Michiana  Astronomical  Society

Welcome,

The Michiana Astronomical Society is an Astronomy club based in the South Bend/Mishawaka Indiana area. We meet in the third Thursday of the month @ 7:00PM. Meetings take place at the Centre branch of the South Bend library located at 1150 E Kern Road South Bend, IN 46614.

2023 MAS Due's are due in January. 

If you are going to join or renew, please email me and I will send you my address. I have been making very limited trips to the P.O. Box during these Covid times. I would prefer you send your checks direct to me.  treasurer@michiana-astro.org

 Thursday, March 16th, 2023  7:00PM - 9:00PM  (Eastern)

The meeting starts at 7:00PM and will be held via Webex and in-person.

Note that all recent club members with an email address on file will receive a Webex invitation via email.  If not, please request one by contacting Bruce Miller, President.

Speaker: Kurt Eberhardt

Subject: Observing When It's Not Night

On a clear night Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF is visible with a pair of binoculars or small telescope. It may even become visible to the unaided eye as it loops around the sun.  It is visible in the early morning hours.

Where to find the Comet: C/2022 E3 ZTF

 2020 MAS Calendars are now available. $Free just $2.00 shipping or $2.80 shipping for two.

To order: Contact Linda Marks and Steve Accuosti at  vicepresident@michiana-astro.org

Happy New Year!!!

Michiana Star Party  (2023)

Dates: 2023 Dates are now set:  May 19th - 21st 2023

For details, click here:

MSP-13

Notice: Standard Covid-19 precautions will be observed per current CDC and local government requirements.

Notice: Due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns, the Michiana Astronomical Society is no longer supporting or affiliated with any out reach events. Some members may continue to be involved with these out reach events out side of the club. (August 20th, 2021)

Science Alive @ Saint Joseph County Main Library  - Saturday February 5th, 2022 :  Cancelled due to Covid-19, as of January 31st

Saturday Stargazing @ Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) - Cost: Free

Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) is having a stargazing restarting on Saturday September 10nd, 2022. The program will take place at the Kemil Parking Lot, near Beverly Shores, one of the Dark Sky Communities. That location is one of the darkest spots between Chicago and Michigan City. The address to plug into gps is "Kemil Beach, Beverly Shores, IN 46304, or GPS Coordinates - 041.40.39N 087.00.35W.   

Stargazing will resume at the Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) Kemil Beach parking lot, on the Saturday September 10th 2022 @ 8:00PM CDT. 

2022 Schedule:

Canceled Saturday September 10th 2022 @ 8:00PM CDT Canceled

The program is weather dependent, so check back the Saturday of the event.  Here is wishing you Clear Skies!

Contact  Julie Larsen for additional details (219) 395-1821.

Click on the image below to enlarge it.

Notice: Due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns, the Michiana Astronomical Society is no longer supporting or affiliated with any out reach events. Some members may continue to be involved with these out reach events out side of the club. (August 20th, 2021)

Potato Creek Astronomy Program  (Potato Creek State Park) - Cost: The event is free, but there is a cost to enter the state park.

August 26 - Potato Creek State Park - Linda & Steve Dark-11 Fri #211, Sat  Orchard Shores
August 27 - Potato Creek State Park - Linda & Steve 2-3 Nature Center Astronomy Presentation

October 14 - Potato Creek State Park - Linda & Steve Dark-11 Fri #211, Sat  Orchard Shores
October 15 - Potato Creek State Park - Linda & Steve 2-3 Nature Center Astronomy Presentation

Contact  Barbara Tibbets for additional details.

On scheduled Friday nights we observe from the campground Site 211, from dusk until 11 pm.

On scheduled Saturdays Linda shows a powerpoint and then we do a hands-on paper project at the Nature Center from 2 pm to 3 pm. When the sun is shining, we show folks views through solar telescopes, after the main program.

On a scheduled Saturday nights we do our observing normally at the Whispering Winds site near the Nature Center (you have to pass the sign on the way in). We arrive one hour before sunset to set up.

The programs are weather dependent.

TBD - New Carlisle Library Astronomy Program  - Cost: The event is free

This is from Roanna Hootten, of the New Carlisle Library:   "Because of the ever changing nature of Covid, we are postponing in person August/September programs."   So we are looking forward to trying to do this event next spring. Stay tuned! Keep enjoying the views through your own telescopes.

All of our planned public talks for this semester will now be streamed live online and held in person. These can be accessed on Youtube as well as on Zoom using the connection details below:
Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed
Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

We will aim to follow our usual event format with a 30-40 minute presentation followed by time for audience questions. Questions can be asked through both Youtube and Zoom platforms at any time during the talk and we will collate and respond to them at the end of the talk.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support with the series in these challenging times. Through the power of technology we will do all we can to keep educating our students, our neighbors and the Notre Dame community whether close by or further afield.

If you think this and our other events would be of interest to any of your friends, family or colleagues, please feel free to forward this email on to them so they are able to join us.

Jonathan Crass
Series Coordinator

Our Universe Revealed - Upcoming talks:

• Rational Tangles: A Mathematical Dance
  • Amanda Serenevy
  • Tue Mar 21st 2023 - 6:30 pm ET
  • Leighton Auditorium, Main Branch, St. Joseph County Public Library
• The Opioid Crisis in Indiana
  • Marya Lieberman
  • Tue Apr 4th 2023 - 6:30 pm ET
  • Leighton Auditorium, Main Branch, St. Joseph County Public Library

View more talks & full details

Note: Due to limited space, Tickets are required for some events but are typically free of charge.

Recent News / Activities:
March 2 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 04:35 (0°55')
March 2 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 05:41 (0°32')

Recent Launches:
See https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Conjunctions 2023
March 31 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 02:13 (1°17')
June 4 - Conjunction of Mercury and Uranus 00:34 (2°54')
July 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 08:45 (5°17')

Mercury 2023
April 11 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
May 29 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 10 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
September 22 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
December 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening

2023 All Upcoming Events:
March 21 - Our Universe Revealed: Rational Tangles: A Mathematical Dance - Amanda Serenevy 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
March 30 - March Equinox
March 31 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 02:13 (1°17')April 4 - Our Universe Revealed: The Opioid Crisis in Indiana - Marya Lieberman 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
April 11 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
April 20 - MAS Meeting - Webex Only - Room unavailable
April 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon
May 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with nearly Full Moon
May 18 - MAS Meeting - NO Meeting due to MSP13
May 19 - Michiana Star Party 13 (MSP13) - 5/19-21 Lawless Park
May 29 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
June 4 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
June 4 - Conjunction of Mercury and Uranus 00:34 (2°54')
June 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
June 21 - June Solstice
July 16 - Astro Camp 7/16-21, YMCA Camp Eberhart, Three Rivers, MI
July 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
July 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 08:45 (5°17')
July 28 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with nearly Full Moon
August 10 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with Crescent Moon
August 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
August 27 - Saturn at Opposition
September 19 - Neptune at Opposition
September 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
September 22 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
September 23 - September Equinox
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon
October 14 - Annular Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (11:39-14:24)
October 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon
October 23 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
November 3 - Jupiter at Opposition
November 4 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon
November 13 - Uranus at Opposition
November 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Crescent Moon
December 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with nearly New Moon
December 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon
December 22 - December Solstice

Additional Eclipses
March 25, 2024 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (00:53-05:32)
April 8, 2024 - Total Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (13:53-16:23)
September 17, 2024 - Partial Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (20:41-00:47)
March 13, 2025 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (23:57-06:00)

A recent article in the South Bend Tribune about local Stargazing. Click here to read it: (July 26, 2018 SBT article)

Previous Event - Febuary 4th, 2017 - Science Alive

MAS again participated in Science Alive at the St Joseph county library.

2021/2022 MAS officers are:

Bruce Miller - President

Linda Marks - Vice President

Ruth Craft - Secretary (Chuck Buter - backup Secretary)

Paul Surowiec - Treasurer, Webmaster,  & Alcor

Matt Bielski - Member at Large

Many thanks to our previous officers and their service to the Michiana Astronomical Society, it members and the community.

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Meteor Showers:

Lyrids - April 21th, 2022
Eta Aquariids - May 4th-5th, 2022
Southern Delta Aquariids - July 29th-30th, 2022
Alpha Capricornids - July 30th, 2022
Perseids - August 11th-12th, 2022
Orionids - October 20th-21st, 2022
Southern Taurids - November 4th-5th, 2022
Northern Taurids - November 11th-12th, 2022
Leonids - November 17th-18th, 2022
Geminids - December 13th-14th, 2022
Ursids - December 21st-22nd, 2022

Note on Meteor Showers: These dates are the times of peak occurrence, you can actually see some a few days before and after these dates.

Full Moon -  April 16th, 2022 - May 15th, 2022 - June 14th, 2022 - July 13th, 2022 - August 11th, 2022 - September 10th, 2022 - October 9th, 2022 - November 8th, 2022 - December 7th, 2022

New Moon -  April 30th, 2022 - May 30th, 2022 - June 28th, 2022 - July 28th, 2022 - August 27th, 2022 - September 25th, 2022 - October 25th, 2022 - November 23rd, 2022 - December 23rd, 2022

Special Moon Events in 2022

• Super New Moon: Jan 2
• Black Moon: Apr 30 (second New Moon in single calendar month)
• Total Lunar Eclipse visible in South Bend on May 15 – May 16
• Super Full Moon: Jun 14
• Micro New Moon: Jun 28
• Super Full Moon: Jul 13
• Total Lunar Eclipse visible in South Bend on Nov 8
• Super New Moon: Dec 23
• No Blue Moon in South Bend in 2022 (third Full Moon in a season with four Full Moons)

Total Solar Eclipse - Next one in the US is April 8th 2024.