Times 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
10299 9th Avenue Northwest Bradenton
On April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will trace a narrow path of totality across 13 US states and we have arranged to go to Dallas, TX for the event. Dallas is on the line of 100% coverage for over 4 minutes. We have decided to add a week vacation to do some fun touristy activities before and after the event. Some should be of interest to all ages and personalities, from golfing to roller coasters, from BBQ to the oldest Tex-Mex in town, from skyscrapers to horseback. Details to follow via email.
DETAILS: $159/night +tax, 2 free breakfasts per room. You may select how many nights you want to stay.
I have a block of 10 rooms set aside – so first come first serve.
Reservations via the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s web site: https://book.passkey.com/e/50526992
To view the hotel use: https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/dallas/dalem/hoteldetail?
What are solar flares and how do we detect them?Joshua Ingram is a graduate researcher at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and United States Quad Fellow. Joshua develops statistical and machine learning methods to detect solar flares and model their energy distributions and occurrences. He received his B.A. in Statistics & Applied Mathematics and M.S. in Applied Data Science at New College of Florida and will be pursuing his Ph.D. in Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University starting in Fall 2024. In this talk, Josh will discuss solar flares and their potential dangers to society, the data collected on these violent events, and current results and challenges in better detecting flares using machine learning methods.
1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. Times 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Special Event. Times 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
We have been invited by the Reflections of Manatee Museum to hold a stargazing event at Mineral Springs Park. The address is 1312 2nd Ave E, Bradenton Florida 34208.
Special Event. Times 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
We have been invited by the Reflections of Manatee Museum to hold a stargazing event at Mineral Springs Park. The address is 1312 2nd Ave E, Bradenton Florida 34208.
Lori Huseby is second year PhD graduate student at the University of Arizona studying Planetary Science at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Her research mainly focuses on modeling stellar atmospheres during flaring events in addition to laboratory experiments regarding UV irradiation on exoplanet hazes. She will discuss how a haze like on our own planet can form on other planets outside of our Solar System, and how stellar flares affect these hazes over time. Lori and her colleagues have completed the first laboratory experiments subjecting exoplanet hazes to UV radiation to determine how the hazes change over time and the molecules that may be affected. The results of these experiments will have implications for HST and JWST observing campaigns and how we can interpret those results.
Times 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Celestron telescope product manager Lance Lucero will discuss project Origin. Nearly 10 years in development, Celestron’s Origin stands at the forefront of a monumental new era in astronomy for novices and experts alike by bringing first-in-class deep space observation in the form of the world’s first intelligent home observatory.
Times 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Star of Bethlehem:
Suncoast Stargazer, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and former Director of the Bishop Planetarium Howard Hochhalter will reprise his decade long community holiday favorite, the Star of Bethlehem. Learn the historical context of what was going on in the ancient world leading up to the time of 7 BC to 2 BC. Just what was the astronomical explanation of the celestial events adorning the sky at that time?
Tonight’s presentation is entitled: The OSIRIS-Rex and Hayabusa 2 Sample Return Missions to Asteroids Bennu and Ryugu. This will be presented by Suncoast Stargazers member Gregory Shanos. The Bennu samples from the OSIRIS-Rex mission were returned to earth on September 24, 2023 and shown to the world on October 11, 2023. JAXA’s Hayabusa 2 samples from Ryugu were returned to earth on December 5, 2020 and have been thoroughly analyzed. Greg will present the current findings from both missions from these two carbonaceous asteroids. Tonight’s presentation is entitled: The OSIRIS-Rex and Hayabusa 2 Sample Return Missions to Asteroids Bennu and Ryugu. This will be presented by Suncoast Stargazers member Gregory Shanos. The Bennu samples from the OSIRIS-Rex mission were returned to earth on September 24, 2023 and shown to the world on October 11, 2023. JAXA’s Hayabusa 2 samples from Ryugu were returned to earth on December 5, 2020 and have been thoroughly analyzed. Greg will present the current findings from both missions from these two carbonaceous asteroids.
Times 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Feature attractions are a waxing Gibbous Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter. We will also try to hunt down some of our favorite Fall targets like M31 the Andromeda Galaxy and the famous Double Cluster in the constellation Perseus. And rest assured that some of our favorite double stars will also make an appearance.
1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Feature attractions will be a beautiful full moon, the ringed planet Saturn, and some always interesting and exquisitely stunning double stars. We look forward to being at our Sarasota venue for the first time this observing season.
The plan will be to discuss our members thoughts and images of the October 14th solar eclipse.
Feature attractions will be a first quarter Moon and the stunningly spectacular ringed planet Saturn. This one always draws collective gasps of disbelief. We will also chase down the early fall Milky Way deep sky objects based of course on favorable sky conditions. And as always, we will work in a picturesque double star or two.
Partial Solar Eclipse, Robinson Preserve:
First contact is at 11:50 AM and maximum eclipse is at 1:25 PM when the sun will be approximately 60% covered by the moon. Final contact when the moon leaves the sun’s edge is at 3:03 PM. Safety equipment will be available to view this wonderful show compliments of the sun and moon.
Details to follow
Kickoff to the 2023/2024 observing season. Feature attractions will be a 60% waxing gibbous Moon and the stunningly spectacular ringed planet Saturn. This one always draws collective gasps of disbelief. We will also chase down the late summer Milky Way deep sky objects based of course on favorable sky conditions. Kickoff to the 2023/2024 observing season.
CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Monthly dark sky observing at the new Dark Sky Site.
Additional details to follow.
The Astronomy Industry
Optics industry expert Greg Bragg will discuss the many different aspects of the astronomy industry. The size, prominent manufacturers and brands, better retailers, and some marketing strategies and costs. Greg has been in and around the optics industry since the late 70’s with various positions at Wolf Camera, Meade, Pentax, Explore Scientific and most recently Celestron, now retired. Greg’s knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the astronomy industry is extremely detailed and thorough.
Summer Doldrums Event, Part 2. Robinson Preserve:
As Frank Sinatra once sang…”Let Me try Again”. And so we shall. The clouds won on July 8th but we will give it another go on August 5th. Rather than completely giving in to the lousy summer astronomy weather here in Florida, we will try to take advantage of a unique morning opportunity before those clouds roll in. We will activate our solar telescopes to view the sun as it works its way towards solar maximum in 2025. Then we have a waning gibbous moon nicely placed that morning for more traditional viewing. Finally, if the skies are really good, we have a chance to see Jupiter in the daytime skies!!!
Suncoast Stargazers member and Science Teacher Chris Schementi will discuss astrobiology- how exoplanets could harbor life, and how evolving intelligent life is affected by astronomical phenomena. This will lead up to breaking down the famous Drake equation, to ponder the age-old question: “Are we alone in the universe?”
Summer Doldrums Event, Robinson Preserve:
Rather than completely giving in to the lousy summer astronomy weather here in Florida, we will try to take advantage of a unique morning opportunity before those clouds roll in. We will activate our solar telescopes to view the sun as it works its way towards solar maximum in 2025. Then we have a waning gibbous moon nicely placed that morning for more traditional viewing. Finally, if the skies are really good, we have a chance to see Jupiter in the daytime skies!!!
Suncoast Stargazers Director of Astronomical Outreach Howard Hochhalter will update us on the Suncoast Stargazers involvement with the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida. This is a group of organizations whose mission is to increase science based environmental understanding, conservation, and restoration through collaboration and public engagement.
As we wrap up the 2022/2023 observing season, please join us at Robinson Preserve. Sunset is 8:15 and the event will start at 8:30. We can start setting up by 7:00. The feature attraction is the first quarter Moon, the perfect phase for observing. We also have Venus in the western sky. This is the event where each year we seek out and marvel at Omega Centauri, the largest and most impressive globular cluster in the sky!!! Other deep sky objects will be determined based on sky conditions. We look forward to seeing you there!!!
Cassie Metzger will discuss what active galactic nuclei (AGN) are (spoiler: black holes are involved!) and how we study them. She will talk about the different types of AGN and what studying AGN in the field of High-Energy Astrophysics looks like. Cassie is an Astrophysics major at Washington University in St. Louis. She works in an astrophysics research lab on campus that specializes in High-Energy Astrophysics, which is the study of objects in space that produce energies on the higher end of the electromagnetic spectrum (ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma ray).
Monthly dark sky observing at the Manatee County Gun Club. Sunset is 8:15 PM. We can begin setting up at 7:00 PM. We’ve requested access until midnight.
The Suncoast Stargazers plan a real treat for National Astronomy Day – A Day/Night Double Header!!!
From 9:00 AM to noon we will be at the NEST at Robinson Preserve with solar observing, a telescope workshop, astro imaging discussions and A TELESCOPE GIVEAWAY!!!
We will draw and announce the winner around noon. Then from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM we will resume back at the observing field for the monthly stargazing session. Feature celestial attractions will be the first quarter moon, Venus, and some brighter “deep sky” celestial objects. Nearly 5 hours of astronomy fun, please join us!!!
With 2 total solar eclipses upcoming in the next 12 months, we have a very relevant presentation for April. Suncoast Stargazer member and NASA Solar System Ambassador Greg Shanos will discuss why solar eclipses occur, the stages and science of solar eclipses, and how to safely observe them. There’s nothing quite like the experience of a total solar eclipse. Please join us for this very interesting and timely presentation.
Monthly dark sky observing at the Manatee County Gun Club. Sunset is 8:00 PM. We can begin setting up at 7:00 PM. We’ve requested access until midnight.
Event starts at 8:00 until approximately 9:30. We will view the waxing Gibbous Moon, Venus, and the Pleiades Star cluster. We will be set up in the common ground area directly across from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Please join us as we partner with our friends from The Bay Park Conservancy in Sarasota.
Suncoast Stargazer member Andy Harrell has recently purchased some property in the darker skies of Eastern Manatee County. The property is in the very early stages of development. Andy will discuss his reasons for this purchase and how it might benefit the Suncoast Stargazers as a dark sky observing site in the future. As any stargazing group member will tell you, a dark sky site is an indispensable part in truly maximizing one’s enjoyment of astronomy.
Sunset is 7:45 and the event will start at 8:00. We can start setting up by 6:30. The feature attraction is the 20% Waxing Crescent Moon. We also have Venus in the western sky. Mars, though fading, will still be visible. We will also hunt down the faint but interesting planet Uranus which will be in the western sky, very close to Venus. Some brighter deep sky objects should also be visible featuring the Orion Nebula and some interesting double stars. The deep sky objects will be determined based on sky conditions. We look forward to seeing you there!!!
Please join us for Suncoast Stargazers Appreciation Night at the dark skies in Myakka. Ranch owner, Suncoast Stargazer founding member, local conservationist and philanthropist Elizabeth Moore is welcoming us to a fun night of dinner and stargazing. Please arrive by 5:30, BBQ At 6:00 and stargazing after the golden hour of sunset over the Myakka River. Spouses/partners/significant others are welcome. For those who wish to stay longer and chase down some Messier objects, bathrooms and resting places are available. Camping overnight is also available and of course optional. I think this is a very important evening to bond and discuss where the Suncoast Stargazers are and where do we want to go. IMPORTANT - please respond to me (emcdonough@celestron.com) by Wednesday March 15th so that we can properly plan the BBQ arrangements and other logistics.
Suncoast Stargazer member Jeff Sjoquist will discuss the history of Celestial Navigation and how it translated into aircraft use. Jeff was an Air Force Navigator, Instructor and Evaluator in the late 80’s. He’ll show pictures of different kinds of sextants used and talk about how Celestial Navigation appeared to be a dying art, what replaced it, and why it’s making a comeback in the military. Jeff will then demonstrate how celestial position is derived, plotted, and used in navigation.
Join us at the College Hall Bayfront (351 College Dr, Sarasota, FL) for stargazing with the NCF Astronomy Club! If you are bringing a telescope, please plan to arrive at 6:00pm for set up. The event will run from 7:00 - 10:00pm. Historically, New College Astronomy Club events draw upwards of 150 people. There will be music, snacks, and lots of young people interested in learning about the night sky!
Location - Robinson Preserve. Sunset is at 6:49 and the event will be publicized to start at 7:00. Please arrive by 6:00 to set up. New telescope owners wanting some help and instruction should arrive by 5:00 and we will help you out.
Monthly Zoom at 7:00 PM.
Our own Cori Laughrey will present a talk about our Sun: how it produces light and heat, the global solar dynamo that drives space weather, and her current research in solar granulation. Cori is a physics student and president of the Astronomy Club at New College of Florida, and has been a member of Suncoast Stargazers since its inception.
The Suncoast Stargazers are honored to be a part of the Bay Park Conservancy’s Grand Opening Celebration at the Bays new “Common Ground” location. The event starts at 7:30 so please arrive by 6:30 to set up your equipment. Additional details about this event can be found at:
10 Day Grand Opening micro-site: https://www.10daysatthebay.org/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=cdf37841-931c-4f60-93cc-b16351ffdb31
FB : [not yet available]
Eventbrite registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/astronomy-at-the-bay-tickets-413719555327
Monthly Zoom at 7:00 PM. Community updates and interesting astronomy discussion.
This month’s speaker is NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Gregory Shanos who will present a lecture entitled: Mars 2022: An Observers Guide. Mars will rise at sunset on December 8th so now is the time to familiarize ourselves with the planet. Greg will discuss how to observe the planet visually through a telescope under high power and how to use various color filters to bring out subtle details on the planet. He will also discuss how to attach a planetary video camera to your telescope to take some images of The Red Planet!!!
Location – Robinson Preserve. Sunset is 7:48 and the event will be publicized to start at 8:00. Please arrive by 7:00 to set up. New telescope owners wanting some help and instruction should arrive by 6:00 and we will help you out.
Monthly Zoom at 7:00 PM. George Ruppeiner, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at New College of Florida, will discuss his class “Descriptive Astronomy”. The class is mostly non-science students interested in learning about the planets and the moons, as well as the basics of the stars. The course is non-mathematical, in person, and has an observational component that the students always find very interesting.
On Saturday August 20, 2022 from 9am till 12pm at the NEST in Robinson Preserve we will be doing both Solar Observing in Hydrogen Alpha and white light.
Secondly, we'll be setting up a hands on, interactive Astrophotography demonstration covering the hardware and software our members use to do Planetary and DeepSky imaging with DSLR's, planetary cameras, and cooled CMOS cameras. We will have separate tables manned by our best experts to explain each type of imaging and you can experience the entire process. Each session will be short and repeated every 30 minutes so that you can stop by each table before noon.
And for the 3rd section a detailed walk thru on the Celestron StarSense technology, where your cell phone becomes your guide through the Cosmos, will be demonstrated. If your contemplating a telescope purchase this tech might be just for you.
The Nest is located off the same road as our sidewalk setup but don't take the sharp right, just continue straight down the road.
See you there.
Monthly zoom at 7:00. Celestron telescope product manager Lance Lucero will discuss the development of the Celestron Starsense plate solving technology which has completely revolutionized the ease of use of introductory level telescopes
North Manatee County Kiwanis Club. Ed and Martha doing a 7AM presentation on Suncoast Stargazers
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