Calendar of Events

December 2009
Tue., Dec 8 7 pm Fiske Planetarium

Forum Astronomique returns. "Impact Probes", a look at missions like Deep Impact and the recent LACROSS mission that impacted the Moon in search of water.

Sat., Dec 12 6 pm BASS President's Home BASS Meeting. 4th annual gAstronomical potluck party. At the BASS President's residence (if only that were quite as grand as it sounds). Directions will follow in the BASS bulletin or send questions to info@boulderastro.org.
January 2010
Sat., Jan 16 7 pm Sommers-Bausch Observatory BASS Meeting. "The Skies Through Different Eyes". Adam Ginsburg will give us a view of the skies through some different wavelengths, including some that are just beginning to produce imaging data. Adam is a Doctoral candidate working with ASP at CU and is no stranger to SBO.
February 2010
Sat., Feb 20 7 pm Sommers-Bausch Observatory BASS Meeting. CU Student Katie Grasha on her work in radio astronomy. Katie Grasha is a physics and math major working on searches for damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) systems in the 21-cm spin-flip line of neutral hydrogen. She is becoming a black-belt of Green Bank Telescope spectroscopy.

In order to better serve our membership, BASS is going to do more hands on and tutorial work at meetings in 2010. Not every meeting, but at many, we will have workshops and specific astronomy related tutorials. At this months meeting we will explore some basics of telescopes like resolution, magnification, and how the eye works in relationship to general observing. We will also take general question on the workings of telescopes and ask about what other topics members want in more detail at future meetings. You can also email any workshop ideas to info@boulderastro.org.
March 2010
Tue., Mar 9 7 pm Fiske Planetarium

Forum Astronomique "Gravitational Lensing, Through the Looking Glass".

Sat., Mar 20 7 pm Fiske Planetarium BASS Meeting. Feature  talk by Dr. Marc Buie "Pluto and the Kuiper Belt". Note this meeting is at the planetarium instead of our usual location at the observatory.

If there is a topic you would like to present at a meeting or a topic you would like to see presented, please contact BASS.

All meetings are at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory at 7 PM unless described otherwise. From Broadway, enter the CU campus at Regent Drive and turn right onto Kittredge Loop Drive. Parking is free after 5PM in lot #418-419 off of Kittredge east of the observatory or lot #308 west of the Fiske Planetarium, see the map for more detail. Handicapped parking and a ramp are also available from lot #418-419.

Map to Sommers-Bausch and Fiske Planetarium

BASS meetings are the third Saturday of the month whenever possible. Occasionaly we have to move a meeting due to sporting events on campus, which can access difficult to impossible. The default location for BASSmeetings is the Sommers-Bausch Obsrevatory, however, we may occasionaly move the meeting location.

Past Presenters at BASS Meetings

Public Star Parties and Classes:

Hanah and telescopes

BASS members often share their love of the night sky by helping out at local public star parties. Often hosted by schools these events give the public a chance to look through telescopes (often for the first time). When BASS is asked to help out with an event, we will send out an announcement via our club email list and post the event here on the club web page. To get on our email list for these events just send mail to BASS and we will keep you up to date. (Note: the society's email list is for internal use only and is not sold or distributed to commercial vendors)

Club Star Parties:

Star parties are gatherings to share the experience of viewing the night sky. Bring your telescope or binoculars, or just bring yourself and come look through other members equipment. It is a great way to try before you buy, or to learn from more experienced users how to get the most out of your own equipment. Plus it provides a nice social venue to just share and learn the night sky. As one would expect, star parties are subject to the weather. Luckily, Colorado has a lot of clear skies.

There are often short notice or impromptu star parties. Most BASS members use the Front Range Astronomy Community (FRAC) email list to communicate with other amateur astronomers in the area and to plan observing trips. Sign up for the FRAC email list here.