National Capital Astronomers

About NCA

NCA logo Serving science and society since 1937. The National Capital Astronomers (NCA) is a non-profit, membership supported, volunteer run, public service corporation dedicated to advancing space technology, astronomy, and related sciences through information, participation, and inspiration, via research, lectures and presentations, publications, expeditions, tours, public interpretation, and education. NCA is the astronomy affiliate of the Washington Academy of Sciences. We are also members of the Astronomical League, in fact NCA members helped form the Astronomical League a long time ago.

NCA has for many years published a monthly newsletter called Star Dust that is available for members. Besides announcement of coming NCA meetings and a calendar of monthly events Star Dust contains reviews of past meeting and articles on current astronomical events.

NCA is a very unusual astronomy organization. All are welcome to join. Everyone who looks up to the sky with wonder is an astronomer and welcomed by NCA. You do not have to own a telescope, but if you do own one that is fine, too. You do not have to be deeply knowledgeable in astronomy , but if you are knowledgeable in astronomy that is fine, too. You do not have to have a degree, but if you do that is fine, too. WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE local ASTRONOMY CLUB anywhere. Come to our meetings and you will find this out. WE REALLY MEAN THIS!

Our Meetings

Monthly Meetings with Educational Presentations are Free and Open to the Public

NCA has regular monthly meetings September through June on the second Saturday of the month.

Public transportation: Directions/maps to the UM Observatory
Inclement weather: In case of severe weather (tornado/snow/impassable roads), a notice will be placed on the Observatory Website on the day of the meeting. (Be sure to refresh/reload the page to make sure you are seeing an updated page.)

Meeting Schedule for 2012 - 2013

Sep 08, 2012: James Braatz (NRAO) - Megamasers
Oct 13, 2012: Roopesh Ojha (GSFC) - When Fermi met Jansky: a Romance Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Nov 10, 2012: Michael Loewenstein (UMd and GSFC) - What X-rays Tell Us About Dark Matter and Clusters of Galaxies
Dec 08, 2012: Dennis Bodewits (UMd) - Ultraviolet Observations of Asteroids, Comets, and everything in between
Jan 12, 2013: Abderahmen Zoghbi (UMd) - X-ray Echoes Map the Environment of a Black Hole
Feb 09, 2013: Lindy Elkins-Tanton (DTM) - Magma and Water Oceans in the Early Solar System
Mar 09, 2013: Paul Ray (NRL) - Attack of the Gamma-Ray Spiders from Space!
Apr 13, 2013: Joleen K. Carlberg (DTM) - Red Giant Stars Say "Death to Planets!"
May 11, 2013: Brett W. Denevi (APL) - MESSENGER's Surprising Images of Mercury
Jun 08, 2013: Science Fair Winners + Pizza

Most meetings will be held at the University of Maryland Astronomical Observatory in College Park, Maryland.

Next Meeting Date: Saturday, June 8, 2013

7:30 pm at the University of Maryland Observatory on Metzerott Road.

Science Fair Winners

Speaker: We will have a number of students presenting their astronomy-themed science fair projects!

Peter M. and Riley W., Roberto Clemente MS, Asteroid Impact Fatalities
John L., Takoma Park MS, Analysis of Solar Flare X-ray Data from the GOES 15 Satellite
Foteine D., Poolesville HS, Observing Solar Events Through the Use of the ARTEMIS-IV/HECATE Multichannel Radio Spectrograph and the Gerostathopoulio Observatory of the University of Athens, Greece
Jinhie S., Montgomery Blair HS, Analysis of Jovian Decametric Emission using the Long Wavelength Array Station 1

Weather-permitting, there will be observing through the telescopes after the meeting for members and guests.

Join Us for Dinner Before the Meeting

Join our special guests and members for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Three Brothers Pizza in Beltsville (10961 Baltimore Avenue).

Telescope-Making and Mirror-Grinding

Telescope-making and mirror-making classes with Guy Brandenburg at the Chevy Chase Community Center, at the intersection of McKinley Street and Connecticut Avenue, NW, a few blocks inside the DC boundary, on the northeast corner of the intersection, in the basement (wood shop), on Fridays, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. For information visit Guy's Website To contact Guy, use this phone #: 202-262-4274 or Email Guy.

Come See the Stars at Exploring the Sky 2013!

Exploring the Sky is an informal program that for over sixty years has offered monthly opportunities for anyone in the Washington area to see the stars and planets through telescopes from a location within the District of Columbia.
Sessions are held in Rock Creek Park once each month on a Saturday night from April through November, starting shortly after sunset. We meet in the field just south of the intersection of Military and Glover Roads NW, near the Nature Center. A parking lot is located next to the field.
Beginners (including children) and experienced stargazers are all welcome-and it's free!
Questions? Call the Nature center at (202) 895-6070 or check: Exploring the Sky @ Rock Creek. Download the flier!

Date	Time	Targets of Interest
06 Apr	8:30pm	Winter constellations; Lyrid meteor shower
04 May	9:00pm	Saturn rising in the east; the Beehive in Cancer
01 Jun	9:00pm	Solstice 6/21; Mercury at Castor's feet
13 Jul	9:00pm	Summer Triangle; 5-day-old Moon near Virgo
10 Aug	8:30pm	Andromeda rising; Perseid meteor shower
07 Sep	8:00pm	Andromeda Galaxy rising; equinox 9/22
05 Oct	7:30pm	Astronomy Day 10/12; Orionid meteor shower
02 Nov	7:00pm	Pleiades and winter constellations appear

Exploring the Sky is a presentation of the National Park Service and National Capital Astronomers.

Star Parties

The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA) Annual Meeting and Technical Conference: July 14-17, 2013 at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia.
Green Bank Star Quest: 2013 dates TBD. Sponsored by Central Appalachian Astronomy Club, Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, also at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV.
Mason Dixon Star Party: 2013 dates TBD. Sponsored by the York County Astronomical Society.
Almost Heaven Star Party: September 6-10, 2013. Sponsored by the Northern VA Astronomy Club (NOVAC)

For NCA information by E-mail or phone

Joseph C. Morris: 2012-2013 President, 703-620-0996 h, 703-983-5672 w
John Hornstein: NCA VP and program chair, 301-593-1095 h
Henry Bofinger: NCA Treasurer, 202-675-1075 h
Manjunath Rao: NCA Secretary, 571-272-0939 h
Jeffrey Norman: assis. treasurer, 202-966-0739 h
Trustees
- Walter Faust (2012), 301-217-0771 h
- Benson Simon (2013)
- Andrew Seacord (2014)
- Wayne H. Warren (2015), 301-474-0814 h
- Harold Williams (2016), 240-567-1463 w, 301-565-3709 h
Outreach
- Exploring the Sky: Joseph C. Morris, 703-620-0996 h, 703-983-5672 w
- general requests: Guy Brandenburg, 202-635-1860 h
- Science Fairs: Jay H. Miller, 240-401-8693 h
- Telescope Making Workshop: Guy Brandenburg, 202-635-1860 h
Star Dust
- Editor: Michael Chesnes, 301-317-0937
Web
- Webmaster: Harold Williams, 240-567-1463 w, 301-565-3709 h

NCA Documents

NCA constitution and by-laws current as of August 28, 2005 they need some changes so we can continue to be a healthy organization.
NCA constitution and by-laws revision as of October 25, 2005 proposal.

Observing Resources

Navigation Star Chart
Northern Hemisphere Star Alignment Chart
Southern Hemisphere Star Alignment Chart
Astronomical League Observing Clubs, you might use the above alignment charts if you have a GoTo telescope to accomplish some observing.

Site Host

uaqa: understanding articulation quality assurance, home of the National Capital Astronomers, Inc web page. Check out uaqa's web publishing services and the other people and organizations using uaqa.com. uaqa also hosts Astrolabes.org and Mcstaffunion.org.