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 the Astronomy Web Guide as your map to the best and brightest. Whether you're 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 or association is the best way to keep up with the latest news, gadgets and gossip. Yes, there is astronomy gossip.

Insights for Astronomy Clubs and Associations

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 blogosphere. 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.

Top Sites for Astronomy Clubs and Associations

For amateur astronomers ...

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 provides good resources for astronomy clubs. Find an astronomy club, join up then use the Night Sky Planner to help plan your next meeting.

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The Sidewalk Astronomers was cofounded 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 ...

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 was demoted to "dwarf planet" status.

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American Astronomical Society is North America's largest association of professional astronomers. Find conferences, get tips on publishing scholarly articles or look for work on the site's Job Register.

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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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