Welcome to ASRAS

Private Event
2024-04-08 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Observatory closed to public for private event.

Free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium
2024-04-13 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
We’ll hope to observe on April 13th from 8pm to 10:30pm this night with clearing skies expected about observing time. A thin crescent Moon and Jupiter in the West will be the early targets, and a few dim objects like the Orion Nebula after 9pm as it gets darker. Watch the skies to make sure that clearing sky forecast holds. Dress warm as although the temp is expected in the mid 40’s a brisk wind will make it feel much colder on top of the tower in the wind.
Free! Park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, climb the 61 steps to the observing tower. We’ll be here weekly through late Fall if sky conditions are expected to be at least partly clear. We start around dusk and end at 10:30pm. Questions? Call Jim Seidewand at cell 585-703-9876 for more info or late cancellation info.

Private Event
2024-04-20, 2024-05-11, 2024-05-18, 2024-05-25, 2024-06-14 - 2024-06-15 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States

Free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium
2024-04-20 20:00 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
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We’ll hope to observe on April 20th from 8pm to 10:30pm this night with clearing skies expected about observing time. A 90% gibbous Moon and a shaky, low Jupiter in the West will be the early targets, and a few dim objects like the Orion Nebula after 9pm as it gets darker. Watch the skies to make sure that clearing sky forecast holds. Dress warm as although the temp is expected in the mid 40’s a brisk wind will make it feel much colder on top of the tower in the wind.
Free! Park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, climb the 61 steps to the observing tower. We’ll be here weekly through late Fall if sky conditions are expected to be at least partly clear. We start around dusk and end at 10:30pm. Questions? Call Jim Seidewand at cell 585-703-9876 for more info or late cancellation info.

Open House
2024-04-21 12:00 - 15:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Come out and learn to use some of the equipment available at the Farash Center! (in the daylight)

RAS Annual Meeting and Lecture
2024-04-25 19:00 - 21:00 | RIT Carlson 1125, RIT Carlson 1125, Rochester, NY, United States
Mark your calendars: On Thursday April 25 the RAS will host their annual meeting and election in our normal meeting spot at RIT, Carlson 1125. The speaker, Professor Adam Frank of the University of Rochester, will discuss the search for alien life. The meeting will start at 7 pm and will include the honoring of a new RAS Fellow that has been of great service for many years to ASRAS and RAS! Adam Frank’s talk is scheduled to start shortly after at 7:30 pm. Please plan to attend, and see the April RAS Bulletin for more details.

Public Observing Night
2024-04-26 19:30 - 23:00, 2024-05-10 19:30 - 23:00, 2024-06-28 19:30 - 23:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Join us for Public Observing at the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy. All welcome. Members come help visitors look at deep sky objects through our telescopes!

ASRAS Board of Directors Meeting
2024-05-01 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-06-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-07-10 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
Members welcome to attend. Contact Tony Golumbeck for details.

May Monthly Meeting
2024-05-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
In-person at Marian and Max Farash Center. Come as early as 7 pm to socialize.
Speaker: Our own David Bishop
Topic: “Astronomy Year in Review”

Observing to follow if skies are clear.

Free Strasenburgh Telescope observing
2024-05-18 20:30 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
Weekly Saturday night free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium. Just park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, climb the 61 steps to the observing tower. Cancelled if mostly cloudy. Last minute cancellation info on our FaceBook page or call Jim at 585-703-9876.
Sat 5/18 outlook is iffy, forecast averages about 60-70% clouds. But we have a nice gibbous Moon and we hope to get enough clear sky to see that. Look up to see if it’s clear enough to drive there.

Open House
2024-05-19 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-23 12:00 - 15:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Come out and see our facility / learn to use some of the equipment available at the Farash Center! (in the daylight)

Member Observing?
2024-05-23 08:00 - 17:00 | NY
Member Observing, if clear skies, on Friday July 5 and/or Saturday July 6
No monthly meeting in July due to RocheStar Fest.

ASRAS Astronomy Forum
2024-05-29 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
The fourth ASRAS Forum of 2024. Rescheduled from May 22.
Topic: “The Life and Death of Stars”
The talk will cover the formation of stars, their lifetimes and classification on the main sequence, and their end-of-life as white dwarfs, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes.
Presenter: Craig Kaplan
As with most Forums, it will be geared towards a beginning or less experienced audience. All are welcome to attend.

June Monthly Meeting
2024-06-07 19:30 - 22:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
In-person at Marian and Max Farash Center. Come as early as 7 pm to socialize.
Speaker: Hernan Rincon, University of Rochester
Topic: “DESI Science”

Observing to follow if skies are clear.

ASRAS at ADK Expo
2024-06-08 09:30 - 15:30 | Mendon Ponds Park, Pittsford, NY, United States
ASRAS and other RAS sections will staff tables at the:
25th ANNUAL OUTDOOR EXPO presented by
Genesee Valley Chapter Adirondack Mountain Club and Monroe County Parks
Saturday, June 8th, 2024
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Mendon Ponds Park, Pittsford NY
Outdoor Expo

Come visit, or help.

Member Observing Night?
2024-06-08 20:30 - 23:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
If clear skies, member Observing Night at the Farash Center.

Free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium
2024-06-15 20:30 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
We open the 2 telescopes on the telescope platform on Saturday nights through the onset of winter if clear enough to view. Just park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, the 61 stairs to the telescope deck are on the right. Free! ASRAS volunteers will be there to man the scopes and chat about astronomy. No reservations are needed and bring the family, especially when there’s a nice partial Moon phase; there’s no good planets this year till September when Saturn returns to the evening sky.
Join us on 6/15/24 for free views of the Moon at a very good phase to see the craters and mountains. While the Moon will be the main target, we’ll be adding a few dimmer deep sky objects when it gets darker, after 10pm. The forecast looks very good and it’ll be a nice night on the roof in the low 60’s, so consider bringing a light jacket. Need more info? Call Jim Seidewand’s cell 585-703-9876.

ASRAS Astronomy Forum
2024-07-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Topic: Cleaning and Collimating Optics
Presenter: Frank Bov
As with most Forums, it will be geared towards a beginning or less experienced audience. All are welcome to attend. In person and likely on zoom.

Member Observing Night?
2024-07-05 19:30 - 23:30 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Note: No July monthly meeting with RocheStar Fest coming up.
If clear skies, take advantage of New Moon with member Observing Night at the Farash Center. Please use the LOWER parking area and use red flashlights.

Free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium
2024-07-06 20:30 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
Climb the 61 steps to the observing deck to view through the 2 telescopes and chat with ASRAS volunteers about astronomy and science in general. We’ll have weekly Saturday night sessions through the onset of winter conditions, altering the time each week depending n the objects available. Held only if clear enough to view.
On Sat 7/6/24, we don’t have a Moon or planets, so we’ll be waiting till nearly 10pm to be able to begin to see dimmer deep sky objects like the Ring Nebula. But it looks to be a pleasant night with temps in the 70’s and a light breeze, so a good night to come and chat while we wait for the very late sunset and lingering twilight that we see this time of year. That will improve weekly from here and next week, we also have a great first quarter Moon if it’s clear.
Park behind the Planetarium and climb the stairs to the right of the rear glass doors. Questions? Call Jim Seidewand 585-703-9876 for more info.

Free telescope observing at Strasenburgh Planetarium
2024-07-13 20:30 - 22:30 | NY
Strasenburgh Saturday night free telescope observing for 7/13/24: The night looks to be clear, with pleasant temps in the 70’s. This week is the first quarter Moon when the terminator, the day/night line, is right in the center of the Moon and the long shadows give us great views of the craters and mountains. This is the week to see the Moon! We’ll open about 8:30 but the Moon won’t look very detailed till about 9:30 as it gets darker. We close about 10:30, but may see a few dim objects like the Ring Nebula and the great Hercules Cluster in the darker skies of the last half hour.
So if you want to chat about astronomy on a pleasant night atop the planetarium, just park behind it and before entering the rear glass doors, climb the 61 steps to the observing deck where we have 2 telescopes and a number of volunteers, chomping at the bit to talk about science and the sky after so many cloudy weekends lately. Questions? Call Jim Seidewand’s cell 585-703-9876 for more info.
We’ll be trying to open every Saturday night till the onset of winter, but cancel if cloudy. Watch our FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/ASRAS.Club/ for the last minute weekly outlook as we get close on Saturday.
