Michiana  Astronomical  Society

Michiana Star Party  (2025)

Dates: 2025 Dates are:  Oct 23rd - 26th 2025

For details, forthcoming soon:

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. 

 Starting on Dec 19th meetings take place at the Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park. 1165 Franklin St. #100
South Bend, IN 46601

Thursday Jan 16th, 2025

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

Speaker: Paul

Subject:  SkyTools4 Observing Planing software

 Due to the library using the room for early elections, it is not available for our October meeting.

In lieu of the meeting, we will be holding a public outreach event at Central Park in Mishawaka.

Location: 295 E Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46545 in the area of the splash pad.

When: Thursday October 17th, 2024 7:00PM.

Bring a scope or binoculars if you can. If not just show up.

 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

 We meet in the third Thursday of the month @ 7:00PM.

Starting on Dec 19th meetings take place at the Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park. 1165 Franklin St. #100
South Bend, IN 46601

 We are excited to announce our upcoming Astronomy Night event in partnership with River St. Joe in Buchanan, Michigan. This special evening will take place on Friday, the 22nd of November, from 6 to 9 p.m. Members bringing telescopes are asked to try to arrive by 4:45 p.m. for setup and organization.

We have scheduled a contingency date for Saturday, November 23, in the event of cloudy or rainy weather.

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

Next Indiana Dunes event: September 14th 7:30-9:30 PM.

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 July 13th 9:00-11:00p.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.

LaPorte County Library Astronomy outreach event:

April 24th 6-8PM

Union Mills branch
3727 W 800 S
Union Mills, IN 46382

Current participants: Matt Bielski - Jim Hopkins - Mark Listello -  Dan Utroske -  Eileen Surowiec - Paul Surowiec

If you wish to participate you need to let me know, so a background check can be performed. information@michiana-astro.org

Target audience is grammar school kids.

https://www.laportelibrary.org/locations/union-mills

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

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.

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: There are currently no future talks scheduled. Please check again at a later dat

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 2024/2025:
December 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Open Forum - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
December 21 - December Solstice
December 25 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
January 3 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
January 4 - Earth at Perihelion - Closest to Sun
January 10 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening


Mercury Observation 2025
January 10 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
March 8 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
April 21 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
May 31 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
July 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 19 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
October 29 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
December 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning

Planetary Oppositions (Closest Approach for 2025)
January 16 - Mars at Opposition
September 21 - Saturn at Opposition
September 23 - Neptune at Opposition
November 21 - Uranus at Opposition

Planetary Conjunctions 2025
January 18 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 2°31'
February 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 3°57'
February 25 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 1°39'
March 3 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 2°10'
March 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 6°20'
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 41'
April 28 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 3°43'
May 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 2°03'
June 29 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 59'
July 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 2°25'
August 6 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 1°08'
August 12 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 51'
October 21 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 2°07'
November 12 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°18'

2025 Meteor Showers
April 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
May 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
July 28 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
November 4 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)

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.

2025 Eclipses
March 13 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (23:57-02:58Max-06:00)
March 29 - Partial Solar Eclipse, Canada (not visible in South Bend)

2025 All Upcoming Events
January 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Open Forum - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
January 16 - Mars at Opposition
January 20 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 2°31'
January 21 - Michiana Science Cafe - Secret Social Lives of Bacteria, Dr Maggie Kink, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
February 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 3°57'
February 8 - Science Alive! 10-4 SJCPL Main Library
February 18 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
February 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - George Drake – Stellar Evolution 2 - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
February 25 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 1°39'
March 3 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 2°10'
March 8 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
March 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 6°20'
March 13 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (23:57-02:58Max-06:00)
March 18 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
March 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Marc Listello – Mineralized Moon - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
March 20 - March Equinox
March 29 - Partial Solar Eclipse, Canada (not visible in South Bend)
April 15 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 41'
April 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Matt Bielski - Wide Field Nightscape - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
April 21 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
April 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
April 28 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 3°43'
May 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 2°03'
May 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
May 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Sherwood Waggy – Sonification - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
May 20 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
May 31 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
June 17 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
June 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Michael Hensley - Collimation - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
June 21 - June Solstice
June 29 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 59'
July 3 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 2°25'
July 3 - Earth at Aphelion - Furthest from Sun
July 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
July 15 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBA, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
July 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
July 28 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
August 6 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 1°08'
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
August 12 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 51'
August 19 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
September 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
September 21 - Saturn at Opposition
September 22 - September Equinox
September 23 - Neptune at Opposition
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
October 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
October 21 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 2°07'
October 23 - Michiana Star Party 15 (MSP15) - 10/23-26 Potawatomi Wildlife Park, 16998 IN-331, Tippecanoe, IN 46570
October 29 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
November 4 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
November 12 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°18'
November 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
November 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
November 21 - Uranus at Opposition
December 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Last Quarter Moon (good)
December 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
December 21 - December Solstice


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

Notre Dame Our Universe Revealed Presentations - Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main, 6:30 pm
https://universerevealed.nd.edu/upcoming-talks/

Notre Dame Michiana Science Café - Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
https://sites.nd.edu/spi-club/events/

Conjunctions
https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=conjunction&year=2025

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 Hensley - 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.

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Next solar eclipse - It will not be visible in North America