Membership Renewal Deadline
Renewal Period Closes on 30th April.
Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their membership for 2025-26.
If you have not yet renewed, please visit the Renewals page for full details and when making your payment please add a note which identifies you as the payee.
2025 Annual Report
Now available for members to peruse.
Astro Imaging Group
Saturday 10th May, 1pm to 3 pm at Narellan Library
We announce the launch of the MAS Astro Imaging Group for members, to promote excellence in astro photography with knowledge sharing, learning and camaraderie.
See Here for further details.
Members Event Diary
| DATE | EVENT | DETAILS | PUBLIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 21st April | Annual General Meeting at WSU. Location Map. | 6.30 pm sharp for AGM, then: 7.30 pm for Forum & speaker Elizabeth Arcadi | YES |
| Sat 26th April | Wooglemai at Oakdale | Members Observing Night Sunset 5.20 pm | No |
| Sat 26th April | Stargard At The Oaks | Members Observing Evening Sunset 5.20 pm | No |
| Sat 3rd May | Stargard At The Oaks | Members Observing Evening Sunset 5.13 pm | No |
| Sat 10th May | Astro Imaging Group at Narellan Library | First Meeting of the Group 1pm – 3pm | No |
| Mon 19th May | Macarthur Astronomy Forum at WSU Location Map. | Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Arcadi 7.15pm for 7.30 pm start | YES |
| Fri 23rd May | The Forest at Belanglo | Members Observing Night 1 Sunset 4.58 pm | No |
| Sat 24th May | The Forest at Belanglo | Members Observing Night 2 Sunset 4.58 pm | No |
| Sat 24th May | Stargard At The Oaks | Members Observing Night Sunset 4.58 pm | No |
| Sat 31st May | Stargard At The Oaks | Members Observing Night Sunset 4.55 pm | No |
Field Night Fees
The committee has determined that for the foreseeable future we will waive members fees for The Forest and Wooglemai.
This was on the basis that our current financial position has improved and that we want to encourage more members to try out the two dark sky facilities.
It was agreed to do this immediately for an indefinite period but not necessarily on a permanent basis.
Next Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Arcadi
Monday 21st April, 7.30 pm (Following the AGM)
Detection of exoplanets
Abstract: Nulling interferometry is a powerful method to image exoplanets, helping to overcome the challenges of detecting faint planets next to bright stars.
The Guided Light Interferometric Nulling Technology (GLINT) instrument at the Subaru telescope in Hawaii uses this technique with a newly developed beam combiner.
This beam combiner, made with a femtosecond laser in specialized glass, can both cancel out starlight (nulling interferometry) and track interference patterns (fringe tracking) at the same time.
It combines light from three separate inputs to form multiple baselines, improving its ability to detect exoplanets.
The design, fabrication and testing of the new beam combiner will be shown as well as the implementation from the lab to the Subaru telescope.
Macarthur Astronomy Forum
We want to share our passion with the local community, so Macarthur Astronomy Forum is open to the public, FREE. Optional gold coin donations from non-members are appreciated.
For 2025 and beyond, the Forum meets:
- on the Third Monday of the month (Jan-Nov); and on the First Monday in December
- in Lecture Theatre 6, School of Science, Building 21, William Downes Avenue
- at Western Sydney University (Campbelltown Campus) at this location
- occasionally we slip in an extra date
We recommend attending the Forum in person, which gives you the opportunity to interact with other members (and the guest speaker) before and after the meeting. However, MAS members who are unable to get to WSU can still watch and participate remotely using Zoom.
Notice of 2025 Annual General Meeting
Monday 21st April
6.30 pm: AGM, with Annual Reports & Election of Management Committee for 2025-26.
7.30 pm: Forum, with Guest speaker: Elizabeth Arcadi (MSc Mac Uni)
Lecture Theatre 6, School of Science, Building 21, William Downes Avenue, University of Western Sydney (Campbelltown Campus). Also on Zoom.
Please join the meeting at the earlier than usual start time, so that we may proceed in a timely fashion to our normal monthly Macarthur Astronomy Forum.
This AGM will also be conducted online via Zoom and a link will be e-mailed to all members.
To be eligible to vote (in person or online) you must be a member for 2025-26 prior to the meeting.
AGM Agenda
- Opening of meeting, welcome and apologies.
- Minutes of previous AGM,15th April 20241 15th April 20241
- Business arising from the minutes.
- Presentation of 2024-2025.Annual Reports1
- Presentation of Membership Awards1
- Appointment of Returning Officer.
- Election of Management Committee for 2025-2026.2
- Other Business directly relevant to the AGM.
- Close of Meeting.3
1 Minutes, annual report documents and membership awardees are included in the Annual Report document.
2 Seven positions are available on the committee. Nominations for election to the committee closed at noon on Monday 7th April. Nominations received were: President: John Rombi; Vice President: Noel Sharpe; Secretary: Roger Powell; Treasurer: Suzanne Adijans; Membership Officer; Frank Alvaro; Committee Members: Greg Bradford & Phil Kidd.
3 Following the conclusion of the AGM, the meeting will continue as an Ordinary General Meeting (Macarthur Astronomy Forum).
Roger Powell
Secretary
12th April 2025
Our Observing Sites
Members Only
The Forest Cabin in Belanglo Forest has been an MAS dark sky observatory for a quarter of a century. We are now scheduling regular weekenders again. See the Forest page for site details.
Wooglemai is a prime dark sky observing site, conveniently located near Oakdale. With clubhouse amenities, sleeping accommodation and unlimited overnight viewing hours, the experience is excellent value for money. See our Wooglemai page for site details.
Stargard is our main general purpose observing field at The Oaks. Whilst it cannot boast the facilities that the Forest Cabin and Wooglemai do, it provides convenient evening sessions much closer to home, free of charge to members. See our Stargard page for site details.
Coming? We need to know who is planning to attend our observing sessions. Members are requested to contact John Rombi at: president@macastro.org.au to reserve a place before travelling to an observing session. For essential information about our observing session protocols, please read our Field Night page.
🌦️ Weather Check
Article: Weather Forecasting for Amateur Astronomers UPDATED
The Oaks Weather-cam: South facing
The Oaks Weather-cam: North facing
General Notices
Beginners
We understand the needs of beginners and are anxious to help you get started. We run workshops for beginners two or three times a year, depending on demand.
Sometimes we will dedicate a Macarthur Astronomy Forum to basic amateur astronomy topics. (We scheduled two of these in 2024).
Questions can be asked of other members through the MAS Facebook page, the MAS Private Messaging System or by e-mail to contact@macastro.org.au.
Beginners can attend our field nights and ask questions directly to other members.
YouTube is a very useful learning tool. Whichever part of astronomy you wish to learn, someone has made a YouTube video about it!
Committee Members 2024-25
President: John Rombi
Vice President: Noel Sharpe
Secretary: Roger Powell
Treasurer: Suzanne Adijans
Membership Officer: Frank Alvaro
Committee Member: Greg Bradford
Committee Member: Phil Kidd
Observing
Members intending to attend our observing nights must read our Field Night page and Stargard , Forest or Wooglemai pages.
Sessions are normally scheduled for Saturdays, because we recognise the needs of members who may have weekday jobs to go to.
Before travelling, members should check this page and your e-mail in box.
Laser Pointers
It is a legal requirement here in NSW to register laser pointer ownership with the Police Firearms Registry. However, as MAS members, you are exempted from this obligation if the laser pointer is only used for astronomy.
The Society keeps a register of members who are laser pointer owners and requires you to formally notify the Membership Officer if you have purchased a laser pointer.
MAS Private Messages
Due to privacy laws, MAS is prohibited from releasing members e-mail addresses. The intention of the PM system is to permit an individual member to contact another without initially knowing their e-mail address. You can find the PM System in the Users menu above, after you have logged on.
Membership
Please contact Frank Alvaro (Membership Officer) for all new membership enquiries: membership@macastro.org.au or go to our new membership page.
E-mail is our primary means of direct communication with all our members, so don’t forget to tell us if your e-mail address changes: membership@macastro.org.au.
Member’s Postal Address.
Membership cards are posted annually to the last postal address which you have provided to us, so please contact us with your new details at membership@macastro.org.au.
MAS Postal Address
We no longer maintain a PO Box address. After many years the cost and time did not justify a service that was so rarely used.
Sydney Solar Eclipse
If you or a family member are showing any symptoms of covid, influenza or the common cold etc. please do not attend any of our events.
