Author: Paul Severance
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Malcolm and Maggie’s Messier Marathon
Messier Takeaways: Getting there is half the fun! I often found the Mag 5-7 asterisms, binaries, and carbon stars along the way during a starhop far more interesting than the actual Messier object, once I found it. Messier Objects Identified to Date 30 Messier objects positively identified since switching to active stargazing in November 2021 after detailed survey of the moon. Observations made either in Clifton, VA (Home) or at Great Meadow (GM). Table above summarizes observations (I Read more […] -
Join NOVAC at Viva Vienna 2022!
Join NOVAC at Viva Vienna 2022! NOVAC will host a tent on Sunday May 29th and Monday May 30th (event days #2 and #3) at this annual carnival of family fun. Viva Vienna serves as a major fundraising opportunity for the Vienna Rotary Club so that it may, in turn, provide support for charitable, educational, and community groups the following year. More information to follow, including how you can help NOVAC during the weekend event. We’ll need some greeters and a few volunteers with solar Read more […] -
Astro-Traveler Paul Derby Visits the Prime Meridian!
Suffering from COVID isolation or cabin fever? Longing to get out and do something related to your astronomy hobby? Consider a trip to London! My spouse was headed there for work meetings and I decided to tag along. Read about my travels and astronomy experiences! My spouse was headed to London for work meetings and I tagged along feeling the risks of contracting hospitalized COVID was low enough given the effectiveness of vaccines in diminishing the effects of COVID and the public Read more […] -
Urban Stargazing at George Mason University – Apr 9th!!
NOVAC is joining GMU’s Arlington campus with a campus stargazing event, Saturday, April 9th from 7:30pm to 9pm. We still need additional volunteers so if you’re interested in helping with this event, please send a note to: outreach@novac.com. [Read More] George Mason University, Arlington Campus Night Sky Viewing Date(s): Saturday, April 9; 8pm to 9:30pm Location: Arlington, VA- Outdoor plaza in front of Van Metre Hall, Schar School of Policy and Government (3351 Fairfax Read more […] -
A Messier Moment at Staunton River State Park
NOVAC Messier Marathon Challenge, by Dan Ward ….A wonderful 3-D view hit my eye with swirling streams of sparkling stars and dust lanes. Even the tether to the companion offered a great view. This was truly the most spectacular live galaxy view I have experienced in 55 years of observing… [Read More} On Friday evening, April 1, 2022 at the Staunton River State Park Starparty (SRSP), the night began with a public observing event from 7:30 – 9:30pm. I made a quick observation of Andromeda Read more […] -
Kevin Haslag’s Messier Journal 2022
Kevin took the NOVAC Messier Challenge! Read about his results – nice job Kevin and thanks for the lessons learned! Kevin’s Journal: The goal of this challenge was to try to identify 5 Messier objects in a single night. I decided to try this challenge from my house in Vienna, Virginia on the outskirts of Tysons Corner – a very light polluted area. Observing was done from the front driveway which has a good view from the zenith to the west/southwest horizon. Looking towards the east, Read more […] -
Astro-3D Print Group Meeting Coming Soon!
Hello fellow Astro-3D-printers! In our next meeting Stefano Antonini will discuss techniques and plans for a 3D printed barn door astro-tracker that he and fellow NOVAC member, Chris Papageorgakis have been designing, taking inspiration from two similar designs posted. If you’re part of NOVAC’s 3D print group please join use for the discussion on 11 Jan 22 from 7-8pm EST, using the link provided to the group via email. In this meeting Stefano explain how a barn door tracker works, the Read more […] -
Astro-Travelers Lloyd and Susan Franklin witness the 4 Dec 21 Total Solar Eclipse from Antarctica
NOVAC’s intrepid eclipse observers, Lloyd and Susan Franklin have done it again capturing the recent Dec 4th total solar eclipse from the continent of Antarctica. Chasing total solar eclipses (TSEs) has always been a niche hobby of Lloyd’s – witnessing the eclipse of 4 Dec brings Lloyd’s total viewed TSEs to eleven, AND with this recent success he has now witnessed them from all seven continents of the world! According to Lloyd, chasing eclipses offers a great reason to visit some Read more […] -
NOVAC Supports US Naval Academy
On November 5, 2021, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) Physics Department and STEM Center welcomed 170 USNA Faculty and Staff and their friends and families to its annual Family Night. Presented in collaboration with the USNA Midshipman Astronomy Club, Family Night was a 2-hour “star party” that included a Planetarium Show, observing Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in a visit to the Class of ’41 Observatory, and hands-on STEM activities presented by midshipmen. LCDR Kai Seglem Read more […] -
Mason by Moonlight
George Mason University (GMU) played host to over 200 visitors during their Mason by Moonlight event on 16 October 2021. NOVAC was pleased to support the GMU Astronomy Department to help showcase the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn by offering nice telescope views from just outside the astronomy department on the university campus. Students representing GMU’s Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) were on hand to showcase the university’s observatory and 32” telescope and as well as provide Read more […]
