National Capital Astronomers, Washington, D.C. Metro Area

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!

NCA has regular monthly meetings September through June on the second Saturday of the month.

Public transportation: Directions/maps to the UMD 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.)

Most meetings will be held at the University of Maryland Astronomical Observatory in College Park, Maryland.

7:30 pm at the University of Maryland Observatory on Metzerott Road.

Speaker: Dean Howarth and Jennifer Horowitz

Abstract: William Herschel moved from Hanover, Germany to Bath, England, to work as a musician and composer. He was quite successful there, and he pursuaded his sister Caroline to join him in Bath, both as a companion and to join in his musical endeavors. William became an avid amateur astronomer in his spare time. Caroline participated, too, and eventually became an enthusiastic and very skilled observer, participating in William's important discoveries, and then making many of her own. Discovery of Uranus, ending the fruitless attempts by Kepler and others to associate the five previously known planets with the five regular polyhedra.

William was the first to map out the uneven distribution of stars on the celestial sphere. The individual stars that we can see by eye through a telescope are all in our local neighborhood of the Galaxy, so this was the first rough map of the Galaxy, long before we knew that the Milky Way is only one island galaxy, and not the whole Universe.

The talk this evening will share some of the Herschels' stories regarding the discovery of Uranus and comets. But the talk will also point out ... and to speak on the importance of cooperation between like-minded men and women of science. How the primacy of discovery is balanced with peer review and even critique...and scientific societies (like the Royal Society, or even the NCA!) promote a community of discovery. This cosmopolitan ethos was peaking in the 18th century as scientists from across the globe were "citizens of the cosmos".

Bio: Dean Howarth is a veteran physics teacher from northern Virginia. He has created a unique living history program for his students, showing vividly how our understanding of the world has developed. He has extended this activity into a community service, with performances at museums and historic sites. As the Natural Philosopher, Dean recreates episodes in the history of science. His web site is http://www.livinghistoriesofscience.com .

Using a large repertoire of replica scientific devices, specimens, and demonstrations, his living history lessons have been performed at a number of regional museums, schools, historical sites, and festivals. Besides showing the roots of our present understanding, these performances also show how the public first heard about new discoveries.

Mr. Howarth will be joined by one of his former students, Jennifer Horowitz, who is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary. As a student re-enactor, she has performed at Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Castle, the USA Sci & Engineering Festival, and the Arlington Planetarium.

Weather-permitting, there will be observing through the telescopes after the meeting for members and guests.

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 orEmail Guy.

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!

NCA constitution and by-laws current as of August 28, 2005 they need some changes so we can continue to be a healthy organization. NCA constitution and by-laws revision as of October 25, 2005 proposal.