Benefits of Membership

There are many benefits to membership in ASRAS, including:

• Monthly meetings that include presentations by guest speakers or members on topics ranging from elementary to advanced.
• Access to our dark sky observing site, the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, including access to a variety of observing and imaging equipment
• Star parties and sidewalk astronomy
• Opportunities to participate in public outreach events, including operation of the Strasenburgh Planetarium telescope, scouting events at the observing site.
• Access to our Young Astronomers program for kids, plus a variety of social events
• Periodic meetings at the Strasenburgh Planetarium that include a free star show
• The Rochester Astronomer, the group's newsletter (monthly except July and August)
• The RocheStar Fest, Rochester's star party.
• Reduced price on magazines, including Sky & Telescope and Astronomy Magazine.
• Membership in the Rochester Academy of Science, giving access to RAS activities.
• Friendship, fellowship and camaraderie - Come and learn the sky with us!

Membership Membership is open to all interested people, there are no 'minimum requirements' for experience or expertise. To join ASRAS, you must join the Rochester Academy of Science and then join the Astronomy Section. One year's individual membership in the Academy and the Astronomy Section is only $27!

Donations to the Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Science

The goal of the Rochester Academy of Science Astronomy Section is to encourage observational astronomy and astronomy education in the greater Rochester area. Maintenance, operation and future improvement of Astronomy Section facilities (such as the Ionia Wolk Observatory site) requires continual funding.

We offer several methods for you to donate to the Astronomy Section:

• Click the Red Button to Join Rochester's Astronomy Club
• We invite you to donate your time in serving the community in one of our educational areas.
• We have opportunities to help maintain the Astronomy Section facilities from lawn and garden improvements, building maintenance to volunteering to serve at public events.
• Donate directly to one of our Endowment Funds:
  
  • The Facilites Endowment fund ensures money is available for ongoing and future operations at our section facilities such as the Wolk Observatory site.
  • The John Chapman Endowment Fund.
  • The Kenneth J. Brown Endowment Fund.

Note: Requests for information on one of the above endowment funds should be addressed to the treasurer.

Remember, your support provides to the public and volunteer members:

• Public access phone information and message system (1-585-987-5330) to serve the community.
• Heat and electricity to our section facilities.
• Free monthly public and members Astronomy meetings (1st Friday of each month at 7:30pm)
• Frequent public and members observing sessions in various locations in the area.

Thanks for your support,

Treasurer - Astronomy Section - Rochester Academy of Science

Join Us!

To Join/Renew your membership, please follow the following steps:

1. Print the membership form (pdf format) or (Word doc format).
2. Fill out the form and mail with your check to the Membership Chair at the address below.
3. When your membership information and check have been received, you will receive email notification that your membership is now active.

Mailing Address

Please mail your check and form to
ASRAS c/o Gail Smith
9780 Bethany Ctr. Road
East Bethany, NY 14054

Membership Rates

Since we are a section of the Rochester Academy of Science, RAS dues are a prerequisite for section membership. This means that you should ADD the membership fee for RAS and your chosen section together to get the total membership fee. You can also join other Sections of interest. The membership fees fir the various sections are listed on the Membership forms listed above.

For your convenience, please pay your dues to the R.A.S. and its sections with a single
check. Make check payable to:
Rochester Academy of Science, Inc.

Monthly Meetings

Our monthly meetings are held on the first Friday of every month from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. From roughly September to May they are held at RIT (see map below). Spring and Summer meetings are held at the Marian and Max Farash Center in Ionia. Check the Main Page Announcements for each month's location.

We usually have a main speaker, and/or a couple of short talks. There are assorted refreshments before and during the break, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch up with the other members.

After RIT meetings we typically head to Applebee's restaurant for a look at the Chicken Wing nebula or the Veggie Patch Pizza Cluster.

RIT Map to Meeting Location

Gosnell Science Bldg
1st floor room A-300 lecture hall
Jefferson Road
Rochester, NY14623

The Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy

Our Observing Site

Through gracious donations from Marion and Max Farash and the Louis S. Wolk Foundation, ASRAS has been able to acquire a large piece of land well away from the city lights. Our site, called the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, serves as the centerpiece of the group's activities.

We are located at
8355 County Road 14
Ionia, NY
14475

GPS address: 42.930976,-77.496872
or
42°55'46.7" N 77°30'01.7" W

A wide angle panoramic view of our observing site

A view of all three observatories at the top of the ridge

What We Do

The Rochester Astronomy Club maintains an active schedule of observing, public star parties, and informative meetings. Check out the front page of our web site for up-to-date events & information.

Public Outreach Programs

Public Star Parties:

The Rochester Astronomy Club schedules 1-2 public star parties per month, through early spring until late fall every year. Theses star parties are open to the public and hosted at either Mendon Ponds Park or Nothampton Park. This is a great opportunity for people interested in getting started in amateur astronomy, or just want to see what's up there, close up. We'll have anywhere between 6-12 telescopes on the field operated by club members, ranging from 4' in diameter to 20'. We encourage questions, and love to share advice. For more information contact our public outreach coordinator.

Saturday Night Planetarium:

The Rochester Astronomy Club supplies volunteer members to operate the 12 1/2" Cave telescope atop the Strasenburgh Planetarium most Saturday evenings, weather permitting. The telescope hours vary by season and objects in the sky, so visit our home page for weekly times, winter cancellations, etc. Call the Strasenburgh Planetarium box office at 697-1945 after 7:15 PM if you'd like to confirm that the observatory deck is open.

Telescope Buying/Using Seminars:

Members of the Rochester’s astronomy club, the Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Science, put on an annual event, “How to Buy the ‘Scope You’ll Love and Love the ‘Scope You Bought” Seminar at the Strasenburgh Planetarium. This program is for members of the public interested in purchasing or learning how to use a telescope. Its goal is to provide information so individuals and families can select a telescope or binoculars that fits their budget, interests, and expertise. Both prospective buyers, and current telescope owners confounded by their equipment, are invited to come for free, one-on-one advice and demonstrations of a variety of observing equipment. There are also displays of some of the fine astrophotography produced by ASRAS members.