Topic: The Moon
Speaker: Laura Ainslie
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Riverfront Fort Wayne is excited to partner again with the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society to present Stargazing on the Riverfront. Stay up past your bedtime and join us as we view stars and planets right in downtown Fort Wayne. FWAS will provide telescopes and show you how to use them. We will be tracking the Hercules and Cygnus constellations and participating in Globe at Night, a citizen science campaign to raise awareness about light pollution. Participants receive free Moon Pies. No registration required.
In the event of inclement weather, please check the Riverfront Fort Wayne Facebook page for cancellations.
Topic: Arizona Skies - A personal travelog
Speaker: Ron Williams
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
This year marks our 60th year of service to northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio in promoting astronomy and allied sciences to our members and the public. With our incorporation in February of 1959 the Society embarked on an adventure of bringing the wonders of our universe to the eyes and minds of thousands of our visitors – individuals, families, enthusiasts and students. In cooperation with many organizations and institutions in the area we have promoted astronomy-related events and programs that have been a significant part of the culture of our society.
To celebrate our 60 years of service we have chosen the date of Saturday, July 20th, which is coincidentally the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. We are also using this date to announce the public “Securing the Dream” fund drive to secure $100,000 for an endowment to support the operations of the Star*Quest Observatory: http://fortwayneastronomicalsociety.com/donate
The festivities will begin with a kickoff ceremony followed by an open-house observatory tour. Weather permitting, a public star party will follow until 12 a.m. Several of our members will have their telescopes set up for public viewing. Dress informally and warmly and bring your family to enjoy this facility, featuring the state-of-the-art Richard Johnston 16” telescope and the Society’s original hand-crafted Newtonian Harnishfegger-Crow 12.5” telescope.
Topic: Sextants and Celestial Navigation
Speaker: Jim Spalding
How to find your location anywhere without GPS. The presentation will include a brief history and practical examples.
As usual, after the meeting members and visitors have the option to meet up at the Northcrest Pizza Hut. This will also be a good time for volunteers to run through planning for the Observatory Open House this coming Saturday, July 20. See you there!
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Topic: Really Cool Stars
Speaker: Dick Evans, FWAS member
This program is about stars that didn't quite make it! When stars form, often in clusters, some are very large, some are regular size and some are so small they can't even fuse hydrogen into helium.
***This month’s meeting will be held at the Snyder Academic Center (Room 168) on Indiana Tech’s campus following the 6:30 screening of “Chasing the Moon.” Click here for a campus map.***
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
With the 50th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon coming up this July, Fort Wayne’s PBS39 will soon be airing a new three-part documentary about the space race, “Chasing the Moon.” On Tuesday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. PBS39 will be hosting a preview screening at Indiana Tech in the Multi-Flex Theater in the Snyder Academic Center.
Admission is free and the screening is open to the public – bring along family and friends. Seating is first come, first served.
The Fort Wayne Astronomical Society will hold their monthly meeting in Room 168 of the Snyder Academic Center right after the screening.
Be sure to tune in to PBS39 each evening July 8-10 for the broadcast premiere of the full three-part documentary.
Topic: Arizona Skies
Speaker: Ron Williams
Longtime member Ron Williams will describe his trip to his friend’s home near Tuscon, Arizona, last month where he observed the sky from a backyard observatory. Ron has proposed that a group of us might plan for a similar trip to view the sky and tour the observatories in the area.
In addition to the meeting topic, there will be a short business meeting for election of FWAS board members.
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Topic: Sharing the Universe: Tips for Getting Started with Outreach
Speaker: Laura AInslie
Join us as Laura describes the opportunities afforded to you as a member of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society.
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Topic: Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Speaker: Laura Ainslie
Join us for a discussion on the definitive chart that classifies all of the stars in the sky.
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Topic: The Antikythera Mechanism
Speaker: Jon Thomas
In 1901 an ancient scientific instrument was discovered off the coast of Antikythera, a Greek island located in the Aegean Sea. Only recently has the mechanism been studied in detail to reveal its incredible workings. More than 2000 years old, the geared mechanism could show and predict the motion of the Sun and Moon among the stars, including lunar phases and eclipses. Discover the extraordinary knowledge of the universe possessed by ancient Greek astronomers and how they incorporated that knowledge into the mechanism.
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
Hop River is celebrating 2019’s total lunar eclipse with their next canned beer release, Midnight Retreat Imperial Stout! Fort Wayne Astronomical Society volunteers will be present at the event with binoculars so those who stay up late can be rewarded with an up-close look at the “Super Blood Wolf Moon.” In case of inclement weather or clouds getting in the way, we hope to have a live stream of the eclipse indoors.
Come out for what is sure to be a fun night. FWAS volunteers will be around to answer questions about the lunar eclipse, our local observatory, or how you can get involved in your local community of astronomy enthusiasts.
Topic: Big Telescopes & Aperture Fever
Speaker: Dick Evans
FWAS monthly meetings occur the third Tuesday of each month. These meetings are free and open to the public.
FORT WAYNE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
PO Box 11093 | Fort Wayne, IN 46855
Star*Quest Observatory | Jefferson Township Park
1720 S. Webster Road, New Haven, IN 46774
