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Astronomy: The Universe and Beyond

Program Number: 5178RJ
Start and End Dates:
9/15/2013 - 9/20/2013; 10/20/2013 - 10/25/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Pembroke, Virginia
Price starting at: $619.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Science & Nature; Natural History
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Low Salt; Low Fat; Vegetarian    

Investigate the planets, the Sun, the Moon and the stars plus black holes, the Big Bang theory, radio astronomy and more with a team of scientists from three Virginia universities and astronomers from the Green Bank Observatory. This beautiful setting far removed from city lights is the perfect place to turn to the sky and unravel the mysteries of the universe.




Highlights

• Use telescopes to view the Sun by day and the stars and galaxies by night (weather permitting, of course).
• Astronomers and scientists share the latest in cutting-edge astronomy research.
• Enjoy the grounds of the Mountain Lake Hotel in your free time; take a nature walk, play lawn games or tennis or choose from many more activities.



Activity Particulars

Minimal walking and standing on this program. No experience required.




Date Specific Information

9-15-2013, 10-20-2013

Extend your stay and join us for the Mountain Lake Oktoberfest on either Friday or Saturday nights the weekend before or after the program, featuring a traditional German buffet, German beers, and a performance by a German Oompah Band.



Coordinated by The Mountain Lake Conservancy.




Pembroke

Situated at an elevation of 4,000 feet in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Pembroke encompasses 2,600 peaceful wooded acres that surround the only natural lake in the region, which is also home to rural Appalachian culture and traditions.
Accommodations
Resort accommodations in cottages or historic hotel overlooking the highest natural lake east of the Mississippi River; famous as the site in the movie "Dirty Dancing."
Meals and Lodgings
   Mountain Lake Hotel
  Pembroke, VA 5 nights
 Mountain Lake Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Description: A grand stone hotel (site of the filming of "Dirty Dancing") overlooking the highest natural lake East of the Mississippi River and sitting on  2600 acres of unspoiled wilderness at more than 4,000 feet above sea level. 
  Contact info: 115 Hotel Circle
Pembroke, VA 24136 USA
phone: 540-626-7121
web: www.MountainLakeHotel.com
  Room amenities: Spacious, comfortable, double-occupancy guest rooms are equipped with private bath, 1 or 2 queen beds, desk, telephone, alarm clock and coffee machine. The hotel is not air-conditioned but rooms contain fans. If you are a couple and desire two beds, please note it on your confirmation form. If you have a specific request, please notify us prior to your arrival date.
  Facility amenities: Road Scholar participants are welcome to use the heated outdoor pool and hot tub (Memorial Day-Labor Day). The Mountain Lake Conservancy consists of over 22 miles of multi-use trails for your enjoyment. Complimentary lawn games, rentals, and additional recreational opportunities include: tennis court, badminton, tether ball, croquet, over-sized lawn chess and checkers, horseshoes, bocce, volleyball, geocaching, orienteering, Disc golf course, mountain bike rentals, outdoor fire pit and an indoor hot-tub and sauna area. Mary's Barn houses table tennis, billiards, foosball, and a dance floor. Gift shop and bar/lounge open daily. Lounge area, public computers with access to internet, and wireless internet are available for guest use free of charge. Laundry facilities are available on the premises for a nominal fee.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: Begin at $99 Price varies with time of season and holidays.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Begin at $99 Price varies with time of season and holidays.
  Check out time: 10:30 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Check in at the Hotel Library between 4 and 5 p.m. You will be staying at Mountain Lake Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends with check-out from the Mountain Lake Hotel by 11:00 am. You will be staying at Mountain Lake Hotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Mountain Lake Hotel is on private property and adequate, free parking is available to all guests.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Pembroke, VA
  Nearest city or town:  Pembroke
  Nearest highway: Rt. 460
  Nearest airport:  Roanoke Regional
  From End of Program
  Location: Pembroke, VA
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Mountain Lake, Pembroke, VA

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Mountain Lake Lodge Shuttle
phone: 540-626-7121
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$75.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1 hour 
 

Distance:

 

56 miles
   

MUST RESERVE THROUGH MTN LAKE AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE. Only one departure from the airport to the hotel. Shuttle will pick-up at Roanoke Regional Airport at 1:30pm to depart no later than 2:00pm. Shuttle will arrive at the Mountain Lake Conservancy & Hotel by 3:15pm.
 

Mountain Lake, Pembroke, VA

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Mountain Lake Lodge Shuttle
phone: 540-626-7121
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$75.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1 hour 
 

Distance:

 

56 miles
   

MUST RESERVE THROUGH MTN LAKE AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE. Only one departure from the hotel to the airport. Shuttle will depart the Mountain Lake Conservancy & Hotel after lunch and check-out at 1:00pm and will arrive at the Roanoke Regional Airport at approximately 2:15pm.
 

Mountain Lake, VA

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi
Roanoke Airport Transportation Service
phone: 800-288-1958
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$109.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1.5 hours 
 

Distance:

 

56 miles
 

Roanoke, VA

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi
Roanoke Airport Transportation Service
phone: 800-288-1958
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$109.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1.5 hours 
 

Distance:

 

56 miles
 
Driving Directions
  From I-77 Take US 460 East at Princeton to left on Route 700 (Mountain Lake Road). Follow Route 700 for seven miles up the mountain to Mountain Lake.
  From I-81 Take exit 118B, Christiansburg. Follow US 460 West, including bypass around Blacksburg to right on Route 700 (Mountain Lake Road). Follow Route 700 for seven miles up the mountain to Mountain Lake.
Elevation Note: The Mountain Lake Conservancy is located at 3800 feet above sea level in Southwest Virginia.

Equipment Requirements: Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for walks around the property. The weather can be unpredictable, so a raincoat is also recommended. Nights can be cooler than the surrounding valleys. Property is hilly and you must be able to walk up and down hills and stairs throughout the week.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival to the Mountain Lake Hotel. Wine and cheese social to meet and greet fellow participants. Orientation.
(Sunday, September 15)
   
 Afternoon: 4:00-5:00 pm - Program registration in the hotel lobby. 5:00-6:00 pm - Enjoy a wine and cheese meet and greet with fellow participants on the hotel veranda.
 Dinner: 6:15 pm - Dinner in the hotel dining room.
 Evening: 7:45 pm - Orientation session in the meeting room.
   
Accommodations: Mountain Lake Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Astronomy/Planets 101, Cosmology lecture, Star Gazing
(Monday, September 16)
   
 Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - breakfast available in hotel dining room.
 Morning: 9:00 - 11:30 am - Astronomy and Planet 101 with Jack Brockway.
 Lunch: 12:00 pm - Lunch in hotel dining room.
 Afternoon: 1:30-4:00 pm - Session on "Cosmology and the Accelerating Universe" with Virginia Tech professor, John Simonetti.
 Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in hotel dining room.
 Evening: 7:30 - Sky Observation on the lawn with Mike Overacker.
   
Accommodations: Mountain Lake Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Galaxies lecture, Exploring the Radio Universe, and evening presentation "Songs of the Night".
(Tuesday, September 17)
   
 Breakfast: 7:30-9:00am - Breakfast available in hotel dining room.
 Morning: 9:00-11:30 am - "Galaxies, Building Block for Astrophysical Understanding" with Matt Fleenor.
 Lunch: 12:00 pm - Lunch in hotel dining room.
 Afternoon: 1:30-4:00 pm - "Exploring the Radio Universe" with Sue Ann Heatherly from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV.
 Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in the hotel dining room.
 Evening: 7:30 pm - Presentation "Songs of the Night" by Jerry Via.
   
Accommodations: Mountain Lake Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Telescopes 101, Free Afternoon, and Star Gazing
(Wednesday, September 18)
   
 Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast available in hotel dining room.
 Morning: 9:00 - 11:30 am - Session on Telescopes 101 and Meteorites with Mike Overacker.
 Lunch: 12:00 pm - Lunch in hotel dining room.
 Afternoon: Free afternoon. Enjoy activities offered at the Mountain Lake Conservancy & Hotel, or explore the New River Valley area on your own.
 Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in hotel dining room.
 Evening: 7:30 pm - Sky Observation on the front lawn with Mike Overacker.
   
Accommodations: Mountain Lake Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Life of Stars, Black Holes, Neutron Stars and Gravitational Waves, Free Evening OR optional trip to Selu Observatory in Radford, VA.
(Thursday, September 19)
   
 Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast available in hotel dining room.
 Morning: 9:00-11:30 am - Session on "Birth, Life and Death of Stars" with Radford University professor, Jack Brockway.
 Lunch: 12:00 pm - Lunch in hotel dining room.
 Afternoon: 1:30 - 4:00 pm - Session on "Black Holes, Neutron Stars & Gravitational Waves with Radford University professor, Brett Taylor.
 Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in the hotel dining room.
 Evening: Optional trip to the SELU Observatory in Radford, VA, a one-hour drive. Carpooling encouraged as transportation is not provided.
   
Accommodations: Mountain Lake Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Presentation: History of Mountain Lake and the Springs of Virginia, Program Wrap-Up and Departure.
(Friday, September 20)
   
 Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast available in hotel dining room.
 Morning: 9:00 am - Slideshow presentation "The History of Mountain Lake and the Springs of Virginia" by local historian Jim Walker. Program wrap-up.
 Morning: Check out of hotel by 11:00 am.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, 4th Edition


Author: Chaisson and McMillan


Description: For one-semester Introduction to Astronomy courses.The authors incorporate three themes in the briefer of their two textbooks; process of science (how we know what we know), the size and scale of the universe as well as the evolution of the universe. A Beginner's Guide emphasizes critical thinking and visualization, and a leading-edge technology program. Customer review: "For anyone who has a vague interest in astronomy, this would be the book to read. Albeit not entirely simple, this is a relatively straight forward book that uses excellent examples to explain difficult concepts. There are many charts and diagrams. How exactly does a black hole work? What's the difference between a nova and a supernova (not as simple as you might think)? Why do we get meteor showers? There is a bit of mathematics involved, but nothing too intimidating. This is an excellent textbook. Best of all, a CD-ROM is included with lots of multimedia content, study questions, and links to more sources."



NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe


Author: Terence Dickinson


Description: With 250,000 copies in print since its initial publication in 1983, NightWatch has become a standard reference guide for stargazers throughout North America. The new Third Edition expands on that success with a completely revised and updated text, more than 100 new color photos and diagrams and 16 additional pages that cover such! new astronomical pursuits as computerized telescopes, reviews of new telescope designs and accessories, and astronomy on the Internet. All charts, tables and diagrams have been updated and, in some cases, redesigned for easier use. Improved spacecraft measurements of the distances to the stars (recently released by the European Space Agency) are included in the charts, along with additional observing tips for stargazers using binoculars and telescopes. An expanded chapter on Astrophotography lists the best modern films and cameras for skyshooting. The new NightWatch is faithful to the "ultra-simplified, no jargon" philosophy of the original, and at the same time, offers substantially more practical information for the novice and intermediate-level amateur astronomer. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada called the first edition "the best of its kind"- the new Third Edition is better still. It is still an abundantly illustrated, wide-sized volume designed for easy reference during many starlit nights." Amazon review: "The third edition of Nightwatch continues its tradition of being the best handbook for the beginning astronomer. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, starting with the fact that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution, how to choose binoculars and telescopes, how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision, and why the harvest moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the section on astrophotography a particularly inspirational gleam."





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