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Presentations in Cyan
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Astronomy in Gray
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History in Red
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Information Links in Gold
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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This is a good month to view the Pleiades in Taurus, also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters. The starlore associated
with the Pleiades is extensive (example).
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1
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2
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Isaac Asimov born 1920
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3
YMCA
1:00 PM
Earth at
perihelion
closest to Sun
0.983 AU
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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16
Lummi Nation School
2:00 PM
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
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22
Carl Cozier
Lifeskills
10:30 AM
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23
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24
Public Show
ORION
6:00PM & 7:30PM
360.650.6146
for tickets
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25
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26
Awana
3:00 PM
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27
Apollo 1 fire, 1967
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28
Space Shuttle Challenger lost, 1986
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29
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30
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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Shuksan Middle
12:30 PM
Chief Leschi
6:00 PM
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The sword of Orion, just below his famous belt, is where we find the Orion Nebula
(more).
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Zodiacal light is a pyramid of very dim light seen in the west after evening twilight
and in the east after morning twilight. It is light scattered from the Sun by countless
micro-meteoroidal particles along the plane of the solar system.
(more)
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1
North Whidbey
Middle School
10:45 - 12:15
Venus and Jupiter in conjunction
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2
Space Shuttle
Columbia lost, 2003
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3
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4
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5
North Whidbey
Middle School
10:45 - 12:15
WWU A316
6:00PM
Apollo 14 lands on the Moon 1971
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6
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7
Solar
Eclipse
(eclipses)
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8
Columbia
Stuocs Yob
4:15 PM
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9
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10
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11
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12
WWU A316
6:00PM
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13
Skagit
Homeschoolers
1:30 PM
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14
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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15
Galileo Galilei born 1564 (bio)
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16
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17
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18
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
Chinese
New Year
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19
Nicholous Copernicus
born 1473
(bio)
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20
Last Total Lunar Eclipse until 2010
John Glenn
orbits Earth in "Friendship 7" 1962
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21
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22
Lynden Young Women's Group
5:00 PM
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23
Supernova 1987A Observed (stellar evolution)
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24
Saturn at Opposition
(Saturn)
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25
WWU Astro-Night
4:00PM
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26
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27
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28
Public Show
ORION
6:00PM & 7:30PM
360.650.6146
for tickets
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29
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Why are there leap years?
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Leo is now high in the southeastern sky in the evening and increasingly dominates the spring sky.
From northern latitudes look for the Big Dipper straight up on the zenith.
(constellations)
M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, is beautiful in telescopes or binoculars.
Look 3.5 degrees southeast from the
easternmost star of the Big Dipper.
(galaxies)
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
Academy for
Lifelong Learning
3:00 PM
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7
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8
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9
Daylight Savings Time begins for most of America
time of day
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10
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 1, 6:00 PM
Free to Public
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11
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12
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 1, 6:00 PM
Free to Public
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13
WWU Physics 101
2:00 PM
Academy for
Lifelong Learning
3:00 PM
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14
Albert Einstein born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany 1879
(bio).
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15
Science
Adventures
10:00AM to 4:00PM
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16
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17
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 2, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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18
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19
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 2, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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20
AWA High
10:30AM
Vernal Equinox
(seasons)
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21
Westview
Kindergarten
10:30 AM
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22
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23
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24
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25
BSA
Troop 3
7:30 PM
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26
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27
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28
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29
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30
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31
Highland Christian
11:30 AM
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 3, 6:00 PM
Free to Public
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March is the month of the "Messier Marathon" which is when amateur astronomers attempt to see as many
of the M Objects in one night as they can. The Messier Catalog represents most of the real showpiece objects for small telescopes.
Due to the position of the Sun it is theoretically possible to see all of them this month, especially around
the night of the new moon when the sky is the darkest.
(Messiers)
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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The occurence Aurora is difficult to predict but corresponds
to activity on the surface of the Sun (more)
(photo by RL.Dietz).
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1
Academy for
Lifelong Learning
6:30 PM
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2
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 3, 6:00 PM
Free to Public
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3
Lynden Learning
Lifestyles
10:00AM
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4
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5
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6
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7
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 4, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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8
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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9
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 4, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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10
Apollo 13 launched, 1970
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11
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12
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13
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14
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 5, 6:00PM
Free to Public
Shuttle lands for first time (Columbia) 1981
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15
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16
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 5, 6:00PM
Free to Public
Wilbur Wright born, 1867
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17
Public Show
In Like a Lion
7:00PM
360.650.6146
for tickets
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18
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19
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20
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21
University Advancement
3:00PM
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 6, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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22
BHS
10:30AM
Lyrid Meteor Shower
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23
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 6, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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24
Public Show
In Like a Lion
7:00PM
360.650.6146
for tickets
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25
Hubble Space Telescope launched, 1990
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26
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27
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28
Columbia Brownies
3:00PM
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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29
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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30
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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The Lyrid Meteor shower peaks on the 22nd at a rate of 20 per hour.
Lyrid meteors radiate from a point in the sky near the bright star Vega.
(meteors)
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks on May 5 but actully stretches from April 21 to May 12.
It produces about 10 meteors per hour at the peak.
Best viewing is after midnight. (meteors)
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Kindergarten
10:00 AM
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2
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3
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4
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
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5
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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6
Washington Elem
12 & 1 PM
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7
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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8
Mabton
9:00AM
Sumas Elementary
5th Grade
10:30AM
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9
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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10
Apollo 10 launched 1969
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11
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12
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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13
Fidalgo
Elem.
10:00 AM
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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14
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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15
BHS
10:30 AM
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16
Showtime
Family Weekend
6:30PM & 8:00PM
for tickets call
(360) 650-3846
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17
Showtime
Family Weekend
12, 1:30, 3, 4:40
for tickets call
(360) 650-3846
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18
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19
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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20
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21
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 7, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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22
Geneva 5th
Grade 11:00 AM
Public Show
In Like a Lion
7:00PM
360.650.6146
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23
Blaine Middle School
7:00PM
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24
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25
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26
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 8, 6:00PM
Free to Public
Skylab launched 1973
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27
Planeteer
Training
7:00 PM
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28
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 8, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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29
Public Show
In Like a Lion
7:00PM
360.650.6146
for tickets
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30
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31
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1
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2
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 9, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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3
AS #1
4th & 5th Grade
7:30 PM
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4
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 9, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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5
SMATE
5:00PM
College Courses
WWU A103 &
WCC A150
6:00 PM
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6
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7
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8
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9
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 10, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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10
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11
Carl Sagan's COSMOS
Episode 10, 6:00PM
Free to Public
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
Summer Solstice
Longest day of the year
(seasons)
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21
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22
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23
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24
Bellingham
Parks & Rec
11:00 AM
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25
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26
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27
Homeschool
Preschool
10:30 AM
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28
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29
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30
Meteor explodes over Tunguska Siberia, 1908
(meteors)
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Look for the bright stars of the Summer Triangle high over head this month. It consists of the first three stars
you can see as it begins to get dark after sunset. The brightest star is Vega, in the constellation of Lyra the harp.
Then there is Deneb, the tail feathers of Cygnus the swan. Nearest the horizon is Altair in Aquila the eagle.
(bright stars).
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown is a semicircle of
stars located between Hercules and Bootes, high in the summer sky.
(constellations)
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1
Galileo files report that Jupiter has moons, 1610
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2
YMCA
Adventure
Day Camp
10:00 AM
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3
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4
Earth at
aphelion
farthest from Sun
1.016 AU
(seasons)
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
Jupiter at Opposition
(Jupiter)
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10
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11
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12
WWU
Alumni Board
7:00 PM
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13
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14
Lynden
Boys & Girls
1:00 PM
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15
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16
Apollo 11 launched, 1969
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17
Grandparents
University
5:45 PM
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18
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19
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20
First humans on the Moon, 1969
(the moon)
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21
Mukilteo YMCA
11:00AM & 1:00PM
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22
Marysville YMCA
10:45AM
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23
Shuksan
Summer
School
11:00 AM
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24
Western
Scholars
Invitational
6:30 PM
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25
Galileo views
Saturn with a telescope, 1610
(bio)
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26
Apollo 15 launched, 1971
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27
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28
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29
Bellingham
Parks & Rec
11:00 AM
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30
YMCA
Discovery
10:30 AM
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31
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The crown represents the one that Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, wore at
her wedding. The crown was created by the supreme goldsmith, Hephaestus
(greek myths).
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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The Perseid Meteor Shower is a yearly favorite. It peaks on the 12th with a rate of 50 to 60 per hour.
These meteors are actually debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle
which takes approximately 130 years to orbit the Sun
(comets).
Solar Eclipse photo by RL.Dietz
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1
Solar
Eclipse
(eclipses)
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
Elakah
Kayakers
6:00PM
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
Western Kids Camp
2:00PM & 3:00PM
Perseid Meteor Shower
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13
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14
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15
Neptune at Opposition
(Neptune)
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16
Partial Lunar Eclipse
(eclipses)
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17
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18
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19
Orville Wright born, 1871
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20
YMCA
Adventure
Camp
10:00AM
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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26
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27
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28
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29
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There is a Total Solar Eclipse on the 1st this month. The path of totality will begin in northern
Canada and move east and south through northern Greenland, Siberia, Mongolia, and central
China. A partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout most of Greenland, Europe, And Asia.
On the 16th there will be a Partial Lunar Eclipse visible throughout most of South America, Europe,
Africa, Asia, and Australia.
(eclipses)
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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The bright star Capella sparkles with colorful intensity
when seen through dense air near the horizon.
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
Uranus at Opposition
(Uranus)
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14
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15
Closed for Maintenance
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16
Bellingham
High School
8:30AM
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17
Bellingham
High School
8:30AM & 12:55AM
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18
Fairhaven
Girls School
9:30AM
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19
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20
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21
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22
AutumnalEquinox
(seasons)
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23
Neptune discovered 1846
(Neptune)
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24
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25
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26
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27
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28
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29
WWU CST
Scholars
5:45PM
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Another interesting autumn star is Mira, a variable star
in the constellations of Cetus. At its brightest it is as bright as the North Star. At its dimmest it is invisible
to the naked eye. The whole cycle takes about 330 days.
(constellations)
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Orionid Meteor Shower peaks on the 21st.
Hourly rate reaches 20.
It's created by debris along the orbital path of Halley's Comet.
(comets)
A good month to view M31, the Andromea Galaxy, which is 2.6 million lightyears away.
(galaxies)
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1
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2
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3
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4
Sputnik, first human craft in space, launched from Russia 1957
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5
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6
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7
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8
WWU A103
WCC A150
7:00PM
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9
W.A.C.O.
7:30PM
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
Clear Lake Visions
10:30AM
Chuck Yeager breaks sound barrier, 1947
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15
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16
Bayside
Montessori
10:00AM
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
WWU A103
WCC A150
7:00PM
Orionid Meteor Shower
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22
Open to Public
6:00PM
650-6146
for tickets
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23
Bayside
Montessori
10:00AM
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24
WWU Fall Family
Open House
7:00PM & 8:30PM
tickets required
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25
WWU Fall Family
Open House
1:00PM & 2:30PM
tickets required
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26
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27
WWU A103
WCC A150
7:00PM
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28
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29
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30
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31
Vatican admits errors in trial of Galileo, 1992
(bio)
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In the south, the bright lonely star Fomalhaut shines in solitary splendor.
bright stars
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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The Leonid Meteor Shower peaks on the 17th.
Maximum hourly rate typically reaches 10 to 15.
This shower is notable for greatly enhanced activity every 33 years. The showering of gravel entering our
atmosphere is caused by a river of debris left in space by the passing of comet Tempel-Tuttle.
(comets)
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1
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2
Daylight Savings Time Ends time
First dog in space, 1957
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3
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4
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5
Open to Public
6:00PM
650-6146
for tickets
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
Tycho Brahe observes supernova in Cassiopeia, 1572
(Brahe)
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12
WWU A103
WCC A150
7:00PM
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13
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14
Apollo 12 launched, 1969
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15
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16
First message sent to M13 by Arecibo radioscope, 1974
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17
Leonid Meteor Shower
(meteors)
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18
Building Character
Co-op
2:00 PM
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19
Open to Public
6:00PM
650-6146
for tickets
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20
Edwin Hubble born, 1889
(Hubble's Law)
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
WWU A315
1:00PM
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26
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27
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28
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29
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30
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The Big Dipper scrapes along the ground in the north this month. Different cultures have different names
for these stars. In the
United States it is called the Big Dipper but in England it is called
The Plow. In China it is The Wagon. Celtic people also call it The Wagon.
American Indian tribes each had their own names for it.
(American Indian Sky)
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Western Washington University Planetarium
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Orion takes center stage. (constellations)
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1
Conjunction of the Moon, Venus, & Jupiter
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2
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3
Open to Public
6:00PM
650-6146
for tickets
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
Bellingham Christian
10:00AM
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
Geminid Meteor Shower
(meteors)
|
15
Stanwood Camano
10:30AM
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16
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17
First sustained powered flight at Kitty Hawk, NC, 1903
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18
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19
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20
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21
Winter Solstice
The shortest day of the year
(seasons)
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22
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23
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24
Mars atOpposition
(Mars)
Apollo 8 sends message from lunar orbit, 1968
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25
Isaac Newton born 1642
(Newton)
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26
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27
Johannes Kepler born 1571
(Kepler's Laws)
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28
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29
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30
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31
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The winter Milky Way can be traced from Cassiopeia in the north, through Auriga high
overhead, then south past the red star called Betelguese in Orion. (Milky Way)
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