LINK TO VIDEO OF PRESENTATION ADDED BELOW



AstroAssembly Eve

Friday, September 30th
7-10 PM
at 
Seagrave Memorial Observatory
47 Peeptoad Road, North Scituate, RI



This year we return to informal talks on the eve of AstroAssembly, Friday, September 30. No registration is required for this event. This event will be streamed on Zoom.


OUR SPEAKERS


Joe Rao, Meteorologist
(Remote via Zoom)

Mars and the Moon: December 7:  During the overnight hours of December 7-8, the moon will turn full and Mars will come to opposition, both within less than 90 minutes of each other . . . an unusual circumstance that will result in the moon either passing directly in front of Mars (called an occultation) or graze tantalizing close to the red planet -- but not hide it. Joe Rao will outline the viewing zone across New England. This talk is based on a short article that will appear in the December issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. 


Stephen LaFlamme, Skyscrapers, Inc.
(In person)

A Backyard Astronomy Discovery - 23 Years Later: Have you ever peered through a telescope or looked at an astronomy image and asked, “What’s THAT?” Sometimes it pays off to dig a little deeper and seek the answer. Back in June 1999, myself and two fellow amateur astronomers stumbled upon such an object. The finding was posted to an on-line amateur astronomer newsgroup and soon the community was abuzz. Over the next two-plus decades, more information became available via NASA and ESA surveyor spacecraft. A prime example of why you should always keep an inquisitive eye when gazing at anything astronomical.


Observing at Seagrave Memorial Observatory
The observatory’s telescopes will be available for observing (weather permitting), or set up your own telescope on the grounds.

 

Date: Friday, 9/30/2022

Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Eastern

Location: Seagrave Memorial Observatory, 47 Peeptoad Road, North Scituate, RI 02857

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  Sunset: 6:31 PM
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  Moon

  Moonrise:
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  What's in the Sky this evening?

7:30pm Mars and the Moon: December 7, 2022 Joe Rao During the overnight hours of December 7-8, the moon will turn full and Mars will come to opposition, both within less than 90 minutes of each other . . . an unusual circumstance that will result in the moon either passing directly in front of Mars (called an occultation) or graze tantalizing close to the red planet -- but not hide it. Joe Rao will outline the viewing zone across New England. This talk is based on a short article that will appear in the December issue of Sky & Telescope. For 21 years, Joe Rao was the Chief Meteorologist and Science Editor at News 12 Westchester. He was nominated for 8 Emmy Awards and in 2015 was voted First among weathercasters in New York State by the Associated Press. Since 1986 he has served as an associate and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium. In 2009, the prestigious Walter Scott Houston Award was bestowed upon him by the Northeast Region of the Astronomical League. He is a Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine and writes a syndicated weekly column for the online news service, Space.com. Joe also pens a monthly astronomy column for Natural History magazine and provides annual astronomical data for The Farmers' Almanac. 8:30pm A Backyard Astronomy Discovery - 23 Years Later Stephen LaFlamme Have you ever peered through a telescope or looked at an astronomy image and asked, "What's THAT?" Sometimes it pays off to dig a little deeper and seek the answer. Back in June 1999, myself and two fellow amateur astronomers stumbled upon such an object. The finding was posted to an on-line amateur astronomer newsgroup and soon the community was abuzz. Over the next two-plus decades, more information became available via NASA and ESA surveyor spacecraft. A prime example of why you should always keep an inquisitive eye when gazing at anything astronomical. Stephen LaFlamme held up a pair of binoculars during the summer of '78 and "discovered" the crescent shape of Venus. This spectacle led to his lifelong passion for backyard astronomy. Reaching the point in high school where a career path had to be chosen, Stephen wanted to pursue astronomy. His Dad, who was paying for college, wanted him to be a pharmacist. So, while consuming his days counting pills for Walgreens, he spent his nights under the constellations with wonder. He designed and built a backyard dome some 25 years ago. Astrophotography rose to the forefront as local light pollution grew worse each year. Artificial light glow can be subtracted by software. A sampling of this work can be found under Universefromthebackyard on Facebook or Instagram. Stephen has many tales to share about owning meteorites, and a piece of the moon. His day spent with John Dobson. Being 'visited' by his deceased astronomy mentor one night at his observatory. And an amusing anecdote about a failed Astronomy Club start-up. Having retired three years ago and with no alarm clock to set, Stephen now takes full advantage of every opportunity to study the stars.