Happenings this Week

* JJC Committee Open Meeting
* Gemini February Edition
* NCRAL Convention
* More keyholder training dates
* February MAS and BSIG Meetings on YouTube!

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

In the pages of the Gemini – Vol 51 No 1

• The Visitor – John Baligrodzki
• Review of Revolutionary Celestron Star Sense 130mm AZ – Michael Kauper
• Total Solar Eclipse Viewing – Jaakko Hanson
• A Trifecta Winner – Freya Hanson
• MAS Board & Business Minutes for November and December – Dave Falkner, secretary
• MAS Patron Members
• Loaner Scopes & Astronomy DVDs Available to All MAS Members

NCRAL 2025 Convention
April 25-26, 2025
Marriot Southwest
5801 Opus Parkway, Minnetonka, MN
Presented by the NCRAL Convention Committee

Theme: “First Light – New Frontiers, New People“
This theme is to reflect the exciting advancements in astronomy and welcome new NCRAL members and other members who have not previously attended a conference.

Conference Schedule:
8:00 AM Business Meeting
-Coffee and donuts will be provided!
10:00 AM Morning Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
-Box lunches will be provided but there are also restaurants nearby.
1:00 PM Afternoon Sessions
5:00 PM Group photo and social hour, followed by a buffet-style banquet and featured Keynote Speaker

Speakers Lineup:

• John Rummel, Madison Astronomical Society, accomplished photographer – “Can the Milky Way Cast a Shadow?”
• Bob King, Contributor, Sky and Telescope, blogger, author – “NASA’s Planned NEO Surveyor Hunts Down Killer Asteroids.”
• Lawrence Rudnick, Professor Emeritus of Astrophysics University of Minnesota. – “Game Changers in the Radio Sky.”
• Clem Pryke, Experimental Cosmologist and Educator, University of Minnesota – “Studying the Beginning of the Universe from the Bottom of the World.”
• Mike Solontoi, Associate Professor of Physics, Monmouth College – “Seeing the Universe Through New Eyes – The Vera C. Rubin Observatory.”
• Mike Benson, PhD and VP of R&D at Hormel Foods, accomplished astrophotographer, will discuss his experiences in astrophotography.
• Evan Skillman, Distinguished Professor, University of Minnesota– “Using the Large Binocular Telescope to Measure the Primordial Helium Abundance.”

Our own Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS) will be hosting NCRAL Conference attendees for a Friday night Star-B-Q at Eagle Lake Observatory on April 25. Guests can head to Eagle Lake to enjoy dinner, a tour of the observatory, and listen to a brief presentation by Greg Bragg, acknowledged camera and telescope insider, on “The State of the Astronomy Industry.”

Mariott Southwest rooms are available at the NCRAL rate and can be reserved by calling the Marriot directly at (952) 935-5500 and asking for the NCRAL Conference block. Direct questions to NCRALConference@gmail.com

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, 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)
Wednesday, August 20-Monday, August 25

The February MAS and BSIG meetings ARE AVAILABLE. 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.