Michiana  Astronomical  Society

Dates:

          Photon Harvest 2026 - June 11th - 14th, 2026 

          MSP16 - Oct 11th - 14th 2026

Details: MAS Star Parties

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.

 Starting on Dec 19th 2024 meetings take place at the Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park. 1165 Franklin St. #100
South Bend, IN 46601

Thursday March 19th, 2026

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

Speaker: TBD

Subject: Open Forum

 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

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

Next Indiana Dunes event: May 3th 8:30-10:30p.m. CDT

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 April 4th 2026 - 8:00-10:00p.m. CDT.

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

 All times are Central Daylight Time

Click on the image below to enlarge it.

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: The Future of Biodiversity and Why It Matters

• Paulo Martins Sobrinho, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Tue Apr 7th 2026 - 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:
February 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
February 19 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
February 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 4°41'
March 3 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (03:44-07:19 Max-06:33)
March 3 - OUR: Our Universe Revealed, Co-creation: On Emergence and The Creative Work - Mark Sniadecki
March 7 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 4'26"
March 8 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 1°00'
March 14 - Conjunction of Mars and Mercury 3°57'
March 17 - Michiana Science Cafe - Consequences of a Nuclear War, Prof Michael Wiescher, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe
March 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601

Kemil Beach Stargazing, Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
April 4 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:00-22:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
May 2 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:30-22:30 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
June 6 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 21:00-23:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
August 1 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:30-22:30 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
September 5 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:00-22:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304

Mercury and Venus Observation 2026
April 3 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
June 15 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 2 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 15 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
October 12 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
November 20 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning

Planetary Oppositions (Closest Approach for 2026)
September 25 - Neptune at Opposition
October 4 - Saturn at Opposition
November 25 - Uranus at Opposition

Planetary Conjunctions 2026
April 13 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 20'
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 1°25'
April 19 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°48'
April 20 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 30'
April 20 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 1°18'
April 24 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 46'
June 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 1°38'
July 4 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 6'26"
August 15 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 33'
October 5 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 5°26'
November 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 1°14'

Meteor Showers 2026
April 21 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
May 5 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
July 30 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with New Moon (great!)
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 12 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 16 - Leonids Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (great)
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (good)
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)

2026 All Upcoming Events
March 20 - March Equinox
April 3 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
April 4 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:00-22:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
April 7 - OUR: Our Universe Revealed, The Future of Biodiversity and Why It Matters - Paulo Martins Sobrinho, PhD, 6:30pm Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main
April 13 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 20'
April 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 1°25'
April 19 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°48'
April 20 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 30'
April 20 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 1°18'
April 21 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
April 21 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
April 24 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 46'
May 2 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:30-22:30 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
May 5 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
May 19 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
May 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
June 6 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 21:00-23:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
June 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 1°38'
June 11 - Michiana Star Party - Photon Harvest - 6/11-14, Dr. Lawless International Dark Sky Park, Vandalia, MI
June 15 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
June 16 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
June 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
June 21 - June Solstice
July 4 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 6'26"
July 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
July 21 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
July 30 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
August 1 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:30-22:30 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
August 2 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 12 - Total Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (13:13-13:49Max13:31) <1%
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with New Moon (great!)
August 15 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 15 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 33'
August 18 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
August 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
August 27 - Partial Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (21:23-03:01Max00:12) 
September 5 - Kemil Beach Stargazing 20:00-22:00 - Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
September 15 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
September 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
September 22 - September Equinox
September 25 - Neptune at Opposition
October 4 - Saturn at Opposition
October 5 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 5°26'
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
October 8 - Michiana Star Party 16 (MSP16) - 10/8-11, Potawatomi Wildlife Park, Tippecanoe
October 12 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
October 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
October 20 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 12 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 1°14'
November 16 - Leonids Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (great)
November 17 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
November 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
November 20 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
November 25 - Uranus at Opposition
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (good)
December 15 - Michiana Science Cafe - TBD, 18:00-19:30 Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
December 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
December 21 - December Solstice


Resources:
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/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/michianasciencecafe

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