Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

One of our members, Brody Wesner, patiently waited for the clouds to part on March 3rd and captured images of the total lunar eclipse. Here's one of them...

Professor Michael Meyer, chair of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Michigan, will join us this Friday, March 6th, at 7:00 pm EST. Professor Meyer will discuss UM's involvement in the 39-meter Extremely Large Telescope. Learn more at www.kasonline.org/schedule.html.

The weather may not be favorable, but a total lunar eclipse will occur on the morning of March 3rd. Please refer to the table below, which is set for southwest Michigan, or download our March Night Sky star map to read more: www.kasonline.org/files/0326ma....

We delve into the various types of telescopes to determine which one might be right for you on Feb. 28th, at 1pm, in Part 4 of the "Introduction to Amateur Astronomy" lecture series. We'll also cover the wide range of accessories available. Learn more and register at www.kasonline.org/amastro.html.

We are excited to announce three upcoming Astrophotography Seminars starting one month from today. These seminars are completely FREE and will be held via Zoom. For more information and to register, please visit our schedule page: www.kasonline.org/schedule.html

Special thanks to Jim Bradshaw, Jack Price, Don Stilwell, and Dave Woolf for representing the KAS at the Hastings Public Library's annual Family Science Night on Feb. 18th. Visitors to our station made their own planispheres, which they can use to track down those elusive stars and constellations.

Another one of our members, John Van’t Land, captured this evening's Moon-Mercury conjunction from the parking lot of Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

Mercury was only 50 arcminutes (0.8°) above a very young waxing crescent Moon this evening. KAS member Pete Mumbower captured this image from his home in Vicksburg, MI.

The schedule for the 2026 Public Observing Sessions at the Kalamazoo Nature Center is now available on our website. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us on every clear night starting in April. www.kasonline.org/observing.html

Tonight's Online Viewing Session, the last of the season, is ON. Be our Valentine and attend starting at 9pm EST! We'll take a tour of some of the best deep-sky objects the winter sky has to offer. Click the link to register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi....

Our "Introduction to Amateur Astronomy" series continues tomorrow, Feb. 14th, at 1:00 pm EST. Part 3 is entitled "Binocular Basics." Binoculars make an ideal first "telescope," but which ones are best for astronomy? You’ll be amazed at what you can see! Register at www.kasonline.org/amastro.html.

Stargazing is one of the most romantic activities! Join us this Valentine's Day at 9pm EST for the final Online Viewing Session of the season. For more information and to register, please visit our online viewing webpage. www.kasonline.org/viewing.html

KAS member Jim Kurtz recently captured this image of the globular cluster Omega Centauri from his observatory at Arizona Sky Village. He used a TeleVue 127is telescope and a ZWO ASI071MC camera mounted on an Astro-Physics Mach1GTO mount. The image is a stack of 25 subframes, each lasting 3 minutes.

Our 90th anniversary celebration continues on Feb. 6th, at 7pm EST. Christopher Stubbs, the Samuel C. Moncher Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Harvard University, will present (via Zoom) "The Vera C. Rubin Observatory: A New Eye Opens on the Universe." More at: www.kasonline.org/schedule.html

We are…barely!

The Moon, just one day past full, will occult Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, tonight (2/2). From West Michigan, Leo’s blazing heart suddenly disappears at about 8:45pm EST, only to dramatically reappear at 9:43pm. Make sure to observe the occultation with binoculars or a telescope for a better view.

YouTube video by Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Introduction to Amateur Astronomy - Part 1: Our Place Among the Infinities

Part 1 of the "Introduction to Amateur Astronomy" lecture series, "Our Place Among the Infinities," is now available for your viewing pleasure on the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society's YouTube channel. Join us for Part 2 on January 31st! youtu.be/RA2Gd3GrzXs?...

It's really cold out there today, but hopefully this fact will help. One of the coldest places in the solar system is on Neptune's largest moon (by far), Triton. Its average surface temperature is -235° C (-391° F). Feel better? 🥶

YouTube video by Kalamazoo Astronomical Society "Venus as a Potentially Habitable Planet" by Professor Sara Seager

The feature presentation from our January General Meeting, titled "Venus as a Potentially Habitable Planet" by Prof. Sara Seager, is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel. Enjoy! youtu.be/WdkP3tvGSjk?...

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society to help amateur astronomers shoot for the moon with upcoming five-part lecture series The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society (KAS) is set to host a five-part virtual lecture series titled “Introduction to Amateur Astronomy” beginning Jan. 17.

Story on the "Introduction to Amateur Astronomy" series by the Western Herald (WMU's student newspaper). www.westernherald.com/news/article...

Tonight's Online Viewing Session is ON! Join us as we explore the deep-sky wonders of the winter sky starting at 9 PM EST. If you haven't registered yet, be sure to do so now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

KAS Double Header! Join us for our January General Meeting tonight at 7 PM, featuring Prof. Sara Seager, and don't miss our Online Viewing Session tomorrow at 9 PM. Let's kick off our 90th anniversary on a high note! For more details, visit our schedule page: www.kasonline.org/schedule.html.

Join us for a tour of some deep-sky wonders this Saturday, January 10th, during our upcoming Online Viewing Session. We will start at 9pm EST. Everyone is welcome to participate, but please note that registration is required (www.kasonline.org/schedule.html).

Our year-long 90th anniversary celebration begins this Friday, January 9th, at 7pm. Please join at the Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center or on Zoom. Follow this link to register on Zoom: www.kasonline.org/schedule.html

Happy Perihelion Day! Today, at approximately 12:15 PM EST, Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun for 2026. Measured from center to center, the distance between the Sun and Earth will be 91,403,637 miles. Earth's distance from the Sun varies slightly each day due to its elliptical orbit.

KAS member Tim Kurtz captured this view of the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae from his family's property at Arizona Sky Village. He used an Askar 71F refractor, a ZWO AM5N mount, and an ASI071MC camera. He took 160 2-minute subframes and processed the final image with PixInsight and Adobe Lightroom.

On behalf of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, we wish you a joyful holiday season. We look forward to celebrating our 90th anniversary with you throughout 2026!

Looking for a last-minute gift for the astronomy nut in your life? Consider a membership in the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, the oldest and largest astronomy club in Michigan. Next year marks our 90th anniversary, and we have many exciting special events planned. www.kasonline.org/joining.html

ONE MONTH AWAY! The "Introduction to Amateur Astronomy" lecture series starts on January 17th. Over 300 people have already registered. Sign up now, attend all five sessions, and you'll earn a Certificate of Completion. www.kasonline.org/amastro.html

Online Viewing Session - December 13, 2025 YouTube video by Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

That's a wrap! The most recent Online Viewing Session, our last activity of the year, is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel. Our year-long 90th anniversary celebration begins on January 9th. Join us! www.youtube.com/live/40bYTSy...