MAS Happenings – August 19 2025

by Kris | Aug 19, 2025 | MAS Happenings

Happenings this Week

The much-anticipated Northern Nights Star Fest (NNSF) kicks off this week, and for those who can’t make it up North, Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO) is hosting a member star party on Friday night. To summon clear skies and banish Canadian wildfire smoke, I’ll be doing my best disco weather dance. Instead of obsessively refreshing your weather apps (madness lies that way), I invite you to slip on your platform boots, fire up the strobe lights, and join me!

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ clear, stayin’ cleeear…”

Northern Nights Star Fest (NNSF)
Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC)

Wednesday, August 20 12:00 PM – Monday, August 25 1:00 PM CT

It’s the event you’ve been waiting for all year and it’s finally here!Click here for the full agenda:

NNSF Agenda

Click here to visit the NNSF event page:

More info on NNSF

Don’t forget that keyholder training for LLCC will be held as part of NNSF.

Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO)
Member Star Party
Friday, August 22
7:00 – 11:30 PM CT

Join us at CGO for a Star Party! Bring your telescope or use one on-site, including the Starmaster Dobsonian, LX-200, or other scopes!

Not a Keyholder at CGO? Keyholder training will be held during this star party.

Star parties are cancelled if cloudy, so watch here or on the CGO Forum.

Cherry Grove Star Parties are held on Friday nights with Saturday night backups if cloudy. Official dates are listed on the calendar and are usually the first or second weekend of the month. Others are non-official Instant Star Parties (ISP’s) listed by individual members on the forums or Slack.

Link to this event on the MAS website:

CGO Member Star Party

Become a MAS Presenter!

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, September 13
Saturday, October 11Joseph J. Casby (JJC) Keyholder Training:
Saturday, September 13
Sunday, October 5

Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO) Keyholder Training:
Friday, August 22
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 August Monthly Meeting is available in case you missed it. Follow the MAS YouTube channel to watch these meetings and other content you may have missed! Click the button below.

Watch Previous Meetings

Get Involved, Become a Member, Volunteer!

https://www.mnastro.org/about/beginners/
https://www.mnastro.org/membership/benefits/

MAS Store

Find MAS logo apparel and items at the MAS Store by clicking the button below.

MAS Store

Email Updates

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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