A Word from the President
TAS General Meeting, March 27, 2020 - Cancelled
Dear TAS Members,
We find ourselves in difficult times as Coronavirus/Covid-19 spreads throughout our community. I have been following the news carefully in an attempt to understand the threat this pandemic poses and determine the best course of action for TAS. It is clear to me we need to follow Federal, State, CDC and WHO guidelines as this virus runs its course. Given the current reports regarding the impacts in other regions, I fear we will all soon face significant challenges. The TAS BOD, appointees, and volunteers are doing all we can to err on the side of safety. We will stay informed on the reports from area officials and exercise prudence accordingly. Your health and well-being is first and foremost in our minds.Our first action was taken early this month. Working with TAS Observing Coordinator Matt Cooper and our outreach coordinators, TAS has suspended outreach events due the threat this virus poses at TAS sponsored outreach events.
The next concern was what to do about our General Meetings. UTD has extended spring break by one week and closed access to Auditoriums. The March General meeting is cancelled. I am in discussions with the BOD deliberating options to support our General Meetings using virtual technology. We are considering a number of other possible ways to continue to communicate with the Membership in a safe manner until normalcy is restored in the North Texas region.
Look to the TAS Website, Spectrum Newsletter, and Constant Contact for club related announcements.
Stay safe!
Gary J. Carter
President, The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
TAS General Meeting, March 27, 2020 - Cancelled
The March General Meeting of the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas will be held In the Science Learning Center (SLC) auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Preceeding the meeting, at 7:00 p.m., will be the regular beginners talk.
Mark your calendar to hear Lonnie Wege speak at the TAS General Meeting on Friday, March 27, at 7:30 pm.
Lonnie Wege of Meade Instruments will be our speaker at the March 27 General Meeting. Come and hear about Lonnie’s astronomy journey over the years. Lonnie has been a member of TAS for more than 17 years, and has seen many advancements in the field of amateur astronomy and astrophotography in that time.
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Welcome
The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas was chartered in 1955 to promote interest and research, and to give instruction in the science of astronomy and related disciplines. Membership is open to anyone having an interest in astronomy and related subjects and includes benefits such as a our monthly newsletter, discounts to the top astronomy magazines, access to our dark sky observing site and many more.
Our annual membership dues are very reasonable and can be paid on-line using the PayPal link listed below. Membership is open to anyone having an interest in Astronomy and the night sky.
Please visit the Club Information section for more on TAS.
New members can download the New Members Handbook from the Members Only Section of the website.
Follow @TASObserve
Check out our Telescope Buying Guide ,Telescope Mount Buying Guide, and Star Charts for beginners. These can also be found under the "Features" section of the Main Menu.
Visit our Deep Sky and Solar System Galleries and see the work of our world-class astro-imagers!
We invite you to further explore our website for more information and hope you consider becoming a member of our Society. TAS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, donations to which would be tax deductable for U.S. taxpayers under IRS rules. Donations may be given by using our secure PayPal site and indicating "donation" on the form.
Thank you for your gracious support of the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas.
Newsletter
The latest issue of our award-winning monthly newsletter, the Spectrum, can be downloaded below.
Back issues are available under "Features->Spectrum Newsletter" in the main menu.
The free Acrobat Reader is required to view this and other downloads.
TAS Recurring Star Parties
TAS holds 4 regular monthly Star Parties where our members get together to observe and educate about the night sky. Come join us to look at planets, stars, and other celestial wonders. The monthly Star Party schedule is as follows:
Our full schedule of activities is on our calendar. Please come out and join us or volunteer at one of our events.
Please call the Public Observing Hot Line at 214-800-6000 for the latest cancellation information.Member Resources
Visit the members' discussion forum to discuss astro-type stuff with fellow TAS members.
Visit the Members Only section for access to:
Constellation of the Month: April: Hydra Region
TAS is now 600
members strong....why not become a part of our family?
TAS is a member of
the
The World's Largest Federation of Amateur Astronomers AND the
Three column web layout courtesy of Matthew James Taylor
Sun, Moon, and Tonight's Sky
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(times in CDT): Sunrise today: 7:07am Sunset today: 7:53pm Moonrise today: 8:50pm Moonset today: 7:44am 99% of moon illuminated |
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Click the above image for a chart. Popup blockers must be disabled. Chart courtesy of Fourmilab Switzerland. |
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Bright Minor Planet Charts Observable Comet Charts Magnitudes observed within the last 5 days:
Minor planet and comet lists, and corresponding orbital elements, are courtesy of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Charts courtesy of Fourmilab Switzerland |
Special Interest Groups
APSIG (Astrophotography Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas.
APSIG meets once a month to share information and learn more about the art and science of Astrophotography -- taking photographs of objects in the night sky such as planets, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Imaging these celestial objects requires special techniques and equipment, but are attainable by anyone willing to point their camera skyward. Come learn how! For more information on APSIG just follow this link...
ATMSIG (Amateur Telescope Makers Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas.
The ATMSIG meets every other month to explore the design, construction and adjustment of both do it yourself and professionally built telescopes. Anyone interested in building their first scope will find this group a big help in finding the best place to start. You don’t need to have a well equipped workshop, just a few simple tools and an interest in building or modifying it yourself. The ATMSIG is a wonderful place to see projects built locally by TAS members and to share new ideas for the future! For more information, just follow this link...
Clear Sky Clocks
Dallas, TX:
Atoka, OK:
Comanche Springs, TX (Home of 3RF):
Click an image for a complete sky condition forecast.
TAS In Action
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Atoka Weather Station
(Click to enlarge)
