The Kopernik Astronomical Society (KAS)
Meetings and Special Events for 2007

Monthly Business Meetings: (see dates below) These are "business meetings" and they could prove a little boring to a new person who is primarily interested in learning what the KAS does. That is why we suggest that people interested in learning what the KAS and Kopernik is all about would be best off coming to a Friday night Public Observing Session the first time. The Business Meetings last about one hour, followed by observing (if clear).

Special Events, (as listed below): KAS Members often make Field Trips to various Special Events throughout the year, or provide special support. The Field Trips are generally informal carpool/caravan type affairs. If you would like to join in one of these events, please attend the KAS Monthly Meeting immediately preceding the Special Event, or let one of the KAS Officers know of your interest well in advance.

Winter Star Party: Saturday, January 27^th, 2007 The KAS will hold its Winter Star Party regardless of sky conditions. There will be speakers on various astronomy topics such as Buying a Telescope and Current Events in Space. Brave the cold and see winter constellations, star clusters, nebulae, and much more at Kopernik’s dark site using our observatory’s powerful telescopes.

AstroFest 2007: AstroFest is the KAS’s annual celebration of astronomy! Kopernik will be open for camping and observing on Thursday evening Sept. 20, 2007 and with special programs and events starting on Friday evening and continuing on Saturday afternoon and evening. There will be observing until dawn (weather permitting) on Sunday.

Monthly Meeting Dates & Star Parties

Meeting & KAS Star Party Dates: (All Meetings Start at 7:00 pm)	Location:
Wednesday January 3rd, 2007	International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Vestal Parkway
Saturday January 27th 2007	Winter Star Party
Wednesday February 7th, 2007	(tentative) International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Vestal Parkway
Wednesday March 7th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday April 4th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday May 2nd, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday June 6th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday July 11th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday August 1st, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Wednesday September 5th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center
Thursday evening September 20th, 2007 thru Sunday Morning September 23rd, 2007	AstroFest 2007 The KAS's Annual Celebration of Astronomy
Wednesday October 3rd, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center.
Wednesday November 7th, 2007	Space Science Lab, Kopernik Space Education Center.
Wednesday December 5th, 2007	(tentative) International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Vestal Parkway
Future dates to be determined.

Special Events

Northeast Astro Imaging Conference	Dates: Thursday and Friday April 26^th and 27^th 2007 Location: Rockland Community College, 145 College Rd., Suffern, New York. KAS Interest: This event was first held in 2006 and we believe that it will happen again in 2007. The goal of this conference is to bring together interested amateurs to discuss imaging techniques and projects. Subjects: Deep Sky and High Resolution Planetary imaging; Digital cameras; Photometry and Spectroscopy. Check the link for the long list of famous speakers.
Northeast Astronomy Forum & Telescope Show (NEAF)	Dates: Saturday and Sunday April 28^th and 29th 2007 Location: Rockland Community College, 145 College Rd., Suffern, New York. KAS Interest: This event has one of the world's biggest "Astronomy Gizmo" displays. Over 30 telescope and equipment dealers and manufacturers show and sell their stuff and there are many "show special" discount prices. There are also presentations by famous astronomers. This event has grown very large and is now two days long. KAS Members carpool/caravan to this one, some of us stay overnight in a local motel, and we have won more than our share of the very valuable door prizes.
Cherry Springs Star Party	Dates: Thursday May 17^th thru Sunday May 20^th 2007 Location: Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania. KAS Interest: The Cherry Springs Star Party is a relatively new dark-sky observing event hosted by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg PA. Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest sites in the state of Pennsylvania. KAS Members have attended the Black Forest Star Party held each August or September at this location and some members may be interested in going to this new “Spring Break” dark sky event. Register early because it fills up fast! Note that this site is also available for observing during other spring, summer, and fall days.
Tioga County Relay for Life (American Cancer Society event)	Dates: 6:00 PM Friday July 20^th thru Noon on Saturday July 21^st2007 Location: Owego High School, Owego, New York KAS Interest: For the past several years KAS Members have supported this worthy event by setting up telescopes for a Friday evening star party, and have provided hand-outs on Kopernik to anyone who is interested. Although there are lights for part of the evening the event organizers have turned them off since the star gazing and telescope viewing is so popular with the public. One KAS Member has even camped at the location. Tentatively, there will be solar observing on Saturday. Helping out with this event would be a fine way to honor KAS Members or their friends and family who have passed away as a result of cancer.
Stellafane Telescope Makers Convention	Dates: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 10th, 11th, & 12th, 2007 Location: Springfield, Vermont KAS Interest: The Stellafane Convention is a gathering of amateur telescope makers started in 1926 to give an opportunity to gather to show off homemade scopes and teach each other telescope making and mirror-grinding techniques. Since then it has grown into the largest, oldest, and most famous gathering of amateur astronomers in the world. While telescope making is still the primary focus, Stellafane offers an excellent opportunity to observe with amateurs from around the world under dark Vermont skies. KAS Members camp and observe together, and many KAS'ers that have moved away from the Binghamton area gather at Stellafane for a reunion. Some Members go a day early (Thursday) to camp and observe at the nearby Ascutney State Park. Stellafane can best be described as "Woodstock for Astronomers".
Black Forest Star Party	Dates: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 14th, 15th, and 16th, 2007 Location: Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania. KAS Interest: The Black Forest Star Party (BFSP) is an annual dark-sky observing event hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers (CPO). Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest sites in the state of Pennsylvania. If you are primarily interested in dark sky observing, this is the star party for you!! BFSP has become one of the most popular star parties in the North East, so if you want to go, register early!

---