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TAS VirtualGeneral Meeting on Zoom TAS Virtual General Meeting on Zoom
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How to Attend the TAS Virtual General Meeting on Zoom
Friday, January 22, 2021 @ 7:30 pm
Members in good standing of Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas will receive an email notification containing information about how to join the virtual meeting.
7:00pm | Zoom open for Q&A |
7:30pm | Meeting called to order Opening remarks from the President Guest Speaker Introduction by Vice President Guest Speaker Presentation |
8:45pm | Break |
9:00pm | TAS Business Meeting |
9:30pm | Constellation of the Month |
10:00pm | Adjourn to BAMSIG |
TAS MEMBERS: TAS sends out ZOOM meeting notifications and links via Constant Contact. If you are not receiving our e-mail:
President's Letter
January 2021
Dear Fellow TAS Members,
It’s a new year full of hope for better times with Covid-19 vaccines on the way! I hope your holidays were a time of peace, joy and health in spite of the ongoing pandemic. We’ve all had to adjust our traditions and our expectations, but we’re optimistic that the new year will bring time with friends and family and a return to some normalcy. During the past several months, we have been fortunate to be able to remain in contact through Zoom. Since we’re experiencing especially high case numbers of the virus, we will continue with the virtual meetings until further notice.
In December we celebrated the TAS Annual Awards on Zoom. I was humbled and cheered by several aspects of the evening. We had a great turnout, and it included newer members as well as ones who have been members of TAS for years. I wasn’t sure how much fun the awards would be for attendees in a virtual meeting since we’re used to gathering in person, but you, members of TAS, made it fun from start to finish. Each award was greeted with applause, cheers, and enthusiasm in addition to lively comments from members, making it (almost) as fun as meeting in person.
Frank Castanho shared his video of the APSIG group’s photos during the Awards, set to lovely, haunting music. We watched it in the interludes between awards, and I have to say I was proud of the talent my fellow TAS members bring to this hobby. The video included photos from TAS members experienced in astrophotography as well as members new to the hobby. It served as inspiration and a reminder of why we love this hobby and this astronomical society. Thank you to all who contributed your work to the video, and thank you to Frank for putting it together and sharing it with us.
For most of December, we watched Jupiter and Saturn inch closer each night until on December 21st when they appeared closer than in about 800 years. TAS members joined astronomers from around the world in observing, wondering at and photographing this beautiful conjunction of the two planets. I hope you were able to get out and enjoy it.
Your board of directors are working with dark site manager Glenn Fitzgerald to resolve some maintenance issues at the dark site. We’re addressing a problem with gophers and also with feral hogs. If you go to Atoka, be aware that the ground on the field could be uneven from the digging of these animals and could present a tripping hazard, especially in the dark. Once we have eradicated the gophers and hogs, we will level the soil.
The January General Meeting will be on Friday, January 22nd. If you own a pair of binoculars, or would like to know more about their place in amateur astronomy, join us at the January 22nd Zoom meeting at 7:30 pm. We will be treated to a presentation by well-known astronomer and author of Binocular Astronomy, Stephen Tonkin. Then, following a brief business meeting, we will be treated to the Constellation of the Month presentation by Chaz Hafey and Dennis Harwell.
Remember to register on the website before going to Atoka. This will give you the new gate code and it lets us know who has been to the dark site in case of a need for contact tracing. Please read the waiver and the requirements for mask wearing, social distancing, sanitizing, removing trash, etc.
Happy New Year! I look forward to enjoying our night skies with each of you when it’s safe to do so!
Thank You and Clear Skies!
Dodie Reagan
President
Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
TAS Short Sleeve Logo T-shirts
Three column web layout courtesy of Matthew James Taylor
Sun, Moon, and Tonight's Sky
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(times in CST): Sunrise today: 7:26am Sunset today: 5:55pm Moonrise today: 5:57pm Moonset today: 7:34am 99% of moon illuminated |
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Current Phase
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Phase Calendar
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Courtesy USNO |
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Click the above image for a chart. Popup blockers must be disabled. Chart courtesy of Fourmilab Switzerland. |
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| Major Planets and Moon Charts |
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Bright Minor Planet Charts Observable Comet Charts Magnitudes observed within the last 5 days:
Minor planet and comet lists, and corresponding orbital elements, are courtesy of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Charts courtesy of Fourmilab Switzerland |
Special Interest Groups
APSIG (Astrophotography Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas.
APSIG meets once a month to share information and learn more about the art and science of Astrophotography -- taking photographs of objects in the night sky such as planets, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Imaging these celestial objects requires special techniques and equipment, but are attainable by anyone willing to point their camera skyward. Come learn how! For more information on APSIG just follow this link...
ObSIG (Observing Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas. ObSIG meets once a month to promote astronomical observing with telescopes, binoculars, and naked eye. We are also here to help new comers to the hobby of amateur astronomy to get started, learn the sky, and get help picking out the right equipment. For more information on ObSIG, follow this link.
Our meetings are held online via ZOOM, on the third Wednesday of each month. All ObSIG meetings start at 7:00.
ObSIG Meeting Schedule
If you would like to attend an online ObSIG meeting, send an e-Mail to:
Lloyd Lashbrook
Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
lblashbro@verizon.net
ATMSIG (Amateur Telescope Makers Special Interest Group) is sponsored by the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas, Texas.
The ATMSIG meets every other month to explore the design, construction and adjustment of both do it yourself and professionally built telescopes. Anyone interested in building their first scope will find this group a big help in finding the best place to start. You don’t need to have a well equipped workshop, just a few simple tools and an interest in building or modifying it yourself. The ATMSIG is a wonderful place to see projects built locally by TAS members and to share new ideas for the future! For more information, just follow this link...
Please Note: ATMSIG is currently inactive.
Clear Sky Clocks
Dallas, TX:
Atoka, OK:
Comanche Springs, TX (Home of 3RF):
Click an image for a complete sky condition forecast.
TAS In Action
Donate to TAS
Atoka Weather Station
TAS Recurring Star Parties
TAS holds 4 regular monthly Star Parties where our members get together to observe and educate about the night sky. Come join us to look at planets, stars, and other celestial wonders. The monthly Star Party schedule is as follows:
Our full schedule of activities is on our calendar. Please come out and join us or volunteer at one of our events.
Please call the Public Observing Hot Line at 214-800-6000 for the latest cancellation information.
Member Resources
Visit the members' discussion forum to discuss astro-type stuff with fellow TAS members.
Visit the Members Only section for access to:
Constellation of the Month: January: Orion
Check out our Telescope Buying Guide ,Telescope Mount Buying Guide, and Star Charts for beginners. These can also be found under the "Features" section of the Main Menu.
Visit our Deep Sky and Solar System Galleries and see the work of our world-class astro-imagers!
We invite you to further explore our website for more information and hope you consider becoming a member of our Society. TAS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, donations to which would be tax deductable for U.S. taxpayers under IRS rules. Donations may be given by using our secure PayPal site and indicating "donation" on the form.
Thank you for your gracious support of the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas.
About the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
Our annual membership dues are very reasonable and can be paid on-line using the PayPal link listed below. Membership is open to anyone having an interest in Astronomy and the night sky. Please visit the Club Information section for more on TAS. New members can download the New Members Handbook from the Members Only Section of the website. Follow @TASObserveContact TAS Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas P.O. BOX 830742 Email: Membership@texasastro.org Officers: Contact Officers
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Join TAS or Renew your Membership TAS is now 600 members strong....why not become a part of our family?
Newsletter The latest issue of our award-winning monthly newsletter, the Spectrum, can be downloaded below.  Download EPUBBack issues are available under "Features->Spectrum Newsletter" in the main menu. The free Acrobat Reader is required to view this and other downloads.
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TAS is a member of
| TAS is a member of
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The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas was chartered in 1955
to promote interest and research, and to give instruction in the
science of astronomy and related disciplines. Membership is open to
anyone having an interest in astronomy and related subjects and
includes benefits such as a our monthly newsletter, discounts to
the top astronomy magazines, access to our dark sky observing site
and many more. 
