ASG member Kevin A. Wilson will present on ancient Babylonian astronomical texts. Astronomy began in ancient Mesopotamia, and we have a rich record of star catalogues and planetary observations from Sumeria, Babylon, and Assyria. An overview of these texts will be provide, followed by a more in-depth discussion of observations of Venus from the 17th… Read More »June Meeting: Ancient Babylonian Astronomical Texts
The Alpha Capricornids are active from July 3–August 15 with a maximum centered on July 28. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces in excess of five shower members per hour. What is notable about this shower is the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. For more information on meteor… Read More »Alpha Capricornids
ASG Vice President Anwar Al-Mallah will present the latest updates to the astronomy simulation software he has previously shown to the club. These programs will include Universe Sandbox, Space Engine, Stellarium, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. New features in Universe Sandbox include the ability to model climate and cloud cover more accurately. The graphics quality in… Read More »July Meeting: Astronomy Simulation Software
The 2021 Astronomical League Convention will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's speakers include: Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist who discovered pulsars Dr. Caitlin Ahrens, Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Dr. David Levy, science writer and amateur astronomer, who has discovered multiple comets and minor planets Conal Richards, founder… Read More »Astronomical League 2021 Convention
The 2023 SARA Eastern Conference will be held at the Green Bank Observatory, West Virginia, Sunday through Tuesday, August 20–22. 2023. Visit the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomer's website for more details. Please note that this event is not hosted by the Astronomical Society of Greenbelt. It is listed here as a courtesy to another… Read More »Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers 2023 Eastern Conference
The Astronomical Society of Greenbelt will present material and lead a discussion on the topic of dark matter and related matters, including dark energy, cosmological structure, relativistic and quantum mechanical considerations, and the present state of physics regarding all this. Dark matter has been hypothesized by astrophysicists to account for galactic motions which cannot be… Read More »August Meeting: Dark Matters
We'll be observing Summer Triangle objects and more, possibly including the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn if they are not obscured by houses or trees. Chad Leader and Conrad Terrill will be doing the observing from their back yards, and George Stallings might be able to join as well. All are welcome to join the Zoom… Read More »Virtual Star Party
Dr. Tim Hamilton, professor of physics and director of the Clark Planetarium at Shawnee State University, will present a lecture entitled "Using Gravitational Lenses as Natural Telescopes." This event is free and open to the public. Join the Zoom meeting.
The radiant point for the Draconids is the head of the dragon in the constellation Draco. The peak is on the evening of October 8. Unlike most meteor showers, this one is best viewed in the early evening. This year, a waxing crescent moon will set during dusk, so it won't obscure the shower. The… Read More »Draconid Meteor Shower
Astronomy Day is a biannual event held in the United States and other countries. It is intended to promote interest in astronomy and interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups, and professionals. The day is observed in the spring and the fall. Astronomy Day in the spring always falls on a Saturday… Read More »Astronomy Day