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Jan 17 |
Amateur Astro-Imaging with a DSLR |
Believe it or not, amateur astronomers with modest
equipment are taking pictures of galaxies and
nebulae that rival and in many cases far surpass the
images from major observatories produced just a few
years ago. Award-winning astro-photographer (and
AAAA club member) Jim Bonser will share some of his
insights on imaging with a Digital Single Lens
Reflex (DSLR) camera as well as some of the image
processing techniques he uses to make stunning
astrophotos. |
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Feb 21 |
Searching for Dark Matter |
Dark Matter and Dark Energy are huge mysteries in
Astronomy.
The observational evidence for both will be
presented, including the observations and
experiments under way to understand what Dark Matter
is.
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Mar 21 |
Charles Messier and the Messier Catalogue |
Are you up for a Messier Marathon?
March is one of the best times of the year to
attempt to see all 110 objects in the Messier
Catalog. Come
to hear about this fascinating astronomer nicknamed
the “Comet Ferret” and his popular catalog of deep
sky objects; The Messier Catalog. |
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Apr 18 |
Astronomy Day |
A talk on
astronomy with the younger astronomers in
mind. There
will be activities and demonstrations geared for
Elemetary/young teens.
The talks and demos will mainly focus on
telescopes, meteors and planets. |
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May 16 |
Eclipses in 2015 and Preparing for the Total
Solar Eclipse in 2017 |
We were treated to two Solar and two Lunar eclipses
in 2014 visible from here in Iowa.
There will be four eclipses in 2015 as well,
but only the two lunar eclipses will be visible for
us.
Come
and find out what eclipses are and how best to
observe them.
The total solar eclipse in 2017 will also be
discussed so we can all be prepared for it.
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June 20 |
Solar Picnic |
Solar Picnic - We will have the solar picnic for our
June meeting. We will start to eat at 6 PM and
then a presentation on getting to know your
observatory at 7. The club will provide the
meat, bring a side dish and plastic
plates/flatware/cups and join us. |
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July 18 |
Pluto and New Horizons |
Join us as Evan Zerby of
Iowa State University guides us through the arrival to the last unvisited
planet! (Or is it?) In part five of the acclaimed Robots in Space series
Evan spins the tale of the mission to the most loved planet in the
solar system! What will we find? Moons? Rings? Join us for
Robots in Space V and find out! Come and listen to Evan Zerby tell us
about Pluto and the New Horizons mission. |
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Aug 15 |
2015 Iowa Star Party |
Join us at the Iowa Star Party. |
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Sept 19 |
Women in Astronomy |
Women in Astronomy - Come out and join us for a talk
by Deb Bonser on Women in Astronomy - both at the
telescope and supporting their Astronomers |
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Oct 17 |
New Horizon Spacecraft uncovers Pluto |
Al Johnson will lead a discussion of the latest
findings from Pluto. There will be new photos from
the latest flyby of Pluto and discussion (maybe some
debate) about what these pictures tell us. |
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Nov 21 |
Globular Clusters |
Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars
that orbit galaxies. These beautiful objects are a favorite target for backyard
telescopes and star parties. A globular cluster may have anywhere from
hundreds of thousands to millions of stars packed into a (relatively) small
space. Our Milky Way galaxy has about 160 known globulars orbiting around it
currently. Some other galaxies such as the Andromeda galaxy have several hundred.
Globular clusters are in many ways mysterious. The
stars inside tend to be very old, some perhaps as old or older than their host
galaxy. Astronomers don't know for sure how they formed and how they evolved over
time. So there's lots of opportunities for research into their nature.
Join us as we explore these beautiful enigmas that
dance around our galaxy and other galaxies. If it's clear, we'll go out
afterward and view some of them up close (at least virtually!) and personal. |
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Dec 19 |
Christmas Party |
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If you would like to see a preview of what we have
planned for 2016 so far, please click
here. | |