From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Nov 10 2006 - 11:19:55 PST
>From: "Keck Observatory" <newsletter_at_keck.hawaii.edu>
>Subject: KECK: November News and Updates
>Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2006 16:20:41 -1000
>
>* * Special Note: Venue change for Nov. 16th Lecture to HPA Upper
>Campus, Castle Lecture Hall * *
>
>
>W. M. Keck Observatory Newsletter
>Volume 3, Number 9
>November 2006
>
>CONTENTS:
>* EARTHQUAKE UPDATE
>* PODCAST UPDATE
>* HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE MISSION EXTENDED TO 2013
>* PLANETS IN NOVEMBER
>* MOON PHASES
>* LEONID METEOR SHOWER
>* EVENTS
>* EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
>* SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>EARTHQUAKE UPDATE
>The W. M. Keck Observatory is recovering from a 6.7-magnitude earthquake
>and a series of aftershocks that struck off the west coast of Hawaii
>Sunday morning at 7:07 a.m. HST. The earthquake was the largest to hit
>Hawaii in 20 years and caused power and communication failures across
>the state. There were no injuries at W. M. Keck Observatory and all
>personnel are safe. The mirrors of both telescopes are in good condition
>and both AO systems are functioning. The laser guide star and laser
>subsystems appear to be fine.
>As a precautionary measure, the Observatory has closed the Hualalai
>Lecture Theater at its headquarter facilities in Waimea. The
>Observatory's public astronomy lecture on Nov. 16th HAS BEEN MOVED TO
>the HPA Upper Campus on Kohala Mountain Road in the Castle Lecture Hall.
>For more information, please call (808) 881-3827 or visit:
>http://www.keckobservatory.org/article.php?id=95
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>PODCAST UPDATE
>The W. M. Keck Observatory Podcast features five recordings from the
>public astronomy lecture series. In October the Observatory added a
>recording from Dr. Richard Ellis about the search for Cosmic Dawn -- the
>time in the Universe when the first stars and galaxies began to appear.
>Slides to accompany the talk and a summary of how the content ties into
>state science standards are available on the Observatory Web site at:
>http://www.keckobservatory.org/podcast.php
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE MISSION EXTENDED TO 2013
>(COURTESY FROM NASA) Shuttle astronauts will make one final house call
>to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope as part of a mission to extend and
>improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.
>
>NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced plans for a fifth servicing
>mission to Hubble Tuesday during a meeting with agency employees at
>NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Goddard is the agency
>center responsible for managing Hubble.
>
>"We have conducted a detailed analysis of the performance and procedures
>necessary to carry out a successful Hubble repair mission over the
>course of the last three shuttle missions. What we have learned has
>convinced us that we are able to conduct a safe and effective servicing
>mission to Hubble," Griffin said. "While there is an inherent risk in
>all spaceflight activities, the desire to preserve a truly international
>asset like the Hubble Space Telescope makes doing this mission the right
>course of action."
>
>The flight is tentatively targeted for launch during the spring to fall
>of 2008. Mission planners are working to determine the best location and
>vehicle in the manifest to support the needs of Hubble while minimizing
>impact to International Space Station assembly. The planners are
>investigating the best way to support a launch on need mission for the
>Hubble flight. The present option will keep Launch Pad 39-B at the
>Kennedy Space Center, Fla., available for such a rescue flight should it
>be necessary. For more information:
>http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>PLANETS IN NOVEMBER
>(Courtesy Bishop Museum)
>
>Mercury
>A rare transit of Mercury will occur Nov. 8th from 9:10 am to 2:10 pm
>HST. A "transit" is when a planet appears to cross the disk of a star,
>as seen from Earth. Only 13 or 14 transits of Mercury take place each
>century. Most of the time Mercury will pass above or below our line of
>sight from earth because it is not exactly in the same orbital plane as
>Earth. But occassionally the Earth, Mercury and the Sun will line up in
>such a way that Mercury can be seen crossing the face of the solar disk.
>NEVER attempt to view the Sun on your own. The W. M. Keck Observatory
>and the Onizuka Visitor Information Station at Mauna Kea will provide
>public viewing of the event. Please call (808) 881-3827 for more
>information. To see a Web cast, point your browser to:
>http://www.sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007
>
>Venus
>Venus is still too close to the Sun in the morning to easily been seen.
>Look for Venus to reappear in the evening sky in December.
>
>Mars
>Mars is also behind the Sun as viewed from Earth and will return to the
>morning sky in December.
>
>Jupiter
>Jupiter is also heading to the morning sky, and is no longer visible in
>the evening sky. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Sun on Nov. 21
>and will re-emerge as a morning object in early December.
>
>Saturn
>Saturn is the best (okay, the only) planet shining in the evening sky
>this month. Look for Saturn rising in the East around 1:30 a.m. and just
>before midnight by the end of the month. Venus will be creeping back
>into the evening sky after Thanksgiving.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>MOON PHASES:
>Full Moon: Nov. 5
>Third Quarter: Nov. 12
>New Moon: Nov. 20
>First Quarter: Nov. 27
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>LEONID METEOR SHOWER
>The popular Leonid meteor shower appears during the early morning hours
>of Nov. 16 and 17, with the peak taking place during daylight hours in
>Hawaii (9am). Leo rises in the east shortly after midnight and will be
>home to the planet Saturn during the shower.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>EVENTS:
>(www.keckobservatory.org/calendar.php)
>
>WEST HAWAII ASTRONOMY CLUB
>Nov. 14th from 7-9p.m. at CFHT Headquarters in Waimea
>Canada-France Hawaii Telescope Facillity and the W. M. Keck Observatory
>will discuss the recent earthquake damage at the summit of Mauna Kea.
>Discover the inside story about how the earthquake has affected
>worldwide astronomy, and the issues involved with returning the
>telescopes back to service. Light refreshments will be served. Free and
>open to the public. The popular "Sky Tonight" program will also be
>presented. For more information, see the club Web site at
>http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/whac/calendar.html.
>
>
>ASTRONOMY LECTURE WITH DR. CRYSTAL MARTIN
>* * * * V E N U E C H A N G E * * * *
>HPA UPPER CAMPUS -- CASTLE LECTURE HALL
>Nov. 16th from 7-8:30p.m.
>"Galactic Gales: Just Weather, or the Key to Galaxy Evolution?" Dr.
>Crystal Martin of the University of California Santa Barbara talks about
>how stars, galaxies and even black holes produce strong winds. How does
>their speed change with cosmic time? Do these winds pollute
>intergalactic space with elements like oxygen? Do winds generated from
>black holes actually stop the formation of stars in those galaxies? Call
>(808) 881-3827 for info.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
>(http://www.keckobservatory.org/employment.php)
>
>Administrative Assistant
>Provide support to Observatory staff including technical word processing
>and spreadsheets, maintenance of documentation on the Web, and other
>tasks. Minimum qualifications are a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
>experience plus five years of secretarial /administrative experience.
>Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Web
>editing.
>
>Support Astronomer
>The Observatory seeks a support astronomer to maintain, operate and
>develop scientific instrumentation at the W.M. Keck Observatory and
>ensure observers are properly instructed in its use; work a flexible
>schedule to support astronomers in the night-time operation of
>instruments. Must have Ph.D. or equivalent degree in astronomy, physics,
>or engineering; relevant experience may be substituted for a degree.
>Three years with scientific instrumentation. Experience observing at a
>modern astronomical observatory and reducing astronomical data.
>
>Laser Spotter
>The Observatory seeks several laser spotters to participate in aircraft
>spotting for operations of the Laser Guide Star System. Work is
>accomplished at night at the summit of Mauna Kea. Minimum qualifications
>include the ability to follow mandatory policies and procedures and an
>ability to exercise great care when working with equipment.
>
>Data Archive Postdoc
>The Observatory seeks a Data Archive Postdoctoral researcher to work
>with the Keck Observatory Archive (KOA). The successful candidate will
>work closely with the archive team at WMKO and at the Michelson Science
>Center in California on all aspects of KOA concerning the design,
>development, maintenance, operations and support of astronomers who use
>the archive. The successful candidate will also share responsibility for
>the maintenance and operation of HIRES (High Resolution Echelle
>Spectrometer), and may be required to support astronomers in the
>night-time operation of HIRES. Minimum qualifications include: PhD
>degree in astronomy or physics with experience in modern astronomical
>data reduction and analysis techniques.
>
>Interferometer Operations Optics Engineer
>Immediate opening for an optics engineer to perform the lead on-site
>operations coordination and optics roles for the Keck Interferometer
>(KI). This is a temporary 3-year position. Minimum qualifications:
>Bachelor of Science degree in optics, physics or engineering or
>equivalent experience. Three years' experience in optical engineering
>with practical experience in the alignment, testing and maintenance and
>optimization of instrument.
>
>Interferometry Postdoctoral Researcher
>Will work on new developments for the Keck Interferometer (K1). The
>successful candidate will play a role in the design, implementation and
>astrophysical application of the phase referencing and astrometric
>science modes, with special emphasis on ensuring and demonstrating their
>scientific unity. Minimum qualifications: Ph.D. in astronomy or physics
>with experience in using interferometric techniques for astrophysical
>research. This is a temporary position for a total of 30 months.
>
>Electronics Engineer
>Become a member of a team developing and operating high angular
>resolution instrumentation. The electronics engineer will participate in
>design, analysis, fabrication, installation, operation, troubleshooting,
>maintenance, modification and documentation of electronic subsystems,
>primarily within the interferometer and adaptive optics programs.
>Minimum qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in electrical or electronics
>engineering and/or equivalent experience.
>
>Night Attendant
>The full-time Night Attendant will perform security-related and
>technical tasks at night on the summit of Mauna Kea from evening to
>early morning hours. Minimum qualifications include five years work
>experience in a responsible position; ability to work at high altitude
>(13,600 feet); ability to work night shift on a continuous basis;
>flexibility to work weekends continuously or occasionally; excellent
>driving skills. Mechanical or electrical experience is desirable.
>
>Mechanical Technician
>The observatory seeks a Mechanical Technician to perform a variety of
>mechanical tasks, including welding, fabricating and machining, at the
>Mauna Kea summit facility. Also performs modifications and improvements
>to the Keck telescopes, telescope instruments and subsystems, domes and
>facility mechanical systems. Minimum qualifications include work
>experience in machining, welding and fabrication, and general mechanics.
>Ability to work effectively at 14,000' altitude and to lift 70 pounds.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
>If you would like to be added or removed from this newsletter, please
>reply to this message or send an e-mail to "newsletter_at_keck.hawaii.edu."
>
>
>Help us serve you better! Please include your zip code.
>
>Laura K. Kinoshita
>Public Information Officer
>W. M. Keck Observatory
>California Association for Research in Astronomy
>65-1120 Mamalahoa Hwy.
>Kamuela, HI 96743
>(808) 881-3827
>
># # #
>
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