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2025 Regional events in or near the Mid East Region of the Astronomical League
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: 2025 Regional events in or near the Mid East Region of the Astronomical League Date: 2025-02-17 11:12 From: <dknabb01@...> To: "Don 01 account" <dknabb01@...> Greetings MERAL Presidents, ALCors, editors, officers, and others, Below is a listing of regional scale events in MERAL (or nearby) for 2025. There are a few events later in the year that have not set dates yet, so I will send an updated list when I get them. I'll attach the information as a MS Word document also. I just updated the MERAL website with the events information: https://www.meralastronomy.org/regional-events Clear skies, Don Knabb MERAL Chair 2025 regional events that are in or near MERAL Northeast Astronomy Forum, April 5-6 Rockland Community College, NY (Not in MERAL, but close!) https://www.neafexpo.com/ [1] Staunton River Star Party (Spring), March 24-30 Staunton River State Park, VA http://chaosastro.org/starparty-home/ [2] South Jersey Astronomy Club Star Party, April 24-27 Belleplain State Forest, NJ http://www.sjac.us/star-party/ [3] Mega Meet at Pulpit Rock, June 27-29, rain date August 8-10 Pulpit Rock, PA https://lvaas.org/page.php?page=megameet [4] Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, Astronomy Day, May 3 https://www.novac.com/wp/ [5] York County Star Party #1 June 25-29 Susquehannock State Park in central Pennsylvania https://www.yorkcountystarparty.org/ [6] Cherry Springs Star Party, June 19-22 Cherry Springs State Park, PA https://www.facebook.com/CherrySpringsStarParty/ [7] Green Bank Star Quest, June 25-28 Green Bank WV http://www.greenbankstarquest.org/ [8] Astronomical League Convention, June 25-28 Bryce Canyon, UT https://www.astroleague.org/ [9] Stellafane, July 24-27 Springfield, Vermont (Not in MERAL, but too important to not include) https://stellafane.org/ [10] West Virginia Astrophotography Association Annual Conference, July 25-27 Blackwater Falls State Park, WV https://www.facebook.com/WVAA1 [11] https://www.wvaa.us/ [12] Almost Heaven Star Party TBD Spruce Knob Mountain Center in Circleville, WV https://www.ahsp.org/ [13] York County Star Party #2 September 17-21 Susquehannock State Park in central Pennsylvania https://www.yorkcountystarparty.org/ [6] Black Forest Star Party TBD https://bfsp.org/ [14] KVAS Blackwater Falls Astronomy Weekend, September 18-20 Blackwater Falls State Park, WV https://kvas.org/index.html [15] Northern Virginia Astronomy, Star Gaze, TBD C.M. Crockett Park, Midland, VA https://www.novac.com/wp/ [5] Staunton River Star Party (Fall), October 20-26 Staunton River State Park, VA http://chaosastro.org/starparty-home/ [2] James River State Park Star Party, November 14-15 James River State Park, Gladstone, VA https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2024-01-05-14-36-16-803959-4dy [16] Links: ------ [1] https://www.neafexpo.com/ [2] http://chaosastro.org/starparty-home/ [3] http://www.sjac.us/star-party/ [4] https://lvaas.org/page.php?page=megameet [5] https://www.novac.com/wp/ [6] https://www.yorkcountystarparty.org/ [7] https://www.facebook.com/CherrySpringsStarParty/ [8] http://www.greenbankstarquest.org/ [9] https://www.astroleague.org/ [10] https://stellafane.org/ [11] https://www.facebook.com/WVAA1 [12] https://www.wvaa.us/ [13] https://www.ahsp.org/ [14] https://bfsp.org/ [15] https://kvas.org/index.html [16] https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2024-01-05-14-36-16-803959-4dy
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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: FW: March sky materials from the AL Date: 2025-02-15 14:49 From: <dknabb01@...> To: "Don 01 account" <dknabb01@...> Hi MERAL Presidents, ALCors, editors, officers, and others, I am forwarding you the March sky materials from John Goss of the Astronomical League. Please share these with your club members, use them in your newsletters and post them to your website and social media sites. Clear skies, Don Knabb MERAL Chair From: John Goss <goss.john@...> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 11:10 AM To: John Goss <goss.john@...> Subject: March sky materials from the AL Attached are the AL March sky materials. Clear skies, John Goss
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Zoom Invite for February 2025 Program/Business Meeting
Dear RAC, Please join me for our February RAC Meeting. The meeting will start with business at 7:30 to be followed by the program which will be a live observing/training session on the mSRO station 2 telescope. Please feel free to join in on the discussion and observing especially if you have an interest in learning how to operate the telescope for your personal observing. RAC President (Myron Wasiuta) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: RAC FEBRUARY 2025 Program/Business Meeting Time: Feb 19, 2025 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81914249530?pwd=DOL4h7lWbl8NRS34QT28lRurfCbbxv.1 Meeting ID: 819 1424 9530 Passcode: 392471 --- One tap mobile +13092053325,,81914249530#,,,,*392471# US +13126266799,,81914249530#,,,,*392471# US (Chicago) --- Dial by your location ? +1 309 205 3325 US ? +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) ? +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) ? +1 646 931 3860 US ? +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) ? +1 305 224 1968 US ? +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) ? +1 689 278 1000 US ? +1 719 359 4580 US ? +1 253 205 0468 US ? +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) ? +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) ? +1 360 209 5623 US ? +1 386 347 5053 US ? +1 507 473 4847 US ? +1 564 217 2000 US ? +1 669 444 9171 US Meeting ID: 819 1424 9530 Passcode: 392471 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbSBRQeRwF Myron
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Dear RAC and CAS, There has been recent increase in the accretion rate of the mass transfer in the T CrB recurrent nova system that was announced recently by professional astronomers. It was detected by increased emission features in the spectrum of this star. Whether this means an eruption or outburst is imminent is uncertain. I got two hours of data on the morning of February 14, 2025. The light curve was pretty stable and looked to be at magnitude 10.2. No unusual features were detected in the curve from what I have been seeing since March of 2024 when I began intensively monitoring the star. I also was able to obtain a low resolution spectrum which also looks similar to those i have been getting all along. So from my limited ability with my amateur telescope and low resolution spectra-I have not seen any changes yet that are big enough for me to detect. I have enclosed a screen shot of two spectra-one obtained on March 20, 2024 and the other on the morning of February 14, 2025. Aside from differences in clarity ( due to seeing)-they look essential unchanged. Myron
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What¡¯s Up With the Astronomical League February 2025
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: What¡¯s Up With the Astronomical League February 2025 Date: 2025-02-14 16:10 From: Astronomical League <john@...> To: Matthew Scott <treasurer@...> Reply-To: john@... Hello, Astronomical League What¡¯s Up With the Astronomical League February 2025 is available for download! [1] IN THIS ISSUE¡.. * Digital only Reflector for March 2025, the paper option returning in June 2025 ? Astronomy Days for 2025 ? Astronomical League Live ? Texas Star Party, April 20-27, 2025 ? Astrocon 2025-space left for 150 more registrants Download this issue HERE [2] CELESTIAL SAVINGS PROGRAM PARTICIPATING VENDORS Astronomical League 9201 Ward Parkway , Suite #100, Kansas City, MO 64114 Unsubscribe [3] Links: ------ [1] http://url2782.astroleague.org/ls/click?upn=u001.IPaZ0aiMQ7OmsWt7zoCjVm7OBw5Mg2vITAUO1VkRTwwB1-2BtUk42opU3BDXEprs1kbS7ZaTG2TuNPEwatOTy4ESBZkz852r3se1KtiXzsZ663bURdOvLhNBisskTX7By5cyiRjlCeEpc4wagfysWDlA-3D-3D3nX4_vp7cxW1jx5vqI6dvrhj4bzfdiD81GhxgqT0znFvl-2BbPKuLkoHv4WdBz7MtAPdGRWJbSOz4Oz5EMzEcNt9SZHZ6uBwL3vzEL-2FF5Gcx3brmDubJLNfG8IWkXXqf5E90dzb284iVc52TVlC0jpb2Jil6RHT69z6Fh6iN9GDN5ZwdGYmQh-2FEwS9dswYJPriYmGY1NexPaAUgtfl-2FpsEEDXgOkK3pzjofIRX-2BzO-2BdnyWzOtbrM-2Bzp4jG-2BRf0d6lTOTVisKvat1wgdWG0TdSnSl-2BhdH-2F6knIY8tmG8yvNU6M8PxaP-2FVkkevJUtSGHUa1jLjO19Jk3ZPkBpG0AfZaUq8zQ0HsRoCsXxhWoNJJFW-2FP3V8whVozPEMSbxW4QVUdDbB0VjXU6EkXIwUXpJjE5dxLxbDMiifWCbrxsId6cEWSFxi2dlKz4IJcCDoOLBh5Ofb8eALKswOP0oZnSmhYh6RopqCnorKpbfpQzJceZ5x4RIArVkAU9nl-2BSRZOE-2F-2BmUU6VMcUIyKjf5cmPWxpMPFcfRbzrY29t-2ByT8nilNRJQyJVDLCJd76cC135UoDqMCKQ2sPzfWJPIpldluVHPB2WaOEwAGCSZr7RKR5PE2FAdMdWe7wmTv9qzXB8jcBNMIv-2FslFR9c-2FHXuFGhjSjIddd5a1xFKMg1uYKl7eT-2FdFhDhN-2Bqj1H64uSjgZwATFCyx-2FQaGcYdII39PcOa0iSmoEgDiqBHjsoAu3Z-2BcC65zxH37 wd38VjCkHJBjWe2bBdBubsSVZI-2Bn-2B-2F0fImkJ1EKqCKcABTnrzfyo4fxpjkGh5hpydm-2BTxW0-2BzLpT8TItGmAfbFAzvROH-2FiY274t8kaHLQnOyagHKlmB8JwrIHfwAideEhWTyFuXsczFiGo0fw4EsSDrpiDA7bO9TjwqsrnJVcUTzJGxsGtlurp7L-2FCEhGhFR3ng6RnDAjIpCenpN3YUHG75dwrC2Ug9rGfGbOtxaAejoKZMiVW-2FHjFHMXqgW7UsIvMMatITUdKYmwo1exH8YVj9a-2BS [2] http://url2782.astroleague.org/ls/click?upn=u001.IPaZ0aiMQ7OmsWt7zoCjVm7OBw5Mg2vITAUO1VkRTwwB1-2BtUk42opU3BDXEprs1kbS7ZaTG2TuNPEwatOTy4ESBZkz852r3se1KtiXzsZ663bURdOvLhNBisskTX7By5cyiRjlCeEpc4wagfysWDlA-3D-3DLcv4_vp7cxW1jx5vqI6dvrhj4bzfdiD81GhxgqT0znFvl-2BbPKuLkoHv4WdBz7MtAPdGRWJbSOz4Oz5EMzEcNt9SZHZ6uBwL3vzEL-2FF5Gcx3brmDubJLNfG8IWkXXqf5E90dzb284iVc52TVlC0jpb2Jil6RHT69z6Fh6iN9GDN5ZwdGYmQh-2FEwS9dswYJPriYmGY1NexPaAUgtfl-2FpsEEDXgOkK3pzjofIRX-2BzO-2BdnyWzOtbrM-2Bzp4jG-2BRf0d6lTOTVisKvat1wgdWG0TdSnSl-2BhdH-2F6knIY8tmG8yvNU6M8PxaP-2FVkkevJUtSGHUa1jLjO19Jk3ZPkBpG0AfZaUq8zQ0HsRoCsXxhWoNJJFW-2FP3V8whVozPEMSbxW4QVUdDbB0VjXU6EkXIwUXpJjE5dxLxbDMiifWCbrxsId6cEWSFxi2dlKz4IJcCDoOLBh5Ofb8eALKswOP0oZnSmhYh6RopqCnorKpbfpQzJceZ5x4RIArVkAU9nl-2BSRZOE-2F-2BmUU6VMcUIyKjf5cmPWxpMPFcfRbzrY29t-2ByT8nilNRJQyJVDLCJd76cC135UoDqMCKQ2sPzfWJPIpldluVHPB2WaOEwAGCSZr7RKR5PE2FAdMdWe7wmTv9qzXB8jcBNMIv-2FslFR9c-2FHXuFGhjSjIddd5a1xFKMg1uYKl7eT-2FdFhDhN-2Bqj1H64uSjgZwATFCyx-2FQaGcYdII39PcOa0iSmoEgDiqBHjsoAu3Z-2BcC65zxH37 wd38VjCkHJBjWe2bBdBubsSVZI-2Bn-2B-2F0fImkJ1EKqCKcABTnrzfyo4fxpjkGh5hpydm-2BTxW0-2BzLpT8TItGmAfbFAzvROH-2FiY274t8kaHLQnOyagHKlmB8JwrIHfwAideEhWTyGDHOf0Ao-2FYVFucqPKzImi2xSHFEv0cimccg6YhsxhriKOItloXdnyakbZytE3vhiyDG4BKBPeuP8SRq-2BXXokiTlKa3M0MjZOpo8b9-2B6vWGvgPzjThcXUKMPGlE95iRN6qGvkr1v4B-2BD5i8fDloTs7N [3] http://url2782.astroleague.org/wf/unsubscribe?upn=u001.9a9hay8-2BJ3Es5qZW3AYjap-2FlXpwvesaGBeH94b28KxBTtycEQ-2FVlNl-2FPqT-2F-2FJYSj-2FyVKcZZp86fWMii2DaWAz9sqreLTke5uelSkXmAvEu2OacN8zeAohu8NO23hT0GWDC5vW97J-2B9LSrIY8OSuME8YqCGP05DgTJC-2BOQMgfO79PIqd52hpDx2-2FiJCSFAkg0qviJiuN5dE2f-2B18c-2FXmsdNvbV6jjZJOZe4JB-2FpnDH8umu3MLNH1PmBeUsoMGZtX9sXpkJ86RiIrOU-2BT-2FpcHKsNiYJQMXdmBC0xzJDNf1H-2BSigB0GsWx3bpnlFb317tCOiy85Xrp7d5lJPUeuigGvLbCupe8IEzVjiEYIoOUmRUYya-2B81d-2FtXlapJFKCySs7RdvrQL75cN7FTDDOHcDiQs4Cl4QYlgsv-2Fm8wDNFmI13PZQgf36wmuBGcnym9glqMe4iIrc8a4W1etjUfteHX58ORy-2BDaEQ4VEtYJ5mtG7cwgpLoitBXLGRpY05tXCyvEPzD7MF-2Bb999eN1GQFWp1h-2Fgfw4ZHuQxo3JDBVIb-2BMMVK5hms8kbtMiN0iOS93Ci0eIX3eqcrewsOLu032p4IZKkTszitX99uZbTuM2KixXlS2agqnIMzx7epyxgHQe2
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TCrB update
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Dear Astronomy friends, Observed T Corona Borealis this morning and got about 2 hours of light curve data. The star is still in quiescence and sitting at about mag V= 10.1. The spectrum looks unchanged from my baseline in March 2024 and is consistent with that of a red giant with lots of broad absorption bands. I did not see any emission features. But again my capabilities are quite limited. I¡¯ll post the light curve once I have a chance to analyze it if it shows any changes from what I¡¯ve been seeing all along. Myron
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ATel #17030 A sudden increase of the accretion rate in T Coronae Borialis
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Looks like the accretion rate is rapidly increasing! This may be it- or maybe another false start. Either way everyone should be watching this star closely. It¡¯s well up in the NE sky by morning. Myron https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=17030
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I've been observing the Planetary alignment on clear nights. Attached is a quick iPhone shot of part of it. Can someone tell me the name of the star that's circled in the attached photo? I can't seem to find it on my SKyView app. thx, Claire Sent from my iPhone.
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Shot these last night. Celestron gt 90 and cannon eos m50 camera. Just single pics. Pretty impressed with the clarity of the refractor.
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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Astronomical League Live this Friday - February 7 Date: 2025-02-04 20:39 From: <dknabb01@...> To: "Don 01 account" <dknabb01@...> Greetings MERAL Presidents, ALCors, editors, officers, and others, Attached is a graphic announcing the next Astronomical League Live show that will be shown this Friday, February 7 at 7 p.m. EST. The main presentation is by Tom Reinert, past president of Dark Sky International. I was fortunate to hear Tom's talk last summer at Green Bank Star Quest and I enjoyed the presentation a great deal. My wife and I were camping not far from Tom and his wife, and they are wonderful people. A link to view the live stream will become active on the Astronomical League Facebook page shortly before the presentation. Here is a link to that page: https://www.facebook.com/Astronomical.League Please share the information about the upcoming Astronomical League Live show with your club members. Also - we are due to hold elections for the MERAL officer positions. According to the MERAL by-laws the Chair and Vice-chair should be elected during odd numbered years and the other three positions are elected during even numbered years. Therefore, the positions open for election are Chair and Vice-chair. However, the Secretary position is currently unfilled. If anyone would like to volunteer to run for any of these three positions, please let me know. If you would like to read the MERAL by-laws that define the officer positions, please let me know and I will gladly send you a copy. Clear skies, Don Knabb MERAL Chair https://www.meralastronomy.org/
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Dear RAC, OK so not the best target to go after from under mediocre skies and not shooting narrow band-but wanted to see what I could get. This image is made from 4 color channels-B,V,R, and I. The near IR band is the deep rd and picks up some very obscured objects-particularly the deep red star on the left. Thers also a reddish fuzzy object near the bottom right-a background galaxy perhaps, or maybe just a nebular condensation. Ill look into this more but wanted to share this image. Its 25 minutes in each band-so not near enough exposure time. I used the MSRO/RAC 10" RC and QHY 294 M Pro cmos camera. Myron
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Here is my attempt at the Needle Galaxy. Shot at 1000mm with the 6200MCPRO full frame camera. About 8hrs of data. Wade
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Dear RAC, Prior to getting exposures on M94, I was able to get about 90 minutes on the Owl Nebula. Here is a cropped pseudo-RGB color composite using the photometric BVR filters. Used the 10" f7.9 MSRO/RAC RC and QHY294 M Pro CMOS camera. Myron
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Dear RAC, Here is another version of M109 taken using the 10¡± MSRO/ RAC telescope. It was processed by my friend Steve R of the Charlottessville Astronomical Society. It¡¯s about 3 hours of exposure using the photometric BVR filters for the color channels and combining as a RGB composite Myron
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Dear RAC, Last night I got about 3 hours of exposure on M 94 in hopes of being able to detect its very large but faint outer halo, Ive sent two versions-one highlighting the galaxy itself, and the other its faint outer halo. These were imaged with the 10" MSRO/RAC RC telescope and QHY 294 M Pro CMOS camera using BVR filters and creating a pseudo-RGB image. Myron
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Dear RAC, CAS , and Friends, Well the outburst of T CrB that was expected last year did not happen, and over the past month I have been following this star in the morning sky. It seems to have settled somewhat into quiescence so the wait continues. Here is about 30 minutes of data this morning before clouds interfered. Myron
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Dear RAC, Last night while it was clear I imaged the beautiful spiral M 109 in Ursa Major. This is about 3 hours of exposure using the MSRO 10" RC and QHY 294 M pro CMOS camera. The color was combined by imaging using the photometric B (blue), V (green), and R (red) band filters. Myron
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Here is a 15 minute exposure of the galactic star cluster M 37 in Auriga. I used the 10" RC and QHY 294 M Pro and photometric B, V, and R filters. Myron
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RAC star parties
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Hi everybody, Caledon State Park has approved our proposal for star parties at the park on March 1 2025 July 26 2025 August 30 2025 September 20 2025 I have updated the Star Parties page on our Web site with this information. Does anyone else have star party or outreach dates? -- Glenn Holliday holliday@...
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Dear RAC, With galaxy season almost upon us-I wanted to try M81. Unfortunately didnt get enough time with the blue filter and clouds played hide and seek during the red and green sequences. So overall not the result I was hoping for. But here it is anyway. Had to crop tightly on the galaxy as there was a bad gradient from the clouds. This is about 2 hours total integration using BVR filters and the 10" RC with QHY 294 M pro Myron
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Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am