`ao `ekahi

2 At the Summit. Photo by K. Brenton Onizuka Visitor Information Station (808) Open 9:00am 10:00pm Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services 177 Maka`ala Street, Hilo HI (808) Open 7:00am 4:00pm, Mon-Fri To schedule for volunteering, call the VIS or NEXT FULL MOON: 4/7/12 send us an at UPCOMING EVENTS with VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 4/14/12 Merrie Monarch Royal Parade 10:30am (meeting time TBD) 4/20/12 Earth Day Fair at HCC 9:00am-4:00pm (set up and breakdown times TBD) 5/7/12 AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza (times TBD) 6/5/12 Transit of Venus Transit will be viewable in Hawaii from 12:00pm-6:00pm (sunset) Mauna Kea Community Spotlight Do you know somebody who deserves a spotlight? Let us know who you think is an outstanding community member and why at mkvisnews@gmail.com. `ao`ao `elua

3 March Sky 2012 Screenshot taken from Stellarium, dated 3/15/12 Hawaiian star and constellation names are identified according to information found at: -andhttp:// -andcourtesy of Leilehua Yuen from Hawaiian Culture Night lectures at the VIS. Star names are in white (Western) and yellow (Hawaiian), while Hawaiian constellations and groupings are in pink. Hawaiian navigation star lines are in blue. `ao`ao `ekolu

4 ::. March 2012 Things Visible All March Venus * Mars Jupiter * The Leo Trio (M65, M66, and NGC3628) Binary System Gamma Leonis Cigar Galaxy (M82) Great Nebula in Orion (M42, NGC 1976) * Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118) * Spiral Galaxy, M81 (NGC 3031) Spiral Galaxy, M96 Elliptical Galaxy, M105 Owl Nebula (M97) Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) Spiral Galaxy NGC 3079 Visual Double Mizar & Alcor *before midnight Starburst Galaxy, M82 Image credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht `ao`ao `eha

5 Mauna Kea is home to Poli ahu, a kupua (Hawaiian terminology for a being with supernatural powers, but not having the status of a god) of snow and ice. Mauna Kea is also home to her sisters, Lilinoe and Waiau, kupua of the mist and of the reservoir of water of Mauna Kea as manifested in Lake Waiau, respectively. Poli ahu is also the rival of Pele, the kupua of fire and volcanism. While they have battled with each other several times, Poli ahu continues to remain victorious. All year round, Poli ahu s white blanket of snow can be seen when heavy rains and precipitation mix with the typically below-freezing temperatures on the mountain. She is said to favor the Hamakua region on the eastern side of the island, allowing the snow that melts to flow down to these lush areas. This fertility of the land is a manifestation of Poli ahu s gifts to further the beauty of the land and to ensuring the well-being of mankind. Resources: `ao`ao `elima

6 Thank you volunteers! Next effort will be April 28 th. to sign up. Photos courtesy of the Office of Mauna Kea Management `ao`ao `eono

7 The Transit of Venus, 2012 Volunteer Countdown! Currently have: 7 Still need: 26 At minimum, we ll need to have 33 volunteers helping us run various aspects of this day. Some activities include: -bookstore duties- -setup and manning telescopes at the VIS- -ranger assistance- -manning satellite sites (locations outside the VIS)- Let us know if you are interested or want more information! Merrie Monarch FESTIVAL Parade April 14 th in Downtown Hilo The Mauna Kea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC) will be decorating a truck to be used in the Merrie Monarch Parade this year. If you d like to participate in the preparing the truck the day before the parade (April 13 th ) or marching in the parade itself, contact Shawn at slaatsch@imiloahawaii.org for more information. (Hours you participate in this event will be added to your total volunteer hours!) Earth Day Fair, 2012 When: April 20th, 9:00am-4:00pm Where: Hawaii Community College, Manono Campus Come and celebrate our Mother Earth! The VIS will have a table at the fair. Volunteers will assist in the setup and breakdown of the VIS table and materials. We are looking for 3 volunteers for this event. `ao`ao `ehiku

8 Don t forget that if you d like to submit content for the newsletter, contact us via at mkvisnews@gmail.com. `ao`ao `ewalu