Resources

Monthly Observing Lists

These observing lists include double stars and objects from the Messier list, the Caldwell list, and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada list. Each list shows objects that transit around 10pm during that month. At 8pm, you can use the previous month's list. At midnight, you can use the next month's list.

November (RA 00-01)
December (RA 02-03)
January (RA 04-05)
February (RA 06-07)
March (RA 08-09)
April (RA 10-11)
May (RA 12-13)
June (RA 14-15)
July (RA 16-17)
August (RA 18-19)
September (RA 20-21)
October (RA 22-23)

Our Club Library

Our club has several resources available to club members. Please see the club Librarian to borrow from our library. Here are the items we have available.

BOOKS
1. Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night sky by Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
2. Messier Objects: A Beginner’s Guide Published by the Astronomical League by Kathy Machin & Sue Wheatley
3. Messier Marathon: The Observing Guide – A handbook and Atlas by Don Machholz
4. Night Watch: An Equinox Guide to Viewing the Universe through year 2000 by Terence Dickinson
5. The Guide to the Galaxy by Nigel Henbest & Heather Couper
6. Universe In Focus: The Story of the Hubble Telescope by Stuart Clark
7. The Case for Mars by Robert Zubrin with Richard Wagner

BOOKLETS
1. Solar System Lithograph Set for Space Science by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

POSTER
1. New Views of the Sun by NASA

VHS TAPES
1. The Planets: The BBC Presents for A&E Home Video
2. Symphony To The Planets: A musical and visual exploration of the universe narrated by Leonard Nimoy

BETACAM SP
1. Helix Nebula Video for Astronomy Day Embargoed till 5/10/03

CDs
1. IMAGE Public Outreach Education and Reaching Youth – Space Weather Information and Resources (MAC/PC hybrid CD)
2. Making Sun-Earth Connections by NASA Sun-Earth connections Education forum HTTP//sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov
3. The Dynamic Sun 4.0 by NASA A multimedia presentation on the Sun for Windows and PowerMAC users
4. The Dynamic Sun 5.0 by NASA Multimedia presentations on the Sun for Windows and PowerMac Users
5. Ring World by NASA Cassini-Hygens mission to Saturn and its moons

MEDIA
We have an article on Gary Kronk, founder of The River Bend Astronomy Club, from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Wednesday, May 12, 2004, titled COMET MAN BY Eli Kintisch.

Higher education

Okay, maybe all astronomy learning is "higher" education. But local colleges and universities offer public lectures and astronomy curricula. Some have quality telescopes on site that are open to the public on special viewing nights. Check for times and observing conditions.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville—William C. Shaw Sky Lab

Just for kids

The Space Place has games, puzzles, stuff to make, amazing facts, and lots more. The Space Place supports educational outreach of the River Bend Astronomy Club and contributes to Current Astronomy, our club newsletter.

Science News for Kids offers a roundup of space and astronomy stories written for children, along with other reports from the world of science.

Comets & Meteor Showers

Okay, this one's in a class by itself. Cometography is one of the oldest sites on the World Wide Web devoted to the subject, researched and written by club president Gary Kronk, a leading authority on historical observations of these ephemeral denizens of the solar system. Here you'll find current observing data, historical overviews, and more.

Clear Sky Charts

Predicts cloudiness and general transparency for the next 48 hours.

St. Louis, Missouri

Edwardsville Observatory

Carlyle Lake

Observing data

US Naval Observatory's Sun and Moon Data for one day Gives rise and set times for the Sun and Moon, as well as phase information for the Moon and time of civil twilight.

RBAC's very own aurora page offering tools for helping to predict and aurora in our area.

Periodicals

Astronomy Offers information grouped in "science" and "hobby" categories to match your interest level.

Sky & Telescope Science news, observing tips and customizable sky data.

Amateur Astronomy Activities, observing and telescope-making around the world.

Organizations

Astronomical League The world's largest federation of amateur astronomers.

American Association of Variable Star Observers Coordinates, collects, evaluates, analyzes, publishes, and archives variable star observations made largely by amateur astronomers, and makes these observations available to professional astronomers, researchers, and educators.

American Meteor Society Affiliates observe, monitor, collect data on, study, and report on meteors, meteor showers, meteoric fireballs, and related meteoric phenomena.

The World Wide Web offers a cornucopia of information for the pursuit of amateur astronomy. Enjoy!