12/5 7:00 PM Club Meeting - UNA Planetarium and Observatory. • Shoals Astronomy Club

7:00 to 7:30PM Club Business
- Open Business
- Club Chat room
- Plan Schedule Club Observing night
7:30 to 9:00PM Astronomy Topics and Presentations
- Watch Shoals Astronomy Club Facebook page for Schedule changes

Future Calendar
- Next Meeting: 12/5 7:00 PM UNA Planetarium and Observatory.
- Geminids Star Party: 12/13-12/14 (tentative) Lagrange
Some Observation Opportunities – Notes from Astronomical League, “What’s up Doc”
- Shower Duration Maximum Type
  - Geminids 12/7 to 12/17 12/13 Major
  - Ursids 12/17 to 12/26 12/22 Moderate
- Binocular Messier – Monthly highlights include:
  - Easy – 2, 15, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 45, 50, 52, 103.
- Planetary – These are the tasks that can be done this month:
  - Sun – Any clear day is a good time to get those sunspots. Sunset is 1723 CT at mid-month.
  - Moon: The Maria requirement can be done any time the moon is visible. Look after 12/26 and before 12/12 for the best views.
    - The Highlands requirement can be done at the same time.
    - The Crater Ages requirement is best done on 12/25 and 12/26.
    - The Scarps requirement is best done on 12/27.
    - Occultations occur all the time, the bright ones can be found on the internet. Objects disappear on the East side of the moon.
- Mercury, Venus, and Mars are not available in the evening sky mid-month.
- Asteroids – Course Plotting and Measuring Movement requirements can be done at any time on any asteroid.
  - Ceres is in Cetus and is up all evening mid-month.
- Jupiter is in Gemini and rises at 1828 mid-month.
- Saturn is in Aquarius and is up all evening mid-month.
- Uranus is in Taurus and is up all evening mid-month.
- Neptune is in Pisces and is up all evening mid-month.
- Pluto is in Capricorn and sets at 2005 mid-month.
Watch Shoals Astronomy Club Facebook page for Schedule changes and weather cancellations, or Shoals Astronomy Club Google Groups emails. https://www.facebook.com/shoalsastro/about_details/

Welcome!

If you own cameras, binoculars or a telescope, and you enjoy getting lost under an inky black sky filled with stars, you’ve reached the right place. We’re a local group of backyard astronomers and stargazers, formed for a shared curiosity about the tiny place we occupy in this magnificent universe, and the amazing views this hobby provides.

Club meetings are generally held on the last Friday of each month at the UNA Planetarium and Observatory in Florence, and at LaGrange College Historic Site in March and September. The public is always welcome to our meetings.

If weather permits, we also set up telescopes during First Fridays Florence — sometimes at the corner of Tennessee and Seminary, and others at Court and Mobile.

If you have questions, please contact us via email (shoalsastro@gmail.com), or visit our Facebook page. Clear skies!