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September 28^th, 1-5; 7 – 10 pm

Von Braun Astronomical Society will celebrate Astronomy Day on September 28th in person at Monte Sano State Park! Daytime events (between 1 – 5 pm) will include: solar viewing, mini-planetarium shows, rockets, vacuum-chamber demonstrations of what it’s like in space, and several other fun STEAM activities. Evening events (between 7 – 10 pm) will include a keynote speech followed by a planetarium show and night sky observing through telescope.

Astronomy Day is FREE and open to the public!

7:30 PM Keynote talk by Mr. Rob Landis on “Planetary Defense at NASA”

Rob Landis is currently assigned as a program executive to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). The office was established to manage the Agency’s planetary defense-related projects and coordinate activities across multiple U.S. agencies (along with international efforts) to plan appropriate responses to the potential asteroid impact hazard. Since its original inception as the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program in 1998, PDCO efforts have discovered more than 98% of the nearly 30,000 NEOs currently known.

Landis has an eclectic set of science and mission operations leadership and hands-on experience ranging from space-based observatories (Hubble Space Telescope, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer); deep space missions (Cassini-Huygensand the Mars Exploration Rovers [MER]); planetary surface operations (MER – Spirit and Opportunity); International Space Station (ISS) operations; and many others, including most recently, the project manager for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). In addition to the myriad of PDCO duties, on NASA’s behalf he also provides essential support to the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM).

Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in astrophysics from Michigan State University, and a Master of Science degree in space studies from the University of North Dakota. He also is a licensed private pilot for single engine aircraft.

Come to the Swap Meet on Friday, May 17, 2024 Free Pizza & conversation at 7:00 pm. Meeting, including annual Elections, at 7:30 pm. The May Monthly meeting at our planetarium on Monte Sano will feature a chance for you to bring, swap, sell and buy gently used astronomy equipment and books. Contact Joe Kutner if you have any questions at vicepresident@vbas.org Each Third Friday of the Month meeting starts with FREE pizza at 7:00, followed by the meeting at 7:30. In May we will have our annual board elections as well as the swap meet. Hope to see you there!

VBAS volunteers will be at the GigaParts Technology Superstore, 6123 University Dr, Huntsville on Saturday May 18 to provide advice and outreach from 9:30am on International Astronomy Day! Telescope Clinic 10:00am -1:00pm. Bring that telescope you just can’t get to work, or think you might have broken and we’ll take a look!   Eclipse Show and Tell 4:00pm-6:00pm.  Sign up to share your images and stories – even if you got clouded out!   Presentations to attend from Choosing your First Telescope to Stargazing with Binoculars and Getting Started in Astrophotography! Learn about Light Pollution and what you can do about it with volunteers from Starry Skies South.     GigaParts has a large range of telescopes, binoculars, eyepieces, books and more to browse as well as plenty of other fun technology. And a snack bar! Everyone welcome. Bring your friends to introduce them to your favorite hobby!  See you there.

All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.

Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.

Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.

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August 3rd – Exploring the Milky Way

On a clear night in August, away from the city lights, a hazy band stretches across the sky. In this presentation, we’ll explore the Milky Way with our eyes, binoculars and a small telescope and discover what we know about our home galaxy.

Presented by Alex Hall

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August 10th – The Moon

A presentation about our natural satellite, the Moon, and how it is unusually large for a small planet like Earth, and how its origin may have been much different from the ~300 other known moons in our solar system. There will also be a discussion of all the various interesting features on the Moon, including impact craters, lava flows, mountains, and volcanic domes, that are even visible even in a small telescope.

Presented by Frank Schenck

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August 17th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

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August 24th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

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August 31st – The Planets

To our ancestors, they were the wandering stars that moved mysteriously among the fixed stars. Today our space probes send back close ups of these distant worlds. Come and learn how our quest to discover what these wanderers actually are helped reveal the truth about our place in space.

Presented by Alex Hall

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