I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Thursday: Ms Chadwick will be here to present about her recent work in telescope design, and more about the general opportunities for those interested in creating new magical tools and resources. Half-seven, in my classroom, to start.

YPL: I understand that some of the plans for our guests during their time in New London over the holidays will allow for some of our students to join them on some days. Details of the itinerary are still in process, but you may wish to inquire of your parents or guardians about their plans for your time, and which days you might be available. (Your parent, guardian, or other suitable adult would be responsible for transportation to and from a central location in New London yet to be determined. I would be glad to discuss the planned events if they have any questions.)

CCF students: In about two weeks, we'll be meeting to do the specific planning for your continued training this summer (along with the other YPL summer plans). If you have any comments in hindsight about particular aspects of your experience, the selection process, the various exercises, or other details, I'd love to hear them before we leave for Easter holidays. Please stop by my office hours, or arrange another mutually agreeable time to talk.

Fourth years: A reminder that we are meeting for two hours tonight (beginning at 11 this evening) to make up for last week. Thanks again for your willingness to make the change. You needn't bring your telescopes: if the weather does by chance let up a little, I'll have a couple of specialised scopes handy that suit our topic for the evening.

And my own schedule: I do plan to be around this afternoon and evening (rather than my usual Tuesday plans), should you wish to stop by with a question or comment.

It looks to remain clear tonight, so if anyone would like to join me for some relaxed star gazing on the Astronomy tower, I’ll be up there after supper until curfew.

There’s a particularly good chance to see a half dozen of the brightest objects in the sky at once this week, during the first hour after sunset, and the crescent moon makes for good stargazing in general.

Students: I’m delighted to announce a new resource.

As some of you know (particularly my N.E.W.T students who’ve been giving me feedback on some samples), I’ve been working for the past two and a half years on a way to project a portion of the night sky and hold it for study and teaching (steadily, without ongoing need for concentration). I’m delighted to say I’ve reached a point where I believe the work is ready for regular classroom use.

Now, this does not replace our observation time (since you will still need to learn how to use your own telescopes and make your own observations). And, of course, no matter how good or how detailed my created images of the night sky are, they do not contain everything: only what I myself knew at the time I made the image. (And thus, it does not include ongoing or emerging stellar events, comets or meteors, or other things of that kind.)

However, I do think it will be an excellent resource in a number of situtations:
- to illustrate a point in class, so you can make more effective use of your observation time.
- to ilustrate more clearly things that cannot readily be seen with student telescopes.
- to make it easier to study or review before tests (both my own exams, and for O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams).

And of course, it will give us some additional options on cloudy nights without completely losing class time.

This option has limits: it takes me at least half an hour to link a combination of charms and create an image for each area, and it can be much longer for a more complicated or detailed piece of the sky. I plan to add another couple each week, until we have a well-stocked library of examples (focusing first on materials of use for O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. students, and then moving on to items covered regularly in the rest of the curriculum.)

Projections can be checked out by permission during hours I’m in my office, and an updated list of projections will be posted by my door each week. My classroom is available for their use, and I’ve also had the house-elves clean out a space on the floor directly below, as the projections are best viewed without distracting items behind them. (You’ll notice a large white sheet hung in a corner of my classroom for this purpose as well.)

If anyone is interested in the theory behind the project, I have an article in the next issue of the Journal of Modern Magical Theory and Experiment that explains some of the details, and I’d be glad to share my copy of the submitted version. Just stop by my office!

For those students who have worked long and hard to bring the play to fruition, well done! Standing in the hall as our guests were leaving, I saw many smiles, and heard many compliments for how well, on the whole, everyone worked together to make something greater than themselves.

I know there have been some long nights recently: for students with roles in the play, you are welcome to a week's extension on assignments for my classes due this week if needed - just let me know that you'd appreciate the extra time.

I've a few treats to drop off for the cast party, and I'll be nearby in case anyone wants a walk back to their own house door before the party fully breaks up, since I'd like to give the prefects involved in the production the same chance to relax and enjoy your triumph.

Again, well done!

I do wish the weather would improve: it seems ages since we've had a truly clear night, though we've had some chances at stars in the parts of the sky currently lacking clouds.

In other words, yes, there are still star charts spread all over my office.

YPL
We are looking forward to our next meeting on January 23rd, when we will welcome guests from several Quidditch teams to talk about their training, experiences, broom care, and other aspects of the sport.

And finally, recent events have reminded me that teachers have such different approaches to their space, so allow me to clarify my own expectations:

My classroom: I invite students to make use of my classroom for revision or quiet work together whenever it is not in use for classes. Students are also welcome to use the star charts and reference materials in my classroom as long as they return them to their proper place when done and promptly report any damage, no matter how slight or accidental. (Like all teachers, I have my own methods for figuring out the true culprit in such cases.)

Particularly delicate or rare charts are kept in my office: these may be signed out by students working on NEWTs, as we've discussed in class.

The observatory tower: Fourth year students and older are welcome to use the telescopes outside of class. I am glad to extend this option to individual second and third years who demonstrate their ability to set up, adjust, and close up the telescopes properly. Students with permission may invite friends, so long as only those with permission touch any part of the telescope other than the eyepiece. Those interested should see me to schedule a time - since we will not actively be stargazing, this can be done on a cloudy night as easily as a clear one.

Students working on their own should defer telescope use to those studying for NEWTs, then to those studying for OWLS - but again, on weekend nights and in the earlier evening before classes meet, there is often space for additional viewing. Nights around the new moon tend to be especially in demand, as there are some celestial objects not easily seen at other times.

My office: This is the only space (outside of my rooms, of course), I reserve for private conversations. Students should always knock and wait to be invited in before entering. If my door is open (and it often is), please do feel free to stop and chat, either about astronomy or about YPL matters.

After various comments last week, I've done a few new things - worth noting here as a reminder, if nothing else.

Chilly during your class time? I've a collection of woolen gloves, hats, scarves, and socks in a box by my office door, if students have need of them for any reason. Someone never has their gloves or their hat or whatever. I hate to waste time with them going back to their room and all the way up the tower once more. (And I do agree with last week's comments: it's far too chilly to be up there without suitable clothing.)

However, I must say, I can't recommend many of the color combinations, so contributions in colors other than lime green, bright orange, fuscia, or an odd salmon/peach mix are most welcome. (Or, perhaps, students working on perfecting color in Transfiguration might like some practice objects?) Though, perhaps, the colors explain why the item has been 'lost' and was available for my loaner box.

We also spent a fair bit of time in the first and second year classes going over appropriate behavior while observing. No jostling, pushing, or otherwise interfering with use of the telescopes and other equipment, of course, even in fun. And we talked about the best ways to adjust settings when it's cold or the wind is blowing fiercely.

I'm awaiting a new set of short essays to be turned in next week, so could spend my afternoon today reading through some past correspondence - some lovely bits about the recent conjunctions and some other thoughts about some other ongoing areas of study. It's nice to feel properly caught up.