Fostering the science and art of astronomy through programs that serve our membership and the community. Founded in 1955, Houston Astronomical Society is an active community of enthusiastic amateur and professional astronomers with over 70 years of history in the Houston area. Through education and outreach, our programs promote science literacy and astronomy awareness. We meet via Zoom the first Friday of each month for the General Membership Meeting and the first Thursday of the month for the Novice Meeting. Membership has a variety of benefits, including access to a secure dark site west of Houston, special interest groups that focus on particular areas of astronomy, an active community outreach program, and much more. Joining is simple.
The Target of the Month (May 2025) - The famous Pinwheel Galaxy. Big, bright, great in OSC, Halpha, Oxygen. And not in the same trajectory as the moon this time! The next AP SIG zoom call on Wednesday May 28th (7:30pm) - for the link, look for the next HAS SIG meetings email.
" Your Very Own Planetarium "
By: Chris Morisette
Planetarium applications are widely used by astronomers, educators, and enthusiasts to explore the universe, plan stargazing sessions, and visualize celestial events. In this month’s Novice Meeting Chris Morisette will present a brief overview of the functionality of planetarium apps, then dive into a demonstration of Stellarium where parameters such as time, location, and Bortle rating will be adjusted in order to get a dynamic view of the night sky.
Speaker Bio: Chris Morisette is HAS Novice Chairperson and an active member of the Houston Astronomical Society, North Houston Astronomy Club, and the Fort Bend Astronomy Clubs. He is also a member of the University of Texas Astronomy Department Board of Visitors. On clear Saturday nights you may find him volunteering at the George Observatory engaging visitors and sharing his love of the night sky, or you may find him at the HAS dark site trying his hand at astrophotography.
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To see the video, click Your Very Own Planetarium
“HAS Dark Site Development
1979 to Present”
By: Steve Goldberg
One of the best assets an astronomy club can own is their own private, dark sky observing location. The HAS is fortunate enough to have an 18-acre dark sky site away from the Houston light pollution dome. Steve Goldberg will discuss the development of the HAS Dark Site from the mid-1970s through today.
Steve along with other notable HAS members were key players in the site’s development, from the initial land clearing and first working building through its present configuration. The site has grown from humble beginnings to a true astronomy village for HAS members to use and support.
Speaker: Steve Goldberg has long been interested in astronomy since “discovering” Saturn with his own telescope many years ago. He is past president of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society in New Orleans and the Houston Astronomical Society. He observes with a 15” Obsession Classic telescope. Steve has organized several local astronomical events and solar eclipse trips over the years, including Astronomy Day starting in 1980.
Steve and wife Amelia are still very active, supporting various astronomy outreach events in the Greater Houston Area, and Steve is an active promoter of responsible night lighting for Houston. Both Steve and Amelia have a big spot in their hearts for the HAS Dark Site and over the years have been a big part of its development and operation.
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To see the video, click HAS Dark Site Development .
“Navigating the Spring Sky”
With: Chris Morrisette
April marks the beginning of Galaxy Season. In “Navigating The Spring Sky” Chris Morisette will present various references and methods to help you find your way around the cosmos. In particular we’ll see how we can use The Big Dipper as a “sign post”, which will allow us to find and view several beautiful celestial objects, including some very cool galaxies.
Also… upcoming Novice Labs will be discussed.
Our Speaker: Chris Morisette is HAS Novice Chairperson and an active member of the Houston Astronomical Society, North Houston Astronomy Club, and the Fort Bend Astronomy Clubs. He is also a member of the University of Texas Astronomy Department Board of Visitors. On clear Saturday nights you may find him volunteering at the George Observatory engaging with visitors and sharing his love of the night sky, or you may find him at the HAS dark site trying his hand at astrophotography.
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To see the video, click Navigating the Spring Sky.
“Keeping Dark Skies Dark in the Texas Big Bend Region”
By: Stephen Hummel
Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator, UT Austin McDonald Observatory
Dark skies, free from the influence of light pollution, are increasingly difficult to find in the modern world. Today, even some of the most remote areas of the world once thought untouched from civilization's glow are beginning to be impacted by light pollution. In this presentation, Stephen Hummel will discuss efforts to protect the night sky around McDonald Observatory and the Big Bend region, one of the last remaining areas of dark skies in Texas. These efforts have culminated in the creation of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, currently the largest area in the world certified by DarkSky International.
Speaker: Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator for the McDonald Observatory, a remote research campus of the University of Texas at Austin. His work has focused on preserving dark skies in the Big Bend and Permian Basin regions of Texas through responsible outdoor lighting practices. In his spare time, he is an award winning astrophotographer with a specialty in rare electrical phenomena above nighttime thunderstorms.
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To see the video, click Keeping Dark Skies Dark in the Texas Big Bend Region.
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Dawn: 04:56 A.M.
Sunrise: 06:26 A.M.
Sunset: 08:13 P.M.
End Twilight: 09:43 P.M.
Learn how to read it the clear sky chart.