Physics & Astronomy

Schedule

Sept. 11	Opening Meeting - New Member Induction - 8:15, Astronomy Library and Observation Deck
Sept. 11	Opening Activity - Planetarium Pizza and Movie Night: WALL-E - 9:15pm, BYU Planetarium
Sept. 18	Star Party - The Summer Milky Way, 8pm - 11pm, Big Springs Park
Oct. 10	Telescope Building Workshop and How to Use Your Telescope Night, 7pm, Eyring Science Center (Note the date change)
Oct. 16	Star Party - Jupiter and the Superior Planets, 7:30pm - 11pm, Big Springs Park
Nov. 13	Star Party - Mars, 7pm - 11pm, Big Springs Park
Nov. 20	Ending IYA Bash

Meetings

Club meetings are typically the first Friday of every month at 7pm. Specifics are announced via the e-mail list.

Each Friday night the club gives free tours of the night sky following the public planetarium shows. Current and prospective members as well as the general public are invited to look through club telescopes and enjoy the stars from the science center's observation deck. In addition, most Friday nights the observatory is also open for free public tours. Club members working the deck that night are encouraged to come early to help set up - this is an excellent time to learn how to setup and operate telescopes.

The club also organizes monthly star parties. For more information, click here.

In addition to our normal events the Astronomical Society will be holding a number of public outreach activities commemorating the International Year of Astronomy. For more information on IYA events, click here.

This Month's Activities

Friday, October 16, 2009: Jupiter and the Superior Planets

Location: Big Springs Park
Time: 7:30-11 pm
Meet: 5th Floor ESC 7:00 pm

Please remember to dress warm! It will be colder than you expect!
See the Star Parties page for more details and directions to Big Springs Park.

This site is located in a mountain valley which can be several degrees cooler than the city.  It will not be as cold as the last 2 star parties, but if you prepare for frigid weather you will be quite comfortable when night falls.  Please refer to the Star Parties webpage for more information.
 
All public stargazing events put on by the BYU Astronomical Society are subject to weather. If the skies are overcast on Friday then the star party will be cancelled.
 
Star Party Details
 
These observational events are designed to allow interested individuals the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of the untainted night sky in a friendly laidback setting. We will have plenty of telescopes to work with from the club. If you have one you are welcome to bring it along too.
 
Volunteers are needed to operate telescopes and give information to the public.  If you are interested in helping in any capacity email Josh Furner by clicking on the link below.  Telescope training will be available on Fridays from 7:30-10 pm.
 
If you have any questions please e-mail Josh Furner. For those of you who will need a ride please let me know. Details about meeting and departure will be sent out on Thursday evening.

Friday, October 23, 2009: BYU Physics Homecoming Solar Observing

Time: ~4pm
Location: West side of the Eyring Science Center

As part of the annual BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy homecoming dinner, we will have our new hydrogen alpha solar telescope set up in front of the Eyring Science Center for solar viewing. We will also have our regular planetarium shows and public observation time on the deck later in the evening.

Past Activities

Saturday, October 10, 2009: Telescope Workshop

Location: Eyring Science Center (Room TBA: watch the e-mail list)
Time: 7pm

How to build, repair, and use your telescope. If you have a broken telescope, one you bought at a garage sale or inherited, bring it and we'll help you fix it and learn how to use it!

We will also be constructing about 15 small wooden Dobsonian telescope mounts for club members who purchased an optical tube assembly through the club in August. If you are constructing a mount, come prepared to drill, sand, glue, and possibly paint. If you have a drill or other tools, bring them.

Please e-mail Nick if you're planning on bringing a scope so we can get an idea how many people to plan on.

Friday, September 18, 2009: The Summer Milky Way   CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

Location: Big Springs Park
Time: 8-11 pm
Meet: 5th Floor ESC 7:00 pm