Home (Northwest Suburban Astronomers)

Welcome

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers is based in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago. With a wide range of interests, experience, and equipment, our membership is over 150, making us one of the largest astronomy clubs in the mid-west. Here you can find out about our public meetings, star parties, and the benefits of becoming a member. Thanks for visiting, and clear skies.

Next NSA Meeting - Open to the Public

Date:	March 26, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Willow Recreation Center 3600 Lexington Drive (at Algonquin Road) Hoffman Estates, IL
Speaker:	Ilias Belharouak
Title:	High-energy density lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications.
Abstract:	The high cost of cobalt and the low storage capacity of LiCoO2 have been major obstacles in applying Li-ion batteries to transportation. Research groups have been challenged with inventing and developing new advanced positive electrode materials whose main characteristic is to store more electricity per unit mass and volume. Of these materials, those developed at Argonne National Laboratory and recently licensed by several companies were found to deliver a high reversable capacity while being structurally and electrochemically stable upon charge and discharge. These materials are considered to be potential candidates for surmounting the energy density shortfall of current Li-ion technology. The journey for materials design and discovery will be discussed in the light of the most recent developments in Li-ion batteries.

For further information and the schedule for future meetings, please consult our wiki page at
http://pinky.bio.aps.anl.gov/NSAwiki/ProgramSchedule

NSA Star Parties (all are open to the public at no cost)

Saturday, April 10, 2010, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., in cooperation with the McHenry County Conservation District, at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area, Shelter #2 (North of the town of Marengo, on the east side of Illinois Route 23, approximately 1/4 mile north of River Road)
http://www.mccdistrict.org/web/map.htm. In case of inclement weather the star party will be canceled.

Saturday, April 24, 2010, 5:30 - 10:00 p.m., National Astronomy Day at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois (Building Z, use parking lots 2 & 3 http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/uploaded/maps/campusmap.jpg). There will be displays and astrophotos, astronomy programs, telescope viewing (weather permitting) at the Karl G. Henize Observatory on campus (Building O) and with NSA club member telescopes, projects for children and planetarium dome to simulate the night sky. The indoor activities will take place rain or shine. More details will be posted in the "Astronomy Day 2010" link on the top left-hand side of this web page.

NSA Wiki

Visit the NSA Wiki pages here.

Yahoo group

Visit the member's yahoo group here. (The yahoo group is a resource for NSA members)

Northwest Suburban Astronomers is a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Illinois "to cultivate, foster and promote interest and participation in astronomy."