Due to the threat of flooding in the park, Saturday’s event has been cancelled
AAAP News
September’s Meeting features “Making the Moon Accessible to the World” by John Thornton
September 14th’s business meeting at the Carnegie Science Center will feature guest speaker John Thornton, the CEO of Astrobotics. Mr. Thornton’s talk “Making the Moon Accessible to the World” will describe the company’s payload services to the Moon’s surface for the federal government, foreign governments, companies and universities.
Featured Speaker Bio: John Thornton has grown Astrobotic’s business of delivering affordable space robotics technology and planetary missions by attracting technology contracts, equity investment, and payload customers. Thornton is coordinating the team and alliance for Peregrine’s development and the first mission. At Carnegie Mellon, Thornton led the build of Scarab, a NASA concept robot for lunar drilling, and the first robot to carry a prototype of NASA’s RESOLVE payload. He founded Carnegie Mellon’s Advanced Composites Lab, a research, training, design, and manufacturing lab specializing in high performance, lightweight composites for robotics.”
Our usual meeting room, the Bayer Science Stage, is already booked that night, so our friends at the CSC have invited us to hold our meeting in the Buhl Planetarium. When you arrive, go to the ramp in the main lobby that takes you up to the second level. Tell the nearest CSC staffer that you’re attending the Amateur Astronomers’ meeting in the planetarium. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 pm. After that the planetarium doors are locked from the outside and you will not be able to enter until the meeting break.
Notes: Time permitting, it’s possible the Buhl staff will put on a few demonstrations of the planetarium’s projection systems and graphics after the meeting. Also, check out the massive remodeling done in the CSC’s main lobby…impressive. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm!
Mingo Observatory Star Parties on September 7th & 8th
UPDATE: Due to the threat of flooding in the park, Saturday’s event has been cancelled
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh invites you to a Star Party at Mingo Creek Park Observatory (Located in Mingo Creek Park, Mansion Hill Extension, past Shelter 10) in Washington County, PA. Phone #: 724-348-6150
Dates: Friday & Saturday, September 7 & 8
Time of Safe Solar Observing: 6:00 PM
Time of Night Sky Observing: approximately 8:15 PM
Weather Permitting for Observing – Planetarium Presentations occur rain or shine
Star Party events in September will consist of the following:
* Safe observing of the Sun beginning approximately two hours before sunset.
*After dusk observe the wonders of [Read more…] about Mingo Observatory Star Parties on September 7th & 8th
Mingo Observatory Star Parties on August 11th & 12th (Perseid Meteor Shower Watch)
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh invites you to a Star Party at Mingo Creek Park Observatory (Located in Mingo Creek Park, Mansion Hill Extension, past Shelter 10) in Washington County, PA. Phone #: 724-348-6150
Date: Saturday, August 11
Time of Safe Solar Observing: at 6:30 PM
Time of Night Sky Observing: approximately 8:45 PM
Weather Permitting for Observing – Planetarium Presentations occur rain or shine
The Star Party events on August 11 will consist of the following:
* Safe observing of the Sun beginning approximately two hours before sunset.
* After dusk observe the wonders of [Read more…] about Mingo Observatory Star Parties on August 11th & 12th (Perseid Meteor Shower Watch)
Wagman Mars Star Parties July 27 & 28, 2018, 8:45 PM
In honor of Mars making its closest approach since 2003 Mars Star Parties at Wagman Observatory have been added to the AAAP Star Party Schedule on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28, 2018, 8:45 PM. The Mars 2018 close approach inspires us to offer a special opportunity to see features of the Martian surface such as light and dark areas, streaks and lines. We are hoping the clouds on both planets cooperate. Just as we have had a rainy/cloudy summer here, a massive dust storm has broken out on Mars. We look forward to clear skies and seeing you and Mars at Wagman Observatory, 225 Kurn Rd, Tarentum, PA 15084 – Phone: (724) 224-2510, June 27 and 28, 8:45 PM. Free and open to the public. Donations greatly appreciated.
Note: Mars 2018 opposition occurs on July 27. Mars will reach its closest approach to Earth at 3:50 a.m. EDT (0750 GMT) on July 31. The Red Planet will also be at its brightest since 2003, when Mars made its closest approach to Earth in almost 60,000 years. Mars at its 2018 opposition will be 35.8 million miles (57.6 million km) away and will have nearly doubled in brightness since June 26. These close approaches occur on a 26 month cycle. Currently, Mars is brighter than it has been in 15 years!
Star Parties at BOTH Wagman and Mingo Observatories on July 20 & 21, 2018
This weekend, July 20th and 21st, there’s a double bonus of FOUR star parties to pick from (two each at Mingo and Wagman Observatories). For all of the details and to check out the public service announcements click on the links below…
Mingo Creek Park Observatory (Washington Co)
Times: 6:30PM Safe Solar Observing; 9:00PM Night Sky Observing
https://3ap.org/2018/07/mingo-observatory-star-parties-on-july-20th-21st/
Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory (Allegheny Co)
Times: 8:45PM Night Sky Observing
https://3ap.org/2018/07/wagman-observatory-star-parties-on-july-20th-21st/