Ross will be giving a presentation on the upcoming Transit of Venus event, which will include a slide show of its 2004 twin event and his trip to Alaska to see it.

Friday, May 18, 2012:
Board Meeting at 6:30 PM
General Meeting at 8:00 PM
Both held at Sac City College, Mohr Hall
(click here for directions)

Title: What is Dark Matter?

Abstract: Astronomers have come to the amazing conclusion that most of the matter and energy in the universe cannot be directly detected.  This talk will present multiple and independent observations that have forced astronomers to this conclusion, and discuss what may this mysterious dark matter may consist of.

Friday, June 15, 2012:
Board Meeting at 6:30 PM
General Meeting at 8:00 PM
Both held at Sac City College, Mohr Hall
(click here for directions)

About Dr. Margoniner:

My main scientific interests are in cluster and galaxy evolution; mechanisms of cluster detection; large-scale structure; weak and strong gravitational lensing and observational cosmology.

I am deeply involved with the Deep Lens Survey (DLS), an ultra-deep multi-band optical survey covering 20 square degrees of “blank”regions in the sky. The main goal of this project is to use weak gravitational lensing to map the large-scale structure of the mass distribution, producing the first-ever sample of clusters selected by mass (shear-selected). The DLS has recently completed imaging observations and we have just computed photometric redshifts for the entire survey. I am in the process of optically searching for clusters and want to address cluster and galaxy evolution using the multi-band photometry plus redshifts. Also, adding accurate galaxy shapes will allow us to also address structure formation through weak-lensing and cosmic shear.

Here are the candidates:

For Officer positions:

Pres       Ross Gorman
VP          Walt Heiges
Sec         Nerissa Adams
Tres       Kirk Alexander

Board of Director seats:

Ramona Glasgow
Perry Porter (incumbent)
Lonnie Robinson
Richard Sandler

Friday, March 16, 2012:
Board Meeting at 6:30 PM
General Meeting at 8:00 PM
Both held at Sac City College, Mohr Hall
(click here for directions)

Please contact Kirk Alexander (kdalex@ucdavis.edu)    if you are interested in giving this a try.   If it’s too much for you, we can continue the search.

March 3 – Mars at Opposition.

March 8 – Full Moon.

March 14 – Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.

March 20 – March Equinox.

March 22 – New Moon.

Visit Sea & Sky for more information on these events.

Before 2004, the last pair of transits were in December 1874 and December 1882. The first of a pair of transits of Venus in the beginning of the 21st century took place on June 8, 2004 and the next will be on June 6, 2012. After 2012, subsequent transits of Venus will be in December 2117 and December 2125. Learn more at Wikipedia or by searching on Google for “Transit of Venus.”

Below are February’s astronomical events, from Sea & Sky.

February 7 – Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 21:54 UTC.

February 20 – March 12 – Best Chance to see Mercury. The planet Mercury will be far enough from the Sun’s glare to be visible shortly after sunset. Mercury will reach greatest elongation from the Sun on March 5, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1. This will be your best chance to see the planet this year.

February 21 – New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 22:35 UTC.

Nov. 18: Board Meeting at 6:30 PM
General Meeting at 8:00 PM
Both held at Sac City College, Mohr Hall
(click here for directions)

Nov. 26: Member Star Party

Sacramento City College
Mohr Hall Room 3
(click here for directions)

The first Astrophotography (AP) Boot Camp will provide a warm-up class for anyone who has thought of, or is starting to, dabble in digital astrophotography. SVAS amateur photographer Jason Gayman has spent two years learning the ropes and will present a beginner’s guide on what it takes to get started and the natural progression (and expenses!) along the way – you can’t rush this hobby.

Without a doubt, astrophotography can become a very expensive hobby, but anyone with a camera can begin simply with little added costs, and work up the equipment chain at their own pace. Jason will cover his evolution on the Digital SLR (DSLR) path. We’ll have additional speakers (Patrick Harrold, a.k.a. “Astro Dude”, for example), who will talk about CCD-imaging and creating color images using colored filters.

We’ll show you some images “along the way” so you can see what to expect as you develop new skills, hone your technique, and buy more toys!

The 2011 SVAS Calendar will be available for the first time at the October General Meeting.