MAS Happenings – October 14 2025

by Kris | Oct 14, 2025 | MAS Happenings

Happenings this Week

This week I’ll be continually checking my app to see if things are a go or no-go. If a go, I’ll spend hours sitting in uncomfortable seating, wondering what the food/snack situation is, and possibly being called upon to make sense of fuzzy data through poor seeing conditions. Alas, I’m summoned for jury duty.

I wish I were talking about the Mini Messier Marathon at CGO — which is happening this week!

2025 Mini Messier Marathon
Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO)
October 17 7:00 pm – October 18 5:00 am CT

A Messier Marathon is an attempt to find as many Messier objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters).

The first MAS Messier Marathon was held on March 13, 1999, and has been held annually at the Cherry Grove Observatory. The marathon is scheduled for the new moon weekend nearest the spring equinox with Saturday being the primary night, and Friday being the backup night.

As with all Cherry Grove events, the marathon is held only if the skies are clear and will be CANCELLED IF CLOUDY. See the MAS home page or Forum for the latest information regarding the star party status.

There will also be a keyholder training that night.

Mini Messier Marathon

Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC)
Member Observing Weekend
Friday, October 17 6:00 PM – Sunday, October 19 10:00 AM CT

This is yet another opportunity to visit LLCC. The skies are darker up there. Don’t miss out!

Our relationship with LLCC is unique, and these observing weekends are only available to members. Here are a few guidelines:

– Check the LLCC Discussion on the MAS Forum for event details and to register your attendance
– Indicate whether you will need lodging
– This is not an all-weather event and may be cancelled if cloudy

Click the button for full details:

LLCC Member Weekend

2025 Board Elections – Call for Nominations

Positions (Serving from Jan 2026 thru Dec 2027)

Vice President
Treasurer
Board Member at Large 2

Candidate Qualifications

Member in “good standing”

Voter Qualifications

Member in “good standing”
Member shall not be responsible for any financial obligation to the society
Vote in person or electronically (Must register to vote)
Voting by proxy is NOT permitted
Each Membership is entitled to one (1) vote – including student members

Timeline

Nominations due by Nov 5th, 2025, at 9pm CST
Elections will be held on Dec 4th, 2025, at 7pm CST at club monthly meeting

Elections Quorum of 10% of the club membership or minimum of 50 is required

Send nominations to boardmember1@mnastro.org (Phil Ramsay)

Goodsell Observtory at Carleton College Open House
Friday Nov. 7th at 7:00pm

Join us on Friday November 7th at 7:00pm at Goodsell Observatory on the campus of Carleton College in Northfield, MN. The observatory is 47 miles from Minneapolis.

Goodsell Observatory hosts open houses the 1st Friday of every month (outside of summer). The MAS has attended a few of these open houses over the past few years, and our members have really enjoyed these events. This one is scheduled to run from 7:00-9:00pm and is weather-permitting.

The observatory opened in 1886, and its main dome houses a 16.2″ Brashear refractor (circa early-1890s). The smaller dome houses an 8.25″ Alvan Clark refractor from the same era. It’s amazing to see such vintage telescopes still in use, and in such good condition.

Starting in the 1870s, Goodsell Observatory was one of the most important observatories in the country, since it kept the official time for the major railroads from Chicago to Seattle, covering some 12,000 miles of track. It also published an important astronomical publication, produced some of the best early celestial photographs and was home to one of the nation’s first state weather services. Herbert Couper Wilson was a Carleton alumnus who in 1911 help found the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers)… one of the most important American amateur astronomical groups of the 20th Century and beyond.

Goodsell Observatory address: 139 Olin Dr, Northfield, MN 55057

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGpSrxjt99WorBLD9

Goodsell Observatory Website: https://www.carleton.edu/goodsell/

You can read about the history of Goodsell Observatory here: https://www.carleton.edu/goodsell/history/story-of-goodsell/

Respond to the post on the MAS Forum re: this event (see this link: https://forum.mnastro.org/viewtopic.php?p=74074#p74074

Plan to meet outside of Goodsell Observatory around 6:45pm on November 7th.

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!

Cherry Grove Observatory (CGO) Keyholder Training:
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.

MAS on YouTube

The October 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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Find Out More – MAS Homepage