Free and Open to the Public 

This meeting will be via Zoom.   
If you don't have Zoom installed, the application will automatically download and install when you click the link.  Or go to Zoom.us to download the interface application.

Zoom meeting link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83680530134

The Zoom link  will also be emailed to all VAS Members.

Note:
Jack will start the meeting at 7:30 pm, but you can join starting at about 7:15 pm and make sure you connect correctly.     

Main Presentation - 

Distant Galaxy Imaging – Davis Mountains, Texas

By Steve Grimsley

In May, 2021 the Prude Ranch, in the Davis Mountains of west Texas, stepped up and held a small, week long, star party filling in for the COVID cancelled annual Texas Star Party. Being in the spring, and at 30 degrees latitude, it is the ideal time and place to observe and image the galaxies in constellations Leo, Leo Minor, Coma Berenices, and best of all Virgo. The weather this year was a broad mix of clear and stable to strong storms and wind. High winds during the night were a particular challenge. To capture the maximum of image scale on distant galaxies I was using the full 1085 mm focal length of my Astro-Physics 155 EDFS refractor at f/7. Achieving sufficient stability at this focal length in an exposed field location was, at times, very difficult. Not only was wind a problem there was also significant temperature changes, up and down, during an exposure run. Tracking and camera focus were both compromised under these conditions. During the better periods of the week I was able to gather 9 images of galaxy and galaxy groups.

The presentation will start with a discussion of the imaging telescope, accessory optics, guide scope, mount, and the Canon Ra camera. This year's weather challenges will also be mentioned along with the mitigation strategies used during the acquisition. Then we will move to the galaxy images acquired noting their classification group according to their morphology using the Hubble – De Vaucouleurs chart. The most distant galaxies that we will be looking at are from the Abell 1656 Coma Cluster of galaxies at about 336 million light years. The presentation will be an open format with comments and questions welcome. 

 Following the main presentation, our recurring monthly presentations will include Constellation of the Month  by Terri Zittritsch

Free and Open to the Public 

This meeting will be via Zoom.   
If you don't have Zoom installed, the application will automatically download and install when you click the link.  Or go to Zoom.us to download the interface application.

Zoom meeting link:
TBD

The Zoom link  will also be emailed to all VAS Members.

Note:
Jack will start the meeting at 7:30 pm, but you can join starting at about 7:15 pm and make sure you connect correctly.     

Luminous (an Astronomical Documentary)

Directed by Sam Smartt 

Luminous tells the story of the highly publicized prediction of a binary star merger in the constellation of Cygnus in 2022. The film follows astronomer Larry Molnar’s five-year journey to make and test his historic prediction, knowing that its success or failure will unfold squarely in the international spotlight.

Followed by a Q & A session.

Following the main presentation, our recurring monthly presentations will include Constellation of the Month  by Terri Zittritsch

Free and Open to the Public 

This meeting will be via Zoom.   
If you don't have Zoom installed, the application will automatically download and install when you click the link.  Or go to Zoom.us to download the interface application.

Zoom meeting link:
TBD

The Zoom link  will also be emailed to all VAS Members.

Note:
Jack will start the meeting at 7:30 pm, but you can join starting at about 7:15 pm and make sure you connect correctly.     

Design and Operation of the James Webb Space Telescope

By Scott Tunbull 

Description will be coming.

Following the main presentation, our recurring monthly presentations will include Constellation of the Month  by Terri Zittritsch