BMAA Outreach Event
"Earth Day Celebration" Nockamixon State Park Sat. 26th. April 2025 - 9:00 AM to Noon
"Earth Day Celebration" Nockamixon State Park Sat. 26th. April 2025 - 9:00 AM to Noon
This month's meeting will include a presentation/review on different types of astronomical telescopes, mounts and cameras. For beginners, buying a complete, matched package is often a smart way to get started. However, intermediate and advanced astronomers over time will assemble a more custom package to suit their specific areas of interest (Planetary, Deep Sky, Astrophotography, etc.) Join us this Wednesday May 7th for an interesting discussion on the finer points of enjoying this hobby.
Join us for the first public Starwatch event of 2025
Swap Meet
Full Moon Walk: Strawberry Moon The walk will start and end at the fishing pier, followed by moon viewing. Free event - Registration required at the following site: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/full-moon-walk-strawberry-moon-2342
Our next Star Watch is this Saturday June 21st at the Tohickon Boat Access area of Lake Nockamixon State Park.
You are welcome to come out with your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the sunset while we wait for darkness to fall. We will have some pre Star Watch programming starting around 8:45 PM.
With the late sunsets around the Summer Solstice, We expect stargazing to commence closer to 9:15 PM. The public event ends at 11 PM.
BMAA members, wear your BMAA ID badge/lanyard, and you may stay later if you wish, after the public exits.
There will be lots of summer constellations coming up in the sky along with some celestial treasures within. Most of the showpiece planets are in the daytime sky right now, but we should be able to show you a reddish/orange Mars which is very close to the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. Mars is pretty far away from us, so don't expect too much detail, but we should be able to notice the reddish disk of the planet. In June, Leo is almost due west and really does look a bit like a lion, with some imagination!
It should be a warm comfortable night. In addition to looking through club members telescopes, feel free to bring your own scopes and binoculars to the field to enjoy.
Please leave pets at home. Bug spray is not a bad idea!
Please check this website for updates in case the weather leads to cancellation. Cancellations, if any, will be communicated here by 5:00 PM on the day of the event.
Gary Sprague, BMAA Co-Vice President - Topic: Telescopes: The Astronomer's Tool
This presentation will review the history of the telescope, provide useful terminology, definitions and calculations for different telescope types and review steps to build your own reflecting telescope starting with a round piece of glass. No matter your experience you are sure to find it useful and informative.
Due to the poor weather conditions, TONIGHT PUBLIC STARWATCH @ Nockamixon State Park has been POSTPONED TO JULY 26th. from 8:30 to 11:00 pm . Check our Calendar and Events page for details.
-----7/26 STARWATCH has been CANCELED------ Public Starwatch @ Nockamixon State Park from 8:30 to 11:00 pm has been canceled due to bad weather. Check our Calendar and Events page for next one.
LECTURE: Eclipses, Auroras and Comets, Oh My!
by Dwight Dulsky
2024 was an incredible year featuring three major astronomical events for astronomers. These are jaw dropping sights that don’t happen that often, and to have these bucket list items appear right in our backyards is very rare. Our astronomers are constantly watching the skies and recording these special happenings year-round. We will revisit these three unique events and tell the backstory of how they occur and what we do to capture them in stunning detail. While most people sleep, the Universe unfolds a beautiful tableau during the night.
Presenter: For the past 20 years, Dwight Dulsky of the Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association has worked on school and community outreach programming among numerous regional organizations teaching children and adults about the wonders of the night sky. Most recently, with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific providing Solar Eclipse safety information in 2024.
Register to attend at the Upper Dublin Library Website
Summer social/picnic
Join us for a public Starwatch event (rain date August 23rd)