Hi all,
Just a reminder that our monthly member meeting will be held this Friday (aka tomorrow!) starting at 7PM. Our own Martin Pepe will be unveiling an exciting new collaboration with colleagues at RIT. It’s something that will benefit all BAA members, so be sure to join in and check out the presentation.
The invitation went out on Monday (2/7), so please check your inbox and reach out to Mike Humphrey if you didn’t get it. See you then!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
Another month has flown by, and it’s time for our virtual club meeting this Friday (6/11) at 7:00PM, through Zoom. We will be voting on board positions this month, so please make sure to attend. As mentioned previously, we have 3 at-large board members seeking re-election, as well as our observatory director. We’ll also be casting votes regarding the BAA’s College of Fellows. Further information is in the second of the two emails that BAA members should have received today. Please reach out to Mike Humphrey if you didn’t get either email as they both contain the meeting invite.
Our speaker this month is Charles Allen, who will discuss the Astronomical League:
Astronomical League Benefits and Programs – presented by Charles E. Allen
This presentation provides an overview of the many benefits and programs offered by the Astronomical League, a 75 year-old organization now boasting 18,500 members in 305 member societies. The presentation focuses, first, on the League’s Observing Program Division which offers pins, certificates, and national recognition for completion of more than 80 different observing programs. Since issuance of the first Messier certificate in 1967, the League has issued more than 16,140 certificates and pins to more than 5,600 different observers and has taken the seminal step of creating standards for master status recognition in telescope observing, binocular observing, and imaging. The presentation examines the League’s history of national conventions held in 28 states and 3 countries and previews the League’s first-ever virtual convention to be held in August, 2021—an event featuring speakers like Dr. Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Dr. J. Richard Gott, a VLA tour, a Perseverance Team presentation, all 2020 and 2021 League youth and general awards, a Slooh remote telescope demonstration, and the award of more than $4,000 in door prizes. Finally, the presentation reviews many other benefits including our soon-to-be-expanded Reflector magazine, our planned future convention with RASC, our major youth awards for research, service, imaging, and journalism, our general awards for observing, service, Website management, newsletter editing, sketching, and imaging, our soon-to-be-upgraded League Website, our Library Telescope Program giveaway, our new International Region, and our efforts to attract youth to our hobby and to develop a more diverse League membership.
Any BAA member may join the Astro League and receive these benefits for a nominal fee ($7.50/year) by signing up on this page: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/astronomical-league-membership/ The deadline for 2021-2022 membership is June 30, 2021. This month’s meeting is a great opportunity to learn more about the League or ask any questions you may have before committing.
Chuck’s talk will begin after the board elections at the start of the meeting, so stick around after voting to attend the presentation, and then come and join in one of our astro-discussion breakout rooms. See you then!
-Emilyann
Hi all,
It’s time again for our monthly club meeting! Please join us virtually through Zoom at 7PM this Friday, May 14th. Our guest speaker this month is Kelly Beatty from the International Dark-Sky Association with a presentation on a topic that is sadly too familiar to many astronomers — the vanishing dark skies that are caused by light pollution:
Darkness in Distress – presented by Kelly Beatty
Light pollution, simply put, is any unnecessary or excessive outdoor illumination. Sadly, it’s become a pervasive and ugly consequence of modern 24/7 society. Light pollution robs us of the night sky’s beauty, negatively affects the ecosystem, and creates an in-your-face waste of energy. But a new mindset and new technology are poised to slow — and perhaps reverse — this bane of modern life. Come learn how you can safely light up your home, business, and community without wasting energy, disturbing your neighbors, or creating an unhealthy environment for humans and wildlife.
Kelly Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy to the public since 1974. An award-winning writer and communicator, he is a Senior Editor for Cambridge-based Sky & Telescope magazine. Beatty enjoys sharing his passion for astronomy with a wide spectrum of audiences, from children to professional astronomers, and you’ll occasionally hear his interviews and guest commentaries on National Public Radio and The Weather Channel. He served for a decade on the Board of Directors for the International Dark-Sky Association.
The Zoom invitation went out yesterday, so please check your BAA email, and notify Mike Humphrey if you don’t see it. You can also access the invite if you log into the members-only forum and check the Recent Posts section. Here are instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting as well: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you then!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
Hope everyone is enjoying these warmer days. Be sure and join us this Friday (4/9) at 7PM for our April online general meeting. This month, we’ll be having a talk from fellow member Martin Pepe, who will be speaking on the dawn of cosmic chemistry. Sounds quite mysterious! Martin is a wonderful speaker and I’ve had the pleasure of hearing his presentations at other club meetings, so I’m sure this one will be great too. The email with the Zoom invite went out yesterday, so please check your inbox for it, and reach out to Mike Humphrey if you don’t find anything.
As always, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you then.
–Emilyann
Hi all,
We’re having our next general meeting this Friday (2/11) at 7:00PM. The invite went out earlier today (3/8) so please check your email and reach out to Mike Humphrey if you don’t see it.
This month, we’ll be having a discussion focused on outreach, led by Dave Prosper, ambassador of NASA’s Night Sky Network. The purpose of the Night Sky Network is to assist clubs such as the BAA in getting out there and educating the public on astronomical topics. If you’d like to read a little more on the NSN and what they do, their About page can be found here: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/about.cfm
Also, if you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you on Friday!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
The days are slowly lengthening again, but the nights are staying cold — no better time than to join your fellow club members at the monthly club meeting, this Friday (2/11) at 7:00PM. Please check your recent email for the Zoom invitation, and if you didn’t get it, reach out to club president Mike Humphrey.
This month’s meeting will be held in collaboration with the great minds over at Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve, and will also feature a talk by Dr. Alan Strauss. The outline of his presentation follows:
Dr. Alan Strauss will present on the education and public outreach programs of the University of Arizona’s Mount Lemmon SkyCenter and Sky School, as well as the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab. In addition to information on these outreach programs, he will share information on some of the research programs that take place at the Mount Lemmon observatories. Lastly, Alan will also touch on the values that guide these venues in developing education and outreach programs and communicating about science with various audiences.
If you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you on Friday!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
This Friday, January 8th, at 7PM will be our general meeting, and our first of 2021! The invitation went out today, so please check your BAA email to get the details. If you didn’t get it, please reach out to club president Mike Humphrey.
This month we’re holding a virtual presentation from Mark Percy, director of the Williamsville Planetarium, to take the place of the club’s traditional, in-person visit. Mark will be speaking on “Big Astronomy” as it relates to Chile’s giant telescopes — more info can be found in today’s email. If this sounds interesting to you, be sure to join in.
If you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you on Friday!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
This Friday, December 11th, at 7PM will be the date of our next monthly general club meeting. Please keep an eye on your email over the next few days for the invite link. If you don’t get one, please reach out to club president Mike Humphrey.
We’re currently looking for suggestions for breakout rooms, since experimenting with them last month turned out to be pretty popular. If you have an idea for a breakout room or even for a topic of discussion during future meetings, please visit the member forum (login required) to suggest it: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/community/main-forum/general-meeting-topics/#post-3308
If you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you then!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
This Friday, November 13th at 7:00PM will be the date of our next monthly general club meeting. The invitation has already been sent out, so please check your email for it (was sent on 11/10.)
This month, we’ll be having fellow member Larry Carlino speak regarding his collection of telescopes. Larry has over 40 telescopes, so he should have quite a bit to say on them all! We will also be experimenting with two breakout rooms — one room will be for introductory astronomical topics, and the other will be for astrophotography. If you’re interested in either topic, please join and try out the rooms.
Also, if you didn’t get the invitation email, please reach out to Mike Humphrey to get the invite. If you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ See you there!
–Emilyann
Hi all,
This Friday, October 9th at 7:00PM will be the date of our next monthly general club meeting. The invitation has already been sent out, so please check your email for the Zoom invitation, which was sent on 10/4.
This month, we’ll be having a talk from Dr. Warren Marcus on the future of lunar exploration. Please find the summary below:
Returning to the Moon – Lessons Learned From the Past for Future Missions
-by Warren S. Marcus PhD, MPH
The return of manned missions to the Moon. What we have learned since Apollo about technical aspects of the trip and the Moon itself. How this time it will be different and why.
Looking at lessons learned from recent Earth lunar robotic missions and space travel initiatives. Is such a trip practical and what are the benefits and investments risks in such an endeavor.
Dr. Warren will also discuss the human dynamic including physical and mental health. How to prepare humans for such ventures and proving an infrastructure that maximizes potential for a positive outcome for the trip.
Don’t miss this enlightening talk — if you didn’t get the invitation email, please reach out to Mike Humphrey or another club member so that you can join.
Instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/ I will be out in Central NY this weekend but might still be able to pop in — it should be a good time! See you there.
–Emilyann
