When: Saturday, December 7, 2024, 6:00 pm Setup, 7:00 pm Start
TAS volunteers are needed to co-organize the event. This includes setting the party theme, tracking TAS members and attendees who RSVP and volunteer, maintain a list of food/dishes they volunteer to bring (and thus avoid duplicates), pre-party setup and decorating, post-party cleanup, A/V equipment setup and operation for the TAS awards presentation, TAS in action/TAS Astro-photography presentation, facilitate a background musical score, etc.
Help us celebrate TAS 2024!
Regards,
Kevin Grantham, TAS President
Frisco Party Hall.
Click HERE or on map image to go to Google Maps
of this location.
Meeting details will be sent via TAS Constant Contact email and will be posted to the member portal the week of the meeting.
TAS Event Calendar
Our full schedule of activities is on our event calendar.
Please come out and join us or volunteer at one of our events.
TAS Eclipse T-shirt
Howdy y'all! We're excited to celebrate the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse with you!
Be sure to get one of our new Solar Eclipse T-shirts in our online store with Bonfire.com!
Total Solar Eclipse
April 8, 2024
The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas wishes to partner and participate with individuals, groups, schools, towns, and all forms of organizations to celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse. This majestic celestial event will be, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is certain to inspire wonder about our place in the universe. We in North Texas are fortunate to sit on the path of totality, and with this opportunity we will provide education to whoever desires it.
Within this outreach kit, you will find in-depth information and ample resources to help you have a successful total solar eclipse viewing.
If you have questions about any of the content provided, or require further information regarding the science of eclipses, safety, or planned events, please feel free to reach out to us at info@texasastro.org, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our club’s events, news, and general membership meetings. And of course you can become a member of TAS at texasastro.org.
The TAS Eclipse Committee
How to Attend the TAS Virtual General Meeting on Zoom
Friday, November 15, 2024 @ 7:30 pm CDT
The General Meeting of the Texas Astronomical Society is held on the fourth Friday of each month, except November, on the third Friday, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
No general meeting is held in December.
In lieu of the general meeting in December, an Awards Banquet will be held on a designated date.
Members in good standing of the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas will receive an email notification containing information about how to join the virtual meeting.
Guests are welcome at in-person meetings at UTD
7:00pm | Zoom open for Q&A |
7:30pm | Meeting called to order Opening remarks from the President Speaker Introduction by Vice President Speaker Presentation |
8:45pm | Break |
9:00pm | TAS Business Meeting |
9:30pm | Constellation of the Month |
10:00pm | Adjourn to BAMSIG |
TAS MEMBERS: TAS sends out ZOOM meeting notifications and links via Constant Contact. If you are not receiving our e-mail:
Three column web layout courtesy of Matthew James Taylor
Sun, Moon, and Tonight's Sky
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(times in CST): Sunrise today: 7:15am Sunset today: 5:20pm Moonrise today: 10:31am Moonset today: 8:27pm 7% of moon illuminated |
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Current Phase
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Phase Calendar
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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
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.
APSig Contact information:
Frank Castanho
apsig@texasastro.org
ObSig
ObSIG (Observing Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas. ObSIG meets once a month to promote astronomical observing with telescopes, binoculars, and naked eye. We are also here to help new comers to the hobby of amateur astronomy to get started, learn the sky, and get help picking out the right equipment.
For more information on ObSIG, follow this link.
If you would like to learn more about ObSIG, send an e-Mail to:
Lloyd Lashbrook
Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
lblashbrook@gmail.com
ATMSig
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!
Please Note: ATMSIG is currently inactive.
Clear Sky Clocks
Dallas, TX:
Atoka, OK:
Comanche Springs, TX (Home of 3RF):
Click an image for a complete sky condition forecast.
JTAS
JTAS (Junior Texas Astronomical Society) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas (TAS) to meet the needs of students interested in learning about astronomy and space.
Each section has two meetings a month. The first meeting of the month is a joint meeting for both groups, where we have an invited speaker to give presentations on astronomy and space science. The second meeting of the month is separate for each group and a presentation is given by a student.
For more information on JTAS, follow this link.
If you would like to learn more about JTAS, send an e-Mail to:
Kevin Cobble
Junior Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
JTAS@texasastro.org
TAS In Action
Donate to TAS
Atoka Weather Station
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: December: Taurus and Auriga
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.
About the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
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 @TASObserveContact TAS Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas P.O. BOX 830742 Email: Membership@texasastro.org Officers: Contact Officers
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Join TAS or Renew your Membership TAS is now 600 members strong....why not become a part of our family?
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.
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TAS is a member of
| TAS is a member of
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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. 
