MAS Happenings – December 10 2025

by | Dec 9, 2025 | MAS Happenings

Happenings this Week

My current project is to work on the Astruhnomical Leegue’s Astro Baking Award. And thanks to all of you who showed up on Election Night to vote and eat cake, I was able to log my first object:

Interesting to note that the “AL” doesn’t count the Astro Bake unless it gets fully eaten. You rock!

Since I decided to image this one instead of sketching, here is my astruhbakephotography:

I have more bakes left before I can send my list to Gary Jones to receive my certificate and pin. Email secretary@mnastro.org if you have ideas for which Astro Bake I should tackle next!

Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC)

Standing Committee – Open Meeting

Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM CT

Per the MAS Guidelines on Standing Committees, we are holding an open LLCC Committee meeting.

Anyone can join in, give feedback, and share their ideas on how we can keep LLCC our premier dark-sky observing site. We would especially like to hear feedback about Northern Nights Star Fest (NNSF) and our weekend star parties.

The Zoom link can be found on the calendar page by clicking the button below.

Please join us!

LLCC Committee

Announcing End-Of-Year Donation Match

Once again, our generous Anonymous Benefactor has agreed to match up to $10,000 in donations to the society through the end of 2025. Donations include stand-alone donations, company gifts for volunteer hours, matching gifts from companies and the donation portion of a MAS Patron membership. This is a great opportunity to renew your membership early or just donate at the link below.

Check with your company to see if they match gifts to non-profit organizations or if they provide donations for volunteering at a non-profit organization. Please consider giving a gift to the MAS this holiday season so we can maximize the AB’s generous donation.

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….

  • Orion is Upside Down! (Charles Blilie)

  • My Binocular Support Invention (Dick Jacobson)

  • Photographs of the recent aurora activity by various MAS members!

  • Candidate election bios

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

MAS on YouTube

The December 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.

MAS Store

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

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

The Minnesota Astronomical Society welcomes your tax deductible donation to help fund the operation of our sites and our outreach programs. Use the QR code above or go to https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CBYSD2Z6339D4
to make a donation. Thank you.