Campus and community briefs
Sub for Santa unveils new Web site
Cache County Sub for Santa invites the public to visit its new Web site to adopt a child, sign up to be a sponsor or learn more about their program.
The Web site, www.subforsanta.org, also carries information about upcoming community events and locations where you can drop off a new toy or clothing for a child and senior in the community. Cache County Sub for Santa is a community-based, non-profit organization that provides Christmas gifts for children in needy families.
Utahns told of 2003’s final meteor shower
Utah sky watchers have a date with with the annual Geminids meteor shower, the last major meteor shower of the year, the night of Saturday, Dec. 13 and the morning of Sunday, Dec. 14.
Past Geminids displays have treated those willing to brave Utah’s December cold to more than 100 meteors per hour.
“Unfortunately,” says NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah Patrick Wiggins, “as with most meteor showers this one will probably be most active after midnight and by that time the Moon and its accompanying glaring glow will be high in the sky, washing out all but the brightest meteors.”
Wiggins notes, however, that the Moon will not be rising until around 10 Saturday night. This leaves Utahns about a three hour window between when it gets dark and when the Moon rises to try and see some meteors under dark skies.
Telescopes and binoculars severely restrict the user’s view of the sky so they should not be used to watch for meteors. Wiggins says there’s no best place in the sky to look.
“Rule one in meteor observing is to first get away from city light pollution and then just lay back and look up. The meteors will call attention to themselves,” he said.
A few Geminids may also be visible in the nights leading up to and following the predicted peak, but numbers of meteors on those nights will likely be fewer as the Earth will then be less centered in the comet particle swarm.
The three best meteor showers of 2004 are expected to occur in early January, mid-August and mid-December.
For information on the Geminids and other astronomical topics log on to Wiggins’ NASA Solar System Ambassador Web page at http://planet.state.ut.us.
Kids and educators called to screening
Cache Valley kids, parents and teachers are invited to the free premiere screening of an educational video and interactive CD-ROM on archaeology, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology, Old Main Room 252.
The 20-minute video, “Why it Rocks,” was created by Utah State archaeologists and media experts, and was narrated by students from Edith Bowen Laboratory School. The video explains archaeological terms and how archaeologists excavate and interpret an archaeological site.
The CD-ROM complements the video by providing opportunities for kids to learn about archaeological terms interactively. Children in second through sixth grade and their parents are urged to attend and enjoy the video as well as refreshments. Teachers are especially urged to attend the screening to assess the video for possible classroom use.
For more information contact Bonnie Pitblado, director of the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology, at (435) 797-7545.
Wright Flyer to soar on flight anniversary
Wayne Larsen will pilot the USU Wright Flyer in Utah on the 100th Anniversary of Flight, Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Weather permitting, it will fly between 10 a.m. and noon at the Brigham City Airport in Brigham City, Utah. In case of bad weather, the plane will be on display.