Ventura County Astronomical Society

Join us for the first star party of the year at Charles Temple Observatory! 🌠 ️
Experience a night filled with celestial wonder as we gaze up into the stars together.
This is going to be an incredible event that you don't want to miss out on, and it will definitely leave you feeling like you're floating in space.

Local Event: Learn to use your telescope, Open house and telescope clinic Star Party Check out the latest community post from one of your neighbors. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

First Star Party of the year at Charles Temple Observatory at Moorpark College.

Local Event: Learn to use your telescope, Open house and telescope clinic Star Party Check out the latest community post from one of your neighbors. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

Spent last night at Mount Wilson on the 100 inch telescope.

Moorpark California has a July 3rd fireworks show and last night we got a Pre-time extra. The Firefly Alpha small sat launcher, carrying eight cubesats for NASA's ELaNa 43 was launched from Vandenberg AFB. See the three photos below.
The last photo seems to be a hand releasing the air from a baloon to fly across the sky.

Dennis Willett
VCAS equipment chairperson.

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

Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now Launch Schedule A regularly updated listing of planned orbital missions from spaceports around the globe. Dates and times are given in Greenwich Mean Time. “NET” stands for no earlier than. “TBD” means to be determined. Recent updates appear in red type. See our Launch Log for a listing of c...

Learn about JPL's mission to Mars Free and open to the PUBLIC
Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Hillcrest Center for the Arts 403 W Hillcrest Dr Community Room Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Ventura County Astronomical Society General Meeting: Flying with Ingenuity - From Concept to 72 Flights
Friday, June 28, 2024 7:00 pm Hillcrest Center for the Arts

Mr. Steven Doran has over 25 years of experience in both the development and leadership of embedded flight software for programs such as the F-22, Space Based InfraRed System (SBIRS), Mars Helicopter and classified systems. Steve is currently assigned to JPL’s Embedded Flight Software group to develop new Fight Software concepts for future NASA/JPL missions.

Constellation Hunter Observing Program

A great way to learn the constellations and brighter stars

How on Earth do you find your way among the stars?
Here is a helpful Astronomical League Observing Program designed for you!

• Become familiar with the constellations and brighter stars.
• Begin learning how to navigate among the stars.
• Provides a sold foundation for moving on to other
observation programs.

You'll need:
• a basic star map or a planisphere,
• a red flashight.

Sketch all stars that are visible to the unaided eye out the limits of the constellation's boundary. Named stars should be identified along with other features visible such as galaxies, clusters, and nebulae.

For complete program details:
https://www.astroleague.org/constellation-hunter-observing-program/

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook/the-observers-notebook-personal-reflections-of-the-april-8-2024-total-solar-eclipse?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Observers Notebook- Personal reflections of the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Episode 187 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to a number of observers of the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse to get their first hand experience. Special

For those that attended the Total Solar Eclipse. The Astronomical League has a certificate you can qualify for. Download the requirements, fill out and bring to one of our VCAS meetings for your 2024 Total Eclipse certificate. deadline is October 31st, 2024

Solar Eclipse Observing Challenges - Astronomical League Solar Eclipse Observing Challenge Coordinator Brad Young 212 E. 16th Street Tulsa, OK 74119 Tel: 918-629-9160 E-mail: [email protected] Introduction Welcome to the Astronomical League’s Solar Eclipse Observing Program. Completion requires tasks to be performed that will enhance your observing...

https://www.facebook.com/100071071788695/posts/480531470992575/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Constellation Hunter Observing Program

A great way to learn the constellations and brighter stars

How on Earth do you find your way among the stars?
Here is a helpful Astronomical League Observing Program designed for you!

• Become familiar with the constellations and brighter stars.
• Begin learning how to navigate among the stars.
• Provides a sold foundation for moving on to other
observation programs.

You'll need:
• a basic star map or a planisphere,
• a red flashight.

Sketch all stars that are visible to the unaided eye out the limits of the constellation's boundary. Named stars should be identified along with other features visible such as galaxies, clusters, and nebulae.

For complete program details:
https://www.astroleague.org/constellation-hunter-observing-program/

Tonights meeting

Local Event: Ventura County Astronomical Society meeting, REVIEW of the April 8th Total Solar Eclipse Check out the latest community post from one of your neighbors. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

https://www.facebook.com/WilsonObs?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_31_2023_12_54_COPY_01)&mc_cid=735de9be74&mc_eid=0aefbd798a

Mount Wilson Observatory Where we discovered our place in the universe.

Local Event: Ventura County Astronomical Society meeting, REVIEW of the April 8th Total Solar Eclipse Check out the latest community post from one of your neighbors. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

Eclipse watch in Garner State Park, Texas

‘Just try to be in the moment’: Bill Nye shares eclipse insights & tips ahead of his trip to Texas The Science Guy will be at the Planetary Society’s Eclipse-O-Rama in Fredericksburg.

Bill Nye 'the Science Guy' is coming to Central Texas for the total solar eclipse Nye will be one of multiple speakers at Eclipse-O-Rama 2024 in Fredericksburg.

Fyi

Sadly, Mother Nature has CANCELLED the April 8 Solar Eclipse event for us. Rainstorms and cold temperatures over Easter weekend created 10 inches of new snow and caused road closures at the Observatory, and another storm is forecast for this Friday, April 5. Be safe & enjoy the eclipse wherever you may be!

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2023

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2023 In 2023, the famous Leonid meteor shower will be free of moonlight on the shower’s peak morning, November 18. You might also try watching on the morning of November 17.

Triple WOW…
LUCY the most ambitious solar system probe yet, took images of the small asteroid “Dinky” on its way out to investigate Jupiters’ Trojans.
Lucy found not just another moonlet circling Dinky but something even rarer.
That’s not a Moon… That’s a contact binary.
See the image from Lucy below and read more at scientificamerican.com

Dennis Willett
VCAS Equipment Chairperson