05/17/2019 – Ephemeris – Astronomical viewing and exhibits at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Barbecue

Ephemeris for Friday, May 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 9:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:11. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:22 tomorrow morning.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will participate in the Northwestern Michigan College Barbecue this Sunday the 19th. The society will be in front of and inside the Health and Science Building, viewing the Sun outside if it will be clear. Members hope to give the society’s new solar telescope a workout, observing the Sun’s red chromosphere and any prominences visible off the edge. Inside there will be displays and continuously running videos plus giveaway items from NASA and NOAA the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Also in an adjacent room Joe Brooks will have his meteorite collection to examine and a video there too. The society will be there from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

05/18/2018 – Ephemeris – Two GTAS outreach events this weekend

Ephemeris for Friday, May 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 9:07, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:10. The Moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 12:41 tomorrow morning.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of two events this weekend. Saturday evening, that’s tomorrow night, society members will be at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory, south of Traverse City, on Birmley Road, for a star party starting at 9 p.m. viewing the Moon and planets Venus and Jupiter with its four largest moons. There will be some actual star observing too as the sky gets darker.

On Sunday the society will be part of the Northwestern Michigan College’s Barbecue, with telescopes to observe the Sun safely. There will be videos and exhibits of photographs and actual meteorites, and videos in the Health and Science Building.

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

05/19/2017 – Ephemeris – Two events this weekend featuring astronomy

Ephemeris for Friday, May 19th.  Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 9:08, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:09.  The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 3:26 tomorrow morning.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of two events this weekend.  Saturday evening society members will be at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory, south of Traverse City, on Birmley Road, for a star party starting at 9 p.m. viewing the planet Jupiter and its four largest moons.  There will be some actual star observing too as the sky gets darker.  On Sunday the society will be part of the Northwestern Michigan College’s Barbecue, with telescopes to observe the Sun safely, and with tips on how to view August 21st solar eclipse safely.  There will be exhibits of photographs and actual meteorites, and videos in the Health and Science Building.

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

05/20/2016 – Ephemeris – Astronomical outreach events this weekend

Ephemeris for Friday, May 20th.  Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 1 minute, setting at 9:10.   The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:22 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:08.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of two events this weekend.  Saturday evening society members will be at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb parking lot closest to the dune starting at 9 p.m. for a star party viewing the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn and the full moon.  There will be some actual star observing too.  Folks are urged to park in the last two rows.  On Sunday the society will be part of the Northwestern Michigan College’s Barbecue, with telescopes to observer the Sun safely and exhibits of photographs and actual meteorites, and videos in the Health and Science Building.  For those who missed it we’ll have photographs of last week’s transit of Mercury, and maybe a video or two.

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

Addendum

Two of the telescopes that will be used at the Sleeping Bear Dunes star party Saturday night. Taken at the transit of Mercury by Emmett Holmes, whose telescope is in the foreground.

05/15/2015 – Ephemeris – The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be at the NMC Barbecue Sunday

Ephemeris for Friday, May 15th.  Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 9:04.   The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:27 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:13.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will participate in the Northwestern Michigan College Barbecue.  The society will be in front of and inside the Health and Science Building, viewing the Sun outside and inside with displays and a program about meteorites.  In the evening sky, Venus is getting to be an interesting sight in telescopes.  It is still way too bright, so the earlier it can be spotted the better.  Magnification helps with the brightness, but as Venus sinks in the sky its image will deteriorate, undulate with the upper air currents and develop color fringes due to the prismatic effects of the thick atmosphere down low.  Venus will continue to grow larger, and its phase gets thinner until it’s too close to the Sun to spot.

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

Addendum

Observing the sun through GTAS members telescopes at the NMC Barbecue in 2012. Credit; Eileen Carlisle.

Astronomical photographs line the walls and tables of a classroom plus a series of astronomy videos are displayed at the NMC Barbecue. Credit: Eileen Carlisle.

05/16/2014 – Ephemeris – A busy weekend for astronomy in the Grand Traverse Region

Ephemeris for Friday, May 16th.  Today the sun will be up for 14 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 9:04.   The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:10 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:12.

This will be a busy weekend for the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society.   Tonight the society will host a star party to celebrate the grand opening of the new Betsie Valley District Library in Thompsonville.  It starts at 8:30 p.m.  There will be a program inside by yours truly if it’s cloudy.  Saturday night we’ll be observing the heavens with the students of the Interlochen Arts Academy.  And on Sunday the society will have members with their telescopes showing the Sun if clear and have two rooms of exhibits in the Health and Science building for the Northwestern Michigan College’s annual Barbecue on the main campus.  One of the society telescopes is a special solar telescope to view solar prominences.

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

Addendum

Observing the sun through GTAS members telescopes at the NMC Barbecue in 2012. Credit: Eileen Carlisle.

Joe Brooks, the GTAS “Meteorite Man” talks meteorites with Barbecue patrons. He has a video and meteorite samples. Photo credit: Eileen Carlisle.

Astronomical photographs line the walls and tables of a classroom plus a series of astronomy videos are displayed at the NMC Barbecue. Credit: Eileen Carlisle.

05/17/2013 – Ephemeris – Astronomical events in the Grand Traverse area this weekend

Ephemeris for Friday, May 17th.  Today the sun will be up for 14 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 9:06.   The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 2:20 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:11.

There will be a star party at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory from 9 to 11 p.m tomorrow night the 18th hosted by the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society and the NMC astronomy Club.  If it’ll be clear the celestial objects featured will be the first quarter moon, and the planets Jupiter and Saturn.  Venus just might also be visible low on the western horizon early on.  If it’s cloudy there will also be an informative presentation.  Sunday as part of the NMC Barbecue the society will be in the Health and Science Building with displays and meteorites.  Outside if it’s clear the society will set out telescopes to view the sun.  The observatory on Birmley Road will also be open during the Barbecue.

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