Happenings this Week

* MAS November Monthly Meeting
* New Member Orientation
* ELO Public Star Party
* CCESR Public Star Party
* BSIG Winter Presentation
* Save the Date – MAS Elections
* Call for Nominees
* Observatory Training Schedules & Information

MAS November Monthly Meeting
Zoom Meeting ONLY

Due to a scheduling conflict at the Aŋpétu Téča Education Center, the MAS will be hosting a  ZOOM-ONLY Monthly Meeting. JOIN US!

Featured Speaker: Prof. Michael Coughlin (Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics)

Topic: Gravitational Waves

For more information on the meeting and how to join the Zoom meeting click the button below.

New Member Orientation

Saturday, November 9 – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Any new (or old) members, or those considering joining the MAS are invited to meet us from 10:30am to 12:30pm on Saturday November 9 in the meeting room of the Ramsey County Library – Maplewood, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109.

In this approximately two hours meeting we will introduce the leadership of the MAS, discuss public and member star parties, provide a look at all our observing sites, discuss all the means of communications within the Society, and provide an overall description of all the benefits of membership in the MAS.

For more information click the button below.

Public Star Party

Eagle Lake Observatory
Saturday, November 9th

7 PM to 10 PM

Guest speaker:  Tanya Melnik
Topic:  The Aurora Borealis

Northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, is a natural light display many of us had a chance to enjoy this year. It is an important part of tradition and identity for many northern cultures. It is one of the most recognized space weather phenomena created from interaction of solar wind with Earth’s magnetic field. Learn the science of aurora and aurora forecasts. Become a citizen scientist and contribute to the scientific understanding of aurora. And, of course, find out how to improve your chance of seeing aurora.

Join us as we share our passion for observing the night sky at the last scheduled public star party of the year.

Volunteer keyholders can sign up here.

Click the button below for more information.

CCESR Public Star Party

Saturday, November 9th: 7pm to 9 pm

CCESR in partnership with the MAS is holding a public star party at their facility in Bethel, MN. Members are invited to bring their telescopes and share their passion of the night sky with the public.

Click the button below for more information.

Beginners Special Interest Group (BSIG)
Winter Zoom Presentation

Saturday, November 9th – 1:00pm to 3:00pm CST

Featured Speaker: Ron Schmit
Topic: Learning about Stellarium

Stellarium is an easy to use, powerful, and FREE application for finding constellations, locating deep sky objects, planning an evening’s viewing – it can even run your telescope – all with the click of a mouse. For our presentation, please have a PC ready to install Stellarium and run the app so you can learn by doing!

This meeting will be virtual using the ZOOM application.

For more information click the button below.

***** SPECIAL NOTICE *****
***** SAVE THE DATE *****

MAS Elections Meeting
Thursday, December 5^th

The December MAS Monthly Meeting will be a business meeting where the membership elects a new President, Secretary, and Board Member at Large #1.

Business meetings require 10% of the total membership of the club to have a quorum. Currently that is about 75 members. Although this includes both in-person and online participants, we continue to struggle getting the requisite number of members attending to meet the quorum.

Please spread the word and encourage your fellow members to join us at the December meeting, either in-person or online. This is an important meeting.  More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

***** ANOTHER SPECIAL NOTICE *****

*** SERVE THE MAS IN A SPECIAL WAY! ***

Running for a Board position provides an opportunity for members to step up and serve the club in an important way. Members are encouraged to consider running for one of the positions up for election this year; President, Secretary, or Board Member at Large #1.

Newer members of the club are especially invited to consider running for a position providing new perspectives on the direction of the club.

*** Please Note ***
Nominations will close at midnight on November 6th

A description of the duties of each position can be found the forums.

Click the link below to open that forum post.

Observatory Training Calendar

Eagle Lake Observatory
There are no more trainings for 2024.

Joseph J. Casby Observatory
All dates are tentative until confirmed

Nov 16

Training to start at 12:00 noon. Promptness is appreciated.
Training will begin with the mandatory Belwin Conservancy Orientation

Observatory refresher Training to startsat approximately 12:30

Cherry Grove Observatory

There are no more trainings for 2024.

LLCC Training

There are no more trainings for 2024.

MAS Store

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