Michiana  Astronomical  Society

Imporant News

MSP14 2024 Star Party

Michiana Star Party  (2024)

Dates: 2024 Dates where:  May 3rd - 5th 2024

For details, click here:

TBD

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

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.

2024 MAS Due's are due in January.

2024 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 would prefer you send your checks direct to me.  treasurer@michiana-astro.org

Next Meeting

Thursday March 21st, 2024

The meeting will be held in person. 7:00pm Eastern (+Zoom)

Speaker: TBD

Subject: TBD

 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 sunandmoonobs@juno.com

Important News

Earthbound - Outreach Events

2024 Science Alive @ Saint Joseph County Main Library  - Saturday February 10th - 10am-4pm Eastern

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

Next Indiana Dunes event: TBD.

Dec. 16th event has been cancelled due to the weather!

Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) is having a stargazing restarting on Saturday September 9th, 2023. 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.   "Kemil Beach and Dune Ridge Trail Parking Lot"

Stargazing outreach at the Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) Kemil Beach parking lot. Next event Saturday December 16th 7:00-10:00p.m. CDT.

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.

 

Notre Dame Science

We've got the moon on our minds This Saturday, October 14, a "ring of fire" annular eclipse will cross our sky, with partial viewing. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon, at or near its farthest point from the earth, passes between the earth and the sun. Saturday's annular eclipse will cover about 90% of the sun in the southwest United States, and about 40% in South Bend. We are excited to host multiple events featuring eclipse education! Explore Eclipses in the Digital Visualization Theater on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, at 6:30 pm and 8 pm on both days. DVT director Keith Davis, Ph.D., will take you on a flight around the Earth-Moon system to learn how eclipses happen in our 50-foot domed planetarium. Free and open to the public! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Q6XCb5 Solar Eclipse Watch Party (with telescopes!) on Saturday, Oct. 14: Weather permitting, the Physics and Astronomy Department will have telescopes and eclipse glasses available when the eclipse starts at 11:39 a.m. The watch party will conclude once the moon has completely moved out of the sun’s path at 2:24 p.m. https://bit.ly/3tpAtaZCheck out our Facebook events to RSVP to either (or both!) of these events.

Astronomy at River St. Joe - Outreach Event

Saturday 10/28/2023 - 6:00 - 8:00PM EDT

15475 Walton Road Buchanan, MI, 49107 United States

https://www.riversaintjoe.com/event-list/astronomy-night-at-river-st-joe

 On the Shores of Lake Michigan - Outreach Event - with The Well Spiritual Center

Wednesday 9/27/2023

Indiana Dunes National Park - Kemil Beach - parking lot

Wednesday 9/27/2023 - 7:30 Central time

 Potato Creek Astronomy Program  (Potato Creek State Park)

This event no longer takes place.

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.

Our Universe Revealed - Physics for Everyone

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 - Next talk:

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:
Recent News / Activities:
November 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Axel Mellinger - 3D Printing in Astronomy
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (good)
November 18 - Kemil Beach Stargazing  - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
December 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
December 5 - Our Universe Revealed: Beyond the Staff: Crafting Music and Synthesizing Sounds with Geometry - Ryan Olivier 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with nearly New Moon (great)
December 16 - Kemil Beach Stargazing  - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304 - Canceled for weather
December 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Matt Bielski - Challenge Lists: Exploring the Cosmos with Digital Tools
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)

Mercury Observation 2024
January 12 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
March 24 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
May 9 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
July 22 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
September 5 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
November 16 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
December 25 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning

Planetary Oppositions (Closest Approach for 2024)
September 8 - Saturn at Opposition
September 20 - Neptune at Opposition
November 17 - Uranus at Opposition
December 7 - Jupiter at Opposition

Planetary Conjunctions 2024
January 27 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 11:06 EST (14')
February 22 - Conjunction of Venus and Mars 10:31 EST (38')
March 21 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 21:59 EDT (20')
April 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 06:53 EDT (17')
April 10 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 23:11 EDT (28')
April 20 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus 03:30 EDT (31')
April 29 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 00:01 EDT (2'14")
May 30 - Conjunction of Mercury and Uranus 21:24 EDT (1°21')
June 4 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 06:04 EDT (7'04")
July 15 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 05:22 EDT (33')
August 6 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 11:21 EDT (5°55')
August 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 12:52 EDT (18')

Meteor Showers
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
**2024**
January 3 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (poor)
April 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
May 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
July 28 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (poor)
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (poor)
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (good)
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 4 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Full Moon Moon (poor)
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)

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.


2024 All Upcoming Events
January 3 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (poor)
January 9 - Our Universe Revealed: The Secret Social Life of Bacteria - Maggie Fink 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
January 12 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
January 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
January 27 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 11:06 EST (14')
February 6 - Our Universe Revealed: Behind the Folds: The Mathematics of Origami - Kyle Schwieterman 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
February 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
February 22 - Conjunction of Venus and Mars 10:31 EST (38')
February 24 - NIRSEF Virtual
March 20 - March Equinox
March 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
March 21 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 21:59 EDT (20')
March 24 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
March 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (00:53-05:32)
April 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 06:53 EDT (17')
April 5 - Texas Star Party (TSP) 4/5-9, Aquila, TX, texasstarparty.org
April 8 - Total Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (13:53-16:23)
April 10 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 23:11 EDT (28')
April 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
April 20 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus 03:30 EDT (31')
April 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
April 29 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 00:01 EDT (2'14")
May 3 - Michiana Star Party 14 (MSP14) - 5/3-5 Lawless Park
May 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
May 9 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
May 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
May 30 - Conjunction of Mercury and Uranus 21:24 EDT (1°21')
June 4 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 06:04 EDT (7'04")
June 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
June 20 - June Solstice
July 7 - Astro Camp 7/7-12, YMCA Camp Eberhart, Three Rivers, MI - Darren Drake
July 15 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 05:22 EDT (33')
July 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
July 22 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
July 28 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (poor)
July 28 - Nebraska Star Party NE 7/28-8/2, Valentine, NE
August 6 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 11:21 EDT (5°55')
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (poor)
August 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 12:52 EDT (18')
August 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
September 5 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
September 8 - Saturn at Opposition
September 17 - Partial Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (20:41-00:47)
September 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
September 20 - Neptune at Opposition
September 22 - September Equinox
September 27 - Okie-Tex Star Party 9/27-10/5, Kenton, OK
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (good)
October 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 4 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 16 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 17 - Uranus at Opposition
November 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
December 7 - Jupiter at Opposition
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Full Moon Moon (poor)
December 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
December 21 - December Solstice
December 25 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning

Eclipses

October 14 - Annular Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (11:39-14:24)
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)

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

Step out, look up: a guide to local summertime stargazing

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.

2023/2024 MAS officers are:

Bruce Miller - President

Matt Bielski - Vice President

Mike - Secretary (Chuck Buter - backup Secretary)

Paul Surowiec - Treasurer, Webmaster,  & Alcor

Marc Listello - Member at Large

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

Space Events

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Full Moon 2023

DateNameU.S. Eastern TimeGMT
January 6 Wolf Moon 6:08 p.m. 23:08
February 5 Snow Moon 1:29 p.m. 18:29
March 7 Worm Moon 7:40 a.m. 12:40
April 6 Pink Moon 12:34 a.m. 04:34
May 5 Flower Moon 1:34 p.m. 17:34
June 3 Strawberry Moon 11:42 p.m. 03:42 on June 4
July 3 Buck Moon 7:39 a.m. 11:39
August 1 Sturgeon Moon 2:31 p.m. 18:31
August 30 Blue Moon 9:35 p.m. 01:35 Aug. 31
September 29 Harvest Moon 5:57 a.m. 09:57
October 28 Hunter's Moon 4:24 p.m. 20:24
November 27 Beaver Moon 4:16 a.m. 09:16
December 26 Cold Moon 10:33 p.m. 03:33 GMT on Dec. 27

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

   The Moon will totally block out the Sun on Aug 21th, 2017 @ 2:21PM.
Time until the total Eclipse

            
         

For additional information on the Eclipse, be sure and visit NASA's Eclipse web site.

Can you find these galaxies in the sky? 

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