October 2024 Member Meeting Presentation

This meeting will be live at the Unitarian church and will also be available using the video conference utility Zoom. The meeting link will be emailed to members. For non-members if you would like to join the meeting, please send an email to asking for the meeting link and telling us a bit about your areas of interest in astronomy.

Galaxies: Island Universes
Richard Bell

Abstract: The topic is "Galaxies: Island Universes" and begins with the historical perspective of nebulae and comets, the understanding of distance and then a progression of galaxy formation (pre-recorded). Bio: Richard Bell is the longest serving president in KAS history, the Webmaster and Editor of their newsletter "Prime Focus" (Sound familiar?). KAS was formed in 1936 and has an observatory in the Kalamazoo MI area as well as a very nice remote system in SE Arizona which houses a 20-inch Planewave CDK housed in a relocated member's observatory. KAS schedules online viewing sessions if you want to see what our telescope might also be able to do sometime in the future. Richard got bit by the astronomy bug at a very early age. He enjoyed looking at pictures of the planets as early as age 4 and got his first telescope at age 7. Richard has had just about every astronomy-related job one can have in Kalamazoo. He worked at the local planetarium and sold telescopes at a local hobby shop. After receiving degrees in physics and mathematics from Western Michigan University, he taught introductory astronomy courses at most of the surrounding colleges and universities. Richard is also an avid observer and astrophotographer. He is one of three lifetime members and the current president of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, serving in this position longer than anyone else in its history.

June's meeting

Our June meeting will be our annual Summer BBQ. Plan on working up an appetite by helping to set-up and get the charcoal going at about 5:30pm. We will start eating around 6:00pm.

The club will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and vegetarian black bean burgers, along with a variety of toppings. If you wish, provide side dishes for your family, but not to be shared with members because of COVID.

December's meeting

This month is our Holiday dinner. We'll be opening the doors at 6:30 to set up the tables and chairs, and then the feast will begin at 7:00 PM. TVS will provide the drinks and paper/plasticware. In addition we will provide the main course for this month's holiday celebration, possibly turkey and/or tri-tip. Members are asked to bring a dish to share, and of course bring family and friends to share in the festivities. Based on the first letter of your last name members are asked to bring a dish to share:

• A-D Macaroni, Potato, Green or Fruit Salad
• E-J Vegetable or Beans
• K-O Appetizer
• P-Z Dessert

H2O Open House

Our next open house is September 28, 2024 for the club's dark sky site, Hidden Hill Observatory, aka H2O.

Anyone can come to our open houses, not just club members; but you cannot go there without an escort. We will meet at the corner of Mines and Tesla Roads at 5:00 PM, then caravan to the site on a drive that takes about 50 minutes. The admission is $3/car; please bring the exact amount. There is no gas on the way, so be sure to gas up before leaving. The site is essentially in the wilderness, so there is no electricity and water, and there are only a couple of pit toilets. Cell-phone reception is iffy at best. While there is a picnic table there, you really should bring your own chair. If you need to see what you are doing, bring a red LED flashlight, not a white-light flashlight. And use masking tape over your car door and interior lights, or pull the fuse. If you don't have a scope, you can always find someone who is willing to let you look through theirs. And don't forget to bring your binoculars. Expect to stay until about midnight and get back to Livermore at around 1:00 AM.

Member star parties at Tesla Vineyard

• 4/27/24
• 6/29/24
• 8/31/24
• 10/26/24

Tesla Vintner star parties are generally open to club members and their guests. The star parties will run from 6:00 PM until midnight. Tesla Vintners is in Livermore near the intersection of Tesla and Mines. For those new to the site, please use the unmarked west entrance (closest to Mines) to enter the winery grounds.