This page is in two parts. First, there is a section
of current astronomical special-events and/or a
short program that a WCAC member has put together. If you are a WCAC club
member and would like to post a current astronomical event contact
Bill
Castro via email or at a club meeting. Second, there is a listing of
links to sites that contain
general-information
of current events for Ohio (star parties), what is currently up in the
sky, observing lists (catalogs) and on line sky charts.
Good luck and clear skies!
The data for the above image comes from those very cool guys at the.
Canadian
Meteorological Center. (This really works!!!)
SPECIAL EVENTS (return
to top)
-NEW- October's
Ashen Skies - by Dave Ross. In 2007 the pre-dawn skies of late
October and early November offer an opportunity to glimpse a celestial
scene that found its way into a poem written 160 years ago by Edgar Allan
Poe...
Dark Times Calendar - Easy to read calendar of when twilight
ends, Moon rises
and sets, when twilight begins and any events
to observe. (Word document).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sept
| Oct | Nov
| Dec |
Jupiter's
Moons and GRS - Displays the position of Jupiter's 4 main
satellites, transits and Great Red Spot for any given time and different
telescope orientation. Prints well also. Thanks to John Bartucci for writing
this for us. (Close the new window to return.) Also Jupiter's
Moons.exe - Executable file to run on its own in the field without
internet connection.
Saturn's
Moons and Rings - Displays the position of Saturn's 5 main
satellites and rings for any given time and different telescope orientation.
Prints well also. Thanks to John Bartucci for writing this for us. (Close
the new window to return.) Also Saturn's
Moons.exe - Executable file to run on its own in the field without
internet connection.
WCAC Sunrise and sunset calculator
- For any latitude and longitude. Special thanks to Matt Oltersdorf for
making this page. (Close the new window to return.)
WCAC Moon rise and set calculator
- For any latitude and longitude. Special thanks to Matt Oltersdorf for
making this page. (Close the new window to return.)
Lunar Phases
- Lunar phases applet. Displays the current phase of the moon in real time
and the time/date of the next four major lunar phases. Many thanks to Gary
Nugent for allowing us to use his applets! Visit Gary's
website for more astronomy information. (Close the new window to
return.)
Objects by Month - Deep space objects visible
in the given month. The links below are for some show piece objects
listed by object type, catalog number and constellation. Types listed are
nebulas, globular clusters, open clusters, galaxies and multiple stars.
| Jan | Feb | Mar
| Apr | May | June
| Jul | Aug | Sept
| Oct | Nov | Dec
|
The AAVSO
Variable Star Of The Season
Sky
Chart. Sky and Telescope's interactive sky chart and a link to
the SKY
AT A GLANCE..
GENERAL INFORMATION
(return
to top)
Events for Ohio (star parties...)
-NEW- 2008 Hidden Hollow Star
Party - As we all know, spring brings up the star party season for
Ohio (as well as the surrounding states). Well, it's almost here,
and with it comes the Richland Astronomical Society's annual star party
- Hidden Hollow! This year, we are holding the star party
on the weekend of May 2nd-4th. It is held at the Warren Rupp Observatory
at Hidden Hollow Camp, near Mansfield, OH. With speakers, contests,
door prizes, a 31-inch f/7 Newtonian Reflector (under an Ash-Dome) and
lots of friendly folks on hand, it's guaranteed to be a blast! Rain
or shine, it's guaranteed to be a great time. More details, as well as
mail-in registration forms, can be found on the Warren Rupp websites:
-NEW- 2008 Mason Dixon Star
Party - Our 2008 star party is July 30th through August 3rd, 2008.
Once again this is a family oriented star party. Our keynote speaker is
Tom Trusock of the Cloudy Nights forum. Tom is from Michigan and this is
the first time he will be speaking at a star party on the east coast. Tom
is a prolific equipment reviewer and is the one of the chief content architects
of www.cloudynights.com. Tom also writes for Astronomy Magazine. Everyone
is welcome to go to our web site to see the events of the 2007 MDSP along
with photo galleries showing the fun that was had by all. Just click in
the Mason Dixon icon in the upper left hand corner of the www.ycas.org
- YCAS home page.
Public Viewing Night
- Dates and times at The Wilderness Center. See also What
to expect at a Public Viewing Night before you go.
Fred F. Silk Planetarium
- At The Wilderness Center.
Hoover-Price
Planetarium - Part of the McKinley Museum and National Memorial,
Canton, OH.
NASA
Glenn Visitor Center - Information and calendar of events. Glenn's
Visitor Center host events that feature special activities and an opportunity
to hear directly from expert engineers and scientists at presentations.
These are held monthly.
Shafran
Planetarium programs - At the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
General What's Up Links
Abrams
Planetarium Night Sky Notes - Updated each month by the Department
of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University.
Observing
Highlights - "This week's sky at a glance" from Sky and Telescope
Magazine.
Tony
Ceece - SEDS, 12 month tour of the Messier catalog.
Observing Lists
Celestial
Objects - Observing projects from Sky and Telescope.
HAS
- Hawaiian Astronomical Society's Storybook and Deep sky Atlas.
SAO
Database - The Saguaro Astronomy Club page of things to view. Includes
database of deep sky objects and double stars. Other SAC Files have lists
specific to various applications.
SEDS - Messier
catalog, NGC 2000, Astro Maps and more.
WCAC Small
Scope List - A small scope observing list of 110 objects found
in Northeast Ohio light polluted skies. Included in this list are 16 nebulas,
59 open clusters, 15 globular clusters and 20 galaxies from the Messier
and NGC catalogs.
On Line Sky Charts
Astroimage
Astronomy
Magazine - Go to "TheSky Online" on their navigation bar for an
online planetarium program sponsored by Software Bisque. Registration is
required.
Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Moon
Jupiter Satellites - Jupiter
satellites applet. Displays the position of Jupiter's 4 main satellites
in real time. Many thanks to Gary Nugent
for allowing us to use his applets! Visit Gary's
website for more astronomy information.
Lunar
Atlases - Two excellent on-line lunar atlases from Exploring the
Moon by The Lunar and Planetary Institute.
National
Geographic's Star Chart
Sky
Chart. Sky and Telescope's interactive sky chart.
