Madison Astronomical Society

  • Nebula Noir: Hunting the Ghosts of Dead Stars

    Friday, Aug 14, 2026, 7 pm, Memorial High School

    Zach Holcomb portrait.

    Zach Holcomb

    We are diving into the hidden, sprawling remnants of the cosmos. This two-part presentation begins with an accessible journey through the fundamental classifications of nebulae and the physics of these stellar ghosts. Then, we pivot to a surprising reality: why billion-dollar space telescopes have a massive blind spot for multi-degree objects.

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    • Fun with LROC QuickMap

      The LROC QuickMap is like a web-based virtual telescope that puts thousands of terabytes of lunar imagery at your fingertips. Its powerful interface makes browsing lunar images deceptively easy—and addicting.

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    All Astro News

    • Lights Out Wisconsin!

      Lights Out Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin conservation groups and dark sky organizations working together to reduce the impacts of light pollution.

      Nearly 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live because of light pollution. Whole generations are growing up without ever seeing our own galaxy, and without dark skies, meteor showers become invisible as well.

      By taking simple steps at home, you can help restore night skies across Wisconsin so everyone can enjoy the wonders above.

      💡 Useful – Light only when and where it’s needed.
      ⬇️ Targeted – Aim fully shielded lights downward.
      ✨ Low Level – Use the lowest brightness needed.
      ⏱️ Controlled – Use timers or motion sensors.
      🟠 Warm-Colored – Choose warm lights (2200K or lower).

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  • MAS Member Photos