MAS Happenings – August 5 2025

by Kris | Aug 5, 2025 | MAS Happenings

Happenings this Week

In last week’s Happenings, I may have compared astrophotography to the “dark arts” in Harry Potter.

Well, this week…the imagers strike back.

Not with displeased emails to the MAS secretary inbox.
Not with revenge.
But with stunning, mind-blowing, photon-wrangled beauty.

While some of us were star-hopping our way to uninspiring faint fuzzies (looking at you, Berkeley Catalog), our community of astrophotographers was out there collecting—and processing—I-can’t-even-count-how-many hours of data to bring color, clarity, and cosmic drama to the entire club.

So grab your popcorn, take your seats, and prepare your eyeballs…

The Imagers Strike Back is coming to a monthly meeting near you.

Rated PG: Photon Glory
(May contain intense color saturation, prolonged periods of awe, and mild jealousy from visual observers.)And, as if the Happenings this week could not get any better, your August Gemini is here!

Read on for more details.

Thursday, August 7
7:00 – 9:00 PM CT

6th Annual Members Astrophotography

This month’s featured speakers will be: All the imagers who submitted photos as introduced by Ahmed Reda!Please join us in-person or on Zoom.

More information on how to attend this meeting can be found here:

MAS August Meeting

Your new edition of the Minnesota Astronomical Society’s GEMINI Newsletter is electronically available at the the MAS website.

Here is a sneak peak of what’s inside….

My Journey to the Dark Side Part I: The Force Conspires Against Me (Dave Falkner)
Valley of Dreams, Part 1: Finding It (Thor Olson)
Beyond the Astronomy, The Joys of Astrophotography (Tim Johnson @MNAstroGuy)
Total Eclipse of the Sun: One Family’s Experience II (Jerry Smyser)

Gemini Newsletter

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, August 16
Saturday, September 13
Saturday, October 11Joseph J. Casby (JJC) Keyholder Training:
Saturday, September 13
Sunday, October 5

Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO) Keyholder Training:
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 July 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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