We have a new target of the month for November, 2025: the Soul Nebula. A great object to catch, even with some light pollution, since it is a narrow band. The moon should not be too much in the way.
Welcome to Houston Astronomical Society
Fostering the science and art of astronomy through programs that serve our membership and the community. Founded in 1955, Houston Astronomical Society is an active community of enthusiastic amateur and professional astronomers with over 70 years of history in the Houston area. Through education and outreach, our programs promote science literacy and astronomy awareness. We meet via Zoom the first Friday of each month for the General Membership Meeting and the first Thursday of the month for the Novice Meeting. Membership has a variety of benefits, including access to a secure dark site west of Houston, special interest groups that focus on particular areas of astronomy, an active community outreach program, and much more. Joining is simple.
“Our Amazing Star”
By: Dr. Kevin Reardon
The Sun is a normal, yet amazing star, which displays a dazzling variety of features and activity. Some of these structures are now routinely observed by amateur astronomers, while others instead require telescopes with larger apertures and even more specialized instrumentation. All these reveal important insights into the behavior of stellar atmospheres.
Dr. Reardon will describe the different regions of the Sun's visible layers, and how those differ in temperature, density, and the role of magnetic fields. He will explain what we have learned about the solar atmosphere and review the significant questions that still remain.
To find those answers, the National Science Foundation has built the world's largest solar telescope, the four-meter-diameter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), on Haleakalā, Maui in Hawaiʻi. Dr. Reardon will show how this telescope works and what unique data it can provide. Finally, we will explore how we can leverage the high-resolution observations from large telescopes to better interpret some of the striking images of the Sun now being made by private astronomers.
Speaker: Dr. Kevin Reardon has been studying the solar atmosphere for over 35 years. He has used many specialized facilities, on the ground and in space, to obtain observations of the dynamic structures in the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. He has also observed nine total solar eclipses, two transits each of Venus and Mercury, several sun-grazing comets, and looked for the green-flash hundreds of times. Over his career, he has worked in Hawaiʻi, Italy, New Mexico, and is currently a researcher at the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colorado.
To see the video, click Our Amazing Star.
" Tour the Autumn Night Sky "
By: Chris Morisette
With cooler nights ahead (hopefully) autumn is great time to get out under the stars as a cornucopia of beautiful and exotic deep sky objects present themselves. Novice Chairperson Chris Morisette will provide a brief review on how to navigate the night sky using celestial signposts, then take us on a tour of the autumn night sky.
In addition, Chris will discuss some details around a series of planned Novice Labs at the Dark Site.
Speaker Bio: Chris Morisette is HAS Novice Chairperson and an active member of the Houston Astronomical Society, North Houston Astronomy Club, and the Fort Bend Astronomy Club. He is also a member of the University of Texas Astronomy Department Board of Visitors. On clear Saturday nights you may find him volunteering at the George Observatory engaging visitors and sharing his love of the night sky, or you may find him at the HAS dark site trying his hand at astrophotography.
To see the video, click Tour the Autumn Night Sky.
September 2, 2025
The H.A.S. Library Telescope Loaner Program is busy with most of the 8” and 10” dob reflectors out on loan! Members in good standing for at least 2 months may borrow any available scope for 30 days (with optional loan renewal for a total of 60 days). The loaner program telescopes come with Nightwatch by Dickinson (on request), an excellent resource for novice observers. The Nightwatch / binocular combination makes for a great introduction to observing. Nightwatch is also available for loan separately as naked eye viewing / constellation identification is also fun! Also check out “Whatsouttonight.com” for a monthly free all sky map. In addition, scopes (except SeeStar) come with two eyepieces, and finally an optical finder and/or a Telrad or similar unit power finder.
The following telescopes are available to borrow via the Telescope Loaner Program:
- 6”, 8”, and 10” commercial dobs. At least one of each size may be borrowed from the program. HAS #42 is an Orion XTi 8” with “push to” electronics and a hand controller
- HAS#35 Orion Astroview 6” f/5 Newtonian on an EQ mount adjusted to alt-az.
- HAS#40 Seestar S30 (details to follow)
- HAS#2 Meade Coronado PST Solar scope is often available.
- HAS#44 and #45 Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars are available to borrow.
Send an email with your name and phone number to [email protected] to initiate a loan.
Fall 2025 GuideStar
Heather Charron, Editor
Upcoming Outreach Events
Tents-IN-Town Bellaire, Saturday Nov 8, 8:00pm -10:00pm
Kirk Elem Cub Scouts Thursday Nov 13, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Barbara Bush Nature Center, Friday Nov 14, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, Nov 22, 6:00pm-9:00pm
STEM In The Park, Rustic Oaks Park, League City, Saturday, Dec 6, 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Memorial Park Eastern Glades, Saturday Dec 6 7:00pm - 10:00pm
2026 dates - Coming Soon
Blast from the Past
Guidestar - April 2006
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Current Conditions
Columbus Current Weather
Today, November 11, 2025
Sunset: 05:33 P.M.
End Twilight: 06:53 P.M.
Tomorrow, November 12, 2025
Dawn: 05:21 A.M.
Sunrise: 06:42 A.M.
Houston
Columbus
Learn how to read it the clear sky chart.Join HAS Today
