Monday, March 7, 7:00 p.m.

Bartlesville Public Library

7:15 p.m.

Stellarium, a Free Planetarium Program

by Daryl Doughty

Stellarium is a planetarium program that can be downloaded free from the internet. Daryl will explain how to use this powerful tool to predict how the sky will look at any time from any location on Earth.

(Jet passing through Pleadies, Canon 60D, 50mm, F2.0, ISO 1600, 30 sec) (Orion, 135mm, F4.5, ISO 1600, 30 sec) Both with a Barn Door guider. MWoods

Hi BAS.

I spoke to Ron Wood, the owner of the TUVA private observatory about inviting you to our Messier Marathon party. He had no problem with having any of your members attend.

If any of your members would like to join us, It is scheduled for Saturday, March 5. We usually meet at the Burger King in Broken Arrow just off Highway 51 on Elm St. by 3 PM sharp, then caravan down to TUVA. If we are clouded out, we have a back-up night scheduled for Saturday, April 9.

If you don't want to meet us in Broken Arrow, you can find a map to TUVA in this month's Tulsa newsletter at http://www.astrotulsa.com/CMS_Files/201602.pdf on pages 9 - 10.

We have a pot luck supper there, so if you would like to bring something it would be much appreciated. If you get tired, there are several couches available for naps. You can find marathon log sheets and charts at http://okmcd.com/pub/MessierMarathonCharts.pdf.

Please pass this on to your members. If anyone is planning on joining us, please send an RSVP to me and Tamara Green at astrotulsa.vp@gmail.com.

Bring your scopes and come join us.

--

Richard Brady, President, Astronomy Club of Tulsa

AstroTulsa.Pres@gmail.com

Texas Star Party – Last chance to sign up now!

The great tradition of dark sky observing continues with the 37th Annual

TEXAS STAR PARTY, May 1-8, 2016!

near Ft Davis, Texas

Staying on the Ranch in housing, RV, or camping? Staying off-site in other accommodations?

Everyone needs to enter the TSP drawing, held in late January.

You should submit a Registration/Reservation Request Form to ENTER THE TSP DRAWING

before January 22, 2016.

This will provide you the highest possible chance of being selected as one of the 500 people

who will be able to attend TSP this year.

Follow this link to get started!

http://texasstarparty.org/get-started/

SIGN UP NOW!

You can find out the status of your TSP Registration at any time by visiting

http://texasstarparty.org/account/

Find the latest news at:

http://texasstarparty.org/news/

Find out about our new Mirror-making Workshop, where you can make your own mirror during TSP!

https://texasstarparty.org/mirror-making-workshop/

Questions? Visit our web site for the latest and complete details!

http://www.texasstarparty.org/ or email tsprooms@texasstarparty.org

We look forward to seeing you next May!

Sincerely,

the volunteers for Texas Star Party

Accurate Polar Alignment

By: Alan MacRobert | July 17, 2006 | Comments 1

Long-exposure astrophotography requires an accurately aligned equatorial mount.

- See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/equipment-diy/#sthash.54pqzBDM.dpuf

Tips for Shooting Great Nightscapes

By: Babak Tafreshi | August 10, 2015 | Comments 0

Capturing the Earth and sky in one great composition is surprisingly easy.

The Night Sky Network Team

nightskyinfo@astrosociety.org

Universe Discovery Guide: Orion Nebula

Explore the Orion Nebula, a giant nursery of baby stars, in February's Universe Discovery Guide!

bit.ly/UDGFebOrion

Article: Late Winter Skies: Sights, Activities, and Resources

Want to see the five planets in the early morning but you aren't a morning person? Are you wondering what you can see in the evening skies, or other objects you can spot in the skies this month? We have a few resources you can go to that will help you plan your stargazing, both hosted by the Night Sky Network's website and elsewhere online. These resources will help you not just for stargazing in February, but for the rest of the year!

bit.ly/NSNLateWInterSkies

Hello BAS Members --

With so many people interested in AstroPhotography in the group, we have thought of having a "Astro Picture of the Month" competition each month at our meetings.

Entry Rules:

Send one picture of the night sky/ object of the current month with a description of the picture and the equipment used to take this.

Mail it to bvilleastro@gmail.com.

Best picture is chosen in the next meeting and uploaded to our Facebook/Twitter pages with your mention!

So let the entries pouring in for our next meeting on the Feb 2, 2015.

Thanks

BAS President .

Sky and Telescope News http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/

March’s Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia

By: Alan MacRobert | February 26, 2016 | Comments 1

On March 9th, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Pacific. Use our map to find out what you'll see at any location.- See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/#sthash.TlyoYLyN.dpuf

East Coast Bolide Triggers Hunt for Meteorites

By: Kelly Beatty | February 1, 2016 | Comments 3

A blazing-bright fireball that lit up the early evening sky on January 30th appears to have scattered meteorites near the Pennsylvania- Maryland border. Now the search is on to find them.

S&T‘s Astronomy Podcast for February 2016

By: Kelly Beatty | January 29, 2016 | Comments 2

This month's audio sky tour starts before dawn, when you can spot all five bright planets by eye, and moves to the sparkling stars seen on winter evenings.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2016

By: Kelly Beatty | January 22, 2016 | Comments 2

There will be four eclipses in 2016. Highlights are a total solar eclipse on March 9th (visible from Indonesia) and an annular solar eclipse on September 1st (central Africa). But we'll see just two barely-there penumbral eclipses, on March 23rd and September 16th.

- See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/#sthash.Z2umU5Rj.dpuf

Skyweek from Sky and Telescope Magazine also presents a variety of astronomical events for the naked eye as well as telescope viewing.http://www.skyandtelescope.com/videos/skyweek

February 22 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:20 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this moon has also been known by some tribes as the Full Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather made hunting difficult.

March 8 - Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.

March 9 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:54 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

March 9 - Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful outer atmosphere known as the corona. The path of totality will only be visible in parts of central Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse will be visible in most parts of northern Australia and southeast Asia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA Interactive Google Map)

March 20 - March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 04:30 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.

March 23 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:02 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.

March 23 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of extreme eastern Asia, eastern Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the west coast of North America including Alaska. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

April 7 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 11:24 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

• • (Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2016.html)

2016 BAS Programs

Next Meeting

April 4, Monday. Bartlesville Public Library Meeting Room (tentative)

Newsletter Contributions Needed

Our club newsletter is reaching more people each month, and member contributions in the form of short articles, interesting news items, alerts of upcoming astronomical events or activities, descriptions of personal observations or useful equipment, and observing tips, are encouraged. Recurring columns or multipart articles are also welcome. Please submit your contributions to Mike Woods or to bvilleastro@gmail.com .

Bartlesville Astronomical Society - Membership

B.A.S. is an organization of people interested in Astronomy and related fields of science.