The Role of Oceans in Earth and Exoplanet Climates
Earth has had an ocean for more than 4 billion years. It likely formed sometime after the beginning of the Hadean Eon (4.6-4 billion years ago) via mantle degassing as the planet cooled. Although we know significantly more about the modern ocean than we do about its deepest past, an ever-growing body of research suggests that the key to understanding the origin and evolution of life on our planet, and perhaps planets elsewhere, may well be hidden in the ocean’s physical and chemical complexities. In this talk, I will give a broad overview of the fundamental role the ocean plays—and has played—in Earth’s history, from the evolution of early life to the climate we know today…
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Steve Meyer (1945-2025)
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MAS Field Trip: Remote Dark Sky Camping in Nebraska
By John Rummel
Over Memorial Day week, several MAS members made an informal excursion to Nebraska’s Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area for some camping under radically dark skies…
90th Anniversary Gala Officially a Total Blast
By John Rummel
On April 5th, MAS celebrated its 90th birthday with a grand party we called the Anniversary Gala. This gala was held at the magnificent Usona Institute at Promega Corporation in Fitchburg.
History of the Madison Astronomical
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History of the Madison Astronomical Society (1935-1988)
History of the Madison Astronomical Society (1988-present day)
MAS Member Photos
Trifid Nebula (M20) – Photo by Jeffrey Shokler
The Trifid presents the unusual combination of an emission nebula, a reflection nebula, and a dark nebula all in one object! The Trifid lies 5,200 light years from us in the constellation Sagittarius.
Messier 21 (M21; NGC 6531) is the beautiful, small open cluster containing 57 stars that is visible to the upper left of the Trifid. M21 is 3,900 light years from us.
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Capitol Skies Summer Solstice 2025 – Download
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Capitol Skies Winter Solstice 2024 – Download