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Welcome to Houston Astronomical Society

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.

Video of Main Meeting Sept 6, 2024: Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST

Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST

 

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By:  Dr. Caroline Morley

JWST has been operating for two years, and the science results it has returned so far are truly amazing! Consider its impact on exoplanet science. We stand at an incredible time in exoplanet science, as we begin to characterize worlds outside the solar system in great detail.

The exquisite capabilities of JWST allow us to see the atmospheres of planets from super-Jupiters to sub-Neptunes to Earths. Dr. Morely will highlight some of the most exciting results from the first two years of JWST science for exoplanets. She will also discuss in more detail, two aspects of exoplanet atmosphere science as it stands in mid-2024.

The first is our path to observing true Jupiter analogs, which takes us through observations of the coldest brown dwarfs and directly-imaged planets. Dr. Morely will highlight some discoveries from the first cycle of JWST observations of cold brown dwarfs, including detections of deuterium and possible aurorae.

Next, Dr. Morely will discuss how atmosphere loss may be sculpting the atmospheres of small planets, with huge implications for the next five years of studying Earth-sized planets with JWST. She let us know where she thinks the next 10 years of exoplanet atmosphere science will take us, so we may understand the breadth of data delivered to astronomers inboxes each week. 

To see the video, click Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST.

Monitoring Solar Maximum

Have you ever built a magnetometer? The Astronomical League has an award in its Observing Programs called:

Solar Maximum Observing Challenge.  (deadline for submission is April 30, 2025)

This Challenge is to experience the Solar Maximum. 

Go to the Astronomical League website and scroll down to Number 11. 

https://www.astroleague.org/al-observing-challenge-special-observing-award/

Here you will find the complete description. For you DIY builders, here is some information:

Build a soda bottle magnetometer.

  • Instructions can be found here:  https://www.aurorawatch.ca/content/view/15/40/r
  • Materials needed are:
    • An empty 2-litre soda bottle.
    • A couple inches of balast (sand or small pebbles) to keep the bottle stable.
    • A small lightweight mirror.
    • A small ceramic bar magnet. One to two incles long to fit inside the bottle.
    • A drinking straw.
    • Thread.
    • A small index card.
    • A yard stick or a meter stick.
    • A white flat target.
    • A light source (a faint red laser works well).

Use that magnetometer to detect variations in the Earth’s Magnetic Field.

Complete the program and receive a certificate.

Happy Observing!

Video of Novice Meeting August 1, 2024: Meteor Observing and Photography

 “Meteor Observing and Photography”

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By: Will Sager

On a warm late summer night under the stars, you see a bright streak speed across the sky. A meteor! You know that this brief flicker was just a piece of space dust burning up upon hitting the atmosphere. But it is an immediate and exciting show just for you. You want more. Maybe you also heard that the annual Perseid meteor shower is coming.

Few things in astronomy are as immediate and enjoyable as watching a bright Perseid fly down the Milky Way. Perhaps you want to watch some meteors yourself. How do you watch a meteor shower? Perhaps you want to make observations to help meteor astronomers understand this phenomenon. Maybe you want to take a picture of a meteor.

Our speaker will talk about meteors, meteor showers, and how to observe and photograph them.

To see the video, click Meteor Observing and Photography.

Video of Main Meeting August 2, 2024: Mediocre (almost successful) Astrophotography

"Mediocre (almost successful) Astrophotography"

By:  Bill Spizzirri

Bill Spizzirri is NOT an astrophotographer but in the 80's and 90's he made two attempts of what were, for him, very ambitious attempts at capturing celestial events that sort of worked: a total lunar eclipse and the impact of comet Shoemaker/Levy-9 into Jupiter. While you may not pick up any pointers on current equipment and techniques, Bill hopes to show you how good you have it these days and give you a few laughs at what happened and how they came out.

To see the video, click Mediocre (almost successful) Astrophotography.

John Paul Landing - Outreach narative

Dan Roy and Don Adams write...

I had been driving for over one hour, cursing at aggressive drivers, irritated seeing that traffic around here is even worse in my (Dan Roy) native Paris, France. But then, I turned onto West Road and followed the GPS calls. All of sudden, I was on a lazy winding road among the most gorgeous and serene environment.  A beautiful prairie, a few trees, lots of flowers, a serene 170+ acre reservoir.  I pulled into the parking lot of a pristine cottage of the kind you only see in movies.  I had arrived at John Paul Landing’s Environmental Education Center that also serves as the main office.  I was taken by the radiating peace of the place. All that, only a few miles from Houston traffic!  You don’t see that in Paris.

Now I understood why our friend Don Adams had been speaking and observing there for over a year. He had warmly recommended his contact there, Bobby Martin, an astronomer and born educator. I was not disappointed.  Bobby’s enthusiasm is contagious.  He puts together monthly meetings (on the second Saturday of the month) in his idyllic cottage with an invited speaker, a local audience of 40-100+ (half of them kids) and follows the talk with practical handy work for the kids and telescope observing for all.

 

Although he is open to discussing any subject, Bobby likes to focus the talks on one constellation at a time.

I was particularly impressed by the assignment he gives to the children. He has them make a constellation projector out of a toilet paper roll.  One end is covered with a print of the main stars of the constellation of the night and then pierced with a thumb tack where the stars are supposed to be.  Put a flashlight at one end, direct the other at the ceiling, you have a wonderful projection of the constellation on the ceiling!

 

Don has now moved on to other projects but we both agree that HAS should build on his achievements and leadership at John Paul Landing Park.

I am looking for speakers who can captivate naïve audiences without being condescending or too technical. Don says the events are a great experience and fun adventure.  Also, Coordination with the Constable’s office enables observing hours that go beyond park closing hours if necessary.  There are always at least 2 on staff on astronomy night. The park’s staff also turn off the parking lot lights for the event.  The actual observing site is located on a series of paved trails just outside the north side of the building with direct access into the building and its restrooms available the entire evening.  The building, along with a small hill to the west, blocks direct light from other parts of the park.  The night skies here are Bortle 7 and the views at night are always a pleasant surprise and a welcome change from the bright lights just three or four miles away.  Dimmer stars pop into view and constellations become much easier to find and recognize.  Planets are easily tracked down and the views of the Moon are always a special part of every event.  This is a dark site in the Houston area best to be experienced rather than read about. Come on out and check it out!


Finally, we absolutely love the idea of constellation projectors and we encourage all to try that on your kids. BTW, are there other projects that could motivate kids to look at the sky?  Let us know.

Ad astra.

Don [email protected] and Dan [email protected]