{"id":3508,"date":"2025-04-01T13:42:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T17:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2025-04-01T13:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T17:42:51","slug":"aprmayjun2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/2025\/04\/01\/aprmayjun2025\/","title":{"rendered":"AprMayJun2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Night Sky Network Statistics Mark an ASNH Milestone<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Astronomical Society of New Haven has been a member club of the Night Sky Network since 2005. ASNH publicizes outreach events on their website, and we report attendance after the event. Recently, the NSN website showed that since we became a member of the network, we have had over 50,000 visitors attend our public outreach events. That is a milestone to be proud of!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Regional Water Authority Private Viewing Event on Saturday, March 8<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Donna Pursley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were invited to do a stargazing event at the top of the hill next to Lake Gaillard in North Branford. This is part of the drinking water supply for New Haven. The event was open to employees and hiking pass holders of the water company. It was a very clear night and a very bright Moon. There were about 7 scopes and maybe about 100 visitors to look through the scopes. I think it was a good turnout considering that it was very cold. We were able to show them Jupiter, Mars, a crescent Venus and even Mercury for about an hour before it set. The Moon was a terrific object to show everyone but its brightness made it hard to see many other deep sky objects. We still found plenty to show them. It was a good crowd including a future women astronaut. I think they went home happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Observing Events<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Members with telescopes are needed for these outreach events. If the weather looks questionable for an observing event, check the ASNH website<\/a> after 4:00 pm. There will be a scrolling message on the home page if an event has been cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, April 24, 3:30 pm<\/strong>
Solar Observing at Miller Memorial Library, Hubble 35th Anniversary Event
2901 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, May 23, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Silver Sands State Park
Milford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 24, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Young\u2019s Park
60 Blackstone Ave, Branford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 31, 8:30 pm<\/strong>
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Meigs Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, June 6, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Silver Sands State Park
Milford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, June 7, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Young\u2019s Park
60 Blackstone Ave, Branford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Monthly Meetings on Zoom<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 pm

We will continue to use this format for monthly meetings for now. A week or two before each meeting, members will receive an email announcement with a link that will allow them to connect to the online meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just click the link or copy and paste in your browser and that will connect you to the meeting. You can do this on any device that has an internet connection and a browser.  You can do this on a smart phone. You can display yourself if you like with your selfie camera on your device. If you don’t that’s okay, don’t feel you have to.

You can also dial in to the meeting. The number and password will be given in the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lunar Occultation of Mars, January 13, 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Chris Predom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These pictures show my journey of the Mars Moon occultation. All photos and the movie were taken with my iPhone. They start with a wide view of the Moon, Mars, Castor and Pollux. Next are images through my 8-inch f 4.5 Coulter dob.  I used my 35mm Tuthill Plossl, my 17mm Televue Plossl and my Astrotech 100-degree 9mm eyepiece. While viewing the Moon Mars gap close, I took many photos by holding the iPhone to the eyepieces. As the disappearance neared, I just observed the event while it took several seconds for Mars to sink behind the Moon. It was fun to watch it slowly sink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next was the reappearance. I decided to try making a movie of it with the iPhone. Some quick tests before Mars appeared showed it could be done. I managed to catch the reappearance, until I lost my distance holding the phone to the eyepiece. I was happy with what I obtained, plus I still got a chance to watch Mars reappear on my iPhone screen. This video is in real time: As the movie plays, that is how I saw the event.<\/p>\n\n\n

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