Upcoming Events

In this, the International Year of Astronomy, the astronomical community is uniting to provide lots of great programs - take advantage of them! You'll find those that we run or participate in (primarily in the Detroit area) below, but if you're looking for something to do around the state, check out astromichigan.org's event calendar. It shows all events being put on by clubs, museums, planetaria, and institutions of higher learning throughout Michigan.

Presentations

The WAS is notable for its commitment to substantial, high-quality, and entertaining bimonthly presentations.

DateLocationTitle
Presenter
6-JulCHubble Trouble: The Gory Story Before the Glory
Jim Shedlowsky
16-JulMEpsilon Aurigae, the Enigma
Mike Simonsen
3-AugCPicnic on a Crater's Rim
Jerry Kuchera
20-AugMThe Constellations of H.A. Rey
Gary Gathen
14-SeptCEinstein's Relativity Rigourously Explained Without Advanced Mathematics
Dr. Phil Martin
17-SeptMThe Search for Extra-Solar Planets and Other Science at Lick Observatory
Sandra Macika
5-OctCAstronomy Gadgets, Part 2
Jon Blum
15-OctMXVII Solar Eclipses
Dave Harrington
2-NovCT.B.D.
Dave D'Onofrio
16-NovMAmateur Radio Astronomy You Can Do
Jim Van Prooyen
7-DecCThe Second Annual Astro-Film Festival
Video, with introduction by G. M. Ross
17-DecSpecial
Event
Annual Banquet
James Foerch
4-Jan-2010CThe January Thaw in Southern Michigan and Wisconsin
G. M. Ross
21-Jan-2010MMessages From Mars
Jerry Kuchera
1-Feb-2010CThe Secret Apollo Files
Diane Hall
18-Feb-2010MR.O.G. Astronomy, 17th to 19th Centures
Sandra Macika
1-Mar-2010CT.B.D.
Ken Bertin
18-Mar-2010MRiyad Can Save Your Soul (provisional) / T.B.D.
G.M. Ross / Stephen Uitti
5-Apr-2010MOptec Incorporated (provisional) / T.B.D.
Jeff Dickerman / Bob Berta
15-Apr-2010Special
Event
RETURN TO GROSSE POINTE NORTH/T.B.D.
Grosse Pointe North Radio Astronomy Team / G.M. Ross
6-DecCThe Third Annual Astro-Film Festival
Video, with introduction by G. M. Ross
16-DecSpecial
Event
Annual Banquet
Mark John Christensen

Previous presentations:

DateLocationTitle
Presenter
5-JanCEarly Winter Meteors / Education for the Stars Over D-A Ranch
G. M. Ross/Sidney Keeler
15-JanMA Very Special Film
Video, with Introduction by Gary Ross
2-FebC10 Greatest Astronomical Discoveries of the Last 35 Years
Larry Phipps
19-FebMLost Constellations
Diane Hall
2-MarCBob Berta's Video Astronomy
Bob Berta
19-MarMAlien Universe
Stephen Uitti
6-AprCGeorge Ellery Hale
Ken Bertin
16-AprMMeteor Study With NASA
Sandra Macika
4-MayCMeteor Images
Frank "Rocketman" Uroda
21-MayMTubehopping on the Interplanetary Superhighway
Larry Phipps
1-JunCThe A.A.V.S.O. and Citizen Science
Michael Simonsen
18-JunMStellar Explosions
David Bailey

2008 presentations:

DateLocationTitle
Presenter
7-JanCSeeing in the Dark (Timothy Ferris)
Video, with introduction by G. M. Ross
17-JanMMESSENGER Report / The Earnest Importance of Using the Latest Technology in Astronomy
Larry Phipps/G.M. Ross
4-FebCBeneath the Southern Cross and Beyond
G. M. Ross
21-FebMArp's Catalogue Of Peculiar Galaxies Revisited
Larry Phipps
3-MarCVariable Stars and the Stories They Tell
Michael Simonsen
20-MarMObserving the Messier Catalogue
Stephen Uitti
7-AprCLick Observatory - A History of Ground-Breaking Astronomy
Bob Berta
17-AprMDrawn to Mars
Jerry Kuchera
5-MayCE.E. Barnard
Ken Bertin
15-MaySpecial EventRadio Telescope/Control Room Tour / The History of Radio Astronomy / My Stellar Evolution: Beryllium Abundances in Population I Stars / Galaxy Clusters: Local Effects on Star Synthesis
Grosse Pointe HS Radio Astronomy Team (RATS)
2-JunCTo Infinity and Beyond
Michael Foerster
19-JunMWhat Is a Planet?
David Bailey
7-JulCEchoes of Ancient Skies
Diane Hall
17-JulMThe Bruce P. Sidell Memorial Lecture: The Galactic Catalogs
G. M. Ross
4-AugCAstronomic Metrics
Jim Shedlowsky
21-AugMNorman's Worlds: A Different Tilt on Planet Earth
Committee of the Whole
8-SepCEclipse 2008 / Astronomy for Gearheads
Ken Bertin / Philip D. Martin
18-SepMAstronomy at the Beach Kensington: Past, Present, and Future
Dave D'Onofrio
6-OctCAstronomy Gadgets
Jon Blum
16-OctMwarrenastro.org Unveiling / Bigger Than the Moon
Jonathan Kade/David Bailey
3-NovCNorman's Worlds Revisited / Algol, the Demon Star
David Bailey
20-NovMWardriving with Kitchenware / Dark Energy and Black Holes / Lick Observatory and Extra-Solar Planet Discovery
Larry Phipps/Guy Maxim/Sandra Macika
1-DecCAstro-Film Festival
Video, with introduction by G. M. Ross
18-DecSpecial EventBANQUET - Dawn of the Shuttle (Folly)
Mark John Christensen

Observatory Open Houses

Open Houses at Stargate are FREE and open to the public. WAS members often show solar activity before dark; we stick around doing sky tours until 11pm - midnight, weather permitting.

Only definite storm conditions will cancel an open house, and sometimes not even those.

We have only a pair of rules for open houses, but they're important!
  • Please try to come before sunset - coming after twilight with headlights on will ruin everybody's night vision.
  • Please no white-light flashlights or camping lanterns. Covering the lens with red construction paper, spray paint, or nail polish helps, but even then try not to use too bright a flashlight.

The 2009 open house schedule is:

Star Parties and Special Events

You're likely to find WAS members at all of these events.

June 17-20 - The Cadillac West spring star party at Bill's.

July 25 - WAS Picnic! SE Michigan astronomy club members and family only, please. Meet at Stargate for a picnic/potluck lunch, and stick around for great observing on a moonless summer night. There's been some talk about camping out, as well...

September 12-20 - The Okie-Tex Star Party, Oklahoma.

September 17-19 - The Great Lakes Star Gaze.

September 25-26 - Astronomy at the Beach at Kensington Metropark. If you're a member and can bring a scope to demonstrate with, or can operate the table, please contact the board. More details as they emerge.

October 14-17 - The Cadillac West fall star party at Bill's.

October 14-17 - Enchanted Skies Star Party, New Mexico.

December 17 - WAS Banquet. More info as it develops.

Check back soon for more 2009 events!

Past events:

May 2-4, 2008 - The Cadillac West spring star party at Bill's.

May 2-4, 2008 - The Michiana Star Party (Michiana Astronomical Society).

May 2-4, 2008 - The Hidden Hollow Star Party (Richland Astronomical Society).

May 9, 2008 - Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy presents at Cranbrook Institute of Science.

May 10, 2008 - International Astronomy Day: solar observing during the day at Cranbrook, night observing at Stargate.

May 24, 2008 - Members-Only Swap Meet. Join the Oakland Astronomical Society (who are hosting), the WAS, and the Seven Ponds Astronomy Club.

June 7, 2008 - WAS Picnic! Members and family only, please. Meet at Stargate for lunch, and stick around for great observing on a moonless almost-summer night.

June 13-14, 2008 - Apollo Rendezvous 2008 in Dayton, Ohio, hosted by the Miami Valley Astronomical Society. WAS member Dr. Dale Partin will be presenting "The Hubble Constant: A Historical Perspective" on Friday night at 7:30 PM - Be there!

June 14, 2008 - Solar Day at Wolcott Mill Metropark.

July 10-14, 2008 - The Two-Hearted Star Party.

August 8-12, 2008 - The Manitoulin Star Party at Gordon's Park on Ontario's Manitoulin Island.

September 5-6, 2008 - Astronomy at the Beach at Kensington Metropark. If you're a member and can bring a scope to demonstrate with, or can operate the table, please contact the board. If you want to promote the event, please feel free to print out the flyer.

September 25-28, 2008 - The Great Lakes Stargaze.

October 17, 2008 - The Road to Stardom in the Milky Way - Cranbrook Institute of Science is hosting Dr. Paul Goldsmith, former director of the giant Arecibo radio telescope and world-renowned astronomer, who will be lecturing on star formation and the next generation of research tools to study it. See the PDF or check the Cranbrook site for more information. WAS members can purchase tickets at the member rate - register today!

October 22-26, 2008 - The Cadillac West fall star party at Bill's. Contact the WAS for more info.

February 21-28, 2009 - The Winter Star Party in Florida.

March 7, 2009 - 6th Annual Ford Amateur Astronomy Club Astronomy Expo & Swap Meet (9AM-4PM). This expo has GREAT speakers from FAAC and from several universities - don't miss it!

April 4, 2009 - 100 Hours of Astronomy: Daytime Solar Observing and Galileo Lecture at Wolcott Mill Historic Center.

April 4, 2009 - 100 Hours of Astronomy: Sidewalk Astronomy at Metro Beach Metropark with the WAS. Details are forthcoming.

April 19-26, 2009 - The Texas Star Party. Six WAS members attended in 2009. Read all about it!

May 2 - International Astronomy Day: solar observing during the day at Cranbrook, night observing at Stargate.

May 15 - Stephen Edberg (NASA/JPL), of the SIM Lite project, will be presenting at Cranbrook on exoplanet detection. Get your tickets today! There is a $2 discount for WAS members.

May 30 - The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society's annual Astronomy Day celebration, featuring presentations by Galileo himself and by his modern counterpart Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer. There will be an observing session after Dr. Plait's talk. Learn more here!

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