by Rene Gedaly

The H.A.S. Outreach bunch was out in force again. This time for the NASA Storms of the Solar System and Beyond event. A NASA panel discussion was held indoors while outside H.A.S. had telescopes, and digiscoping, at the ready. See that queue?

Kudos to Jim King (digiscoper), Daniel Roy, Bobbie Jo Taylor, Steve & Amelia ... and Sarah Silva, who asked insightful questions of the NASA panel, shared views of the planets through her scope, and snapped photos for us in between. 

Editor’s note: Develop telescope skills or keep them sharp by joining an H.A.S. Outreach event. Bashful? Contact Outreach@astronomyhouston.org(link sends e-mail) and you can be paired with a more senior member. 

By: Steve Goldberg

Asterism: a grouping of stars that form a recognizable pattern.

	This binocular or finder size asterism in Sagittarius looks like its name:  a cross. It is located in Sagittarius, halfway between the Tea Pot and Capricorn.   As of this writing, Mars is in the neighborhood.
	The asterism is made of the 4 stars: Omega, 59, 62, and 60. The outer circle is a typical finder view.  The small inner circle is a 48x low power eyepiece. So this is definitely a finder object. This asterism is on the Astronomical League’s Asterism Observing Program. You can read about the naming of Herman’s Cross here.

 

See your name in lights! Join the following members who have completed the HAS Texas 45 observing or imaging program. Congratulations!

• Steve Fast, gold level award, 65 objects via star hopping, certificate #1
• Rob Torrey, silver level award, 65 objects, certificate #2
• Rene Gedaly, program author, gold level award, 65 objects via star hopping, certificate #3
• Chris Thiede, gold level award, 65 objects via star hopping, certificate #4
• Amelia Goldberg, silver level award, 45 objects via star hopping, certificate #5
• Craig Lamison, gold level award, 65 objects via star hopping, certificate #6 (silver), #10
• Clayton Jeter, gold level award, 65 objects via star hopping, certificate #7
• Brian Cudnik, silver level award, 65 objects, certificate #8
• Steve Goldberg, silver level award, 45 objects via star hopping, certificate #9
• Craig Lamison, gold level award, certificate #10. Also certificate #6 for the silver.
• Mike Edstrom, bronze level award, 40 seasonal objects plus 5 solar system objects with a OSC camera, certificate #1

For more information about the HAS Texas 45 observing program, check out the Programs section of this website.

by Rene Gedaly

Be ready for the next clear night at the Dark Site by taking site orientation from the comfort of your home, easy as 1, 2, 3. Here’s how:

(1) Log in to the website
(2) Click this link: https://www.astronomyhouston.org/about/has-observatory, and
(3) Scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click the big blue button.

A 10-question quiz follows. This is not an astronomy quiz. Instead it focuses on Dark Site safety, usage, and observing etiquette. You get three chances to pass with an 8 or better correct. Easy.

This past weekend was another informative, hands-on Novice Lab at the Dark Site. Thank you Stephen Jones, Lauren Herrington, and field mowing crew Lisa Herrington Morgan and Marc Morgan! 

This coming weekend is the Observatory Training class (full) and Perseid Meteor Shower & Picnic. Members, check your email to RSVP. It’s new moon weekend and as always at the dark site, observing etiquette rules apply.

Rene Gedaly