Welcome to Houston Astronomical Society

“Navigating the Spring Sky”

With: Chris Morrisette

April marks the beginning of Galaxy Season.  In “Navigating The Spring Sky” Chris Morisette will present various references and methods to help you find your way around the cosmos.  In particular we’ll see how we can use The Big Dipper as a “sign post”, which will allow us to find and view several beautiful celestial objects, including some very cool galaxies.

Also… upcoming Novice Labs will be discussed.

Our Speaker: Chris Morisette is HAS Novice Chairperson and an active member of the Houston Astronomical Society, North Houston Astronomy Club, and the Fort Bend Astronomy Clubs.  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 with visitors and sharing his love of the night sky, or you may find him at the HAS dark site trying his hand at astrophotography.

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To see the video, click Navigating the Spring Sky.

“Keeping  Dark Skies Dark in the Texas Big Bend Region”

By: Stephen Hummel

Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator,  UT Austin McDonald Observatory

Dark skies, free from the influence of light pollution, are increasingly difficult to find in the modern world. Today, even some of the most remote areas of the world once thought untouched from civilization's glow are beginning to be impacted by light pollution. In this presentation, Stephen Hummel will discuss efforts to protect the night sky around McDonald Observatory and the Big Bend region, one of the last remaining areas of dark skies in Texas. These efforts have culminated in the creation of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, currently the largest area in the world certified by DarkSky International.

Speaker: Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator for the McDonald Observatory, a remote research campus of the University of Texas at Austin. His work has focused on preserving dark skies in the Big Bend and Permian Basin regions of Texas through responsible outdoor lighting practices. In his spare time, he is an award winning astrophotographer with a specialty in rare electrical phenomena above nighttime thunderstorms.

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To see the video, click Keeping Dark Skies Dark in the Texas Big Bend Region.

Smart telescopes have taken the hobby by storm, and HAS along with it!  Some of the most lively discussion in our various communication channels of late has been about using smart telescopes, as well as sharing images we have acquired using them.  Thus, it is with great excitement that I announce the creation of the Smart Telescope SIG (STSIG).  As with the other SIGs we will meet once per month via Zoom to discuss anything and everything smart telescopes.  STSIG will meet on the third Wednesday of each month (the spot vacated by the now defunct EAASIG).  If you have a smart telescope or are thinking of getting one, or if you just want to see what all the fuss is about, join us!  Our first meeting will be Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30 PM.  Hope to see a good crowd.  Zoom link will be in the monthly SIG meeting email. 

Stephen Jones
President