Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, November 1, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Stick around after the meeting for a Presentation by member Jim Antetomaso on Pulsars and Quasars!

• Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes (Pending; I don't have them yet)

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt's are here!

• Make sure to pick yours up!  (After the meeting and presentation.)

• New Business:

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Emmorton Rec Center After-School STEM Program

• No additional feedback yet.

• Night at the Planetarium Spring Time!

• Where:  Southampton Middle School

• When:  Tuesday, March 3rd & Thursday, March 5th 7pm-9pm

• Fallston Middle School

• Open for a November or September data

• 6th Grade Science Class and families.

• Girl Scout Troop

• November 15

• At the Observatory

• Lack of update on the mount.

• Potential Meeting/OH options with HCPL.

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, September 27, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Arrival

• Lack of update from HCC regarding Scope, MOU, and Security issue

• New Business

• Delegation of duties to search for alternate locations for events.

• 2026 Schedule

• Planning

• Change in scheduling to be more member focused?

• Swap Meet Planning

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, August 2, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

• Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Orders

• Order has shipped

• New Business:

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Emmorton Rec Center After-School STEM Program

• No additional feedback yet.

• Black Forest Star Party

  • Registration opens Wednesday, 06Aug2025 at 0800.

  • 19-21Sep2025

  • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-forest-star-party-2025-tickets-1474637593739

• Discussion regarding the mount and scope in the dome.

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, July 5, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Agenda:

• Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Update

• New Business

• Financial Documentation/Location

• Limited/Discounted memberships for those with financial hardship.

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, June 7, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Agenda TBD

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, May 3, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Annual Report

• Treasurers Report

• The Year In Review

• What's Coming Up for HCAS

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Orders

• Order should be going out within the next week.

• IDSW Review

• New Business

• Board and Executive Committee Elections

• In-Person Ballots

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Emmorton Rec Center After-School STEM Program

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Post Meeting: Let's discuss some of the member activities we have been brainstorming.  We would love to get opinions and ideas.  What do you want to get out of your club?

HCAS is hosting a special open house event at the HCC observatory in celebration of International Dark Sky Week! We want to share with you our appreciation for dark skies and the importance of the nighttime environment. There will be telescope observations in the parking lot, but unlike regular open houses, this will be a moonless night! This will make all the star clusters, nebulae and galaxies easier to see! We also intend to give some very brief but informative talks about why dark skies are way more important than you think!

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, April 5, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Agenda:

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Orders

• Finalizing Orders

• New Business

• Board and Executive Committee Nominations

• To form Ballots for Annual Meeting in May

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• 2 Girl Scout Troops

• April 12, @2030 (yes, the requestor is aware this is a full moon!)

• TBD (Stupid Weather...) Looking for Sunday Nights.

• Emmorton Rec Center After-School STEM Program

• International Dark Sky Week Activities

• Lead by Tim Phelan

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, March 8, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Please see the agenda for the BOD Meeting tonight, 08Mar2025 at 1800.

• Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Update

• Updated discussion regarding discretionary fund for the Officers

• New Business

• Discuss/Prepare Board Positions up for Election this year.

• Astronomical League Award Discussion - Outreach Observer Award: Jason Morton

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Night at the Planetarium - An Evening of Starry Skies and Guided Telescope Observations

Thursday, March 06: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Southampton Middle School, 1200 Moores Mill Road

Age group:   Family

event type:  STEM, Community Partnerships

It's a double feature! Enjoy an indoor planetarium show and outdoor telescope viewing (weather permitting) courtesy of members of the Harford Astronomical Society.

Night at the Planetarium - An Evening of Starry Skies and Guided Telescope Observations

Tuesday, March 04: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Southampton Middle School, 1200 Moores Mill Road

Age group:   Family

event type:  STEM, Community Partnerships

It's a double feature! Enjoy an indoor planetarium show and outdoor telescope viewing (weather permitting) courtesy of members of the Harford Astronomical Society.

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, February 8, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Orders

• General interest

• Order Form

• New Business

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• SAME Chesapeake Post

• Thursday, 20March2025 @ Observatory

• Review of HCAS

• General Astronomy Discussion

• Light Pollution

• What can be observed in our area

• Trends in technology

• This will be catered by SAME (Yay!)

• International Dark Sky Week Activities

• Lead by Tim Phelan

• Astronomical League Award Discussion: Jason Morton

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Please stick around after the meeting for a Presentation from member Brent Mantooth:

This week, Dr. Brent Mantooth will discuss his Telescope Configuration & Backfocus Manager with club members. Join us at 6 PM this Saturday, February 8 at the Harford Community College Observatory for the talk, followed by an open house at 7 PM to observe celestial objects like the moon, planets, constellations, double stars, star clusters, nebulas, and galaxies through telescopes set up in the parking lot and the observatory dome.

The talk is geared towards those interested in imaging with telescopes but is also relevant for visual use. The tools help plan out parts like filters, spacers, and cameras needed for imaging, enabling quick configuration switches between planetary and deep sky imaging.

Agenda TBD

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, January 4, 2025. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, December 7, 2024. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Agenda:

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• T-Shirt Orders

• General interest

• Order Form

• Sell additional for club funds?

• "Rent an Astronomer" Committee.

• New Business

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Pack 800 Tiger Scouts.

• Wednesday, 08Jan2025 1800 @Observatory

• Astronomical League Award Discussion: Jason Morton

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, November 9, 2024. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Presentation:

So  You Want to Be An Astronomer!:-)

Abstract

 This presentation is a brief introduction to the amazing and exciting world of amateur astronomy.  It starts with a short overview of the history of astronomy and talks about some of the key historical figures.  We will talk about the different types of instruments that can be used to observe the night sky including binoculars, the different types of telescopes and even night vision scopes.   We will also discuss what sorts of things you can see in the night sky and talk about how and why what you see through an eye piece looks different than what you can see with a camera.   Finally, we will discuss light pollution and its negative effects as well as how to be safe while you are observing the night sky!   This talk is designed for curious kids of all ages, so be welcome and bring LOTS OF QUESTIONS!!

Agenda

Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• Rent an Astronomer Update

• T-shirt Update

• New Business

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Fallston Middle School 6th Grade Science Stargazing - 12Nov2024 1700 @ Fallston Middle School.

• Girl Scout Troop - 15Nov2024 1800 @ Observatory

• 2025 Open House/Meeting Schedule

• Astronomical League Award Discussion: Jason Morton

• Round Table

• Adjourn

Everyone is invited to the HCAS Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2024. HCAS members will have their telescopes in the parking lot in front of the Observatory for observing planets, stars and nebulae. The large telescope in the dome will also be available. Stay tuned for updates on presentations and other activities!

Agenda:

• Review Agenda

• Approve previous meeting minutes

• Treasurer's Report

• Old Business:

• Status of Mount in Dome

• Update on Fundraising Plan

• New Business

• Upcoming Outreach Events:

• Klepsig Family Stargazing - 19Oct2024 2000 @ the Observatory

• Fallston Middle School 6th Grade Science Stargazing - 12Nov2024 1700 @ Fallston Middle School.

• T-Shirts

• General interest

• Order Form

• Sell additional for club funds?

• Astronomical League Award Discussion: Jason Morton

• Round Table

• Adjourn