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Astronomy Clubs and Associations

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Astronomy

If the Internet has as many astronomy resources as there are stars in the sky, then think of this Web guide as your map to the best and brightest. Whether you are looking for planetary data, celestial gifts, or fellow star seekers, we'll help you navigate the heavenly sphere of astronomy-related sites and tools on the Web.

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Astronomy Clubs and Associations

The mantra of believers in extraterrestrial life rings true about astronomy buffs the world over: we are not alone. While staying home with the Zeiss and contemplating the cosmos solo has its charm, plugging into the astro-community and joining an astronomy club is the best way to keep up with the latest news, gadgets, and gossip. Yes, there is astronomy gossip.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Most moderate-sized cities have an astronomy club, and large cities often have multiple clubs. If you can't find one using one of the sites in this section, visit your nearest college's Web site and send a brief, polite e-mail to an astronomy professor or two.
  • Astronomy clubs, observatories, and other groups throw occasional "star parties" where members truck their telescopes away from city lights for optimal viewing. Larger regional parties, such as the McDonald Observatory's annual bash in Texas, are typically held in the summer and attract hundreds of people and guest speakers. Typing "(your city/state) star party" into any major search engine should yield positive results.
  • If you're more interested in the theoretical/physics side of astronomy than actual sky gazing, spend some time snooping around the blogsphere. Not surprisingly, people who are interested in dark matter and the "Big Bang vs. Steady State" debate tend to spend a lot of time on their computers.

Dulcinea's Picks

For amateur hobbyists ...
AstronomyClubs.com lists regional astronomy clubs from all over the globe (but mostly in the United States). It also has listings for planetariums, observatories, and museums. The listings are user-edited and fairly current.
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Night Sky Network , managed by Caltech, provides good resources for astronomy clubs. You can find an astronomy club, join up, then use the "Night Sky Planner" page (in the menu bar on the left) to help plan your next meeting.
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Sidewalk Astronomers was co-founded by astronomy visionary John Dobson to popularize stargazing. Instead of retreating from city lights for star parties, sidewalk astronomers set up telescopes in urban areas where passersby can see them, ask questions, and take a peek into the cosmos.
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For professional astronomers ...
The International Astronomical Union is the largest and most prestigious organization for professional astronomers. It arranges meetings of astronomy experts from around the world to discuss the world of astronomy. It was at one of these meetings that Pluto got demoted to "dwarf planet" status. If you are seriously considering a career in astronomy, peruse the topics of their meetings and publications. 
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American Astronomical Society is North America's largest association of professional astronomers. So, if you just got your Ph.D. in Astrophysics from MIT, it's probably a good time to join. Find conferences, get tips on publishing scholarly articles, or look for work on the site's "Job Register."
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The Astronomical Society of the Pacific was founded in 1889 to help promote the dissemination of astronomy information. It lives on as a professional association of researchers and educators. Amateur buffs are encouraged to join but may not benefit much from the perks.
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