MAS Happenings – October 7 2025

by | Oct 7, 2025 | MAS Happenings

Happenings this Week
The Astronomical League’s Huygens TOES Challenge is wrapping up, and I was going to send my sketch to Jerry. I was feeling pretty good about it—until I learned that TOES actually stands for Titan’s Ocular Equatorial Shadow. Not, as I had assumed, an invitation to sketch Huygens’ bare feet.

Friendly reminder to you, dear readers: always read the actual requirements before starting an AL project.

I won’t email it to Jerry after all. But maybe I’ll frame it?

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

Here is a sneak peak of what’s inside….

  • My Journey to the Dark Side Part 2 (Dave Falkner)
  • Valley of Dreams Part 2 (Thor Olson)
  • Total Esclipse of the Sun (Jerry Smyser)
  • Northern Lights Star Fest (Dick Jacobson)
  • Eclipse Trips (Phil Wells)
  • 2025 Astronomy Camp at LLCC (Valts Treibergs)
October Gemini
BSIG Beginner Astronomy
Outdoor Observing Session
Saturday, October 11
5:30 – 11:00 PM CT
The MAS invites everyone to the next Beginners Special Interest Group (BSIG) event at Metcalf Field.

There is no charge to attend, and you do not need to be an MAS member. Everyone is welcome, including children.  The purpose is to help beginners learn the night sky, and to learn how to set up and use a telescope. Bringing a telescope is optional, but if you have one, bring it. Volunteers from the MAS will be on hand to answer your questions and show you objects through their own telescopes, or to assist you with your scope if you’re still learning to use it.

This event is weather dependent and will be cancelled if cloudy. It may also be moved to Friday if that forecast is more favorable.

More information on this event can be found here:
October BSIG
Eagle Lake Observatory (ELO)
Public Star Party
Saturday, October 11
7:00 – 10:00 PM CT
ELO has an array of telescopes to show you the night sky including stars, star clusters, galaxies, nebula, planets, and other objects depending on what is up that night.

This event will be in celebration of International Observe the Moon Night!

There is also a keyholder training scheduled.

Also, this is an all-weather event. Even if cloudy, someone will be there to entertain you on our favorite topic – astronomy!

Visit the web site for more details:
Public Star Party at ELO: Observe the Moon!
Public Star Party at Cedar Creek
Saturday, October 11
7:00 – 11:00 PM CT
Each star party starts with a brief astronomy presentation. A number of telescopes will be available for night sky viewing after the program. You do not need a telescope to attend, and the cost is free.

This is a weather-dependent event, and more information will be posted on the link below.

Click the button for full details:
Cedar Creek Star Party
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!
Eagle Lake Observatory (ELO):
Saturday, October 11

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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