West Jersey Astronomical Society  www.wasociety.us

Welcome to the Official Home Page of the West Jersey Astronomical Society (formerly known as the Willingboro Astronomical Society). Our club is in its 49th year of serving both the public and the amateur astronomers of the Delaware Valley. We have a long history of public education, star parties, interesting meetings, in-depth training and experienced leadership. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Click here for membership information (dues can now be paid through PayPal).

 

President:

Vice President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

 Roger Cowley

Bernie Kosher

Dave Neunheuser

Wade Evans

     

Announcements   Last Update: Monday, August 15, 2016

Aug 18 Full Moon at 5:27 am EDT, in eastern Capricornus.
Aug 19 Formal Meeting, 7:30 pm at the Virtua Health and Wellness Center in Moorestown, NJ. As always, guests are welcome and no astronomical experience is necessary. Use the Main Entrance and check with the security guard who will direct you to the conference room. Click here for the minutes of the August 5 meeting.
Aug 27 The bright planets Jupiter and Venus will reach conjunction in geocentric right ascension at 5:48 pm EDT (roughly two hours before sunset at 7:38 pm) and will be at their closest appulse, about 4 arc minutes apart, at 6:32 pm for observers in the Philadelphia area. The planets set at 8:36 pm, so this will be an observing challenge and opportunity before and after sunset. More details here.
Sept 1 New Moon at 5:03 am EDT, in Leo.
Sept 2 Informal Meeting, 7:30 pm at the Virtua Health and Wellness Center in Moorestown, NJ.
Sept 2 The Black Forest Star Party will be held at Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, PA, September 2 to 4.
Sept 10 Public Star Watch at Batsto Village, the full schedule of Public Star Watches for 2016 is available here.

Photo Spotlight   Image posted 08.15.2016

Here's a wide-field view with a Perseid meteor on the morning of August 12, 2016 (mouseover for labels). The six-degree meteor trail was captured at 1:50 am EDT by club member Joe Stieber at Swede Run in Moorestown, NJ, about a mile from the WAS meeting venue. Taken with a Canon 6D digital SLR camera on a fixed tripod and a Sigma 20 mm, f/1.4 lens. Exposed 10 seconds at f/2, ISO 400. Obviously, the somewhat cloudy sky hampered viewing, and only a few meteors were seen here visually between 1:15 and 2:45 am.

 

Click here for the previous home page image.

 

Click to contact the . Members are encouraged to submit their astronomical images to the webmaster for inclusion on the WAS Home Page. Be sure to include a description, date and time, as well as equipment and photo data.