ASRAS
The Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Science, also known as ASRAS, is Rochester's astronomy club. As a section of the Rochester Academy of Science we are a dedicated and active organization devoted to promoting and enjoying the hobby of amateur astronomy.
Members enjoy all aspects of astronomy, including:
- planetary, lunar and deep sky observing
- astrophotography and astro-imaging
- education and public outreach
- astronomical computing
- telescope making
- and more
ASRAS is a diverse group that includes people of all levels of interest and experience. Members share a common love for astronomy and space sciences. Some are well-versed and experienced amateur astronomers. Others have little or no expertise, but more than make up for that in enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Most members have little or no formal training in astronomy, math, physics, or the space sciences. A few members are professional astronomers.
If you're interested in any aspect of amateur astronomy, why not join us? We can help you learn your way around the sky. We can help you choose the right telescope to buy. We'll help you learn the fascinating science behind the hobby. And, we'll help you have fun while doing all that.
The Rochester Academy of Science is registered with the Internal Revenue Service of the U.S. Treasury Department as a tax-exempt, educational and scientific organization. The Rochester Academy of Science is classified in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible by donors as provided in section 170 of the Code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers or gifts to or for use by the Rochester Academy of Science are deductible for Federal estate and gift tax purposes under the provisions of section 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code.
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
- Star parties and sidewalk astronomy
- Periodic observing meetings at members' homes
- Members-only observing sessions at various dark sky locations around the region
- Occasional members-only tours & field trips
- Access to the group's loaner equipment
- 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!
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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 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!
We provide two options for joining ASRAS.
Option 1 - the ASRAS Store
- Click the red Join Now! button to go to the ASRAS Store Membership Catalog.
- Select the desired membership along with the various sections of the Rochester Academy of Science you are interested in joining.
- When you check out, the total cost of the membership will be displayed. Your information is automatically transmitted to teh Membership Chair.
- Simply send a check to the Membership Chair at the address below (at this time, it is cost prohibitive to provide a Paypal or similar payment option).
- When your membership information and check have been received, you will receive email notification that your membership is now active.
Option 2 - Printed Form
- Print the membership form (pdf format) or (Word doc format).
- Fill out the form and mail with your check to the Membership Chair at the address below.
- 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, if using Option #2) 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. You can also join other Sections of interest.
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.
Membership Categories
| Rochester Academy of Science | Astronomy Section | Anthropology Section | Life Sciences Section | Fossil Section | Mineral Section | |
| Member (Individual over age 18) | $10.00 | $17.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Family (Including students to age 18) | $15.00 | $22.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Student (K to full-time undergrad.) | $5.00 | $5.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Supporting (Individual or family) | $20.00 | $30.00 | ||||
| Patron (Individual or family) | $30.00 | $50.00 | ||||
| Life (Individual only) | $200.00 | $300.00 | $40.00 |
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).
When the winter weather breaks and the ground is not a huge mud pit we meet at the Wolk Observatory. 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 the meeting if observing is out of the question we 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 Max and Marion 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 Max and Marion Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, serves as the centerpiece of the group's activities.
The Wolk Observatory
1997 saw the completion of the Louis S. Wolk Building. This facility serves as educational facility, library, meeting building, and much more. It's the literal and figurative heart of the club.
Observers also have access to several pads, complete with power for those needing to run their drives and cameras. The RollOff
2001 saw completion of two significant observatory construction projects adjacent to the Wolk Building. In the first, a large roll-off roof observatory now houses our 16 inch Cave Newtonian reflecting telescope.
The RollOff is now motorized, making it even easier to access.
The Small Dome
The second project completed in 2001 was a small observatory with a 6 foot dome housing an 8" Schmidt Cassegrainian telescope. In addition, two large Newtonian telescopes (17" and 20") are available on Dobsonian mounts.
The Big Dome
2005 saw the completion of another major project, the BigDome. A 12 foot dome sits high above a warm room housing computers to run the 12" Meade SCT scope. This facility is primarily intended for astrophotography, with the computer controlling cameras, focusing motors, and so on. Users can mount a small refractor on the main scope, using either scope for guiding and/or imaging.
Directions
From the West:
Take Route 490 to Route 390 (South), get off at Route 590 (north) Take 590 to the Monroe Ave Exit, and go Right at the light (Monroe Ave). When you get to the Village of Pittsford, take a right onto Route 64 (South).
From the East:
Thruway (I90) west to Exit 45
(Victor / Rte. 96) Take Route 96 South (this will be a left turn) Turn right on Route 251 West (it's about 2 miles down Rte 96, you'll pass a car dealership just before the turn).
Turn left on Route 64 South (you'll come to the village of Mendon about 5 or 6 miles down. Rte 64 is the first stop light on Rte 251).
Directions For Both (once you get to Rte 64):
After about 8 to 10 miles, watch for the Ontario County sign, a horse farm on the right, and a gravel pit on the left. After those landmarks, you'll a quarter mile or so go up a hill. Just past the top of that hill is a road to the right -- Elton Road -- and a small sign pointing to Ionia. Take that right.
A hundred yards over the hill is the (very small) town of Ionia. Immediately turn right at the four corners in town. A few hundred feet later you will see a cemetery on the left. Immediately past the cemetery is a dark gray house with white trim; immediately past the gray house is the gravel road entrance to our site, with a bright yellow gate.
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' Cave telescope atop the Strasenburgh Planetarium every Saturday evening from April through October, weather permitting. The telescope is open from dusk until 11:00 PM. Call or visit the Strasenburgh Planetarium by 7:30 PM to confirm that the observatory 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.