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:

MSP-14

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.

Notice: The Center Library will be closed starting Nov 25th 2024  for remodeling, till late 2025.

 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

2025 MAS Due's are due in January.

Next Meeting

Thursday Dec 19th, 2024

 

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

Speaker: TBD

Subject:  TBD

Notice: There is no October Meeting

 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

Important News

Notice: The Library will be closed starting Nov 25th 2024 for remodeling, till late 2025.

 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

Earthbound - Outreach Events

River St. Joe Outreach

 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.

Cancelled due to weather.

Kemil Beach National Park Outreach

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.

 

Date

Start

End

Location

Saturday, April 13, 2024

8:00 PM

10:00 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, May 11, 2024

8:30 PM

10:30 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, June 8, 2024

  9:00 PM

11:00 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, July 13, 2024

  9:00 PM

  11:00 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, August 10, 2024

8:30 PM

10:30 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, September 14, 2024

7:30 PM

9:30 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, October 12, 2024

7:30 PM

9:30 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

Saturday, November 9, 2024

6:30 PM

8:30 PM

Cancelled due to weather

Saturday, December 7, 2024

6:00 PM

8:00 PM

Stargazing at Kemil Beach

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.

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: 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:
May 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Matt Bielski - OzSky Australia
May 21 - Michiana Science Cafe - Dr. Ryan Sensenig - Restoring Tall Grass Prairies to Capture Carbon,  Chicory Cafe
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 8 - Kemil Beach Stargazing  - Canceled for Weather
June 18 - Michiana Science Cafe - Dr. Lee Haines - The Secret World of Cicadas, Chicory Cafe
June 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Open Forum
June 20 - June Solstice


Mercury Observation 2024
JJuly 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
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
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.

Eclipses
March 13, 2025 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (23:57-06:00)

2024 All Upcoming Events
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 16 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
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


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 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.

Space Events

Date and Time (Universal Time)
New MoonFirst QuarterFull MoonLast Quarter
-- -- -- 2024 Jan 4 03:30
2024 Jan 11 11:57 2024 Jan 18 03:52 2024 Jan 25 17:54 2024 Feb 2 23:18
2024 Feb 9 22:59 2024 Feb 16 15:01 2024 Feb 24 12:30 2024 Mar 3 15:23
2024 Mar 10 09:00 2024 Mar 17 04:11 2024 Mar 25 07:00 2024 Apr 2 03:15
2024 Apr 8 18:21 2024 Apr 15 19:13 2024 Apr 23 23:49 2024 May 1 11:27
2024 May 8 03:22 2024 May 15 11:48 2024 May 23 13:53 2024 May 30 17:13
2024 Jun 6 12:38 2024 Jun 14 05:18 2024 Jun 22 01:08 2024 Jun 28 21:53
2024 Jul 5 22:57 2024 Jul 13 22:49 2024 Jul 21 10:17 2024 Jul 28 02:51
2024 Aug 4 11:13 2024 Aug 12 15:19 2024 Aug 19 18:26 2024 Aug 26 09:26
2024 Sep 3 01:55 2024 Sep 11 06:05 2024 Sep 18 02:34 2024 Sep 24 18:50
2024 Oct 2 18:49 2024 Oct 10 18:55 2024 Oct 17 11:26 2024 Oct 24 08:03
2024 Nov 1 12:47 2024 Nov 9 05:55 2024 Nov 15 21:28 2024 Nov 23 01:28
2024 Dec 1 06:21 2024 Dec 8 15:26 2024 Dec 15 09:02 2024 Dec 22 22:18
2024 Dec 30 22:27 -- --

 

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

   The Moon will totally block out the Sun on Oct 2nd, 2024 @ 1:42 UTC.
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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