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.)
Speaker: Holly Gilbet of the Goddard Space Flight Center, GSFC
Abstract:
Our closest star has been an object of
mystery and
inspiration for millennia; but, over the last 50+ years, solar
scientists have
made great strides in understanding the inner workings of what
makes the Sun
tick.The layers of
the solar atmosphere
lead to dynamic behavior and act as the birthplace of space
weather.NASA has a
fleet of spacecraft dedicated to
studying the Sun and its domain, the heliosphere, and its
effects on
Earth.I will take
you on a journey
through the Sun’s varying moods, focusing on coronal mass
ejections and
associated activity, and discuss the implications for Earth in
the past,
present, and future.
Bio:
Dr. Holly
Gilbert is Chief of
the Solar Physics Laboratory in the Heliophysics Science
Division at NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Center.She
obtained a BS in physics from the University ofColorado, Boulder and her PhD in theoretical
astrophysics from the University
of Oslo in Norway.Prior
to joining NASA, Dr. Gilbert was a Research Scientist at Rice
University and an Associate Scientist at the High Altitude
Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
As a solar physicist for over 13 years, Dr. Gilbert has
extensive experience studying the solar atmosphere and
phenomena associated with coronal massejections
(CMEs), such as prominences and global waves.In her research she has utilized used both ground- and
space-based data
to gain a better understanding of solar dynamical processes.An ongoing primary
focus of her research is
determining the nature of prominence support, formation, and
evolution and how
this relates to CMEs. Her research in this area will lead to a
greater
understanding of the magnetic environment that controls solar
eruptions
(sometimes referred to as “solar storms”).
Join Us for Dinner Before the Meeting on February 8, 2014
Join our special guest and members for dinner at 5:30 p.m. "The
Common" restaurant at the University of Maryland University
College Marriott Conference Center at 3501University Blvd., East
Hyattsville, MD 20783.
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.
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.
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. 
