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Welcome.On behalf of the Minnesota Astronomical Society welcome to our web site! Please accept our invitation and join us in our explorations of the cosmos, either as a visitor to one of our many events or as a member of the Society.
Joseph J. Casby Observatory Dedication Re-scheduled for Saturday August 7th Festivities to begin at noon with tours of the new observatory and hopefully daytime views of the moon & planets. Sunset is at 8:30, moon is past 3rd quarter but will be visible until late afternoon, planets Venus, Mars, Saturn & Mercury should all be visible. Additional information on the MAS Forum HERE. Usually access to the site is limited to MAS members that have attended the Belwin Orientation and their guests. For this event we will be inviting MAS members and non-members wishing to learn more about the MAS and its facilities as well as Belwin Conservancy Members. Directions to the Belwin Conservancy can be found HERE. Once in the Conservancy, drive past the lower parking lot and the Belwin office on the hill, take a left through the gate and follow the single lane road to the parking area near the Belwin Center. For those who wish to bring their own scope, you will be able to unload and load your scope near the observatory. There is limited parking at the parking lot in the wooded area near the observatory, or use the main parking area at the cul-de-sac. If you would like to attend the dedication, please review Belwin visitation and star party guidelines Northern Nights Starfest The registration fee, meals and housing arrangements are nearly complete. We are lining up an observing list, awards and door prizes. Additional information will be posted here and on the MAS Announcements Forum as soon as it becomes available. Star Party Update
Upcoming Star Parties The Next Onan Public nights are July 31 and August 14. August 6 - Star Party Cherry Grove with August 7 as the backup. August 6 - Star Party Metcalf/Belwin with August 7 as the backup. August 6 and 7 is an LLCC weekend. August 12. The Perseid Meteor shower this year is expected to be spectacular. The peak night is August 12, although meteors can be spotted for several nights before and after. There will be no moon in the sky these nights to interfere. August 13 - Star Party at Onan August 13 and 14 is an LLCC weekend. RESERVE THE DATE The 2nd annual Northern Nights Starfest will be 3 nights this year! The dates are Thursday, September 9 through Sunday, September 12. We moved it to September to provide for even longer, darker nights. Food, lodging and facilities will be provided at our premiere dark sky site, LLCC in rural Atkin county. We are planning the program and working on the details, but mark your calendar for this special event.
Onan Public Nights The Next Onan Public Observing Night is Saturday, July 31st. Typical Public Observing Nights begin around 7:00 pm and last until at least 10:00 pm - usually longer if it is clear. Public Observing Nights are held whether it is clear or cloudy. When conditions do not allow direct observing, presentations and recorded views of previously observed Solar System and Deep Sky Objects are substituted. There is no fee for attending. Members, guests and visitors are all invited. Please note that Carver County parks may charge a nominal parking fee. For directions, see the link below for directions to Baylor Regional Park and Onan Observatory. Directions to Baylor Park and the Onan Observatory Directions to Cherry Grove Directions to Metcalf Directions to LLCC Link to Belwin Map Please note that, unlike Onan Public Observing Night events, attendance at MAS Star Parties is entirely optional. As a result there could be dozens of people also with you at the star party, or there is a remote chance you could find yourself alone! MAS Star Parties are generally Friday night events, with Saturday being the backup night. LLCC star parties are both Friday and Saturday night. All Star Parties are 'clear weather' events. If this webpage is not updated, please call MAS Message Service, 952-467-2426, after 4:00PM for Go or No-Go decision. Click below to see the Clear Sky Chart predictions for tonight along with sunset and moon phase information Sunset and Clear Cky Chart Predictions Next MeetingThe Next MAS General Meeting will be held on Thursday August 5th, from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.Speaker: To be announced Topic: To be announced Meeting Location: Fairview Community Center 1910 County Road B West Roseville, MN NewsPayPal Option for New or Renewing MembersNew or renewing members can now use PayPal to pay their dues. Visit the membership section of the web (http://www.mnastro.org/membership/join.htm) or click on any 'Join the MAS' link to take advantage of this easy-to-use feature. MAS Joins JPL's 'Night Sky Network'The Minnesota Astronomical Society is pleased to announce its acceptance into the 'Night Sky Network'. Visit the MAS outreach page (www.mnastro.org/outreach) for details.
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