Upcoming Events: 
CLUB MEETING 
Thursday, February 16th Tennessee Spring Star Party - Fall Creek Falls - April 20-22, 2012
CLUB MEETING Thursday, February 16th Tennessee Spring Star Party - Fall Creek Falls - April 20-22, 2012Welcome to the official website of the Cumberland Astronomical
Society. We are a group of amateur astronomers based in
Gallatin, Tennessee. Our focus is to bring astronomy to the general
public in the upper middle Tennessee area. We hold several monthly
events at local schools, libraries, and parks. Everyone is welcome,
so please click the "EVENTS" link for dates and times.
CURRENT MOON
Cumberland Astronomical Society
We host monthly
public star parties
at Bledsoe Creek
State Park in
Gallatin, TN. Check our Events page for dates. Viewing begins at sunset, weather permitting. Contact us to arrange private star parties.
Fall Creek Falls - Tennessee Fall Star Gaze - October 29, 2011Sharing information and observations of our star, The Sun.
Featured Planet
Mercury
Between February 20 and March 12, 2012, the planet Mercury will be far enough from the Sun's glare to be visible shortly after sunset. Mercury will reach greatest elongation from the Sun on March 5, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1. This will be your best chance to see the planet this year.
January 2012 Astro-Challenge:
Start working on your Double Star Award!!!
Between February 20 and March 12, 2012, the planet Mercury will be far enough from the Sun's glare to be visible shortly after sunset. Mercury will reach greatest elongation from the Sun on March 5, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1. This will be your best chance to see the planet this year.
January 2012 Astro-Challenge:
Start working on your Double Star Award!!!
Observing with a Purpose The Double Star Observing Award from the Astronomical League 
One of the advantages of membership in the Cumberland Astronomical Society is that we are a member of The Astronomical League, which is composed of over 200 astronomy clubs from all over the United States. Several of these member societies sponsor Observing Clubs, which award pins and certificates upon completion.
This month, we'll focus on the Double Star Club, which is managed by Nashville's own Mike Benson of Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society.
The purpose of the Double Star Club is to introduce observers to 100 of the finest double and multiple stars in the heavens. You don't need a large, expensive apochromatic refractor to view the objects on this list since a small refractor, Newtonian reflector, or Schmidt-Cassegrain will do just fine. All objects on this list were originally observed with a three-inch refractor using between 75X and 150X. Again, this program is meant to allow you to enjoy a different aspect of our wonderful hobby, and not to test your equipment.
Double star observing can be very forgiving. You don't need the darkest skies, the clearest skies, or even a moonless night to observe many of these objects. Some can be observed from your backyard under moderate light pollution, some can be observed under less than transparent skies, and some can even be observed with the moon up. However, as usual in astronomy, the best results can be obtained under optimum conditions. The point is, always try for the best conditions, but if you don't have them, don't worry about it. You can still enjoy this program.
For more information:
http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/dblstar/dblstar1.html
Interesting observing targets for January 2012:
Observing lists courtesy of wsaag.org Thanks, Rob :)
http://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/Home/observing-targets-for-each-month
http://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/Home/observing-targets-for-each-month
Navigating the Virgo Cluster
Click on the image above for a full-size, printable map.
1. Find Epsilon Virgo (Vindemiatrix) and center in scope.
2. Pan east approx 4 degrees and find M59 and M60.
3. Pan east from M60 through M59 and after a blank area of sky, you will find M58 next to a star.
4. From M58 nudge your scope due north and find the "M" asterism. At either ends or the M, you will see M89 and M90. Both are dim and small.
5. Go back to M58 and continue panning east. After another blank area of sky, you will find M87. which is big and bright and next to a star.
6. Pan north from M87 and find the kite asterism. Pan along the top edges of the kite and you will find M88 (large and fairly bright) in one direction and M91 (tiny and dim) in the other direction.
7. Go back to M87 and ride the tips of the "Three Arcs" until you see M84 and M86. Both are bright and easy.
8. Find M98, M99, and M100 at the tips of the broken-T asterism near Denebola. The broken-T is easily visible in a 6x30 finderscope.
The best way to use this guide is to wait until Virgo near due south. Makes panning east-west and north south much easier.