Happy 2012 NSAS -- The UND Observatory and Department of Space Studies invite
you to participate in a growing number of activities that we have planned for
2012. Our goal is to continue the growth in astronomy education, research, and
infrastructure within the state. Here is a sampling of current plans:

1. Monthly fundraising events at Space Aliens Grill & Bar, Grand Forks. The
first event is January 17. These fundraising events will net the UND Observatory
20% of the day's gross sales for all patrons who bring in the UND Observatory
fundraising letter. I can provide that to you, upon request. Just bring it to
the restaurant and give it to your server when ordering. We will also have
space-related items on display and develop this as a major outreach activity in
Grand Forks.

2. We will conduct outreach events for Astronomy Day, the Venus transit, and the
Perseid Meteor Shower, also. NSAS members are invited for all of these events.

3. The 1st Annual UND Observatory banquet will be held in April. I'm working to
finalize the date this week. It will occur at the Hilton Garden Inn and will
feature a keynote speaker, a variety of presentations, a silent auction, and a
good meal. You are all invited in advance. Details for the event should be
available in a week or two.

4. We will roll out a donation program in a few weeks where donors can buy
engraved bricks that will be used to pave the driveway leading into the
observatory, as well as provide additional paved surface area to the east of the
trailer concrete pad.

5. We are continuing our efforts to secure grant funding for the observatory.

Last year saw Internet Observatory #1 and #3 become fully operational. Along
with supporting student projects, we have begun long-term asteroid light curve
studies to better constrain rotation rates and (in the long term) produce shape
models. We will also begin some variable star photometry projects this year.

In addition, we will commission a solar H-alpha filter and begin long-term solar
observations.

This year, we are beginning a collaboration with Grand Forks Central High School
to teach the basics of observational astronomy to their advanced physics
students. These students will receive 10-15 hours of instruction using some of
the instructional material from Space Studies 425. These students will receive
practical training in telescope operations and will conduct a small project to
detect the motion of a main-belt asteroid.

So, as you can see, we have a lot planned. If you have questions about any of
these activities, please contact me via this group, my email at
hardersen@..., or by calling my office at 777-4896.

Thanks for your support,

Paul

Reminder that our first astronomy club meeting is tonight, January 9, at 7PM in
Witmer 114.  Since it is warm and supposed to be clear, I'm thinking of setting
up a telescope afterwards.

-Dean

The astronomy club meets tonight (Feb 13) at 7PM in Witmer 114.  If you need
solar glasses for the Venus transit and solar eclipse this year, the club still
has a few left.  They are $1 for dues paying members.  I'll also be collecting
dues this month as well as discussing moving meetings to the Memorial Union. 
I'll bring my 6" dob for post-meeting observing.

-Dean

Is the NSAS interested in collaborating with UND Space Studies/UND Observatory
for star parties this year? Please provide me with an answer as soon as you
know. Thanks.

Hi

Is anyone thinking of doing the messier marathon this year.

There is a chance that we could use the observatory to do this, this year.

Anyone planning to?

Thanks

Hi,

The Department of Physics and Astrophysics public talk and telescopic observing
session will take place Monday February 27 at 8 PM in Witmer Hall, room 116. The
talk "Galaxies: The Building Blocks of Our Universe" will be presented by Cody
Rude, graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics. Following
the talk, attendees will be given the opportunity to observe the night sky
through a telescope (weather permitting).

Please bring out your telescopes to support this event!

thanks,
Wayne

Yes, we're interested in doing these again.  If we do Fridays near new moon
again, that would be April 20, May 18, and June 15, July 20, and Sept 14.  Our
Badlands trip is August 17/18 but we could have an Observatory event Saturday,
August 11 to catch the Perseid peak.

-Dean


--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, "drpaulh65@..." <drpaulh65@...> wrote:
>
> Is the NSAS interested in collaborating with UND Space Studies/UND Observatory
for star parties this year? Please provide me with an answer as soon as you
know. Thanks.
>

I hadn't though about it but if the Observatory is open, I'd be up for trying. 
March 22 is new Moon.

--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, "raknath85" <rakesh.nathrakeshr@...> wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> Is anyone thinking of doing the messier marathon this year.
>
> There is a chance that we could use the observatory to do this, this year.
>
> Anyone planning to?
>
> Thanks
>

Dean -- Please contact Caitlin Nolby as soon as possible. She's going to make
flyers for the star parties. It would be best to get the word out about these as
soon as possible. I'll tell her to contact you also. Thanks very much!

Paul


--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, "dean_nsas" <viktor_nd@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, we're interested in doing these again.  If we do Fridays near new moon
again, that would be April 20, May 18, and June 15, July 20, and Sept 14.  Our
Badlands trip is August 17/18 but we could have an Observatory event Saturday,
August 11 to catch the Perseid peak.
>
> -Dean
>
>
> --- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, "drpaulh65@" <drpaulh65@> wrote:
> >
> > Is the NSAS interested in collaborating with UND Space Studies/UND
Observatory for star parties this year? Please provide me with an answer as soon
as you know. Thanks.
> >
>

Spaceweather.com reports that a coronal mass ejection will hit Earth tonight
(March 7/8) with the possibility of auroras.  The forecast is for partly cloudy
so you may want to check periodically.

If you haven't been out in a while, Jupiter and Venus make for a nice pair in
the west.  Mars is also at its best right now.

The March Astronomy club meeting is tonight!  We will be discussing Summer star
parties and Super Science Sunday.  I also would like to know if people want to
hold an event for the partial solar eclipse May 20 (I will not be here).

The meeting is 7PM in Witmer 114 as usual.  The April meeting will be in the
Alumni room in the Memorial Union.

-Dean

Super nova discovered March 17, 2012 in Leo M95 about 17Mag now has bright'nd to
13Mag.  Mars is currently moon dia away from M95.  Those with CCD cameras might
try imaging after your Mars observations.  It might be the important type II
because it appears to lie in arm structure.

Last week I imaged M96, less than 1° away.  Sigh.

--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, "c_hofferber" <c_hofferber@...> wrote:
>
> Super nova discovered March 17, 2012 in Leo M95 about 17Mag now has bright'nd
to 13Mag.  Mars is currently moon dia away from M95.  Those with CCD cameras
might try imaging after your Mars observations.  It might be the important type
II because it appears to lie in arm structure.
>

Hi Folks

Is anyone planning to do anything for this?
I am most probably going to do a binocular one given the poor visibility and the
cold weather on Sunday. Is anyone else planning anything

Thanks
Rakesh

Hi,

The Department of Physics and Astrophysics public talk and telescopic observing
session will take place Monday March 26 at 8 PM in Witmer Hall, room 116. The
talk "The Future of Human Space Flight at NASA" will be presented by the UND
Frozen Fury Rocket Team. Following
the talk, attendees will be given the opportunity to observe the night sky
through a telescope (weather permitting).

Please bring out your telescopes to support this event!

thanks,
Wayne

Hi,

The Department of Physics and Astrophysics public talk and telescope observing
session will take place Monday April 23 at 8 PM in Witmer Hall, room 116. The
talk "Outward Bound: Revealing the Nature of Dark Energy" will be presented by
Dr. Wayne Barkhouse, Department of Physics and Astrophysics, UND. During this
talk I will provide the latest update regarding the Dark Energy Survey
(scheduled to begin this fall).

Following the talk, attendees will be given the opportunity to observe the night
sky through a telescope (weather permitting).

I expect ~200 people to show up, so please bring a telescope to support the
after-talk observing.

thanks,
Wayne

If you missed it last night, you may want to look at Venus through binoculars
tonight.  You will also see the Pleiades star cluster to the lower right.

Here's what it looked like last night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57167820@N00/7045487695/in/photostream

Nice shot Dean!  Did you have the camera on a driven mount, or just static?

----------------------------------------
John Nordlie
Research Assistant/Lecturer
----------------------------------------


-----Original Message-----
From: northern_sky@yahoogroups.com [mailto:northern_sky@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of dean_nsas
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 12:26 PM
To: northern_sky@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [northern_sky] Venus and Pleiades

If you missed it last night, you may want to look at Venus through binoculars
tonight.  You will also see the Pleiades star cluster to the lower right.

Here's what it looked like last night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57167820@N00/7045487695/in/photostream



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

The camera was on my CG-5 telescope mount.  The exposures were only 3 seconds
but that was enough to trail at that power.

--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, John Nordlie <nordlie@...> wrote:
>
> Nice shot Dean!  Did you have the camera on a driven mount, or just static?
>
> ----------------------------------------
> John Nordlie
> Research Assistant/Lecturer
> ----------------------------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: northern_sky@yahoogroups.com [mailto:northern_sky@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of dean_nsas
> Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 12:26 PM
> To: northern_sky@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [northern_sky] Venus and Pleiades
>
> If you missed it last night, you may want to look at Venus through binoculars
tonight.  You will also see the Pleiades star cluster to the lower right.
>
> Here's what it looked like last night:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/57167820@N00/7045487695/in/photostream
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>

The astronomy club meets tonight at 7PM.  This month, we will be meeting in the
Alumni room on the 2nd floor of the Memorial Union.  If there is interest, we
could do some observing from the top of the parking ramp.  It probably won't be
dark enough for that until 9PM.

-Dean Smith

Hi all!

I just wanted to invite you all to attend the First Annual UND Observatory
Fundraising Banquet.  It is Monday April 23, at 5pm at the Hilton Garden Inn. 
There will be a talk given by NASA speaker Dr. Paul Abell, a space items silent
auction, and delicious food!

AND we have just introduced a new student discount, so student registration is
only $30!  The regular price for the community and others adults is $50.

You can register online here:
http://observatory.space.edu/fundraiser.aspx
before April 17th.  Thank you for your support!

-Caitlin Nolby
Space Studies Student

The star party tonight (Fri, April 20) will likely be canceled due to clouds and
rain.

Sunday is Super Science Day at Purpur Arena from 1-4PM.  If it is clear, we plan
to set up an H-alpha solar telescope.  Currently, the forecast is partly sunny
with temperatures in the high 50's.

Greetings everyone -- Please follow the link below to watch the new UND
Observatory promotional video:

http://youtu.be/-uR90bWOUJg

We also hope some of you will be able to attend Monday night's banquet. It'll
take a team effort to develop a long-lasting astronomy research and education
capability in North Dakota.

Onward and upward,

Paul

Hi,

Don't forget that there will be a "FREE" public talk on Dark Energy tonight @ 8
PM in Witmer 116, sponsored by the Dept. of Physics and Astrophysics. Since the
weather looks favourable, please consider bring along a telescope for public
viewing after the talk.

thanks,
Wayne

http://arts-sciences.und.edu/physics-astrophysics/astronomy-public-talk.cfm

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Nova-Erupts-in-Sagittarius-1484540\
05.html

Before the astro club meeting tonight, I will be setting up the H-alpha scope
for solar viewing.  Stop by the south door of Witmer

I'm wondering about the scheduled weekend for the badlands star party?  Any idea when it will be this year?

Mike

We are looking at the weekend of August 17 for the Badlands this year.

--- In northern_sky@yahoogroups.com, Michael Gerszewski <mgerszew@...> wrote:
>
> I'm wondering about the scheduled weekend for the badlands star party?  Any
> idea when it will be this year?
>
> Mike
>