Astronomy conventions are a great way to meet other astronomers and find out what is going on in other clubs in the region. They feature a variety of guest speakers plus a number of astronomer vendors are usually present. Plus you get a chance to travel and see what kind of facilities other clubs are using.

MIdStates Astronomy convention

Friday May 29 thru Sun May 31 at University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Our Tulsa Club is a member of a 5 state region of the Astronomical League.

Each year one of the regional clubs hosts the convention in their area.

This year the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society is acting a host.

They have an impressive list of guest presenters lined up.

Details at www.MSRAL.org

National Astronomical League Convention

July 6 - 11 Los Cruces New Mexico

These national events attract several 100 of the nation’s leading astronomy professionals as well as amateurs. Speakers include well known astronomy authors and professionals. This year’s event is held in the dark skies of SW New Mexico. A number of optional side trips are available: White Sands Missile base museum, Very Large Array Radio observatory, Apache Point observatory and Dunn Solar telescope plus many natural attractions.

https://alcon2015.astroleague.org/

https://www.astroleague.org/files/reflector/Mar_2015.issue_.Web_.pdf

John Land

Take the Future of Amateur Astronomers Survey

The Night Sky Network is doing a new survey of amateur astronomers located in the United States. We are attempting to understand the landscape of educational outreach performed by astronomy clubs and assess the needs of the amateur astronomy community for the next 5 years. We want to hear your voice.

Please let us know what your needs are and how we can better help you and your clubs by taking our survey, located here: http://bit.ly/2014astrosurvey

Pass this announcement along to any other persons or organizations that would have an interest in this survey as well. Thank you all!

You can see daily images of the Sun on www.Spaceweather.com

See a Fantastic image comparing sunspot to size of earth

http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=18&month=10&year=2014

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

Hot Jupiters: Cloudy or Clear?

By: Monica Young | May 22, 2015 | Comments 0

New analysis of Kepler observations shows that hot Jupiters' temperatures might predict their weather report.

Star Party Season Has Begun!

By: Anne McGovern | May 21, 2015 | Comments 0

It’s time to get away from all those city lights and gather together to share in the secrets of the universe.

Supernova, Two Ways

By: Camille M. Carlisle | May 20, 2015 | Comments 3

Two new studies confirm that the white dwarfs that explode as Type Ia supernovae can approach death in two different ways.

Volcanoes on a Super-Earth?

By: Emily Poore | May 19, 2015 | Comments 0

Observations of nearby super-Earth 55 Cancri e reveal huge, as-yet unexplained changes in the exoplanet’s infrared emission, and volcanoes are one possible cause.

New Ultra-Deep Star Catalog Released

By: Kelly Beatty | May 15, 2015 | Comments 4

With the initial release of the USNO's Robotic Astrometric Catalog (URAT1), astronomers now have precise positions for about 228 million stars in the northern sky. Given my love of stone walls, I've been thinking about building one in the backyard to enclose the flower beds. But I haven't had the gumption to actually buy...

Spotting Andromeda Galaxy’s Giant Halo

By: Monica Young | May 13, 2015 | Comments 9

Astronomers have detected a massive yet elusive nimbus of hot gas surrounding Andromeda Galaxy.

Microwave Ovens Spark Radio Signals

By: Shannon Hall | May 12, 2015 | Comments 5

After 17 years, researchers using the Parkes radio telescope in Australia have identified the culprit behind a mysterious type of radio signal: two on-site microwave ovens.

Big Sunspot Group Now in View

By: Kelly Beatty | May 8, 2015 | Comments 4

For sunwatchers who've been disappointed by this weak solar maximum, Active Region 2339 offers something to cheer about.

Mapping Dark Matter

By: Monica Young | May 7, 2015 | Comments 0

Two projects are mapping the distribution of dark matter in the universe, probing scales both large and small.

Best Evidence Yet That Black Holes Exist

By: Shannon Hall | May 5, 2015 | Comments 6

A team of astronomers has found indirect evidence of a supermassive black hole’s event horizon, providing further proof that these wacky objects actually exist in nature.

Pluto: The Last Picture Show

By: Alan Stern | May 4, 2015 | Comments 3

In his second "insider blog" about the New Horizons mission, principle investigator Alan Stern offers a look at what we might find at Pluto. It sounds like science fiction, but it's not: NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is on final approach to the Pluto system! After 112 months in flight, the fastest spacecraft ever launched...

Mysterious X-rays Spotted in Galactic Center

By: Monica Young | May 4, 2015 | Comments 0

NASA’s NuSTAR mission has detected an unexpected haze of high-energy X-rays in our galaxy’s center, perhaps the signal of a mass stellar graveyard.

Tour May’s Sky: Planet Trifecta

By: Kelly Beatty | May 1, 2015 | Comments 0

The three brightest planets — Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn — grace our evening skies this month. Elusive Mercury makes a brief appearance too!

Messenger Crashes, Its Results Endure

By: Kelly Beatty | May 1, 2015 | Comments 5

After four years at Mercury, NASA's Messenger orbiter has finished its remarkable mission and crashed into the planet. - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/#sthash.06hEjgE4.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

• • • May 23 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed 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 Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons.

    • June 2 - 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 16:19 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season. This moon has also been known as the Full Rose Moon and the Full Honey Moon.

    • June 6 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.

    • June 16 - 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 14:05 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.

    • June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 16:38 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

    • June 24 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 22.5 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

    • July 1 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. A spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky. The two bright planets will be extremely close, appearing only 0.3 degrees apart. Look for this impressive pairing in the western sky just after sunset.

    • July 2 - 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 02:19 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full Hay Moon.

• • (Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2015.html)

2015 BAS Programs

Next Meeting

July 6, 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.