The Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association will be hosting a public star gaze at the Performance Pavilion on Casino Beach on Friday, Sept 12th and Saturday Sept 13th. Telescopes will be set up, weather permitting, for views of the Moon, Jupiter, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies beginning at 6:30 PM - until?? on both nights.  We will also be setting up just past the temporary gate to  Ft Pickens on Friday, Sept 26th beginning at 6:30 PM until 10:00 PM, again with weather permitting.  There will be star charts available for your use, and we will be providing information about our club as well at all three events.

If you have any questions about our club or if you would like us to come out to set up scopes at your school, church, scout meeting, or other civic function, please send me a message through this posting, or contact one of our club members at www.eaaa.net or contact Dr Wooten at PJC, 850 - 484 - 1152. 

Clear Skies and Keep Looking UP!!!

(from turtle girl blog: TravelingTurtleGirl.com)

Those of you who live in the Pensacola Beach area may know we patrol four separate sections of beach searching for sea turtle nests, hatching nests or disoriented hatchlings and adults. As each stretch is about 7 miles, we patrol on ATV. Disoriented adults and hatchlings can die from exposure, predation or other means if we can't get to them in a timely manner. We can ill afford to lose a single animal in this critical population...

One of our ATVs, a green 2006 Honda, was stolen from our storage POD in the Park East lot sometime Sunday afternoon/night or very early Monday morning. Since we patrol starting at about 0530, it would have been VERY early.

The ATV looks a lot like the one above, with a "Q" sticker near the gas tank. If you see it, or know anything about it, please call Gulf Breeze dispatch. This is an important tool in our efforts to protect the threatened and endangered sea turtles that grace our shores. Please help us continue to help these graceful creatures in their struggle for survival.

This theft represents a $5000 loss for the National Park Service, and for the sea turtles. Who could do something so heartless?

If you hear or see anything about this, please call Gulf Breeze dispatch (916-3010) or the park directly at 934-2600.

Thanks for your help!