Return of The Shooting Star

This edition of The Shooting Star marks the return of this newsletter after a bit of a hiatus.  For now, we plan to publish this newsletter four times a year, beginning with this issue for the second quarter of 2014.  Issues will be published near the end of March, June, September, and December, with events listed for the following 3 months.  We want to make this newsletter as useful as possible for our members and for the general public.  With that goal in mind, with the newsletter’s reappearance we are making a few changes. First, issues of the newsletter will be immediately available to both members and non-members through a link on the ASNH website.   We hope that this will encourage members of the public to learn more about ASNH and our activities, and to attend our meetings and public outreach events.  Each issue will include information about the events we have planned for the next few months. Second, we want to encourage your submissions to The Shooting Star.  We would like to include short articles on astronomical topics, observing reports, observing tips, photographs, and similar items from our members and from other astronomy enthusiasts.  You can submit your items to newsletter@asnh.org.

Features

If you have not looked at the newsletter before, check out some of the regular features.  There are four useful links in the menu at the top of this page:

Calendar  This is a monthly calendar that includes all the scheduled events of ASNH, other regional events of interest, plus the dates and times of noteworthy events in the night sky.

SkyMap  This page has a chart of the sky as it appears over the New Haven area at the present date and time.  It is constantly updated, so you can go to this page on any clear night to see what is overhead.

Space Place  Read the monthly article from Space Place.

Directions  This page gives directions to all the locations where regular activities of ASNH take place, including the monthly meeting, public observing sessions, and the annual Connecticut Star Party.

Other regular features can be found within these pages:

Upcoming Public Events  Many ASNH events are free and open to the public.  These include the monthly meetings, open houses at Bethany Observatory, and public observing sessions at Silver Sands State Park in Milford and Young’s Pond Park in Branford.  This section gives the dates, times, and descriptions of these events.

Upcoming Events for ASNH Members  These events are for ASNH members only.  Some of these are outreach events where volunteers are needed with the telescopes and equipment.

Night Sky Highlights  For those who are new to astronomy, this section lists some objects to observe in the sky during the next few months, whether you are using just your eyes, a pair of binoculars, or a telescope.

Gallery  This section will feature recent photographs of celestial targets taken by ASNH members and others.  If you have a picture you want to share with us, please submit it to newsletter@asnh.org.

Upcoming Public Events

All of these events are free and open to the public.  At the Bethany open houses, you can tour the observatory buildings and look through the telescopes that they house.  At the observing sessions at Silver Sands and Young’s Pond, ASNH members will have their telescopes and binoculars ready to show you the best objects that are visible that evening.  Enjoy a pleasant evening under the stars, strolling from scope to scope to see what each scope is aimed at.  Return to the same scopes a little later, as their owners will be pointing at another celestial wonder.  Ask questions and learn about the night sky.  Our members will also point out the stars, planets, and constellations that you can see with the naked eye.  If you have your own telescope or binoculars, feel free to bring them.  If you have a telescope but don’t know how to operate it, our experienced observers can help you learn to use your equipment. If the weather looks questionable for an observing event, check the ASNH website before you leave home.  There will be a scrolling message on the home page if an event has been cancelled.

April 2014

Friday, April 4, beginning at sunset
Bethany Observatory, Bethany CT
Open house and public observing session

Friday, April 18, beginning at sunset
Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT
Public observing session

Saturday, April 19, beginning at sunset
Young’s Pond Park, Branford, CT
Public observing session

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 pm
Yale Leitner Student Observatory
General monthly meeting

May 2014

Friday, May 9, beginning at sunset
Bethany Observatory, Bethany CT
Open house and public observing session

Friday, May 23, beginning at sunset
Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT
Public observing session

Saturday, May 24, beginning at sunset
Young’s Pond Park, Branford, CT
Public observing session

Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 pm
Yale Leitner Student Observatory
General monthly meeting

June 2014

Friday, June 6, beginning at sunset
Bethany Observatory, Bethany CT
Open house and public observing session

Friday, June 27, beginning at sunset
Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT
Public observing session

Saturday, June 28, beginning at sunset
Young’s Pond Park, Branford, CT
Public observing session