Hi all,
Sorry for the late notice, but we are returning to regular monthly club meetings — so our September general member meeting will be held September 10 (tomorrow) through Zoom, starting at 7:30PM! The invite was sent out earlier this week, so if you didn’t get it, please reach out to Mike Humphrey. This month’s meeting will feature member presentations on the astro-related activities they did over the summer. Hope you’re able to make it!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
I’m very happy to say that our first in-person public night at the Beaver Meadow Observatory will be happening on Saturday, September 4th, starting at 8:30PM! I’m sure many fellow club members and visitors have been looking forward to this for a long while — I know I have. BAA members will be on the field offering in-person views/projection on a variety of telescopes. Additionally, the observatory building will be open to tour. For more information, our Events page is here.
Important Note: The BAA is requiring masks be worn by all individuals at our in-person events, regardless of vaccination status. The best way you can show your appreciation for our volunteers and organizers is by wearing a mask and keeping your fellow visitors safe. We’ll also be providing hand sanitizer and enforcing other safety measures.
Thanks to everyone who helped get us back out there in-person, and see you this Saturday!
–Emilyann
UPDATE: The August 7th Public night has been canceled for lack of volunteers and lack of public interest. We may try again in September
Hi all,
Hope everyone has been keeping cool and enjoying some sizzling summer astronomy! As New York moves back into the swing of things, the club is preparing for a return to in-person public nights. We’re currently looking for club members who would be willing to volunteer at a potential event at the BMO on August 7th. If you’d like to help out, please follow this link to the Volunteer page, and click Sign Up on an available slot. We want to get a count of how many members can volunteer before formally announcing anything. Additional information can be found in Gene’s post in the member forums. Stay tuned!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
It’s been a big month for the sun already! Hopefully you caught the partial solar eclipse this past Thursday (Ernie wrote a great article on it here if you want to catch up.) Well, we’re not done yet, because this month’s Looking Up! event is all about celebrating the Summer Solstice, which falls on June 20th this year. We’ll have presentations on all things solstice, as well as live viewing from member telescopes. You’ll also want to tune in if you’re a fan of the Buffalo Museum of Science, as our friends Holly and Tim will have something to announce…
You can catch the stream on our Facebook Live page next Satuday, June 19th. We’ll start at 8:30PM EST (which is nearly 30 minutes before sunset!) Hope to catch you there.
–Emilyann
Hi all,
Another month has flown by, and it’s time for our virtual club meeting this Friday (6/11) at 7:00PM, through Zoom. We will be voting on board positions this month, so please make sure to attend. As mentioned previously, we have 3 at-large board members seeking re-election, as well as our observatory director. We’ll also be casting votes regarding the BAA’s College of Fellows. Further information is in the second of the two emails that BAA members should have received today. Please reach out to Mike Humphrey if you didn’t get either email as they both contain the meeting invite.
Our speaker this month is Charles Allen, who will discuss the Astronomical League:
Astronomical League Benefits and Programs – presented by Charles E. Allen
This presentation provides an overview of the many benefits and programs offered by the Astronomical League, a 75 year-old organization now boasting 18,500 members in 305 member societies. The presentation focuses, first, on the League’s Observing Program Division which offers pins, certificates, and national recognition for completion of more than 80 different observing programs. Since issuance of the first Messier certificate in 1967, the League has issued more than 16,140 certificates and pins to more than 5,600 different observers and has taken the seminal step of creating standards for master status recognition in telescope observing, binocular observing, and imaging. The presentation examines the League’s history of national conventions held in 28 states and 3 countries and previews the League’s first-ever virtual convention to be held in August, 2021—an event featuring speakers like Dr. Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Dr. J. Richard Gott, a VLA tour, a Perseverance Team presentation, all 2020 and 2021 League youth and general awards, a Slooh remote telescope demonstration, and the award of more than $4,000 in door prizes. Finally, the presentation reviews many other benefits including our soon-to-be-expanded Reflector magazine, our planned future convention with RASC, our major youth awards for research, service, imaging, and journalism, our general awards for observing, service, Website management, newsletter editing, sketching, and imaging, our soon-to-be-upgraded League Website, our Library Telescope Program giveaway, our new International Region, and our efforts to attract youth to our hobby and to develop a more diverse League membership.
Any BAA member may join the Astro League and receive these benefits for a nominal fee ($7.50/year) by signing up on this page: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/astronomical-league-membership/ The deadline for 2021-2022 membership is June 30, 2021. This month’s meeting is a great opportunity to learn more about the League or ask any questions you may have before committing.
Chuck’s talk will begin after the board elections at the start of the meeting, so stick around after voting to attend the presentation, and then come and join in one of our astro-discussion breakout rooms. See you then!
-Emilyann
!!! NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY WITHOUT APPROVED SOLAR GLASSES OR FILTERS FOR TELESCOPES/BINOCULARS !!!
The Weirdest Sunrise Ever!
BAA Members Tim Collins and Mark Percy have recently made the rounds on local TV to talk about the upcoming Partial Solar Eclipse. On June 10th There will be an Annular Solar Eclipse. Western New York will wake up to a Partial Eclipse at sunrise (5:36 AM). The Sun will be about 80% covered by the Moon. Max Eclipse occurs at 5:39 AM and the Eclipse ends at 6:36 AM. You’ll need an unobstructed view to the Northeastern horizon.
In the first video BAA member Tim collins is interviewed on WGRZ-TV’s Monday Town Hall. You can view it here.:
In the second video BAA Members Mark Percy and Tim Collins are interviewed but the team on WIVB-TV. You can view the Vide by clicking on the link below.
https://www.wivb.com/news/get-ready-for-a-strange-looking-sunrise-next-month-when-a-partial-solar-eclipse-happens-at-dawn/
Those of you familiar with our Looking Up! Virtual Stargazing events will recognize Mark and Tim, as they are frequent contributors.
Mark Percy is the Director of the Williamsville Space Lab Planetarium.
Tim Collins is manager of the Kellogg Observatory at the Buffalo Museum of Science, a presenter at the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State College and the Williamsville Space Lab Planetarium.
Clear Skies!
The Planets:
!!! NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT !!!
Clear Skies!
Hi all,
Hope the recent warmer weather has been getting everyone in the mood for astronomy. (I always get excited for summer objects and end up staying out too late…) This month, our Looking Up! event will focus on what’s visible in our skies for May. It’ll be a slightly shorter program, but as always, we’ll be highlighting live views from members and holding presentations. This gives you a chance to get outside yourself after the event and enjoy the waxing gibbous moon before the super full moon (and a penumbral lunar eclipse) on May 26th!
You can catch the stream on our Facebook Live event page this Saturday, May 22nd, starting at 8:30PM EST. See you then!
Hi all,
It’s time again for our monthly club meeting! Please join us virtually through Zoom at 7PM this Friday, May 14th. Our guest speaker this month is Kelly Beatty from the International Dark-Sky Association with a presentation on a topic that is sadly too familiar to many astronomers — the vanishing dark skies that are caused by light pollution:
Darkness in Distress – presented by Kelly Beatty
Light pollution, simply put, is any unnecessary or excessive outdoor illumination. Sadly, it’s become a pervasive and ugly consequence of modern 24/7 society. Light pollution robs us of the night sky’s beauty, negatively affects the ecosystem, and creates an in-your-face waste of energy. But a new mindset and new technology are poised to slow — and perhaps reverse — this bane of modern life. Come learn how you can safely light up your home, business, and community without wasting energy, disturbing your neighbors, or creating an unhealthy environment for humans and wildlife.
Kelly Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy to the public since 1974. An award-winning writer and communicator, he is a Senior Editor for Cambridge-based Sky & Telescope magazine. Beatty enjoys sharing his passion for astronomy with a wide spectrum of audiences, from children to professional astronomers, and you’ll occasionally hear his interviews and guest commentaries on National Public Radio and The Weather Channel. He served for a decade on the Board of Directors for the International Dark-Sky Association.
The Zoom invitation went out yesterday, so please check your BAA email, and notify Mike Humphrey if you don’t see it. You can also access the invite if you log into the members-only forum and check the Recent Posts section. Here are instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting as well: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you then!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
It’s almost time for our yearly June elections to decide various BAA board positions. This year, our three at-large member positions are up for re-election. At-large members do any number of general things to help the club. They also bring their experience as active members to assist in making board decisions.
Currently, these three positions are held by the following members:
All three people are seeking re-election this year, but as always, we want to extend an invitation to any BAA members in good standing who are interested. Terms are for two years.
If you have an interest in how the club works and like to contribute, becoming an at-large board member is a great way to start. Please reach out to BAA President Mike Humphrey ([email protected]) to put your name in the running. We’ll also have more information at the next general club meeting, which is on May 14th. Voting will take place in June. Good luck!
–Emilyann
