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TABLE OF CON TEN T S APRIL 7, 2017 GENERAL MEETING U P C OMING E V ENT S 2 SPEAKER FOR MAIN MEETING IS FAMOUS S OCIET Y D IREC TO RY 3 AMATEUR ASTRONOMER: LARRY MITCHELL P R ESID ENT ’S LET T E R 4 Larry Mitchell is known for his famous MAC catalog of galaxies (Mitchel Anonymous ANNO UNC E M ENT S 5 Catalog) found only on the Megastar Astronomy Program. He is the personal owner of A RT I C L E| NASA S PAC E 6 a 36" newtonian reflector, one of only a few built by Obsession telescopes many, many P L AC E A ST RO N OMY C LU B years ago. He is also known for his advanced observation programs which are DEEP SKY OBJECT OF THE MONTH 7 developed for those amateur astronomers who attend the Texas Star Party every year. Each advanced observing program is different with a different theme for each particular A ST ERISM 8 year. ABO U T T H E G UID ESTA R 9 His talk will focus on the not-so-well known Byurakan Observatory which is a ABOUT H.A.S. 10 professional astronomical observatory owned and operated by the Armenian Academy PARKING AT UH 11 of Sciences near Mt. Aragats in Western Armenia. The Byurakan observatory has an amazing history of brilliant Astronomers who were pioneers in the various fields of Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology and made some of the most 'landmark' discoveries in the history of modern Astronomy since its foundation in 1946 during the post WW II Soviet Union. Larry will give us a history of the observatory, its founders, pioneers, and achievements that continue to this day. This is an untold chapter in the world of Astronomy not known by most amateur Astronomers. MARCH NOVICE PRESENTATION By Debbie Moran Justin McCollum (MS Physics, aka Professor Comet, HAS Program Director) is known for his Professor Comet reports that are focused purely on comets and which are available to see - the tips, tricks, tools, and resources to find and observe or photograph comets when they are available to observers in the Northern or Southern hemisphere (mostly Northern hemisphere). He is not only an employee with the Physics Dept. at Lamar University in charge of the academic development of the Physics laboratory program, but has been and continues to be a Building Manager and senior volunteer at the ABO U T TH E CO V E R HMNS George Observatory. target/Other His talk will focus on Comets! What are they? How to Observe them? Comets are an important feature in the study of the development and evolution of the Solar System. Comets contain an amazing array of organic chemicals, water, and other such ancient chemicals that are essential for any life to develop on any planetary body. from a distance of about 53 miles (86 kilometers) from the However, the fun is being able to observe comets when they pass by the Earth and center of Comet 67P/Churyumov- swing around the Sun. Most amateur astronomers know only the basics about comets; Gerasimenko on March 14, 2015. which ones are observable, what dates & times to observe them, where to look, and how bright they will be. Most do not know how to predict when they will occur, how feet (7 meters) per pixel and is their paths will change, how to observe the details of a comet, or how to know the cropped and processed to bring out differences in a comet's appearance. This presentation will provide resources and tools that most people are not aware of and the minor, but very important techniques in studying these comets, even if it is only by visual observations! HOU S TO N A S T RO N O MIC A L SOCI ETY 1 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR HAS MEETINGS All meetings are at the University APR 1 5:00 Mercury at greates MAY 2 9:47 p.m. First Quarter of Houston Science and Research elongation east Moon APR 3 1:39 p.m. First Quarter Moon building. See the last page for MAY 5 7:00 p.m. HAS Novice Meeting, APR 5 5:00 p.m. Jupiter at opposition directions to the location and more 7:00 p.m. HAS Novice Meeting, U of H information. U of H 8:00 p.m. HAS General Meeting, NOVICE MEETING 8:00 p.m. HAS General Meeting, U of H 7:00 P.M. room 117 Science & U of H MAY 10 4:42 p.m. Full Moon Research 1 Bldg APR 11 1:08 a.m. Full Moon APR 15 6:45 p.m. Novice Lab, Columbus MAY 17 6:00 p.m. Mercury at greatest APR 17 1:00 a.m. Mercury at greatest elongation W GENERAL MEETING illuminated extent MAY 18 7:33 p.m. Last Quarter Moon 8:00 P.M room 117 Science & APR 19 2:57 a.m. Last Quarter Moon MAY 20 Prime Night, Columbus Research 1 Bldg APR 22 Prime Night, Columbus MAY 25 2:44 p.m. New Moon APR 26 7:16 a.m. New Moon GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING APR 29 11:00 p.m. Venus at greatest The Houston Astronomical Society illuminated extent holds its regular monthly General Membership Meeting on the first SEND CALENDAR EVENTS TO DOUG MCCORMICK Friday of each month, unless [email protected] FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON CLUB rescheduled due to a holiday or a EVENTS, GO TO ASTRONOMYHOUSTON.ORG conflict with other events at the University of Houston. OTHER MEETINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING JOHNSON SPACE CENTER ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY | jscas.net The Board of Directors Meeting is held Meets in the the Lunar and Planetary Institute on the 2nd Friday of each month. on dates and at locations scheduled by the board. Information provided to GuideStar will be published. The FORT BEND ASTRONOMY CLUB | fbac.org/club_meetings.htm. meetings are open to all members Meets the third Friday of the month at 8:00 p.m. at the Houston Community of the Society in good standing. College Southwest Campus in Stafford, Texas. Attendance is encouraged. NORTH HOUSTON ASTRONOMY CLUB | astronomyclub.org Houston Meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 4th Friday of each month in the Teaching Theatre Astronomical of the Student Center at Kingwood College. Call 281-312-1650 or E-mail Society [email protected]. BRAZOSPORT ASTRONOMY CLUB GuideStar_HAS Meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Brazosport planetarium at 7:45 p.m. The Brazosport planetarium is located at 400 College Boulevard, Clute, TX, 77531. For more information call 979-265-3376. STARLINE 832-go4-HAS0 HOUSTON ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 2 HOUSTON ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY DIRECTORY DIRECTORS AT LARGE NOVICE DEBBIE MORAN URBAN OBSERVING STEVE MUNSEY WALT COONEY [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] H:713-774-0924 C:713-562-7670 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ED FRAINI CHRIS OBER OBSERVATORY MIKE EDSTROM [email protected] [email protected] observatory@ astronomyhouston.org P: 832-689-4584 WOMEN’S SIG MARK FERRAZ RENE GEDALY [email protected] PROGRAM JUSTIN MCCOLLUM [email protected] [email protected] AMELIA GOLDBERG DEBBIE MORAN [email protected] [email protected] PUBLICITY BRAM WEISMAN [email protected] IDA REP DEBBIE MORAN BRAM WEISMAN [email protected] [email protected] TELESCOPE ALLEN WILKERSON OFFICERS [email protected] ADVISORS PRESIDENT RENE GEDALY P: 832- 265-4773 DR. LAWRENCE PINSKY [email protected] University of Houston AD-HOC COMMITTEE VICE PRESIDENT DON SELLE CHAIRPERSONS BRIAN CUDNIK [email protected] AL COORDINATOR DOUG MCCORMICK Prairie View A&M University [email protected] SECRETARY ROB MOREHEAD HAS BOARD MEETING [email protected] AUDIO/VISUAL MICHAEL RAPP HAS Board meetings are scheduled [email protected] regularly. All members are invited to TREASURER JESSICA KINGSLEY attend these meetings, but only board [email protected] GUIDESTAR BOB WIESNER members can vote on issues brought [email protected] COMMITTEE before the board. Meetings are held at CHAIRPERSONS the Trini Mendenhall Community Center TEXAS 45 COORDINATOR RENE GEDALY (1414 Wirt Road) at 6:30 p.m. on the date AUDIT SCOTT MITCHELL [email protected] specified the calendar. [email protected] WELCOMING EVELYN PENILLA EDUCATION & OUTREACH [email protected] DEBBIE MORAN & JOE KHALAF [email protected] HAS BOOKING STEVE GOLDBERG [email protected] [email protected] FIELD TR./OBSG STEPHEN JONES VIDEOGRAPHY MARIO MORENO [email protected] [email protected] MEMBERSHIP BILL KOWALCZYK WEB TECHNOLOGY MARK FERRAZ [email protected] [email protected] HOUSTON ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER | BY RENE GEDALY SIGs are Back That's Special Interest Groups or SIGs. We've had them before, in a galaxy far, far away. Now they're back and I'm especially excited about a new one being introduced by our Field Trip & Observing guy, Stephen Jones. Don’t miss his announcement elsewhere in this GuideStar. HAS Youth A perennial question of astronomy groups everywhere has been how to get youth involved in our hobby. My answer has always been to go where they live, and if you have something to offer, they'll come visit you. It's a working strategy for HAS. They live online, of course. And we offer plenty. At observatory training, from left: Bob Menius, Lauren Herrington, Karla Ziel- Karla Pale, our HAS intern, is giving her senior thesis ke, Steve Harris, Ed Fraini (trainer). Behind camera, Lisa Herrington Morgan. presentation on “Indirect Methods of Detecting Dark Matter” April 25 at The School of the Woods. We were Brand new member Lauren Herrington brought her mom hoping to have Karla speak to us at UH but she’s leaving to the second observatory training class.
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