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Be sure to enjoy Astronomy Day

By Greg Redfern

WASHINGTON — Today is Astronomy Day in the United States and around the world. Since its inception in 1973 as a means to bring “Astronomy to the People,” the day has been very successful in doing just that.

Astronomy Day is established by the lunar cycle so it changes from year to year. This is done to include the moon in telescope viewing when it’s most dramatic, without it being so bright that it totally washes out the night sky.

Here in the DMV, we have a wonderful selection of astronomy clubs, colleges and museums that are dedicated to astronomy and space. Astronomy Day is also celebrated in October to take advantage of the changing night sky. October’s Astronomy Day is October 4.

The Astronomical League, an organization comprised of more than 240 astronomy clubs and a major force in amateur astronomy, maintains the official Astronomy Day Webpage.

Though May 10 is the official Astronomy Day, related events go on throughout the month. The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) will host one of the biggest Astronomy Day events in the DMV on May 31, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Each year, this has been a real crowd pleaser, as NOVAC goes all out with providing facilities, telescopes and speakers for the general public – especially families – to enjoy. I hope to be there this year with my own telescope.

I will be at George Mason University Observatory(check the website for weather updates)on May 12 to give a presentation on the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater(CBIC). Afterwards, the Observatory’s telescopes will be open to the public for observing.

You can see a monthly listing of DMV astronomy events at the Astronomy in D.C. Web site. This is a very nifty way to keep up on astronomy related events in our area. The site also has a comprehensive listing of resources that you can check to see what’s in your area.

The night sky of May (once the clouds clear) has a great planetary lineup and a possible new meteor shower for skywatchers to enjoy.

Jupiter dominates the Western sky as it gets dark; it’s the brightest “star” in that part of the sky. Binoculars held steady will show the four main moons of Jupiter. NASA’s latest mission to Jupiter, Juno, is en route and will arrive in July 2016.

Mercury is also in the evening sky in the West, and will be joined by the slim crescent moon later this month. You need a clear view of the horizon to see Mercury, which will be about half a fist-width above the moon. Binoculars really help in finding golden-yellow Mercury. NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft is still in orbit observing the planet closest to the sun.

Today, Saturn is at opposition, which means it is directly opposite the sun and rises in the southeast at sunset. Saturn will be very close to the full moon on the night of May 13 and 14. Viewing this planet’s spectacular rings in a telescope is a must-see. NASA’s Cassini mission is studying Saturn and its moons on an extended mission.

On May 11, the moon passes by the Red Planet Mars, which is still bright although it is fading as the distance between us increases. Check out the latest from NASA on Mars and learn about NASA’s newest mission to Mars.

Venus is low in the Eastern sky before dawn and will be joined by the moon on May 25.

On the night of May 23 and 24, there is a predicted new meteor shower that will be at its predicted peak for observers in the U.S. and Canada. Meteor showers are caused by the Earth intersecting streams of cometary and asteroid debris left by their passing through the solar system.

I will be writing more about this event as we get closer, but mark down the date. This could be the best meteor shower for the whole year.

I hope you will take advantage of the astronomy resources we have here in the DMV, especially the numerous star parties that are held monthly. If you have not looked through a telescope, or it has been awhile since you have done so, you owe it to yourself – especially if you have kids – to do so.

I’ll see you there.

Follow me on Twitter and my daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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