Welcome to Houston Astronomical Society

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 Club.  He is also a member of The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy Board of Visitors. 

There is no easy mathematical relationship between the lengths of the solar day, the orbit of the Moon around the Earth and the orbit of the Earth around the sun.  How different civilizations dealt with this conundrum when devising their calendars is an adventure.  Learn about the Julian calendar, the Gregorian calendar, the Jewish and Islamic calendars and the Chinese calendar.  

Speaker Bio: Deborah Moran developed a lifelong interest in astronomy living in Midland, TX as a child where all the scenery is in the sky. She has been a member of the Houston Astronomical Society since 1980, where she has served in a number of capacities in the past including Treasurer, Education chair and nine years as Novice chair in charge of talks for new members.  She continues to speak frequently in the community on astronomy topics and light pollution.  She is also a volunteer telescope operator at the George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park.  She actively fights light pollution in Houston and was awarded the Dark Sky International’s Hoag-Robinson Award in 2017 for her efforts.  She has combined her love of travel and astronomy by chasing total and annular solar eclipses around the world. She retired from the Houston Symphony violin section after 27 years in 2010.