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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250308T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250308T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
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SUMMARY:BSIG Winter Zoom Presentation - RSpec Spectroscopy - Featuring Tom Field
DESCRIPTION: The MAS invites everyone to the virtual Beginner’s Group Presentation using ZOOM. \nFeatured Speaker:   Tom FieldTopic: An Introduction to Astronomical Spectroscopy​ \nSynopsis: Even if you wanted to touch a star\, they’re all impossibly distant. In spite of these great distances\, astronomers have learned an enormous amount about stars. How? The most common method to study the stars is called spectroscopy\, which is the science of analyzing the colorful rainbow spectrum produced by a prism-like device. Until recently\, spectroscopy was too expensive and too complicated for all but a handful of amateurs. Today\, though\, new tools make spectroscopy accessible to almost all of us. You no longer need a PhD\, dark skies\, long exposures\, enormous aperture … or a big budget! With your current telescope and FITS camera (or a simple web cam or even a DSLR without a telescope) you can now easily study the stars yourself. Wouldn’t you like to detect the atmosphere on Neptune or the red shift of a quasar right from your own backyard?!This talk\, with lots of interesting examples\, will show you what it’s all about and help you understand how spectroscopy is used in research. Even if you are an armchair astronomer\, understanding this field will enhance your understanding of the things your read and the night sky. \nBiography: Tom Field was a Contributing Editor at Sky & Telescope Magazine for ten years. He is the founder of Field Tested Systems and the author of the RSpec software\, which received the S&T “Hot Product” award. A pioneer in the field of amateur astronomical spectroscopy\, Tom aims to demystify spectroscopy and make it accessible to all. He promises to open the door for you to this fascinating field!  You can visit the RSpec Spectroscopy website here: https://rspec-astro.com \nVisit the B-SIG Discussion Forum for more information and any last minute changes. \nThis meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you would like to join us you will need use the following URL:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89329843146?pwd=qQqAJbhwibJjcxHHsqT7KRht0rhUfo.1 \n\nMeeting ID: 893 2984 3146 / Passcode: 720372 \nWe will open up this link about 10 minutes before the event starts. \n\nYou can probably hear best with a headset but your computer’s speaker and microphone will also work. \nDial-in Phone Number \n+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) \nIn order to ensure the most success we are asking everyone to follow a couple of rules: \n1. Don’t turn on your camera – it sucks up bandwidth and we really don’t need to see you.2. Keep your microphone muted until you are prompted during a question and answer session during the presentation. This will cut down background noise substantially.3. You can request to ask a question in the chat area in Zoom and wait to be prompted by the moderator. \nWe hope you can join us.Clear skies! \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-mar2025-presentation/
LOCATION:Virtual Meeting Using Zoom
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250412T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250412T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
CREATED:20250215T211641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T014140Z
UID:10000467-1744462800-1744470000@www.mnastro.org
SUMMARY:BSIG Winter Presentation - AL Programs - Featuring Jerry Jones
DESCRIPTION: The MAS invites everyone to the virtual Beginner’s Group Presentation using ZOOM. \nFeatured Speaker:   Jerry Jones – MAS Astronomical League CoordinatorTopic: AL Observing Programs \nSynopsis: \nTBD\n \nThis meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you would like to join us you will need use the following URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88390582049?pwd=6D2UT5SN6wQjMy4PmQiaiub2rzi9dE.1 \n\nMeeting ID:      883 9058 2049Passcode:          289532 \nWe will open up this link about 10 minutes before the event starts. \n\nYou can probably hear best with a headset but your computer’s speaker and microphone will also work. \nDial-in Phone Number \n+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) \nIn order to ensure the most success we are asking everyone to follow a couple of rules: \n1. Don’t turn on your camera – it sucks up bandwidth and we really don’t need to see you.2. Keep your microphone muted until you are prompted during a question and answer session during the presentation. This will cut down background noise substantially.3. You can request to ask a question in the chat area in Zoom and wait to be prompted by the moderator. \nWe hope you can join us.Clear skies! \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-winter-presentation-al-programs-featuring-jerry-jones/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
CREATED:20251031T015046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T155217Z
UID:10000474-1765026000-1765033200@www.mnastro.org
SUMMARY:BSIG December 2025 Presentation - Featuring David Falkner
DESCRIPTION: The MAS invites everyone to the virtual Beginner’s Group Presentation using ZOOM. \nFeatured Speaker:   David Falkner – MAS Member and NASA AmbassadorTopic: Titan and the Dragonfly Mission \nSynopsis:  The presentation will focus on Titan\, Saturn’s largest moon\, and NASA’s ambitious Dragonfly mission to explore it. The presentation will begin with Titan’s discovery\, and what we learned through telescopic observations. I will then talk about the discoveries by Pioneer 11\, Voyager 1 and the Cassini/Huygens mission. I will talk briefly about Ingenuity\, the first successful extraterrestrial aircraft before talking about the Dragonfly spacecraft and its astrobiology mission. \n\nBiography:    Dave has been a life-long amateur astronomer. He first became interested in astronomy as a pre-teen when his father took him to a show at the Holcolmb Planetarium in Indianapolis. He became hooked and has had an interest in astronomy ever since.  After retiring from the US Navy\, Dave settled in Minnesota and became an active member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS). He has served as its President from 2011 – 2014\, 2019 – 2020\, and Secretary from 2023 – 2024. As a member of the MAS\, Dave enjoyed performing astronomical outreach often speaking to groups at libraries\, nature centers and schools.  Dave is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador where he educates the public about space\, space exploration and NASA missions. Along with his outreach activities Dave has taught beginning Astronomy classes at a local community college and has published three books. \n\n \nThis meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you would like to join us you will need use the following Zoom link. \nZoom URL:      https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85959083361?pwd=iPlZMbb9tz6MvMCM6I83nsm3Bms8uF.1Meeting ID:      859 5908 3361Passcode:        957207 \n\nWe will open up this link about 10 minutes before the event starts. \n\nYou can probably hear best with a headset but your computer’s speaker and microphone will also work. \nDial-in Phone Number \n+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) \nIn order to ensure the most success we are asking everyone to follow a couple of rules: \n1. Don’t turn on your camera – it sucks up bandwidth and we really don’t need to see you.2. Keep your microphone muted until you are prompted during a question and answer session during the presentation. This will cut down background noise substantially.3. You can request to ask a question in the chat area in Zoom and wait to be prompted by the moderator. \nWe hope you can join us.Clear skies! \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-december-2025-presentation-featuring-david-falkner/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260124T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260124T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
CREATED:20251202T184514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T024514Z
UID:10000477-1769259600-1769266800@www.mnastro.org
SUMMARY:BSIG January 2026 Presentation - Featuring Claire Weaverling
DESCRIPTION: The MAS invites everyone to the virtual Beginner’s Group Presentation using ZOOM. \nFeatured Speaker:   Claire WeaverlingTopic: Sky Sampler – Tasty Targets for New Observers \nSynopsis:  Seen the Ring Nebula and Hercules Cluster a few too many times? This session will sample about 20 beginner-friendly observing targets that are often overlooked or overshadowed. Every object on the list earned a “wow\,” “amazing\,” or “beautiful” in my observing notes when I was starting out. \n\nBiography:    Claire Weaverling is a member and current Secretary of the MAS. She has spent over a decade visually observing with Dobsonians\, happily (and occasionally stubbornly) star-hopping her way to faint fuzzies. \n\n \nThis meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you would like to join us you will need use the following Zoom link. \nZoom URL:      https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89888620896?pwd=QrbSJ93l6p6KMzOCu8SBTM8Hwx73yF.1Meeting ID:    898 8862 0896Passcode:      780811 \n\nWe will open up this link about 10 minutes before the event starts. \n\nYou can probably hear best with a headset but your computer’s speaker and microphone will also work. \nDial-in Phone Number \n+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) \nIn order to ensure the most success we are asking everyone to follow a couple of rules: \n1. Don’t turn on your camera – it sucks up bandwidth and we really don’t need to see you.2. Keep your microphone muted until you are prompted during a question and answer session during the presentation. This will cut down background noise substantially.3. You can request to ask a question in the chat area in Zoom and wait to be prompted by the moderator. \nWe hope you can join us.Clear skies! \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-january-2026-presentation/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
CREATED:20251202T184936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T154735Z
UID:10000478-1771678800-1771686000@www.mnastro.org
SUMMARY:BSIG February 2026 Presentation - Featuring Suresh Sreenivasan
DESCRIPTION: The MAS invites everyone to the virtual Beginner’s Group Presentation using ZOOM. \nFeatured Speaker:   Suresh SreenivasanTopic: All About Telescopes \n\nSynopsis: \nHave you been considering getting your first telescope? Or maybe you’re thinking about upgrading to something bigger & better? If so\, this is the presentation for you! We’ll review the various types of telescopes most visual observers use\, including refractors\, reflectors and catadioptrics. We’ll go the optical benefits of each type\, and review other factors\, such as portability and cost\, to help you decide what you really want in your next telescope. We’ll also cover the various types of mounts and touch upon the various telescopic accessories that can make your observing more enjoyable. \nBiography: \nI have been an amateur astronomer for 41 years and completed the Messier and Herschel 1 lists while I was in college in Illinois. After 35 years as a visual observer\, I started migrating over to imaging. But I still enjoy observing\, particularly with my 12″ and 16″ Dobsonian telescopes. As a visual observer\, I love viewing solar system objects\, such as the Sun\, planets and comets\, as well as deep-sky objects such as galaxies\, star clusters and nebulae. I also dabble (poorly) in stellar spectroscopy. I have been the MAS BSIG coordinator since 2016 and really enjoy helping beginners of all ages make their initial forays into astronomy. \n\n \nThis meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you would like to join us you will need use the following Zoom link. \nZoom URL:      https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81882145483?pwd=ivtaeccqiRWEzOsmY6oJo6tddOBPse.1Meeting ID:      818 8214 5483Passcode:        676341 \n\nWe will open up this link about 10 minutes before the event starts. \n\nYou can probably hear best with a headset but your computer’s speaker and microphone will also work. \nDial-in Phone Number \n+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) \nIn order to ensure the most success we are asking everyone to follow a couple of rules: \n1. Don’t turn on your camera – it sucks up bandwidth and we really don’t need to see you.2. Keep your microphone muted until you are prompted during a question and answer session during the presentation. This will cut down background noise substantially.3. You can request to ask a question in the chat area in Zoom and wait to be prompted by the moderator. \nWe hope you can join us.Clear skies! \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-february-2026-presentation/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260328T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260328T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T165917
CREATED:20251202T185339Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T131434Z
UID:10000479-1774702800-1774710000@www.mnastro.org
SUMMARY:BSIG March 2026 Presentation - Featuring Ahmed Reda - CANCELLED
DESCRIPTION:Unfortunately we have to cancel this presentation – but we should add it to the next fall/winter BSIG schedule – stay tuned. \nSuresh SreenivasanMAS Beginner’s Coordinator
URL:https://www.mnastro.org/event/bsig-march-2026-presentation/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:BSIG,BSIG Virtual Presentation,public
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnastro.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/zoom-logo.jpg
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