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Last Updated:
October 06, 2008

Welcome!

On behalf of the Minnesota Astronomical Society welcome to our web site!  Please accept our invitation and join us in our explorations of the cosmos, either as a visitor to one of our many events or as a member of the Society.

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2009 International Year of Astronomy

In the year 2009, the world will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy as it commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of a telescope to study the skies, and Kepler’s publication of Astronomia Nova. 2009 is also the anniversary of many other historic events in science, including Christiaan Huygens' 1659 publication of Systema Saturnium.This will be modern astronomy’s quadricentennial, and the 2009 Year of Astronomy will be an international celebration of numerous astronomical and scientific milestones.
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2nd Annual Campout with the Stars

The Minnesota Astronomical Society continues a tradition begun last year in again hosting our 'Campout with the Stars' the weekend of July 24th 2009 at Baylor Regional Park. In 2008, Astronomy Magazine and REI established the event, with the MAS hosting it locally at Onan Observatory for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. 2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy to celebrate the birth of modern astronomy with Galileo's first observations 400 years ago. As part of our celebration of IYA2009, the MAS invites you to our 'Campout with the Stars' for 2009.


Call the Carver County Park Office at 952-466-5250 for registration information.
Also, be sure to visit the Campout with the Stars web page HERE

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Looking for IYA merchandise? IYA products, - US IYA products, - 100 Hours of Astronomy products
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MAS and Onan Observatory featured on KARE 11 Extra
During the week of June 15th, KARE 11 aired a feature entitled 'take KARE of your FREE TIME: Low-cost, local entertainment'.
In the piece, they let you know about three places where you can get entertained for free: the Fort Snelling Military Museum, the Bike with a Ranger program along the Mississippi, and of course the Minnesota Astronomical Society's Onan Observatory!

The full online piece can be found at Take KARE of your FREE TIME: Low-cost, Local Entertainment
Or you can see just the video at Tanks, Trails & Telescopes

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Star Party Update

Onan Public Nights
The next Onan Public Night will be on Saturday, July 11, at the Onan Observatory in Baylor Regional park. Public night events begin at 7PM and last until 10 PM or possibly later. Public Observing Nights are held whether it is clear or cloudy. There is no fee for attending and members, guests and visitors are all invited. Please note that Carver County parks may charge a nominal parking fee.


Star Party Update


The weekend of July 17-18 has star parties at EVERY MAS location!!


The next star party scheduled for Cherry Grove is on July 17 with the 18th as the backup.


The next star party scheduled for Metcalf is on July 17 with the 18th as the backup.


The next star party scheduled for Baylor is on July 17 with the 18th as the backup.


The next star party weekend at LLCC is also on July 17-18.

Directions

Directions to LLCC


Directions to Cherry Grove


Directions to Metcalf


Directions to Baylor Park and the Onan Observatory
Please note that, unlike Onan Public Observing Night events, attendance at MAS Star Parties is entirely optional. As a result there could be dozens of people also with you at the star party, or there is a remote chance you could find yourself alone! MAS Star Parties are generally Friday night events, with Saturday being the backup night. LLCC star parties are both Friday and Saturday night. All Star Parties are 'clear weather' events. If this webpage is not updated, please call MAS Message Service, 952-467-2426, after 4:00PM for Go or No-Go decision.

Next Meeting

July 2nd, 2009 - 7:00 pm
Speaker: Megan Krejny
Topic: Submillimeter astronomy and the ALMA telescope
Location: Fairview Community Center
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August 6th, 2009 - 7:00 pm
Speaker: Bill Volna
Topic: To Be Announced
Location: Fairview Community Center
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September 3rd, 2009 - 7:00 pm
Speaker: Mike Kauper & Bill Glass
Topic: China's Solar Eclipse of 2009
Location: Fairview Community Center

MAS Monthly Meetings are held from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on the First Thursday of the month. Meetings are generally held at the Fairview Community Center in Roseville, although they may occasionally be held elsewhere, so please check this web page or the answering service for the location of the meeting.

Fairview Community center map

Notice

Keep your calendars open for the MAS' first regional star party at Long Lake Conservation Center under the dark skies of Aitkin County in northern Minnesota.

Plans are being finalized now for a star party at LLCC during the weekend of August 21-23, 2009.

The weekend-long star party will offer something very unusual for the typical star party - housing facilities including comfortable bunk bends and wonderful showers with cold AND hot running water right on site. Prepared meals will also be offered.

Stay tuned for more info and a link to the registration forms very soon!

News

PayPal Option for New or Renewing Members

New or renewing members can now use PayPal to pay their dues.  Visit the membership section of the web (http://www.mnastro.org/membership/join.htm) or click on any 'Join the MAS' link to take advantage of this easy-to-use feature.

MAS Joins JPL's 'Night Sky Network'

The Minnesota Astronomical Society is pleased to announce its acceptance into the 'Night Sky Network'.  Visit the MAS outreach page (www.mnastro.org/outreach) for details.

 

 

MAS Merchandise

Check out all the great MAS merchandise & support your Society in style!

www.cafepress.com/
masmerchandise

Next Star Party

Baylor Regional Park

06/27/08

Status:

Pending

Check back day of the star party for 'go / no-go' information.

Clear Sky Chart (click for details)

Wx Link | Directions

 

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