09/27/2013 – Ephemeris – The GTAS will be at the Acme Fall Festival tomorrow

Ephemeris for Friday, September 27th.  The sun will rise at 7:35.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 7:30.   The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:11 tomorrow morning.  |  The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be at the Acme Fall Festival tomorrow, that’s Saturday September 28th from 10 to 5 p.m.  It will be held at Flintfields on Bates Road, north of M72.  The society members will bring their telescopes which will be used to view the sun if it’s clear.  There will also be exhibits of astronomical photos from NASA, professional and our own amateur astronomers.  As the festival year winds down and the school year begins members of the society can bring astronomy and space to the classroom.  Plus the society is beginning to plan for next year.  Contact the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society via email at info@gtastro.org for information or to set up a date and topic.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

03/01/2013 – Ephemeris – Astronomical events in Traverse City tonight

Ephemeris for Friday, March 1st.  The sun will rise at 7:19.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 6:30.   The moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 11:16 this evening.

Yours truly will present a talk, about the prospects for viewing Comet PanSTARRS at this evening’s meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory starting at 8 p.m.  Comet PanSTARRS will appear low in the western sky starting about March 11th.  It is turning out at this point in time to be somewhat dimmer than expected.  But one thing about comets is that the do the unexpected.  I’ll also look at the asteroid close approach and the  destructive Russian meteor.  Starting at 9 p.m. Is our February star party at the observatory.  Highlights, if its clear will be the planet Jupiter and  the wonders of the winter sky including the Great Orion Nebula.  All are welcome.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

02/01/2013 – Ephemeris – Local astronomical events tonight

Ephemeris for Friday, February 1st.  The sun will rise at 8:00.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:51.   The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 12:15 tomorrow morning.

A Star Bowl quiz will be held this evening between the NMC Astronomy Club and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at this evening’s meeting of the society at 8 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory.  The society will accept anyone to help us.  These NMC students are smart.  After the Star Bowl there will be a viewing night starting at 9 p.m.  On tap if its clear will be the planet Jupiter.  Orion and its great nebula, a star nursery only 1400 light years away will be a wonderful sight with its clouds and wisps of gas and dust illuminated by a clutch of hot baby stars.  The Observatory is located south of Traverse City on Birmley Road off either Garfield or Keystone roads.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

01/04/2013 – Ephemeris – Astronomical fun tonight

Ephemeris for Friday, January 4th.  The sun will rise at 8:19.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 5:16.   The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 1:15 tomorrow morning.

Susan Kuschell, wife of the GTAS president will be present a talk at this evening’s meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory starting at 8 p.m.  Susan hasn’t revealed the topic of her talk.  Could it be the travails of an astronomy widow?  Actually Susan has been an active organizer in the community and is head of the children’s garden located behind the TC district Library, and has given invaluable assistance to the society in out funding and outreach efforts.  Starting at 9 p.m. is our January star party at the observatory.  Highlights, if its clear will be the planet Jupiter and  the wonders of the winter sky including the Great Orion Nebula.  All are welcome.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

06/17/11 – Ephemeris – Viewing at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Friday, June 17th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:30.   The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:02 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.

Tomorrow, that’s Saturday night the 18th, Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will host the first of five viewing nights at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  This one will be held at Platte River Point, at the mouth of the Platte River.  We’ll be setting up telescopes around 8:30.  Sunset will be about 9:30 and we expect to see Saturn and the first stars about 10 to 10:15 p.m.  We’ll be there up to midnight depending on the crowds, and clear skies.  Our next viewing opportunity at the Dunes will be July 30th at the Dunes overlook, stop 3 on Pierce Stocking Drive.  We’ll also have evenings in August at the Port Oneida Fair, September, and October for the Lakeshore’s 41st Anniversary.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Note: Platte River Point can be googled for the location.