Astronomical League

Astronomical League A non-profit Organization to Promote the Science of Astronomy

06/09/2026

For thousands of generations, human beings have stood beneath the night sky and wondered. Long before we understood what stars truly were, they were already speaking to us—guiding explorers, marking the seasons, inspiring stories, science, and our search to understand our place in the universe. The stars have always been sending signals. We simply had to learn how to listen.

Tonight our hosts welcome you to the 178th Global Star Party: Signals From the Stars, where we celebrate the many ways the universe communicates with us. Every photon of ancient light that enters our eyes or reaches our telescopes carries a story—a message traveling across years, millions, or even billions of years through space and time. That light reveals how stars are born, how they live and die, and how the elements that make up our world, and even ourselves, were created among the stars.

Learn more about our presenters at: explorescientific.com/gsp178

A project to serve the seeing impaired by James Somerville Edgar, editor RASC Observer's HandbookMy blind friend, Christ...
06/09/2026

A project to serve
the seeing impaired

by James Somerville Edgar, editor RASC Observer's Handbook

My blind friend, Christine in Toronto, asked me to create a sky map on my new carver showing the circumpolar constellations. Her husband Jason didn't know it then, but he was buying it for Christine's birthday in mid-March!

So I selected a nice piece of maple, laminated into a 15-inch square, and carved it for her. I put small brass screws into the brighter stars, for the tactile sensation. There is even one each for Alcor and Mizar. The brighter the star, the larger the screw.

Christine and I had a FaceTime session after she received the carving. She touched the carving while I described what she was feeling. She was "over the moon!"

ZubeneschamaliLibra's Beta star is its brightest.To find Beta Librae:• Locate 2.8 magnitude Alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi)...
06/07/2026

Zubeneschamali
Libra's Beta star is its brightest.

To find Beta Librae:
• Locate 2.8 magnitude Alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi) midway between Spica and Antares.
• 9º northeast – that is about the angular size of a fist-width on an extended arm – of Alpha is the slightly brighter 2.6 magnitude Beta (Zubeneschamali).

Star colors vary according to the surface temperature of the star. Blue-White is hottest with deep red being the coolest. While green wavelengths are emitted, they are not distinguished by the human eye because the eye is overwhelmed by the all the other wavelengths.

Carefully examine Beta Librae:
• View through binoculars or a small telescope.
• Slightly de-focus the star.

Astronomy with an Opera-Glass, Garrett Serviss

"... Beta has a singular greenish tint ..."

Olcott's Field Book of the SKIES

"Beta Librae is green in color. Early writers mention the brilliance of this star. Claudius Ptolemy gives it as equal to Antares. One of these two stars has possibly varied in light since ancient times."

Webb's Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes

"... its beautiful pale green hue, very unusual among conspicuous stars; deep green, like deep blue, is unknown to the naked eye."

Beta Librae Characteristics:
• Spectral class: B8 V,
• Color: Blue-white
• Surface temperature: 11,900 K

What color do you see?

If you can see only one celestial event this June, see this one.Brilliant Venus passes bright JupiterLook to the west-no...
06/05/2026

If you can see only one celestial event this June,
see this one.

Brilliant Venus passes bright Jupiter

Look to the west-northwest 60 minutes after sunset in early June as the Venus/Jupiter gap narrows.

• On June 8, brilliant, unmistakeable Venus lies slightly below and right of the lesser Jupiter.
• The next evening finds Venus having moved slightly above Jupiter.
• Then on succeeding evenings, Venus pulls above Jupiter, while the mighty planet drops toward the horizon.
• Enhance the view by using binoculars.
• All the while, the much dimmer Mercury lies close to the horizon in the bright twilight.

End your day with this enchanting meet-up!

June 6, 2026 – 82nd anniversary of D-Day. What was the moon's phase during D-Day and why was that so important?Correct...
06/03/2026

June 6, 2026 – 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

What was the moon's phase during D-Day and why was that so important?

Correct response:
A. The moon’s phase was roughly 6 hours shy of being full. That was important because
• it would provide a sufficient amount of light on the night of June 5 into June 6 for landing preparations to be made,
• moonlight would be bright enough to illuminate the countryside allowing gliders to land behind enemy lines,
• and the tides would be low during the estimated landing times and would remain low for a couple of hours. Low tide was about 5:20 a.m. and the next high tide was about 11:00 a.m.

When the landings began, the moon was low in the southwest near Antares. It set at 6:08 a.m., 10 minutes after sunrise, beginning the "Longest Day."

Where are we in the Best of 2026?Jun 8 & 9, Outreach Opportunity - Venus passes Jupiter in the early evening.Coming up: ...
06/02/2026

Where are we in the Best of 2026?

Jun 8 & 9, Outreach Opportunity - Venus passes Jupiter in the early evening.

Coming up:
Aug 12, Partial solar eclipse
Aug 12-15, ALCon 2026

A string of planets stretch across the mid day June sky: Neptune, Saturn, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. In ...
06/01/2026

A string of planets stretch across the mid day June sky: Neptune, Saturn, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. In the evening sky, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will be visible. In the morning, Saturn and Mars make appearances, with Mars tending to be lost in the twilight.

You may hear of a planet parade or a special alignment of planets. In light of this, is that the case? In a very real sense, the planets always lie in a line.

In any case, look for the brilliant Venus - bright Jupiter conjunction on June 8 and 9. One of the year's top 10 celestial events!

Changing altitude of PolarisObserving ActivityAre you planning a trip?As you travel south, Polaris' altitude above the n...
05/31/2026

Changing altitude of Polaris

Observing Activity

Are you planning a trip?
As you travel south, Polaris' altitude above the northern horizon becomes less.
In fact, it always matches your latitude, while Polaris' declination is always 90º.
• On your next journey that involves a significant latitude change, measure the altitude of Polaris before you leave, and again, after you arrive at your destination.
• Your fist-width on your outstretched arm spans about 10º. Use that handy reference for estimating the altitude of Polaris above the true horizon due north.
• Your difference in latitudes should match the proportional change in fist-widths.

Because Earth is round – not flat, not potato shaped – this activity is possible. If it were any other shape, as one traveled north or south, this Observer–latitude/Polaris–altitude relationship would not be seen.

City Lat. = Polaris Alt.
US City Lat.
Anchorage 61.2º
Seattle 46.7º
Minneapolis 45.0º
Boston 42.4º
Chicago 41.9º
New York 40.7º
Denver 39.7º
Kansas City 39.0º
Washington 38.9º
San Francisco 37.8º
Los Angeles 34.1º
Atlanta 33.7º
Dallas 32.8º
San Diego 32.8º
Jacksonville 30.3º
New Orleans 30.0º
San Antonio 29.4º
Miami 25.8º
Honolulu 21.3º

We, in the northern mid latitudes, see clearly no further south than perhaps -40º before Earth gets in the way. We miss ...
05/30/2026

We, in the northern mid latitudes, see clearly no further south than perhaps -40º before Earth gets in the way. We miss out on a lot! Folks in the southern mid latitudes have a much different view of the sky than we do. June is a great time of year to admire Alpha and Beta Centauri, the Souther Cross, and the magnificent region encompassing the fascinating star forming region of Eta Carina.

WHY ATTEND ALCON?Some people think astronomy is more of a solitary activity, but mostamateur astronomers know it’s actua...
05/30/2026

WHY ATTEND ALCON?

Some people think astronomy is more of a solitary activity, but most
amateur astronomers know it’s actually the shared experience that brings
richness and depth to astronomy.

ALCON gives us an opportunity for gathering to celebrate and learn about
our shared love of astronomy, and to meet other like-minded amateur
astronomers, exchange ideas on what we do within astronomy, from
observing and astrophotography, to citizen science and public outreach.
The shared experience of astronomy is one of the things which for many
justifies this as a life-long endeavor, and attending an ALCON is a great way
to engage others in pursuit of that experience. It’s the reason so many
attend ALCON year after year.

ALCON 2026 Cincinnati, will give you an opportunity to learn about Mars,
asteroids and meteorites, astronomy history, how to engage young
scientists, and a well-represented category of how we, as amateurs, can
make a real impact through our involvement with citizen science. And much
more. It will give you an opportunity to explore a city that has a significant
history in the astronomy world, both amateur and professional, and engage
with other amateur astronomers from all over the nation.

Please join us this August 12-15 for ALCON 2026 Cincinnati, and for the
very special afterparty on August 16 under the dark skies of Southern Ohio.

Explore with Us at ALCON 2026 Cincinnati.

ALCON2026.org

Address

9201 Ward Pkwy, Ste 100
Kansas City, MO
64114

Telephone

+18163337759

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