Where We Normally would Meet:
17540 Avenue Of The Arts, Surprise, Arizona (Unitarian Universalist Church)
(WVAC is not affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church)
We meet nine times a year from September to May
General Meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month unless indicated (*)
2021: May 4th, Sept 7th, Oct 5th, Nov 4th, Dec 7th
2022: Jan 4th, Feb 1st, Mar 1st, April 5th, May 3rd.
We offer a Members only December Holiday Party and May Picnic
All meetings will begin at 7:00pm Arizona time unless otherwise indicated.
Our meetings feature great Guest Speakers – including staff astronomers from Arizona Observatories or professional astronomers from Arizona universities.
Not a paid member? We welcome all visitors. If you enjoy the program we ask that you show your appreciation by contributing to our Donation Scope or joining the club.
Future Meetings
October 5th 2021
Presenter: Sam Smartt
Presentation: A pilot screening of the new documentary Luminous.
Format: Mr. Smartt will present via ZOOM to our in person audience and any remote attendees.
Join us for a pilot screening of the new documentary Luminous, directed by award-winning filmmaker, Sam Smartt (Wagonmasters), which chronicles the journey behind Calvin University astronomy professor Larry Molnar’s 2017 prediction of a Luminous red nova in the constellation of Cygnus. Q&A with Smartt to follow.
Astronomy professor Larry Molnar, working with a handful of undergraduate students remotely operating a 0.5 meter telescope in the desert of New Mexico, believes he can find the unfindable–a star that is about to explode. Luminous, a new documentary by award-winning filmmaker Sam Smartt (Wagonmasters) follows Larry and his students for five years as they make and test their unprecedented prediction.
November 4th 2021 (Thursday Due to Elections)
Presenter: Dr. Gerard van Belle Lowell Observatory
Presentation: Present Research Capabilities and Future Plans
Format: Currently Dr van Belle plans to present in person and we will ZOOM to our remote attendees.
Dr. van Bell has been on the Lowell Observatory staff since 2011. He has worked on every major optical interferometer on the planet His pioneering stellar surface imaging work on the Palomar Testbed Interferometer won him the directors research award at JPL. He is now the chief scientist for the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer.
Dr. van Belle will talk of the current research being conducted at Lowell.
December 7th 2021
This will be our normal yearly business meeting with short presentations by club members. Presenters and topics are to be determined.
Format: In person with ZOOM to our remote attendees.
January 4th 2022
Presenter: Alexandra Nachman
Presentation: Processing Images from the Hubble Space Telescope
Format: Alexandra will present in person with ZOOM to our remote attendees.
Alexandra Nachman has been involved with astronomy for five years. She has learned how to take images through the telescope with her camera, has joined an astronomy club, and processes images from the Hubble Space Telescope for fun. Due to her first year as a Solar System Ambassador, her knowledge of astronomy has grown immensely and she is more involved in this hobby than ever before. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the East Valley Astronomy Club.
February 1st 2022 Details will be coming soon.
March 1st 2022 Details will be coming soon.
April 5th 2022 Details will be coming soon.
May 3rd 2022 WVAC Picnic Details will be coming soon.
Typical meeting agendas are as follows:
- Coffee and Cookies Available
- Opening Welcome and Remarks
- Guest Speaker presentation with Q&A
- Announcements
- Door Prize and 50/50 Raffle
- Club Workshop (if time permits)
- Closing Remarks
Or you can view details of our previous meetings.