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.

“The Nature and Weirdness of the Orion Nebula”

By: Prof. J J McCollum

Located approximately 1,344 light-years away, the Orion Nebula (M42) is the premier laboratory for observing the violent process of stellar birth. However, recent data from the JWST and GAIA reveals an environment far more "bizarre" than previously imagined.

This presentation dives deep into the nebula's inner realm, moving past its photogenic facade to explore high-energy anomalies: the intense radiation of the Trapezium cluster, the expansive Orion-Eridanus Super bubble, and the mysterious Large Velocity Dispersion that suggests a hidden 150-solar-mass black hole. We will further examine the "weirdness" of the Kleinmann-Low Nebula and the discovery of JuMBOs—Jupiter-Mass Binary Objects—that defy standard star-formation models. Attendees will discover how this iconic celestial landmark continues to challenge our fundamental understanding of gravity, chemistry, and the evolution of planetary systems.

Speaker: Justin McCollum is a multi-disciplinary physicist currently serving as the Orbital Mechanics Data Specialist and Researcher for American Data Science (2024 – Present). With over two decades of experience in the field, he also holds concurrent roles as an Adjunct Instructor of Physics and Astronomy at both the University of Houston-Clear Lake (2015 – Present) and Houston Community College (2011 – Present).

He earned his Master of Science in Physics from Portland State University (2005) and recently graduated with a Post-Graduate Certification in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from the University of Texas at Austin (2023). His research integrates high-energy astrophysics with modern data science, focusing on complex environments like the Orion Nebula. A dedicated science communicator, Justin is a long-standing member and frequent presenter for the Fort Bend and Houston Astronomical Societies

To see the video, click The Nature and Weirdness of the Orion Nebula.

“Our Universe - The Big Picture”

By Rich Wilbourn

Exactly what is the structure of the solar system, the galaxy, the universe? We've all been there, trying to make sense of the terminology and the immense scale of it all. In this presentation, we'll start with an updated view of the solar system and zoom out to the very edge. We'll see where life might exist in our solar system and around other stars. We'll catalog the components of galaxies. We'll see how galaxies string together in vast sheets across incredible distances. Don't miss this chance to better understand the Big Picture.

Speaker Bio: Rich is a retired IT/Project Manager with a lifelong interest in space and astronomy. As a teenager, he started an astronomy club in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, ground the mirror for his own 10" reflector telescope and was even appointed to the Planetarium Planning Commission for the new Jackson planetarium. Rich studied astronomy at the University of Texas in Austin where he spent two summers working at McDonald Observatory. A HAS club member since the 90's, his interests have evolved from visual observing to astrophotography. You can see his images on Instagram at @rwilbourn.

To see the video, click Our Universe - The Big Picture.

“The Winter Sky”

By Chris Morisette

Winter offers many wonderful celestial objects for viewing. In “The Winter Sky” Chris Morisette will discuss methods for navigating the night sky using Orion as a signpost and will review several terrific objects available for viewing this time of year including the Orion Nebula, Pleiades, and the "Triple Double". Chris will also provide tips on cold weather preparation.

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.

To see the video, click The Winter Sky.

“One Hundred Years Living in the Universe”

Part 1

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By: Don Selle

Humanity has been living in the Universe for exactly 101 years. We got here on January 1^st, 2025, when a paper by Edwin Hubble titled “Cephids in Spiral Nebulae” was read to the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society, held in Washington D.C. that year.

Since we have always lived in the Universe, one filled with about a trillion galaxies like our own Milky Way, this sounds strange, but it’s true. The results in Hubble’s paper, proved unequivocally that the multitude of “spiral nebulae” astronomers had studied, were not a part of the Milky Way Galaxy, but existed far outside of it. Suddenly, the Milky Way was demoted from being the entire Universe, to being a rather common member of an immensely larger system of galaxies like the Milky Way.

This presentation provides a brief survey of the understanding of the Universe from about 1920 through the confirmation of the Big Bang in 1965. During this period, our concept of the Universe changed dramatically. It will touch on the key discoveries, the new technology which made them possible and the people whose research expanded our understanding of the Universe we live in.

Speaker: Don Selle is a happily retired engineer and project manager whose career in the offshore oil and gas industry took him to many places around the world. Some of them were even nice places to work.

Since 2003, Don has been an avid amateur astronomer, astro-imager and HAS member. Studying the history and science of astronomy kept him well occupied and mostly out of trouble during his long stays away from home.

But his real passion has been for astro-imaging. Starting out with only a basic knowledge of photography, he has learned the ropes and has become a competent astrophotographer and nightscape imager. After 20 years of learning the craft, he is still striving to complete that perfect astro-image that knocks the socks off those who view it and wins multiple awards.

It’s good to have a dream!

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To see the video of Meeting Announcements, click Click here.

To see the video of main Meeting Presentation, click Click here.