News

The VNHA Scholarship Program is still accepting applications
(see below).

Please share this information with graduating high school seniors or undergraduate college students majoring in astronomy, mathematics, and physical sciences. 

Established in 1973, the Denver Astronomical Society’s Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship (VNHA) supports graduating high school and undergraduate college students majoring in astronomy and the physical sciences

Each year, scholarships may be awarded to students in good academic standing who have demonstrated intent and merit to pursue a career in the physical sciences or mathematics. VNHA gives priority to students of astronomy, astrophysics, and related fields.

To Apply

Applicants should complete the application process at THIS LINK starting April 1 each year. VNHA will only consider applicants whose applications we receive by June 15 each year. VNHA will typically give awards around August 1.

If you need help using the Paperform application website, please contact Josef Scarantino, Chair of the Scholarships Committee, at VNHA@denverastro.org.

The deadline to apply is June 15, 2025

For detailed information, see the VNHA Scholarship page on our web site:
https://www.denverastro.org/resources/scholarship/

The purpose of the In-Reach Program is for DAS Members to share their experience, and ongoing astronomy-related projects, with other DAS Members.

Do you have an ongoing astronomy interest, or project, that you would like to share with other DAS Members? We host these presentations on selected Saturday nights at Chamberlin Observatory.

Possible topics could include: Observing techniques, coming galaxy and nebula observing targets, astrophotography, astronomy software, equipment demonstrations, etc.

The sky is the limit!

If interested contact the In-Reach Coordinator at: InreachCoordinator@denverastro.org

Attention Astrophotographers!

Enter NASA’s 2024 Summer Astrophoto Challenge and create your image of the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) using James Webb Space Telescope data. You can capture your real-time telescope image using the MicroObservatory robotic telescope network or work with data files taken with multi-wavelength space-based missions from NASA, ESA, and CSA (Hubble, Webb, Chandra, Spitzer). Submissions end July 31, 2024.

We’d love to see a DAS member recognized for their talent!

Learn more: https://mo-www.cfa.harvard.edu/OWN/astrophoto/index.html

ALCON 2024 tickets and room reservations are now open for purchase and booking!

Purchase ALCON Tickets HERE

Room reservations are now open for the special ALCON rate at the Overland Park Doubletree Inn. Book now at  https://group.doubletree.com/hp0506

Highlights include:

• Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Mo., will provide a private presentation in their facility.
• Linda Hall Library, a world-famous science and technology research library, will feature guest speaker David Levy and a chance to visit the library’s rare book room, featuring such books as two of the few extant copies of Galileo’s Siderius Nuncius (1610).
• Powell Observatory for a presentation by ASKC member and astronomy student Rachel Cionitti and an evening of stargazing with the 30-inch Ruisinger Telescope (weather permitting). The observatory visit will be preceded by a stop at the beautiful Overland Park Arboretum for a StarBQ dinner featuring a local Kansas City-style BBQ.
• The Banquet features a local jazz band, and Brown University professor of physics and astronomy and jazz musician Stephon Alexander will discuss his latest book, The Jazz of Physics.

For an up-to-date list of the speaker lineup, please check here:
https://alcon2024.astroleague.org/speakers/

LOCATION

DoubleTree by Hilton Kansas City - Overland Park, 66210

The beautiful Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is the site of the Traditional Friday night Star-B-Que Zarda Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q, which has been serving its special offerings for almost 50 years in the Kansas City area. They are also strong community partners with many Kansas City area charities and non-profits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, The America Royal, and The Bishop Sullivan Center, which is committed to helping people cope with financial hardships.

The Great American Eclipse of 2024 is just around the corner. To accommodate those who would like to see the eclipse but can’t or won’t be traveling to the path of totality, DAS is planning to hold a special partial solar eclipse observing event at DU’s historic Chamberlin Observatory on Monday, April 8, weather permitting. We need volunteers to set up and operate solar telescopes and binoculars on the park lawn for public observation, and at least one volunteer to help sell eclipse glasses (while supplies last).

What: Partial solar eclipse observing event

When: Monday, April 8, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT

Where: Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Ave., Denver

If you’re able to help with this event, plan on showing up between about 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to set up. We recommend that volunteers bring and wear sunscreen and a hat. The observatory will not be open for tours, but will be open for restroom access.

Please let Mark Christman (AprilEclipse@denveratro.org) know if you would like to be among the volunteers.

AprilEclipse@denverastro.org

Denver Astronomical Society Eclipse Glasses Bundle

We have quite a few eclipse glasses left and really need your help* in moving through some of them.

The DAS Eclipse Bundle includes one pair of ISO12312-2-certified solar viewing glasses and a commemorative 2023/2024 Great North American Eclipse Tour sticker.

Our eclipse glasses are certified to meet all safety standards for direct solar viewing and are produced in the USA by American Paper Optics.

Glasses and the free commemorative sticker can be ordered through through our special Eclipse Glasses Store.

If you've got friends or family anywhere along the eclipse, especially within the path of totality, these would make a great gift!

*Each purchase helps us a great deal to continue our mission of educating the public about all things astronomy, maintaining the Chamberlin Observatory, the Kline-Dodge Dark Sky Site, and much more!

Reminder: Voting is now OPEN for Executive Board Officers and Trustees

This is your opportunity to select who will play a leadership role in Denver Astronomical Society, one of the largest astronomy clubs in the U.S. We urge you to participate!

Your ballot invitation has been emailed to the email address you used to register your account with DAS.

Per our Bylaws (https://denverastro.org/docs/20230925BylawsSigned.pdf), Executive Board Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and Trustees (eight positions) serve one-year terms.

For this year's nominations and election, Greg Fogarty is our Election Chairperson. If you have any questions, please email elections@denverastro.org

Here are some key dates to remember:

February 4, 2024 - Nominations close at midnight.
February 5, 2024 - Electronic voting begins at 9:00 p.m.

February 12, 2024 - Voting will end during our Annual Business Meeting; the results will be announced after the meeting's presentation.

March 24, 2024 - Newly-elected Officers and Trustees will be seated during our Spring Banquet.

DAS General Meeting
April 22, 2022
with Dr. Charles Nick Arge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltQON7PQg9g

DAS In-Reach March 26, 2022

"Women in Space and Astronomy" presented by Sabrina DeSoto