Meetings

Our meeting location occasionally changes, but any changes will be reflected on the WAS Home Page.

Meetings are usually held on the first and third Fridays of every month, except when holidays interfere, starting at 7:30 pm and finishing before 9:30 pm. The first meeting is somewhat formal and includes an club business. The last meeting is more informal and covers questions, events, equipment and subjects raised by the attendees. All meetings are open to the public, and minors under the age of 18 are welcome, but they shall be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. For photos of a typical meeting, click here.

Activities

STAR WATCHES: We volunteer and assist at public star watches in New Jersey and participate in star watches watches hosted by other astronomy clubs around the Delaware Valley area. Private star watches are used to train members on the use of telescopes, star charts and how to find, observe and photograph objects -- and to just enjoy observing the celestial wonders.

EDUCATION: Our education program for members includes in-depth training ranging from telescopes and star charts to stellar morphology and cosmology. Lectures, demonstrations and computer-aided teaching are used.

PICNIC: We have one each year that mixes fun and food with solar observing and with night observing (for members only).

CAMPING: Many of our members attend the Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys, and in the summer, the Stellafane Convention in Vermont and the Black Forest Star Party in north-central Pennsylvania.

Membership

The Delaware Valley offers several excellent astronomy clubs with differing styles so don't be in a rush to join our club or any other - attend some of our meetings first and check us out - all our meetings are open to the public. If you prefer a different style of club, several of our members are active in other area clubs so they can discuss the differences with you. You can also participate in our frequent discussions on our private, member-only forum.

If you like us, then we welcome you as a member. Dues are $30 per year, here's the application form.

What we expect from you, as a member, is:

• Participation in the meetings - ask questions, suggest subjects for discussion, bring newspaper clippings of current events, etc.
• Support for our public star parties - these are our prime vehicle for public education and we need all the help we can get. We usually schedule 12-14 each year with about one-third of them cancelled due to weather. You don't have to have a telescope or know anything about astronomy to be of aid to the more experienced members.