What: APL Astronomy Club monthly meeting
Where: Gibson Library room L-2
When: Wednesday, July 18, noon to 1:00 pm
This month’s topics: Talk by club member Steve Conard: “A Satellite for 911 Agamemnon?” If you can’t make the meeting, check out Steve’s video on YouTube.
Open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
What: APL Astronomy Club monthly meeting
Where: Gibson Library room L-2
When: Wednesday, June 20, noon to 1:00 pm
This month’s topics: Observing reports for the Venus Transit this past June 5th.
Open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
What: Venus Transit Party, talk and viewing
Where: Bldg 200 lobby
When: Tuesday, June 5, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The weather will be OK for viewing (50-60% cloud cover) (June 5, 2 pm EDT; this is the final weather update).
The APL Astronomy Club and the APL Space Department are hosting a Venus Transit Party on Tuesday, June 5th. APLers and their friends and families are invited. All activities are in public areas of the lab. Club members will have several telescopes out for your viewing pleasure, including 2 H-alpha ‘scopes and several large ‘scopes with white light filters.
Bring a picnic supper and join us to witness this historic celestial event! (Can’t join us at APL? Check this page for other viewing options in the area. Have to stay home? Try watching one of the simulcasts listed here (or click on the Resources link in the menu bar above).)
4:30 pm in the building 200 lobby: Light refreshments available.
5 pm in Conference Room 200-E100: The Transit of Venus presented by club member Ron Farris. The talk will address the history and science of Venus transit observations, observing safety, and what to expect during the June 5th transit.
6 pm – 8:30 pm, SW corner of building 200 parking lot: Observe the transit with the club’s special solar equipment. Outside observing will be canceled if the sky is too cloudy. Observing will be located in the South West corner of the building 200 parking lot, which has the lowest North West horizon. Telescope set up starts at 4 pm. Transit begins at 6:05 pm EDT. Sunset is about 8:30 pm. If you own a ‘scope with a solar filter, bring it along and join us! (The club reserves the right to approve the safety of your set up.)
6 pm – 9 pm in the building 200 lobby and E100: Simulcasts of the transit from other observatories.
More information on the Venus Transit and Safe Solar Observing:
Transit of Venus dot org: apps, history, education, stuff to buy, etc. etc. etc.
Transits of Venus (Wiki)
2012 Transit of Venus (Wiki)
How to safely observe the sun.
What makes a safe solar filter?
What: Solar Observing
Where: Building 200 Cafeteria Patio
When: Tuesday, May 15, noon to 1:00 pm
Come view the Sun, our very own star, with the APL Astronomy Club. Count sunspots, see faculae and plages and maybe granulation and spicules, and compare the view through different kinds of equipment.
Open to anyone on campus who is interested.
If it’s too cloudy the event will be canceled. Check for a Weather Status Update at this web site on May 15th about 10 am.
We are a GO for tonight! But it’s going to get cold, so be sure to dress for 30-degree temperatures!
The APL Astronomy Club’s Spring Friends & Family Star Party will be held Friday, April 27th, starting at 8:00 pm (club telescope set up starts at 7:30). Check for a Weather Status Update at this web site on April 27th in the afternoon.
APLers and their friends and families are invited. Club members will have several telescopes out for your viewing pleasure. Bring your own optics if you have ’em – the more, the merrier! NO FLASHLIGHTS
Where: on the lawn next to the Big Dish on the West side of the Main Campus, outside the perimeter fence.
Dress for temperatures at least 10 degrees colder than predicted.
Park near the turnstile entrance by building 21, or near the building 23 lobby entrance.
Sun: sunset 8 pm EDT; end of civil twilight about 8:30 pm.
Moon: waxing crescent, 6.5 days old (reaches 1st quarter the morning of Apr. 29)
Venus: waning crescent (lighted disk similar to Moon’s), 38 degrees elevation at 8 pm EDT, visual magnitude -4.5.
Mars: past opposition, apparent diameter ~10 arc-seconds, 58 degrees altitude at 8 pm EDT, visual magnitude -0.1.
Saturn: rising in the East before sunset, reaches an altitude of 25 degrees by 9 pm EDT (01:00 UT); apparent diameter of rings ~43 arc-seconds, visual magnitude 0.3.
Jupiter: sets about an hour after the sun.
Uranus, Neptune, Pluto: in the early morning sky, not visible in the evening.
Orion nebula (but it will set early), M44 star cluster, associated star clusters in Auriga, various double stars.
What: APL Astronomy Club monthly meeting
Where: Gibson Library room L-2
When: Wednesday, May 16, noon to 1:00 pm
This month’s topics: Preparation for the Venus Transit Party on June 5th, elections in June (!), and member observing reports.
(Steve Conard’s talk about his observations of a possible satellite of asteroid Agamemnon had to be postponed; we’ll reschedule him as soon as possible.)
Open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
What: APL Astronomy Club monthly meeting
Where: Gibson Library room L-2
When: Wednesday, April 18, noon to 1:00 pm
This month’s topics: April Star Party, prep. for Venus Transit Party, members’ observing reports.
Open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
What: Solar Observing
Where: Building 1 Main Cafeteria Patio
When: Tuesday, April 17, noon to 1:00 pm
Come view the Sun, our very own star, with the APL Astronomy Club. Count sunspots, see faculae and plages and maybe granulation and spicules, and compare the view through different kinds of equipment. Venus may also be visible in regular telescopes.
Open to anyone on campus who is interested.
If it’s too cloudy the event will be canceled. (Note: the previous 4 Sun Parties were canceled due to clouds. Any one care to predict the weather at noon on April 16??)
Canceled
What: Solar Observing
Where: Building 1 Main Cafeteria Patio
When: Tuesday, March 20, noon to 1:00 pm
Come view the Sun, our very own star, with the APL Astronomy Club. Count sunspots, see faculae and plages and maybe granulation and spicules, and compare the view through different kinds of equipment. Venus and Jupiter will also be visible in regular telescopes.
Open to anyone on campus who is interested.
If it’s too cloudy the event will be canceled, but we’ll try again on April 17, at either the Bldg 17 cafeteria patio, or MP6 cafeteria patio.
10:30 am EDT: Canceled. The sky is currently socked in, and forecasts agree that will not change. So, in the hopes of guaranteeing a few hours of noon-time sunshine today, we have canceled this event.
What: APL Astronomy Club monthly meeting
Where: Gibson Library room L-2
When: Wednesday, March 21, noon to 1:00 pm
This month’s topics: Transit of Venus, presented by Ron Farris.
Open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
JHU/APL Astronomy Club 