Business Meetings

The Business Meetings start at 7PM and last about one hour, followed by observing (if clear). These could prove a little boring to a new person who is primarily interested in learning what the Kopernik Astronomical Society does. 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.
 

AstroFest & Star Parties

Winter Star Party

Dates: Saturday, February 2, 2008

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 2008:

Dates: Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Sept. or Oct. 2008 - TBD

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.

 

Special Events

Tioga County Relay for Life (American Cancer Society event)

Dates: TBD

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: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, July 31 - August 3, 2008

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 to Sunday Sept. 5th thru 7th, 2008

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!

Northeast Astro Imaging Conference

Dates: Thursday & Friday April 24th and 25th 2008 (the two days before NEAF)

Location: Rockland Community College, 145 College Rd., Suffern, New York.

KAS Interest: 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 26th and 27th 2008

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 29th thru Sunday June 1st, 2008.

Location: Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania.

KAS Interest: The Cherry Springs Star Party (CSSP) 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 both the CSSP and the Black Forest Star Party at this location. CSSP has become a wonderful "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 (camping fee of $4 per night). The State of Pennsylvania is rapidly improving Cherry Springs State Park for use by astronomers and will be adding facilities including an astronomy-related visitors' center and planetarium in the fall of 2007 There are already two domes and a roll-off roof shelter that are available for rent to house your telescope.