Join this interactive presentation to imagine together the likelihood that there are other intelligent, communicating species in our galaxy. Share the latest discoveries, make predictions about our celestial neighbors, and discuss the chances that we'll make contact with aliens. 

Vivian is a passionate astronomy educator who brings her telescope and love of the night sky to curious humans around the globe - from the Himalayas to the Andes. She is the Director of Education at the Astro Society in San Fransisco where she designs curriculum and runs NASA's Night Sky Network, a nationwide coalition of astronomy clubs.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, September 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, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the public free of charge. The event will also be available via Zoom online conference.

To receive a ZOOM link to participate in the meeting, please select this link: contact us . 

1. Main Speaker
2. A101 - Members sharing photos from August 27, 2026 Lunar Eclipse
3. Proposed 2026 Budget increase for upgraded Bird/Bat Detector - Link
4. SLAS 90th Birthday Cake
5. SLAS Shirts - Link
6. DobsonFest Sep 19, 2026 at Broemmelsiek Park - Link
7. Annual Star-B-Q, October 24, 2026, 2-6pm, Stacy Park - Link
8. Telescopes for Sale - Link
9. Jefferson College Observatory Newsletter (Link) and 2026 Schcedule (Link)
10. McDonnell Planetarium/SLSC Telescope Viewing - Link
11. Is it time to renew your membership? Check your expiration date. Join/Renew link

     

Aurora Forecast

• NOAA Dashboard - Link
• Spaceweather.com

- Observing Tips for Nova T Corona Borealis - Downlink Link

- Follow in Galileo’s footsteps and recreate his historic observations. Download our object guide here: Link

-Download our "Winter Bright Star Challenge" - Link

- Download this presentation by SLAS member Mark Jones entitled "Interesting Astronomical Events for 2026" Updated 12-26-2025.

• November-2026 – "The Pleiades: Seven Daughters of Pleione"; Bruce Bookout; Colorado Springs Astronomical Society
• December-2026 – “How remote observing is changing amateur astrophotography”; Bray Falls; Starfront Observatories

• DobsonFest - September 19, 2026, 4-9pm, Broemmelsiek Park, St. Charles County - Link
• Annual Star-B-Q, October 24, 2026, 2-6pm, Stacy Park - Link
• Washington University Physics Department Science Saturday - Link
• Washington University Physics Department Calendar - Link
• New Movie Premiere - "Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope" - Link
• McDonnell Planetarium/SLSC Telescope Viewing - Link

Here are the websites that Dr. Gokhale mentioned in his talk in June

Dark Sky Missouri:  https://www.darkskymissouri.org

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: https://www.globeatnight.org/

• SLAS Telescopes For Sale- Download Link
• SLAS Member has the following item For Sale: 10" Celestron StarSense Explorer- Link to download

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 

All shirts are $10!!!

Moon Shirt
Globular Cluster Shirt
Pleiades Shirt
There is also a Dobsonian shirt

New Poster from Guy Ottwell you might be interested in. It's called the Zodiac Wavy Chart:  

https://www.universalworkshop.com/zodiac-wavy-charts/?mc_cid=cfa6f33be8&mc_eid=9d6fcdbdfa

Your contribution ensures that we can continue our work advancing the science of astronomy in the metro St. Louis area.  As a 501(c)(3) established in 1936, your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.  

We use PayPal to process donations.  All major credit cards are accepted.  A PayPal account is NOT required to make a donation.  To make a donation, please click on the "Donate" button and you will be redirected to PayPal.

NOTE: We welcome telescopes and other astronomy equipment as a donation. For more information about donating a telescope, please contact us.

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