Happenings this Week

Welcome to 2026!

I’m donning my prognostication hat to bring you my Top 10 Astronomy Predictions for the New Year (move over Nostradamus):

10. Around February 28, non-astronomers in your social circles will ask you about a significant planetary alignment involving Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (but alas, not Mars).

9. On August 12, the moon will pass directly between the Sun and the Earth causing darkness, drops in temperature, and birds to stop their singing (but likely not where you are).

8. Comet 3I/ATLAS will actually never leave our solar system (or at least it will feel that way if you follow the news cycle).

7. T Coronae Borealis (“Blaze Star”) will still not erupt (if you keep watching for it).

6. Despite being on the waning side of the solar cycle, our Sun will surprise us with yet more solar weather and spectacular aurora sky shows.

5. There will be summer wildfires in Canada whose smoke will interfere with our observing season (and moods).

4. Sadly, the BSIG will have to reschedule at least one outdoor session from a Saturday to a Friday.

3. Despite the book drawing, all members who submit an astrophotography image for the annual showcase will be considered “winners.”

2. There will be at least one month with no Astronomical League awards where some of us in the audience experience sharp pangs of guilt.

1. At least one person will show up to the Northern Nights Star Fest (NNSF) in August (not realizing it’s been move to mid-September).

Thursday, January 8

7:00-9:00 PM CT

This month’s featured speaker: Ahmed Reda – MAS Programs Coordinator

Topic: Sufi’s Book of Fixed Stars – Kitāb Suwar al-Kawākib

There will also be a member presentation on Sidewalk Astronomy by Dan Meyer.

Please join us in-person or on Zoom.

More information on the guest speaker and how to attend this meeting can be found here:

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

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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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