SLAS Regular Meeting
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, December 15, 2023
Space the Final Frontier….
by
Tim Russ, Star Trek Actor
Tim Russ is an American actor, director, screenwriter, musician and amateur astronomer. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, Robert Johnson in Crossroads (1986), Casey in East of Hope Street (1998), Frank on Samantha Who?, Principal Franklin on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, and D. C. Montana on The Highwaymen (1987–1988). He appeared in The Rookie: Feds (2022) and reprised his role as Captain Tuvok on Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard.
Tim Russ has been working within the entertainment industry for over thirty-five years. His talents encompass a wide spectrum of the performing arts including composing, music (guitar & vocals), acting, writing, directing, voice-over and producing. Mr. Russ received his B.S. in Theater at St. Edward’s University Austin TX, and completed one year of post graduate work in theater at Illinois State University.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, December 15 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
A101 - Topic
Special Recognition Awards
Review of Proposed 2024 Budget
Solstice Attendance Prizes
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
Upcoming Meetings:
January 2024: Robert Zubrin, PhD. “The Case for Mars”; The Mars Society
February 2024: Angela Speck, PhD. “2024 Eclipse”; University Texas at San Antonio
March 2024: Tom Rathjen “The Moon & Beyond”; NASA
April 2024: David A Williams, PhD. “ASU Explores the Solar System”; Arizona St University
May 2024: : Fran Bagenal, PhD. Exploration of Jupiter System: Past, Present and Future”; University of Colorado at Boulder
June 2024: Steven R Gullberg, PhD. “Archeoastronomy”; University of Oklahoma
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, November 17, 2023
Bringing back the stars over St. Louis
How can St. Louis improve public health and safety, protect plants and wildlife, and bring back the Milky Way? Join Smith College astronomy professor James Lowenthal as he takes us on a tour of the worldwide dark sky movement, from local neighborhood groups to the United Nations. One new initiative he'll discuss: protecting dark skies over U.S. colleges and universities via the American Astronomical Society's Campus SHINE program now being developed.
James Lowenthal is the Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor of Astronomy at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. He received his BS in Physics and Astronomy from Yale and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. He studies the formation and evolution of galaxies, especially actively star-forming galaxies, as well as exoplanets. He leads the local advocacy group Northampton City Lights; is the Massachusetts Chapter Leader for IDA; chairs the Light Pollution Sub-Committee of the American Astronomical Society Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment; and is Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union's Commission on Site Protection (i.e., light pollution).
Dr. Lowenthal's research interests include high redshift galaxies, Lyman break galaxies, starburst galaxies, millimeter and submillimeter galaxies, galaxy formation and evolution, QSO absorption line systems, QSO host galaxies and ultra-faint radio sources.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, November 17 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, October 20, 2023
Citizen Science, Variable Stars, and the AAVSO
In this talk Dr. Kloppenborg will provide a brief overview of citizen science, a review of the different astronomy-related citizen science programs you could get involved with, and discuss how the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) can get you started.
Dr. Brian Kloppenborg is an astrophysicist and entrepreneur. He earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Denver, and a B.A. in Physics from Hastings College. Brian is presently the Executive Director of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). Prior to joining the AAVSO, Brian worked as a Research Scientist at Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he served as a subject matter expert, lead engineer, product owner, and project director on a variety of government programs. He also ran a small business that provided data science, machine learning, and GPU accelerated computing services. Brian's research interests include photometry, spectroscopy, astrometry, and long-baseline optical interferometry of eclipsing binaries, novae, and young stellar objects. His work is published in Nature, ApJ, JAAVSO, and similar scholarly journals.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, October 20 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
A101 - Topic
DobsonFest 2023 Presentation
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
Upcoming Meetings:
November 2023: James Lowenthal, PhD. “SHINE”; Smith College
December 2023: Tim Russ “Space the Final Frontier….” Star Trek Actor
January 2024: Robert Zubrin, PhD. “The Case for Mars”; The Mars Society
February 2024: Angela Speck, PhD. “2024 Eclipse”; University Texas at San Antonio
March 2024: Tom Rathjen “The Moon & Beyond”; NASA
April 2024: David A Williams, PhD. “ASU Explores the Solar System”; Arizona St University
May 2024: TBA
June 2024: Steven R Gullberg, PhD. “Archeoastronomy”; University of Oklahoma
SLAS in the News
Ladue News: Seeing stars: Upcoming events and opportunities for St. Louis stargazing,
Jefferson County Leader: Aim for the Stars, By Kevin Carbery, July 27, 2023
https://www.kmov.com/video/2023/06/20/great-day-4-kids/
Aug 24, 2023 myMOinfo.com: St. Louis Astronomical Society Offering Free Upcoming Activities at Jefferson College
Aug 30, 2023 KTVI: Special Super Moon
Sep 11, 2023 KETC TV Missouri Eclipse Task Force (starts around 13:30 minutes)
Oct 6, 2023 St Louis Post-Dispatch
Get your glasses ready: Another total solar eclipse is coming near St. Louis in 6 months
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, September 15, 2023
Two Moon Shadows You Won’t Want to Miss
Vivian White of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific will be featured at the September meeting for SLAS.
An eclipse occurs when the light from one astronomical body is blocked by a second astronomical body. An eclipse of the Sun occurs when and where the shadow of the Moon falls upon the Earth. An eclipse of the Moon occurs when the shadow of the Earth falls upon the Moon. An eclipse will be total if the shadow covers the entire body. The eclipse will be partial if only part of the eclipsed body passes inside the shadow. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow is too small to cover the entire solar disk, so that a “ring of fire” results at mideclipse. There will be an annular eclipse of the Sun on October 14,2023. The next total solar eclipse will occur on April 8,2024.
Vivian will provide an overview of the two upcoming solar eclipses, how to prepare for partial eclipses, and where to be for totality. She will also talk about what kinds of views can be seen and what effects can be noticed during different types of eclipses
Vivian White is the Director of Free Choice Learning at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific where she administers two national programs for NASA. The Night Sky Network, a coalition of 400 amateur astronomy clubs across the US provides materials for public engagement as well as club benefits like monthly webinars with NASA scientists and articles for club newsletters. The Eclipse Ambassadors program partners amateur astronomers with college students to share the awe of eclipses with their communities. Vivian has been an astronomy educator with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for the last decade. Her first book The Total Skywatchers Manual was released in September 2015
Her favorite things in the world are her family, travel, and clay.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, September 15 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
A101 - Topic
DobsonFest 2023 Presentation
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
Link FAQ: Partial Solar Eclipse Oct 14, 2023
SLAS in the News
Ladue News: Seeing stars: Upcoming events and opportunities for St. Louis stargazing,
Jefferson County Leader: Aim for the Stars, By Kevin Carbery, July 27, 2023
https://www.kmov.com/video/2023/06/20/great-day-4-kids/
Aug 24, 2023 myMOinfo.com: St. Louis Astronomical Society Offering Free Upcoming Activities at Jefferson College
Aug 30, 2023 KTVI: Special Super Moon
Sep 11, 2023 KETC TV Missouri Eclipse Task Force (starts around 13:30 minutes)
Upcoming Meetings:
October 2023: Brian Kloppenborg, PhD. “Citizen Science: Variable Stars and the AAVSO”; AAVSO, Director
November 2023: James Lowenthal, PhD. “SHINE”; Smith College
December 2023: Tim Russ “Space the Final Frontier….” Star Trek Actor
January 2024: Robert Zubrin, PhD. “The Case for Mars”; The Mars Society
February 2024: Angela Speck, PhD. “2024 Eclipse”; University Texas at Austin
March 2024: Tom Rathjen “The Moon & Beyond”; NASA
April 2024: David A Williams, PhD. “ASU Explores the Solar System”; Arizona St University
May 2024: TBA
June 2024: Steven R Gullberg, PhD. “Archeoastronomy”; University of Oklahoma
Our new SLAS coffee mugs have arrived. They will be available to purchase at
our regular meetings at Washington U. Price: $10 each, 2 for $15
Special Recognition Award Nominations are due by Sep 1st.
2023 Astronomy Events by Mark Jones
Social Hour - 30 min after meeting conclusion or 10:30 Which ever is earlier.
Randy Harrison's Lookin' Up Optics page: http://lookinup.info/
Here are the websites that Dr. Gokhale mentioned in his talk in June
Dark Sky Missouri
www.darkskymissouri.org
Video: 'Saving the Dark' A film on Light Pollution by Sriram Murali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fHxNn-FEnc
Globe at Night program for light pollution
Abigail Bollenbach is the host for a new series hosted by
Astronomy Magazine called Infinity and Beyond!
Below are two videos, one introducing Abby
and the other the first episode of the series! Enjoy!
Introduction with Dave Eicher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A84LG03Tn5Y
First Episode of Infinity and Beyond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRUF3v8_-VQ
Telescopes for Sale!
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, August 18, 2023
"James Webb Space Telescope First Year of Science"
Panel Discussion
“James Webb Space Telescope First Year of Science”, an illustrated presentation and panel discussion by local astronomy enthusiasts will be featured at the August meeting of the Saint Louis Astronomical Society. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, August 18 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
It’s has been one year since the James Webb Space Telescope’s first full-color images and data were released! In that time the JWST has been collecting images and data from objects near and far away. Planets in our Solar System seen with amazing detail. New stars and planets forming in our Milky Way galaxy. Views of stars and galaxies in the early universe. Scientific frontiers are being pushed to new limits due to JWST’s super powers of Infrared Light Imaging and Spectroscopy; Time-based Brightness and Spectra Analysis; and Chronographic Imaging. What has Webb shown us? What does it mean? Let’s take a tour together! Our panel will share their thoughts and try to provide some clarity on JWST’s first year of science. This presentation is part of a series of NASA sponsored events. For those in attendance we will have colorful posters to be given to all attendees.
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
A101 - Topic
DobsonFest 2023 Presentation
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
Link FAQ: Partial Solar Eclipse Oct 14, 2023
SLAS in the News
Ladue News: Seeing stars: Upcoming events and opportunities for St. Louis stargazing,
Jefferson County Leader: Aim for the Stars, By Kevin Carbery, July 27, 2023
https://www.kmov.com/video/2023/06/20/great-day-4-kids/
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, July 21, 2023
"Embracing Awe and Wonder: Using Astronomy to Develop Science Literacy"
by
Linda Shore Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
https://astrosociety.org/who-we-are/staff.html/title/linda-shore
“Embracing Awe and Wonder: Using Astronomy to Develop Science Literacy”, an illustrated presentation by Linda Shore, Ed.D, CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific will be featured at the June meeting of the Saint Louis Astronomical Society. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, July 21 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge.
Public trust in science has eroded significantly over the last decade, leading to clarion calls for scientists to take a more active role in engaging public audiences. As astronomers, we hold a unique advantage. People are intrinsically fascinated by the cosmos. In my presentation, we will examine and discuss what defines “science literacy” and consider how enthusiasm for astronomy can develop science identity, agency, and capital in audiences of all ages and backgrounds. I will share examples from my own career as Director of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute and as Chief Executive Officer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Linda Shore is the CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), spearheading programs that support the society's mission to increase science literacy through astronomy. Prior to coming to the ASP, Linda was a Staff Scientist and Director of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. During her 20-year tenure at this groundbreaking science museum, she brought astronomy to the exhibit floor, led public astronomy events, and helped teachers bring innovative astronomy learning experiences to students. Linda is the author of numerous popular science articles on astronomy and co-author of several astronomy activity books, including the award winning “Exploratorium Science Explorer” series as well as the ASP’s “Total Skywatchers Manual.”
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
s://aas.org/meetings/aas242/registration
https://www.kmov.com/video/2023/06/20/great-day-4-kids/
McDonnell Hall, Washington University - St. Louis
7:30pm Friday, June 23, 2023
Engineering for Mars
by
NASA/JPL Engineers
“Engineering for Mars”, an illustrated presentation by Matt Muszynski, Vehicle Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be featured at the June meeting of the Saint Louis Astronomical Society. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, June 23 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Danforth campus of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
St Louis has a long history of supporting science, exploration and education of the planet Mars. Two of St. Louis' main science institutions are Washington University and the St. Louis Science Center. Since the early 1970's Washington University's researchers have been involved in Mars science missions. For more than a decade, the St Louis Science Center has provided world-class exhibits on Mars exploration. The next exhibit begins this summer as NASA/JPL engineers will install the newest exhibit of the Mars rover Perseverance and helicopter Ingenuity. Landing in February 2021, the rover and helicopter ares still exploring the Martian surface. The June 23rd meeting of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will host a presentation by the NASA/JPL engineers.
Meeting information:
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, June 23, 2023 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available.
The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
SPECIAL NOTE:
• Panel Discussion featuring:
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer Matt Muszynski
- Washington University in St. Louis scientists Ray Arvidson and Dr. Maddie Hughes
• Tickets are free, but must be reserved due to limited space
Meeting Agenda
Main Speakers
Report from the MSRAL Convention - June 9-11, 2023. Hosted by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa
SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
s://aas.org/meetings/aas242/registration
https://www.kmov.com/video/2023/06/20/great-day-4-kids/
7:30pm Friday, May 19, 2023
At the Pad: New Missions to Jupiter’s Moons
by
William B. McKinnon, PhD.
Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University
Discovered just over 400 years ago by Galileo, the moons of Jupiter have intrigued astronomers and planetary scientists ever since. Now, we on are on the threshold of an unprecedented era of detailed exploration of three of these amazing worlds: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Drawing on the historic discoveries of previous NASA missions, two new spacecraft are either heading to or have left the launch pad, en route to Jupiter. If all goes well, the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (lovingly known as JUICE) will make multiple flybys of Europa and Callisto, before settling into orbit around the Solar System’s largest moon: Ganymede. And NASA’s Europa Clipper will make dozens of close passes above the surface of Europa, seeking to unlock the secrets of its habitability (this is, after all, a moon with an ocean). This talk will focus on what we know, what we don’t, and how we intend to find out!
Dr. Bill McKinnon is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and a member of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences at Washington University. His research focuses on the structure, origin, evolution, tectonics and bombardment histories of outer planet satellites and bodies in the Kuiper belt beyond. He is a science team member on NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper belt, but more relevant to this talk, he is also a science team member for the ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (just launched) and NASA’s Europa Clipper (set to takeoff in 18 months).
https://eps.wustl.edu/people/william-b-mckinnon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6UeWo-PBQc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKUZt24DlUo
Meeting information:
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, May 19, 2023 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available.
The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Meeting Agenda
- Speaker: “At the Pad: New Missions to Jupiter’s Moons”, an illustrated presentation by Dr. William B. McKinnon of Washington University
- 2023-24 SLAS Board Member Elections
- MSRAL Convention - June 9-11, 2023. Hosted by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa
- SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
- Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
- Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
RASC GA Convention - May 5-7 $40, $20 youth https://rascga2023.ca/
AAS Convention - June 4-8 https://aas.org/meetings/aas242
Join AAS as Amateur - https://aas.org/join/classes-membership-and-affiliation
Registration for AAS convention - https://aas.org/meetings/aas242/registration
Link for the final draft of the MSRAL Bylaws document, including meeting notes, etc.
To be voted upon at the MSRAL business meeting in June.
The link below was our original document illustrating the changes.
LINK FOR THE MSRAL BY LAWS REVISION DOCUMENT
Our new SLAS coffee mugs have arrived. They will be available to purchase at
our regular meetings at Washington U. Price: $10 each, 2 for $15
Special Recognition Award Nominations are due by Sep 1st.
SLAS Regular Meeting
7:30pm Friday, April 21, 2023
Fast Radio Bursts---What are they, what astronomical objects make them, and
how?
by
Jonathan Katz, PhD.
Department of Physics, Washington University
In radio astronomy, a fast radio burst (FRB) is a transient radio pulse of length ranging from a fraction of a millisecond to 3 seconds, caused by some high-energy astrophysical process not yet understood. Some FRB are observed to repeat, occasionally frequently (once per minute), but never periodically. Some have never been observed to repeat, even in hundreds or thousands of hours of observation. What makes FRB: Obvious and popular hypothesis is "magnetars", hyper-magnetized neutron stars that release magnetostatic energy, and make soft gamma repeaters. However, this hypothesis doesn't work for repeating FRB: no evidence of a neutron star rotation period. Repeaters and "apparent non-repeaters" likely different phenomena; define and compare duty factor and other properties. An alternative hypothesis could be jets from accreting black holes. A brief summary of phenomenology will be included-extraGalactic, high radio brightness (like pulsars), no counterparts in other wavelengths. Short (a few ms) bursts. Also a brief summary of radio telescopes used for study of FRB including steerable dishes like 64 m Parkes; transit dishes like Arecibo (300 m) and FAST (500 m); and CHIME-FRB, a series of cylindrical reflectors that sweep the Northern sky daily.
Dr Kratz received his PhD from Cornell University and has been on the Washington University physics faculty since 1981. Dr Katz is working on a variety of subjects including astrophysics, Plasma and applied physics, climate and soft matter. Dr. Katz is author of the book “ The Biggest Bangs: The Mystery of Gamma-ray Bursts, the Most Violent Explosions in the Universe”
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-biggest-bangs-9780195145700?cc=us&lang=en&
https://physics.wustl.edu/people/jonathan-i-katz
Meeting information:
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, April 21, 2023 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available.
The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Meeting Agenda
- Speaker: Jonathan Katz, "Fast Radio Bursts---What are they, what astronomical objects make them, and
how?
- 2023-24 SLAS Board Member Nominations
- MSRAL Convention - June 9-11, 2023. Hosted by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa
- SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
- Please renew your Expiring Memberships. LINK
- Note: S&T has raised their subscriptions rates for 2023
- Special Recognition Award Nominations are due by Sep 1st.
SLAS Regular Meeting
7:30pm Friday, March 17, 2023
A Sky Full of Satellites: Implications for Professional and Amateur Astronomers
by
Harry Krantz
Graduate Student, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
With the creation of new low Earth-orbit satellite constellations astronomers face a new reality, one with as many as 100,000 bright satellites which can ruin astrophotographic images, both scientific and aesthetic. While many are concerned with how to avoid these new satellites, Harry is intentionally observing them to measure their brightness and evaluate current and future brightness reducing mitigation goals. Through an extensive observational survey now totaling more than 15,000 individual observations, Harry is characterizing the brightness of satellite constellations and creating all-sky maps which show how bright astronomers can expect satellites to be depending on where in the sky they look.
Harry Krantz is a PhD student of Astronomy at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory whose research focuses on observing and characterizing satellites and debris in Earth orbit. With a background in engineering and systems development, Harry creates new instruments, telescope systems, and methodology to overcome the unique challenges in observing satellites. His projects include characterizing rotating bodies with high-speed cameras, rapid object discrimination based on color, detecting far away objects in non-ideal observing scenarios, and characterizing the brightness of new low Earth orbit satellite constellations.
Meeting information:
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, March 17, 2023 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available.
The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Meeting Agenda
- Speaker: Harry Krantz, "A Sky Full of Satellites: Implications for Professional and Amateur Astronomers"
- MSRAL Convention - June 9-11, 2023. Hosted by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa
- SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
- Special Recognition Award Nominations are due by Sep 1st.
Upcoming Meetings:
Apr 2023: Jonathan Katz, PhD. "Fast radio Bursts"
May 2023: William McKinnon, PhD. Missions to Jupiter's Moons"
SLAS Regular Meeting
7:30pm Friday, February 17, 2023
Pushing the Redshift Frontier with JWST
by
Haojing Yan, PhD.
Associate Professor, University of Missouri Columbia
Within merely a month after it began its official operation, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has changed the landscape of the study of the early universe. The most exciting result is the discovery of candidate galaxies at redshifts beyond 11. Some of these could be at redshifts larger than 20, which was ~200 million years after the Big Bang. It is extremely surprising, however, that there are so many such candidates and that they are so bright. I will be giving an overview of the latest development on this frontier and our path forward.
Meeting information:
The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, February 17, 2023 in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63105. McDonnell Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Tolman Way. Free yellow zone and garage parking spaces are available.
The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.
For the Zoom link, please send a request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Meeting Agenda
- Speaker: Haojing Yan, PhD, "Pushing the Redshift Frontier with JWST"
- A101 – John Strebeck “Summer Astronomy Program at Badlands National Park”
- Annual Night Sky Network Volunteer Recognition for 2022
- MSRAL Convention - June 9-11, 2023. Hosted by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa
- SEMO Solar Eclipse Expo, July 22, 2023, at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO
- Special Recognition Award Nominations are due by Sep 1st.
Upcoming Meetings:
Mar 2023: Harry Krantz, "A Sky Full of Satellites: Implications for Professional and Amateur Astronomers "
Apr 2023: Jonathan Katz, PhD. "Fast radio Bursts"
May 2023: William McKinnon, PhD. Missions to Jupiter's Moons"
SLAS Regular Meeting
7:30pm Friday, January 20, 2023
Far Encounters – Robot Spacecraft Visits to Planets, Moons, Asteroids and Comets
by
Richard Heuermann
NASA Solar System Ambassador
While plans are being developed for humans to return to the Moon this decade and to land on Mars someday, robot emissaries are exploring our solar system now, or in the near future. Mr. Heuermann will provide an overview of several of these robotic spacecraft missions. Included: new orbiters around Mercury and Venus, close fly-bys of Jupiter’s satellite Europa with its subsurface liquid water ocean, a helicopter to study the surface chemistry of Saturn’s satellite Titan, fly-bys of several of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, and a trip to Psyche, the “metal asteroid”.
Rich Heuermann is a member of the Saint Louis Astronomical Society and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. The Ambassadors are a nationwide network of individuals who present programs about NASA missions, astronomy and planetary sciences to school groups, civic groups, and the general public. Before retirement, he was the Administrative Officer of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Outreach Program Coordinator for the NASA Missouri Space Grant Consortium at Washington University in Saint Louis. Prior to his University position, he was the Assistant Director of the McDonnell Planetarium, before its merger to form the Saint Louis Science Center.
Meeting information:
The January 2023 meeting will be virtual only. To get the link to the zoom conference if you are not a member of SLAS, simply send a request to the following email: contactus @ slasonline.org
Meeting Agenda
- Speaker: Richard Heuermann, "Far Encounters – Robot Spacecraft Visits to Planets, Moons, Asteroids and Comets"
- A101 – Shanna Ramirez “Astronomy for Toddlers”
- Astronomy for Toddlers - Astronomy themed activities for children 5 and under. Astronomy for Toddlers
Upcoming Meetings:
Feb 2023: Haojing Yan, PhD, "JWST Early Universe"
Mar 2023: TBA
Apr 2023: Jonathan Katz, PhD. "Fast radio Bursts"
May 2023: William McKinnon, PhD. Missions to Jupiter's Moons"
