About

Meetings

Star Party Schedule

Star Party Instructions

Directions

Links

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Schenectady Museum (Directions),
except in August, when we have a star party at the Landis Arboretum.

Meeting Cancellations
In the winter months bad weather can cause cancellation of our meeting.  The Schenectady Museum announces closings on the radio, television, and so on.  (Stations also post their closing announcements on their web pages.)   If this happens our meeting will be canceled.  Heavy snow or ice starting in the afternoon may also force us to cancel.  Call the the museum at 382-7890 if you are in doubt.

2010 Meetings

Tuesday, September 21, 7:30 pm at the Schenectady Museum
Dr. Harry Ringermacher speaking on
"The State of the Universe."

The universe continues to amaze and provoke.  You see recent discoveries in every popular venue.  Black holes in the center of every galaxy, "dark matter", "dark energy" everywhere and we don't know what it is except it's 96% of the stuff out there and we're the dregs.  Extra dimensions and multiple universes.  Science fiction, reality?  You will get the latest scoop along with pretty Hubble images and the latest incredible super-computer simulations.

Past Meetings

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Dr. Mark Changizi
"Alien Vision Revolution." "I will describe research that has led to a new understanding of the function of color, binocular vision, illusions and the shapes of writing over history. By understanding the design principles underlying these visual phenomena, we have a basis for speculating on how aliens are likely to see. In particular, I will argue that aliens will perceive the same kinds of illusions and have writing that looks like those found here on Earth, but that they will not have our variety of primate color vision, nor have our forward-facing eyes."

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Dr. Rose Finn, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Siena College
"Clusters of Galaxies:  Life in Galactic Cities"
Clusters of galaxies are the most massive structures in the Universe.  They can contain thousands of galaxies, large amounts of hot X-ray emitting gas, and even more dark matter.  I will review our current understanding of how clusters form, and I will highlight some of the remaining mysteries yet to be solved.  In particular, my area of research explores if and how the cluster environment affects the evolution of member galaxies.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Annual "Share Your Astrophotos, and Winter Solstice Party"

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Alan French (and a panel of experts)
"Almost Everything You Wanted to Know About Eyepieces"  The talk will include basic eyepiece characteristics and their importance, basic designs, selecting eyepieces for a telescope, and his perspective on eyepieces, their importance, and the difficulty in making objective comparisons.  Additional comments will be provided by some other club members, and your questions will be welcomed.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Various club members. 
"Member Potpourri"  
Club members will talk about their favorite celestial object, a book they've read recently, or an eyepiece or telescope they are fond of.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Meteorologist Steve Caporizzo

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 (snowed out in February and rescheduled)
Various club members 
"Member Potpourri"  
Club members will talk about their favorite celestial object, a book they've read recently, or an eyepiece or telescope they are fond of.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Dr. John Delano
"Astrobiology: The search for life beyond the Earth"

We are very pleased to have Dr. John Delano as our speaker once again.  Dr. Delano's talk will be "Astrobiology: The search for life beyond the Earth."

"Questions in astrobiology are being explored by teams of scientists in astrophysics, biochemistry, geochemistry, and geophysics.  How common are habitable planets?  How are complex biomolecules formed on initially lifeless planets?  What processes and environments are required for planets to become habitable?  What instruments are needed by robotic spacecraft to detect either living or fossilized microbial life?  These are some of the fundamental questions where substantial progress is being made.  In addition to results from NASA's Kepler spacecraft that are anxiously awaited bearing on the presence of Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars, these are exciting times!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sue French
"A Few of My Favorite Things"

Long-time amateur astronomers collect a wealth of favorite sites over the years.  These celestial wonders may be treasured for their beauty, for their nature, or even the circumstances under which they were seen.  Sue will share some of her most memorable deep-sky observations, garnered over the last three decades.

Sue is an avid deep sky observer and a Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope, writing their monthly "Deep Sky Wonders" column.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Various club members
"Member Potpourri"

Our February "Member Potpourri" went very well and was well received, so
we're going to do another for the July 20 meeting. Perhaps you have
something to share with the club - a review of a book or an accessory,
some favorite targets in the night sky, a memorable telescope or night
of observing, or a trip or convention report. Maybe you have some
insight into a specific aspect of astronomy or some news in the world of
astronomy other club members would enjoy hearing about.

Please let me know if you have something to share at the July meeting.
(Please include an estimate of the time required.) We are looking for
several talks that take from five to fifteen minutes.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Meeting and Star Party at Landis Arboretum

Our August meeting is held in the Meeting House field at Landis Arboretum.  Weather permitting, there will be a star party after the meeting.  We generally socialize and check out everyone's telescopes if the weather is nice.  If the weather is poor we do a variety of short topics in the Meeting House.  You are also welcome to bring items for the "August Swap Shop."