With Astronomer Dean Regas for WCAS Members
WCAS presents online classes with professional astronomer Dean Regas to help our members grow in our shared astronomy hobby.
- He has generously offered this way for you to attend his online classes without paying the fees he otherwise charges the public.
- WCAS pays a special fee as a benefit for all of our club’s members.
- The classes are announced to members in advance, and instructions are provided on how to obtain the access code to attend each live session online.
Dean Regas is a Cincinnati-based astronomer, public speaker, author, and podcaster who brings the complicated universe down to Earth for audiences of all ages. He’s a big supporter of WCAS and other local astronomy groups.
Mars and the Winter Sky
Jan. 7, 2025
We had a fun trip to Mars last night. The recording is available for WCAS members on demand at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O7eDLArn6yyT4gZtKTNGLVs8VScHSIQV/view
I mentioned the Lunar Occultation on Mars on Jan 13 (when the Moon blocks out Mars). In Cincinnati it will be from around 9:07-10:18pm. Your time will vary depending on your location.
For lots of locations see the disappearance and reappearance sections of this site: http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/planets/0114mars.htm
Times are in UT so subtract 5 hours for Eastern Standard. And get your cameras ready – and on video.
- For more on Mars missions, I really like this comprehensive page:
- For the flight path of the Ingenuity helicopter I mentioned, see:
Hopefully we’ll have some clear skies to see Mars at its closest approach next week. Thanks for joining the class and hope to see you at the next one.
Keep Looking Up!
Dean
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Dean Regas, Your Astronomer
Host of the Looking Up podcast
Astronomical Year in Review
Dec. 17, 2024
We had a fun look back at the Astronomical Events of 2024. If you couldn’t attend or want to watch it again, it is available for you at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbLrKmfSlYQy1suaX2WBLUf5xWPbwkAU/view
I can’t believe I forgot about the big Nova story – the star in Corona Borealis that was supposed to brighten for the first time in 78 years. The story was everywhere but didn’t happen (yet).
What else did I miss from 2024?
Upcoming Classes
If you like these classes you can sign up for the next three – and give them as gifts – super easily at:
https://astrodean.com/shop/p/3classes2025
As for my can’t-miss events of 2025:
- January: Planet Parade
- January 12-15 Mars opposition
- January 13: Moon occults Mars
- February 1: Moon-Venus Conjunction
- March 13-14: Total Lunar Eclipse
- March 29: Very partial solar eclipse
- April 25: Planet Clump in the morning
- October 21-22: Orionid Meteor Shower
- November 5: Supermoon
Let me know if you have any questions and I hope you’ll join me again in the new year.
Keep Looking Up!
Dean
Exoplanets
Nov. 12, 2024
We had a fun look at Exoplanets last night (and even got into some SETI talk as well). If you couldn’t attend or want to watch it again, it is available for you at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kzp9uqj9HmlgB-9_6r9H22y2dzoH2rxW/view
- For more details on Exoplanets please see NASA’s amazing site: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/
- And for some weird worlds far from us that will get your imagination going:
I am setting the schedule for 2025 now and would love your input on topic ideas. And let me know if you’d like to see a series of classes, like a 2-4 night course. The universe is the limit and I always appreciate the feedback!
I hope to see you again soon,
Keep Looking Up!
Dean
The Fall Sky
Oct. 15, 2024
We had a fun Fall Sky class last night. If you couldn’t attend or want to watch it again it is available for you in two parts.
Replay The Night Sky Class >
Extras and How to Use a Sky Map
I’ve also attached some star charts for closeup views including deep space objects to look for. (We covered more than 30 things from my 100 Things book, not too bad for an hour).
Remember to look for shapes, not pictures up there.
Replay the Extras and How to Use a Sky Map >
Notes from Dean
A big thank you to Vannessa Gressieux from https://noirlab.edu/public/ for moderating. I can’t wait to visit Kitt Peak again outside Tucson, AZ.
Keep up to date with special space events on my website and social media. And I have more online classes coming up.
Get outside to watch the Supermoon rise tonight, look for the comet (see attached chart), and hopefully some more northern lights this season.
Hope to see you again soon,
Keep Looking Up!
Dean Regas, Your Astronomer
Host of the Looking Up podcast
Supermoons
August 10, 2024
We had a fun class last night to talk about the Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse. If you couldn’t attend or want to watch it again, it is available for you at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tfZa52Pb62vzLCQXEzxx68xvJcKXbckU/view
A few events to look for:
- September 17: Full Harvest Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Look for the full Moon rising in the east as the Sun sets. The partial eclipse will run from 10:12-11:15pm Eastern Daylight Time.
- Look for the shadow of the Earth to just barely appear on the top side of the Moon.
- I hope to do a live webcast of this from the Grand Canyon. Tune in to my Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/YourAstronomer/
- October 16: My Super-est, Supermoon. Closest full Moon of the year.
- Look for it rising in the east as the sun sets in the west.
- And I’m hosting a Supermoon viewing party at Ault Park in Cincinnati that night.
- Look for it rising in the east as the sun sets in the west.
Supermoon, aka Harvest Moon, aka full moon, rising in the east over the Fred Bay Observatory on Oct. 17.
November 27: The Moon Occults (blocks) the bright star Spica (again)
For Cincinnati, the occultation begins at 5:30am with Spica staying blocked until about 6:39am. Details: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20241127_16_100
December 15: The Northernmost Full Moon Rise. This happens only every 19 years and was marked by the ancient Octagon Earthworks in Newark, Ohio: https://hopewellearthworks.org/site/octagon-earthworks/
Finally, the Space Station will pass over the Tristate this week.
Cincinnati Area (Your time may vary based on your location)
- September 11: 9:35-9:39pm, face west
- September 12: 8:48-8:54pm, moving southwest to northeast
- September 13: 9:38-9:42pm, face northwest
- September 14: 8:49-8:55pm, face northwest
Lots to get outside to look for. I hope you enjoyed the class and will join me for more coming up. Look for the full schedule coming out at:
Keep Looking Up!
Dean Regas, Your Astronomer
Host of the Looking Up podcast