BASS -- Boulder Astronomy and Space Society

Calendar of Events

May 2008
Tue., May 6	7:00 pm	Fiske Planetarium	Forum Astronomique. Join in the conversation. Open forum discussion in the multi-media rich Fiske Planetarium on set topics in astrophysics and the space sciences. Topic: Large scale structure in the universe, the webs and voids of the cosmos. Please remember to arrive by 7:15 as we must close the front doors when we go into planetarium theater.
Fri., May 9	7:00 pm	Lyons Elementary	Lyons Elementary Astronomy Night. This is a big outreach event that regularly brings out about 100 people. It is a very appreciative crowd of children and adults from the Lyons community. There will be several speakers and we encourage anyone with a telescope to come out and support this event. If you are interested contact Steve at info@boulderastro.org.
Sat., May 17	7:00 pm	SBO	Bass Meeting. John Weiss of CICLOPS/Space Science Institute on the latest Cassini imaging data on the rings of Saturn
June 2008
Tue., June 3	7:00 pm	Fiske Planetarium	Forum Astronomique. Join in the conversation. Open forum discussion in the multi-media rich Fiske Planetarium on set topics in astrophysics and the space sciences. Topic: Dark Matter. An open discussion on the theories and observations. This is a big topic that has come up to some degree at almost every Forum Astronomique to date. This will probably be part 1 of the dark matter discussions as we will likely return to it again at another Forum. Please remember to arrive by 7:15 as we must close the front doors when we go into planetarium theater.
Sat., June 21	7:00 pm	SBO	Bass Meeting. Birth of the Berthoud Meteor. Suzanne Traub-Metlay and family members that own the Berthoud farm where the meteor landed will present the meteor and talk about its origin in the asteroid belt.
July 2008
			Forum Astronomique will take a break in July and August and will be back in September.
Fri., July 18	7:00 pm	Fiske Planetarium	Planetarium show in the Colorado Skies series of summer talks "Messier Marathon: 110 Deep Sky Objects in One Night" presented by Steve Hartung of BASS. In the 18th century, French astronomer Charles Messier created one of the first catalogs of deep sky objects consisting of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. On a few evenings in the spring each year it is possible for a dedicated amateur astronomer to see all of them in one night with a modest telescope. Here you will see them all in one hour in an accelerated sunset to sunrise program. The standard modest Fiske ticket pricing applies to this show as it is not a BASS event.
Sat., July 19	7:00 pm	SBO	Bass Meeting.

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 for 2007 are the third Saturday of the month. Most meetings take place between the first and last quarter moon except for September and October. This gives us a chance to do some observing on meetings nights, weather permitting, but leaves the new moon weekends for the serious dark sky observer. We are encouraging family involvement and hope that a Saturday evening meeting time will allow youth participation in many events.

Past Presenters at BASS Meetings

Randy Cunningham of AstroSystems
Dr. Nahum Arav, University of Colorado (now at Virginia Tech)
Dr. Michael Shull, professor of astrophysics at the University of Colorado
Dr. Dan Baker, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Dr. Nick Schneider, Laboratory for Astmospheric and Space Physics
Ashleigh Mcfadden, Inishowen Maritime Museum and Planetarium
Dr. Bill Farrand, Space Science Institute
Dr. Fran Bagenal, University of Colorado
Dr. Bob Pappalardo, University of Colorado (Now at JPL)
Dr. Erica Ellingson, University of Colorado
Bryan White of nitescapes3d.com
Dr. Dan Durda, Southwest Research Institute
Keith Gleason, Observatory Manager at SBO
Dr. Suzanne Traub-Metlay, University of Colorado
Don Hampton, Ball Aerospace

Public Star Parties and Classes:

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.