The 2018 observing season is finally upon us! In this beginner-oriented session, we’ll talk about how to prepare for upcoming star parties and tips on maximizing the use of your binoculars or telescopes.  Do you have questions on how to use your telescope? Bring it!  We’ll set it up in the lobby and help you figure out how to fix it or use it.  Bring your questions and we’ll do our best to answer them as a group.

Gonzaga’s Dr. Matthew Geske visits the SAS this month to talk to us about cosmic rays. First discovered in 1912, the field of cosmic ray science is a relatively young branch of astrophysics, and there is much that is still uncertain about their origins.

This month SAS member and physicist Dr. Paul Temple will speak about the astronomical tools and methods of 18th and 19th century surveyors. See you at the SFCC Planetarium on February 2nd!

Please join us at our Holiday Potluck on January 5th, 2018 at Riverview Retirement Center. Details (including what to bring) here!

Shifting from last month’s winter observing topic, please  join us at the SFCC Planetarium for a presentation on Fundamental Cosmology by Erik Aver of Gonzaga University.   Eric is a fun and entertaining presenter.

We typically meet on the first Friday of the month, but the site isn’t available because the college has another presentation on the first.  So we are meeting on 12/8 at 7:30 pm.

This talk will offer a conceptual discussion of some of the discoveries and observations underpinning cosmology, including the expanding universe, dark matter, dark energy, and early universe physics.  What do we know about the universe and how it has evolved over time?  And how did we figure it out?  Time permitting, Eric will try to also include a couple fun demonstrations of astronomy-related science.

Erik Aver, of Gonzaga Univ.

This month at SFCC we’re lucky to have Professor Guy Worthey talk to us about, in his words:

…a historical overview of the importance of star clusters. Star clusters, both open and globular, have provided a string of forward leaps in the understanding of stars, galaxies, and the universe. Names like Hertzsprung and Russell, Curtis and Shapley, and Trumpler and Baade crop up in our discussion. We end by finding that star cluster research goes on today, in a fascinating variety of astrophysical situations.

Join us September 8th at Riverview when WSU’s Dr. Matt Duez returns to talk to us about black holes and ultra-strong magnetic fields. We’ll also talk about the eclipse, look at some photos and talk about this month’s constellation.

Hello fellow astronomers, the August SAS general meeting program will all be about “Everything you want to know about Solar Eclipses but where afraid to ask”. Mike Reitemeier will talk about
Photographing Eclipses and Mary Singer and Paul Yost will talk about Viewing Partial Eclipses. There will also be a Safety Discussion for Viewing Eclipses and then a Question & Answer Period. Come to the meeting with all you questions and answers – this will be a great informative program.

Dr. Michael Allen, Senior Instructor of Physics and Astronomy, WSU: “Using literature in a science classroom: Brecht’s ‘Life of Galileo'”.

More info on the event page

You arrive at the dark site and realize you forgot to charge the power tank. Now what? Luckily you attended this month’s meeting!

SAS Member Nick Monkman imparts a bit of newfound wisdom on the virtues and pitfalls of all-manual astronomy.  He’ll discuss how to get oriented under a dark sky using nothing but your knowledge of the celestial sphere and a planisphere.  This talk is geared towards beginners (after all, the presenter is one!) – but Nick is hoping the more experienced members of the club will jump in and answer questions and share their experiences.