• NEXT EVENT •
TBA – Star Parties and unique events other than monthly meetings are posted here.
• NEXT MEETING •
Nov, 12th , 2025 | Wed | 7P-9P Every second Wednesday
ONLINE MEETINGS
Via Zoom.
Details are emailed to members prior to the meeting. Become a member
IN-PERSON MEETINGS (when noted below)
Address
Chemeketa Community College Planetarium
4000 Lancaster Dr NE
Salem, OR 97305
Map it
11/12/2025 Wed
7PM
Drawing in the Digital Age
Presenter: Mel Bartels
Why draw at the eyepiece today?
Aren’t we in the age of smart-scopes?
- I’ll briefly review how telescopes work visually.
- I’ll show recent drawings, some in color, including IFN that I continue to discover.
- And I’ll describe advances in visual observing including digital accessories.
Bio: Mel Bartels
The I.A.U. named asteroid 17823 Bartels in recognition for my contributions to amateur astronomy.
One of my most vivid memories as a child is resting in the back of my parents station wagon while driving back home to the city. The stars were so bright and the sky so black as I peered out the window.
I’ve pioneered very fast lightweight thin meniscus mirrored high etendue telescopes, using them to visually discover Integrated Flux Nebulae. I’ve developed a version of the Ronchi test using software to null and thin the Ronchigram.
Interests in deep sky observing and cold camera astrophotography with homebuilt equatorials turned to large thin mirror grinding when I met John Dobson in 1981 and was given a night on John’s 24 inch at Crater Lake.
My interest in innovative mounting designs led to popularizing ultralights with single upper rings in 1994, inventing the TriDob in 2003, the ZipDob in 2009, the thee-axis double flex rocker in 2018, and the Pan Mount in 2024.
I developed a hardware and software open source telescope control system featuring software architecture innovations in the early 1990’s that became popular worldwide. My wife and I formed BBAstroDesigns, Inc. to sell kits. My computer controlled 20 inch won a RTMC Merit Award in 1995.
I ran the ATM list for six years. I speak at astronomical conferences and my telescope walkabouts were a popular highlight at the Oregon Star Party. I am a founding member of the Altaz Initiative and I participate in the Oregon Scope Werks. I was a co-organizer of Image The Sky for a decade, the first CCD imaging conference in the world. I was President of the Friends of Pine Mountain Observatory and member of the year. I am a member of the Sisters Oregon Dark Skies Steering Committee.
Now retired, my careers ranged from musician to software engineer to management. And he holds a private pilot’s license.
*Details for joining live meetings are emailed to members prior to the start of each meeting.
• PAST MEETINGS •
10/8/2025 Wed
7PM
Topic: 2 Comets and Winter Skies
Presenter: Mike Conley
Our fearless leader will review the two bright comets currently the nighttime skies – C/2025 R2 Swan and C/2025 A6 Lemmon, as well as preview what we have to look forward to in the coming winter skies.
9/10/2025 Wed
7PM
Topic: TBA
Presenter: Mike Conley
There will be a meeting – we’re just not sure what it is going to be about yet😁. Our beloved president will be piloting the ship both online and in person as usual. See you there (details above).
8/13/2025 Wed
7PM
Exploring The Wonders of the Summer Skies
Presenter: Mike Conley
As we get further into the year with clear skies and warmer nights, now would be a good time to introduce the highlights found in the sky at this time of the year. Mike’s talk will center around the best objects found in the Summer skies.
6/11/2025 Wed
7PM
Dwarf Planets
Presenter: JJ Melendy
JJ has been a member of NightSky45 since his freshman year of high school. A native of Salem, he has spent the past three years studying in Northern Arizona University’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science. At the beginning of last year, he was hired as a research assistant by a faculty member, and since then he has been actively involved in a project focused on the surface compositions of dwarf planets.
5/14/2025 Wed
7PM
Note: This meeting will be both in person AND online.
To Be Announced
Presenter: TBA
At this moment, the topic and presenter has yet to be announced, but this meeting will happen both online and in-person.
4/9/2024 Wed
7PM
Note: This meeting will be both in person AND online.
To Be Announced
Presenter: TBA
At this moment, the topic and presenter has yet to be announced, but this meeting will happen on both online and in-person.
3/12/2025 Wed
7PM
Note: This meeting will be both in person AND online.
Citizen Science and The DEB Project- Past, Present, Future
Presenter: Mike Conley
For our March meeting Mike Conley will be talking about his experience in an ongoing astronomical based Citizen Science project called The DEB initiative focusing on the sun
2/12/2025 Wed
7PM
Note: This meeting will be both in person AND online.
Wonders of the Winter Skies 2025 Part 2
Presenter: Mike Conley
The winter skies are now in a great position, so every object in this presentation can be located immediately once it gets dark enough.
1/08/2025
7PM
Note: This meeting will be both in person AND online.
Bill Sheehan Interview With A Focus on Mars
Presenter: Bill Sheehan
Our January 2025 NS45 meeting will feature an interview with Dr. William (Bill) Sheehan, a prolific author of historical astronomy books specializing on the planets in our solar system. Because Mars comes to opposition this month the interview will be focused on that planet. Please join us to hear about how our understanding about Mars has changed over the last few centuries and especially the impact Percival Lowell had on the Martian story.