Last Tuesday I jested about meteorology and then the weather turned out badly for the new moon weekend. Coincidence? I’m unsure. In any case, I’m skipping the hijinks this week and getting down to brass tacks. Here is what’s happening:
* The April Monthly Meeting this Thursday
* Star Parties at Cedar Creek and Eagle Lake Observatory (ELO)
* Registration for the Northern Nights Star Festival (NNSF) is now open
* Opportunity to volunteer for the NEW Astrophotography Standards Committee
Thursday, April 3
7:00 – 9:00 PM CST
This month’s featured speaker will be ProfessorRoberta M. Humphreys, Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics.
Topic: The Herschel Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society for Observational Astrophysics.
Please join us in-person or on Zoom!
More information on how to attend this meeting can be found here:
Each star party starts with a brief astronomy presentation. A number of telescopes will be available for night sky viewing after the program. You do not need a telescope to attend, and the cost is free.
This is a weather-dependent event, and more information will be posted on the link below.
Public Star Party at
Eagle Lake Observatory (ELO)
Saturday, April 5
7:00 – 10:00 PM CST
ELO has an array of telescopes to show you the night sky including stars, star clusters, galaxies, nebula, planets, and other objects depending on what is up that night.
This is an all-weather event. Even if cloudy, someone will be there to entertain you on our favorite topic – astronomy!
In light of the situation at last year’s astrophotography showcase where some images submitted for consideration crossed entirely too far over the border between science and art, the MAS Board will be forming a committee on astrophotography standards. We hope to have this committee in place well in advance of this year’s astrophotography showcase.
Imagers with a keen understanding of what imaging equipment to use, which stacking/processing tools are best, or how much data to collect for good results, are encouraged to put their names in the hat.
One of the images in question. Researchers believe space cilantro to be green due to the emission of ionized oxygen …but not THAT green. (Also, that Pacman photo looks suspiciously like one taken by ESA/Hubble.)
NCRAL 2025 Convention
(North Central Region of the Astronomical League)
April 25-26, 2025
It’s not too late to register. Visit the NCRAL Conference website or Facebook page
by clicking the buttons:
We would like to enhance our monthly meetings and encourage our members to share your work and passion. Put together a 10–15-minute presentation about the astronomy topic that interests you (and quite probably the rest of the MAS).
Topics include – but are not limited to:
* Observing campaigns
* Astronomical objects
* History topics
* Adventures to dark skies and astronomical sites around the world
* ATM projects – show & tell
* Restoration projects
* Outreach projects
* Observing or Imaging techniques
* Research topics
* Software and telescope how-tos
* Manned or robotic space missions
* And even ‘Better Know a Constellation’!
The presentation is best done live at the meeting but can be done through Zoom if you are joining remotely. If you have something to share, please send an email to the Programs Coordinator Ahmed Reda at programs@mnastro.org
Observatory Training –
Save the Dates for 2025!
Eagle Lake Observatory (ELO):
Saturday, April 19
Saturday, May 17
Saturday, June 14
Saturday, July 26
Saturday, August 16
Saturday, September 13
Saturday, October 11
Joseph J. Casby (JJC) Keyholder Training:
Saturday, April 12
Saturday, May 10
Saturday, June 7
Sunday, July 13
Saturday, September 13
Sunday, October 5
Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO) Keyholder Training:
Friday, April 18*
Friday, May 23
Friday, June 20*
Friday, July 25*
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 17*
Site training dates are for the Warming House, Observatory, LX-200, and Big Aperture Dobsonian (BAD). Dates with asterisks are training dates for the imaging rig.
Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC):
Keyholder training will be part of the Northern Nights Star Festival (NNSF) on Wednesday, August 20-Monday, August 25
MAS on YouTube
The March MAS Budget Meeting IS AVAILABLE. Follow the MAS YouTube channel to watch these meetings and other content you may have missed! Click the button below.
Emails from MAS will be going out on Tuesday’s but only if there are announcements. If you have something that needs sharing to all please email secretary@mnastro.org by Thursday/Friday for the following Tuesday notice.
Thank you -Claire Weaverling, MAS Secretary
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