Happenings this Week

Naturally, this leaves me wondering: who could possibly be behind such a dastardly attack?

I’m no cyber investigator (though when has lack of training ever stopped me from speculating?). Here are my leading suspects:

• Astrological lobbyists — furious over our occasional mild ribbing… and, of course, Ophiuchus.
• Squirrels — rodent space enthusiasts still nursing grievances over those felled trees at Metcalf.
• The Ghost of Huygens — displeased that we published his slightly unsightly TOES.
• 3I/ATLAS — obviously. Clearly an alien mother ship messing with us!

The mystery remains, but one thing’s certain: our web team are the real heroes of this saga.

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)

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.

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