May 3, 2012 – Explorer Post Meeting: Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 (for young men and women age 14 to 20) meets at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado at 7 PM. For more information, please call 719.234.1612 or 719.244.3560.
May 5-6, 2012 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower: As Earth flies through the debris left over from the tail of Halley’s Comet, that debris “burns up” in Earth’s atmosphere, causing a meteor shower.
May 17, 2012 – Explorer Post Meeting: Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 (for young men and women age 14 to 20) meets at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado at 7 PM. For more information, please call 719.234.1612 or 719.244.3560.
May 29, 2012 – August 3, 2012 Week-long Summer Space Camps begin at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado. For more information, please call 719.598.9755. Click here for Summer camp schedule and registration form.
June 2, 2012 – Simulated Space Mission: Challenger Learning Center hosts a public mission, Return to the Moon 9am-12noon. Families, friends, and groups are welcome to fly a mission together to the moon. Limited slots available and reservations are required. For more information, call 719.598.9755.
June 5-6, 2012 – Venus Transit of the Sun: This extremely rare event will be entirely visible throughout most of eastern Asia, eastern Australia, and Alaska. A partial transit can be seen in progress at sunrise throughout Europe, western Asia, and eastern Africa. A partial transit can be seen in progress at sunset throughout most of North America, Central America, and western South America. The next transit will not take place until 2117. www.seasky.org
June 7, 2012 – Explorer Post Meeting: Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 (for young men and women age 14 to 20) meets at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado at 7 PM. For more information, please call 719.234.1612 or 719.244.3560.
June 20 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 23:09 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the southern hemisphere. www.seasky.org
June 21, 2012 – Explorer Post Meeting: Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 (for young men and women age 14 to 20) meets at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado at 7 PM. For more information, please call 719.234.1612 or 719.244.3560.
June 26, 2012 -- Full Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the western Americas
www.seasky.org
July 11-13, 2012 – USAFA STEM Boot Camp: Three-day (Wednesday - Friday) STEM training sessions for high school educators – 8:30AM to 5:30PM each day. To reserve your spot go to USAFA Boot Camp 2012 .
July 16-18, 2012 – USAFA STEM Boot Camp: Separate offerings of three-day (Monday - Wednesday) STEM training sessions for elementary, middle, and high school educators – 8:30AM to 4:30PM each day. To reserve your spot go to USAFA Boot Camp 2012 .
July 28, 29 - Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids can produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on July 28 & 29, but some meteors can also be seen from July 18 - August 18. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. The near first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.www.seasky.org
August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on August 13 & 14, but you may be able to see some meteors any time from July 23 - August 22. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. The near last quarter moon will be hanging around for the show, but shouldn’t be too much of a problem for a shower with up to 60 meteors per hour. Find a location far from city lights and look to the northeast after midnight.www.seasky.org
August 24 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Neptune. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes. www.seasky.org
September 22 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 14:49 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.www.seasky.org
September 22, 2012 – Simulated Space Mission: Challenger Learning Center hosts a public mission, Rendezvous with a Comet, Saturday from 9am-12noon. Families, friends, and groups are welcome to fly a mission together. Limited slots available and reservations are required. For more information, call 719.598.9755.
October 27, 2012 – Simulated Space Mission: Challenger Learning Center hosts a public mission, Voyage to Mars, Saturday from 9am-12noon. Families, friends, and groups are welcome to fly a mission together to the red planet. Limited slots available and reservations are required. For more information, call 719.598.9755.