January 2026 Meeting Notes

Bartlesville Astronomical Society Meeting Notes

January 5, 2026

Attendance: 

We had 16 members and 2 visitors in attendance, in person and on Zoom.

Discussion of future 10-minute Astronomy programs:

·   We are opening this up to anyone who would like to present on a short subject, perhaps a story you have read, something you have read in the newspaper, a recent observation, etc.  This could be presented via Zoom—you wouldn’t need to present in person.  Let one of the Club officers know in advance if you have something to present. 

·   News items today--Craig mentioned that the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society is repeating their five-session Introduction to Amateur Astronomy starting on January 17.  It is free and excellent.  Register at kasonline.org.  He also mentioned that the SeeStar Pro is now out, $599.00.  Has quadruplet optics and a better sensor.

10-minute Astronomy—Evan—recent newspaper articles

·       He discussed an article on asteroid Bennu.  Material samples have been obtained by the Osiris Rex spacecraft, which returned to Earth in September 2023.  Glucose has been discovered.  They didn’t find deoxyribose, but they did find elements such as oxygen and nitrogen.  The spacecraft Osiris Rex will be used again to go to another asteroid in 2029.

·       Blue Origin is planning a robotic lunar landing mission in 2026.

Astro Quiz—Evan--Pluto:

Why is Pluto considered a dwarf planet, not a “regular” planet?  There are three criteria for it to be a “regular” planet and it fails one of them.

·       Is it round or nearly round?  Yes 

·       Does it orbit the Sun?  Yes, although it has a more elliptical orbit around the Sun, more tilted from the other planets’ orbital planes.  Part of its orbit is inside Neptune.

·       Is it large enough to clear debris from its orbital path?  No—this keeps it from being classified as a “regular” planet.

Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 at the Lowell Observatory.  He compared photographic plates to see the movement of stars and discovered Pluto.

Recent Club Events:

The Club didn’t have any events this last month, because of the holidays and colder weather!

Upcoming Club events:

·       Planetary alignment February 28—try to plan something at the Bolingers’ for this

·       Denise mentioned that Club members could participate in the Bartlesville District Science Fair; she had recently forwarded an email about it to Club members.  Brian T, who has judged at this event before, mentioned possibly doing something as a group for judging.

Treasurer’s Report – Luann:

Please pay your annual dues if you have not yet paid!

Ending balance November 30, 2025:  $17582.96

Expenses:

Rice Creek Storage $86.00

Lock for storage from Lowe’s $25.03

Check to Luann for 5 Night Sky Network pins $25.00

Income:

Dues $50.00

Blackbaud donation $160.00

Truity interest $51.94

Ending balance December 31, 2025: $17708.87

Program for March meeting:

Evan asked about Denise presenting on Atmospheric and Optical Phenomena (with pictures).  No one objected; Pat seemed especially interested in this topic.  Denise will present on this at the March meeting.

Future programs:

We need presenters at future meetings, both main programs, and if you would like to do something on 10-minute astronomy!

Main presentation: 

The Parade of Planets, Planetary Alignments for 2026 by John B.

·       A planetary alignment is when planets appear to line up in the sky, from the perspective of Earth.  A planetary alignment is not a literal line, but a visual alignment in the same region of the sky.

·       There are five of these in 2026:

o   February 28, 2026:  a large evening alignment of Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter.

o   April 18, 2026:  a small morning alignment of Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Neptune.

o   June 12, 2026:  a mini evening alignment of Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus.

o   August 12, 2026:  a large morning alignment of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune.

o   November 14, 2026: a small morning alignment of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.

·       Historically, planetary alignments, or planet parades, have been thought to portend potential disasters or dangers. 

o   In the year 489, they thought there would be a flood, because four planets plus the Moon would align.  They later decided this wouldn’t happen, because Saturn wouldn’t be in the alignment.

o   In the year 582, they thought the world would end because of a planetary alignment, but it didn’t.

o   In the 1970s, British astrophysicist John Gribbin predicted that there would be a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault in 1982, as well as some other cataclysms, because there would be an alignment of all nine planets (which at that time, included Pluto).  It didn’t happen.  He had predicted that planets, especially Jupiter, could affect the climate and magnetic field of Earth and the Sun.  Because these predicted events didn’t happen, he dropped his theory.

·       To see a planetary alignment, you don’t need a telescope; binoculars would be helpful.  Find a dark sky with minimal light pollution.  Clear weather is needed.  You can use apps like Stellarium or SkySafari to find planets.  Dress warmly if observing outdoors in winter.

·       Planetary alignments remind us of the vast beauty of the cosmos.   

February meeting topic:

Sketching the NGC Catalog by Brad Young from the Astronomy Club of Tulsa