Annual Picnic & Star Party
Field Trip & Observing is bringing flash star parties in addition to the HAS Annual Picnic! Our very active SIGs, i.e. special interest groups, will be conducting how-tos and guided observing out on the field. The Annual Picnic & Star Party is chaired by Walt Cooney, FT&O chairperson.
HAS Texas 45 Observing Program
Are you interested in developing skills in observational astronomy? Want to see all kinds of objects throughout the year? Try our home-grown observing program called the HAS Texas 45. It’s designed to feature objects we’re lucky enough to see from our Dark Site near Columbus. Observers who complete the program will be presented a pin and/or a certificate of completion at the HAS General Membership Meeting. Brand new to observing? Check out the presentation From Stargazer to Visual Observer: The HAS Texas 45. The HAS Texas 45 program is coordinated by Rene Gedaly.
Learn more about the HAS Texas 45 Observing Program.
HAS Texas 45 Astrophotography Program
For those of you interested in capturing your photons on a sensor instead of your retina, our astrophotography program is for you. Taking its cue from the original HAS Texas 45, we’ve created the astrophotography equivalent of the program. The objects selected can be successfully imaged from the Dark Site with a wide range of equipment and some patience. Astrophotographers who successfully complete the program will be presented with a pin and certificate of completion at the HAS General Membership Meeting. This program is coordinated by Chris Ober.
Learn more about the HAS Texas 45 AP Program.
Messier Marathon Resources
The resources page includes a form for logging your Messier Marathon observations, a cheat sheet to help you prepare for the marathon using Stellarium, and a Stellarium script which removes the deep sky object (DSO) clutter so you can view just the Messier objects. The HAS Messier Marathon is coordinated by Walt Cooney.
Novice Program
Amateur astronomers do what they do because they want to do it, because they are interested in how the universe works. Most of us are not professional astronomers, and most of us have no formal training in astronomy. We all start somewhere, and we’re all novices at some level. To meet the needs of novice amateur astronomers the HAS has a novice presentation once a month at 7 pm before the general meeting, which meets at 8 pm. The program is coordinated by Chris Morisette.
Outreach Program
The Houston Astronomical Society is actively working to engage the public in the joy of amateur astronomy by providing public outreach events in the Houston area. HAS members have been to schools, civic associations, park areas, and libraries with their telescopes and with their enthusiasm for astronomy to provide opportunities for the public to see and to learn about the sky. The program is coordinated by Dan Roy.
Telescope Loaner Program (Available to Members Only)
The telescope loaner program is currently inactive.