The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society

The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society is an association of amateur and professional astronomers who have joined to share our knowledge and our love of the sky. The BSAS is open to anyone; the only criteria for membership are an interest in astronomy and a desire to share that interest. Welcome to our website, and please visit again soon!

BSAS ANNUAL PICNIC
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7^th AT THE HOME OF MARK AND ANNE MANNER
The annual picnic of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will be held on Saturday, August 7th starting at 4:00pm at the home of Mark and Anne Manner. This event will be held cloud or shine. The club will be providing paper plates, utensils, cups, and ice. Please bring enough food and drink for your party, plus some to share. There will be viewing that night if weather permits. Directions to the location are available on Mark's web site, http://www.spotastro.com/Directions.html.

PUBLIC STAR PARTY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14^th AT EDWIN WARNER PARK
The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, Sudekum Planetarium, and Warner Parks will be hosting a public star party at the Warner Parks Special Events Field on Saturday, August 14 from 8:30 PM until 10:30 PM.

This event will be free and open to the public.
We hope to see you there!

AUGUST BSAS MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19^th AT THE ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER
The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will hold its July Membership Meeting on Thursday, July 15th at 7:30pm at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.

Apocalypse 2012?
Debunking the Mayan Myth of the End of the World
Does the end of the Mayan “Long Count Calendar” predict an apocalyptic end to our planet on December 21, 2012? Santos López, former BSAS president and amateur Mayan researcher, will explain facts about Mayan history and culture, their astonishing astronomical discoveries, and the link between 80‘s New Age beliefs and the current hysteria about the meaning of 2012.

This event will be free and open to the public.

BSAS News

7/15 - The July Eclipse is ready! This issue includes reports from the June board and membership meetings, the BSAS event calendar, a message from our president, upcoming events such as this month's membership meeting and more!

Email subscribers will receive the latest issue today and members subscribing to the print version should receive their copies in the mail shortly. While the the latest issues are available only to members, over seven years of back issues are available online in the Eclipse Archive.

News in Astronomy and Space Science

Mars Rover Opportunity Finally Sees Martian Dust Devil (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - After more than six years roaming the surface of Mars, NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has spotted its first dust devil on the red planet.

Chinese Space Junk Won't Endanger Space Station Crew (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - A piece of Chinese space junk expected to zoom by the International Space Station Thursday will pass harmlessly by, NASA officials said after scrambling to determine whether the six people aboard the outpost would have to take shelter in their Russian lifeboats as a precaution.

Chinese Space Junk May Threaten Space Station Crew (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - NASA is tracking a piece of Chinese space junk that is headed uncomfortably close to the International Space Station and may force the outpost's crew to take shelter in their Russian lifeboats as a precaution.

Debate Heats Up Over Meteor's Role in Ice Age (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - Some scientists have thought that the Earth's Ice Age conditions 12,900 years ago were triggered by a meteor or comet. But a recent study suggests that the evidence pointing to the ancient impact is nothing more than fungus and other matter.

Shuttle contractor laying off 1,400 workers (AP)
AP - The private contractor that handles the bulk of the work servicing NASA's space shuttle fleet is notifying 1,400 employees in Florida, Texas and Alabama that they will be laid off in the fall.

How Astronomy Lit Up the Solar System (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - Astronomy has come a long way in the 401 years since Galileo turned his first primitive telescope to the sky, so it may be no surprise we see a very different solar system than the field's earliest pioneers did.

More Than 1,300 Space Shuttle Workers Get Layoff Notices (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - More than 1,300 space shuttle workers received layoff notices this week from United Space Alliance, a NASA contractor that is cutting 15 percent of its 8,100-person workforce ahead of the shuttle fleet's retirement next year.

Massive Black Hole Bends Light to Magnify Distant Galaxy (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - A giant black hole spouting energy from inside a galaxy is acting like a cosmic magnifying glass, giving astronomers a clear view of an even more distant galaxy behind it.

Some space shuttle workers get layoff notice (Reuters)

Reuters - NASA's prime space shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, sent layoff notices this week to more than 15 percent of its 8,100-member shuttle work force, officials said on Tuesday.

Asteroid Could Threaten the Earth in 2182 (SPACE.com)
SPACE.com - A large asteroid in space that has a remote chance of slamming into the Earth would be most likely hit in 2182, if it crashed into our planet at all, a new study suggests.


BSAS Affiliations
	The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society is a member of the Astronomical League, an organization of over 240 local amateur astronomy organizations from across the United States with the common goal of promoting and encouraging interest in astronomy.
	The BSAS is also a member of the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization dedicated to reducing the adverse environmental impact of light pollution on dark skies by building awareness of the problem and its solutions.
	The BSAS has been selected by NASA to be a member of the Night Sky Network, a nationwide coalition of amateur astronomy societies committed to sharing their time, their telescopes, and their enthusiasm for astronomy with their local communities.
	The BSAS works with Adventure Science Center of Nashville to promote interest in astronomy and the sciences in Middle Tennessee. The ASC and its Sudekum Planetarium also host our monthly membership meetings, and promote BSAS events on their websites as well.

BSAS News

News in Astronomy and Space Science

BSAS Affiliations