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The Correct LEDs for Chicago

April 30, 20160 commentsUncategorized
Light pollution and the encroachment of sky glow are subtle yet pervasive problems that adversely affect our lives in many ways. The Astronomical League stands firm in its position advocating the responsible use of outdoor lighting: The right amount of light, in the right direction, at the right time.

The city of Chicago is planning to install 270,000 LEDs. It would benefit the quality of life of the residents in that area if those LEDs had a correlated color temperature of 3000K or less, and if their associated fixtures were fully shielded and pointed downward. In light of that, a petition to the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, has been created to show support of quality outdoor lighting.

Petition. Bring Back Chicago’s Starry Night with Responsible City Lighting:

https://www.change.org/p/rahm-emanuel-bring-back-chicago-s-starry-night-with-responsible-city-lighting

Contact Audrey Fischer of the Chicago Astronomical Society for more information. 

audreyfischer@sbcglobal.net

The Astronomical League supports rational and civil discourse to illuminate the facts about LED lighting and light pollution.

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Olympic Astronomical Society donates Horkheimer/Library Telescope

March 31, 20160 commentsUncategorized

The Olympic Astronomical Society (OAS) in Bremerton just handed over their first Library Telescope to the Kitsap County Library, Sylvan Way branch, Wednesday 30 March. Cliff Mygatt, President of the OAS, presented the telescope to Librarian Megan. The telescope was won from a drawing held at the Astronomical League Convention in July and sent to the OAS in October, the telescope and accessories were donated by Orion Telescopes and Celestron International to the Astronomical League for the drawing. The program was made possible by the vision of the Horkheimer Charitable Fund.

The OAS was one of ten astronomy clubs nationwide to win the Library telescope. Cliff Mygatt modified the Orion telescope per the instructions from the New Hampshire Astronomical Society. The OAS in league with the Battle Point Astronomical Society are working to get more telescopes in the hands of Kitsap County Library members and encourage them to look up at the universe and wonder!

 

Celestial Observations Denebola— β Leo

March 20, 20160 commentsUncategorized

By Bill Pellerin, Houston Astronomical Society

Object:  Denebola — β Leo
Class:  Star
Constallation:  Leo
Magnitude:  2.14
R.A.:    11 h, 49 m,  04 s
Dec:    14°  34’ 19”
Size/Spectral:  1.75 Solar Masses, Color: A3
Distance:  35.9 ly
Optics needed: Unaided eye

The name of this star may seem somewhat familiar. There’s another star in the sky named Deneb, in the constellation Cygnus (the swan). The name Deneb is from the Arabic word dhaneb which means ‘the tail’.  The name Denebola is a combination of the Arabic words Deneb Alased, meaning the tail of the Lion, which, in fact it is. It lies at the eastern end of the constellation Leo the Lion.

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Registration for ALCon 2016 now open

March 17, 20160 commentsUncategorized

Registration for ALCon 2016 in Washington DC is now available at
http://alcon2016.astroleague.org/registration 

Listen to the many astronomy presentations; take the special tours of the Smithsonian meteorite collection, the National Air & Space Museum, the US Naval Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Annex; enjoy an evening at the Star-becue; and hear about the future of space exploration from the leader of NASA – keynote speaker Maj.Gen. Charles Bolden, Jr., NASA Administrator!

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A Total Eclipse of the sun is coming!

March 16, 20160 commentsUncategorized

ASTROCON 2017 (ALCon 2017) registrations are coming in daily. League club members who want to attend should register soon, so as to not miss this opportunity. Hotel and motel accommodations are booking quickly for this event!

Please go to the event website at http://astrocon2017.astroleague.org, then go to the “Registration” tab to complete your online registration.

The MARS region of the Astronomical League is helping to plan ASTROCON 2017 in the days leading up to the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.  Volunteers from various clubs in the Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado are actively involved helping to plan and coordinate this event. This will be a major outreach opportunity for amateur astronomy……a total solar eclipse!

ASTROCON 2017 is collaborating with and supporting the Wyoming Eclipse Fest to help educate and support the many eclipse chasers that will descend upon Casper for AMERICA’s GREAT ECLIPSE!  Casper lies directly on the centerline of the moon’s shadow and has excellent weather prospects for a clear, dry eclipse day.

Astronomical League Website:  test.astroleague.org

Event Website:  astrocon2017.astroleague.org (Please go to the “Registration” tab)

Eclipse Information:  www.eclipse2017.org (Look under “Community Links” and then “What some places are doing”)

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Help the one organization dedicated to protecting dark skies

February 29, 20160 commentsUncategorized

 

Bob Gent Past president, International Dark-Sky Association; Past president, Astronomical League

 

Do you enjoy a beautiful night sky? Well of course you do, or you wouldn’t be receiving a copy of this magazine. Have you ever spent money on our hobby? I am guessing the answer is yes. In my case, I have built an observatory, and I have bought a lot of telescopes and other astronomical equipment. The point is that many of us spend a lot on astronomy.

If we are spending money on astronomy, then shouldn’t we also be helping the one organization that protects our night sky? There is only one organization totally dedicated to night sky protection. That’s the International Dark-Sky Association.

Of the many thousands of people who are amateur astronomers, how many are members of the International Dark-Sky Association? This is the really shocking answer: very few, perhaps less than a few hundred. Do you find this distressing? Well, I for one find it unbelievable and profoundly disappointing.

We are all facing a global emergency. It’s the explosion of bad LED lighting. These are high glare and overly bright street lights, parking lot lights, and a rapid installation of thousands of new LED signs and billboards. Many do not comply with IDA’s newly updated Fixture Seal of Approval program. Thank goodness, IDA is leading the charge to help us.

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The Astronomical League’s Horkheimer Youth Awards 2016 — Prepare Now!

February 29, 20160 commentsUncategorized

Wouldn’t it be great to be young again and to be entering amateur astronomy! Now is 
the time to start considering the Astronomical League’s Horkheimer Youth awards for 
2016: the two Jack Horkheimer Youth Service Awards, the Horkheimer/Parker Youth 
Imaging Award, and the Horkheimer/O’Meara Journalism Award.
• If you know a League member, 18 years or younger, who has brought amateur 
astronomy to your club or to the public through outreach, presentations, writing, or 
observing, please consider nominating that person for one of the two Horkheimer 
Service Awards. (Horkheimer/Smith Award – $1750 plus an expense paid trip to ALCon 
2016, Horkheimer/D’Auria Award – $1000.)  
• If you know a League member, 18 years or younger, who has captured a great 
celestial image since last April, please consider nominating that person for the 
Horkheimer/Parker Youth Imaging Award. (1st place – $1000, 2nd place – $500, and 3rd 
place – $250)
• One of these awards is more specialized than the others — the Horheimer/O’Meara 
Journalism Award. It requires a person who is 8 to 14 years of age to compose a 300 to 
500 word essay on any science related topic. (1st place – $1000, 2nd place – $500, 3rd 
place – $250.)
Since the deadline for the Horkheimer Awards is March 31, 2016, now is the time for 
potential candidates to work on their projects and to participate in various astronomy 
activities.
If you are a club officer, nominate them. If you don’t, no one else will! Complete 
information about each award can be found at test.astroleague.org/al/awards/awards.html

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