Private Event
2025-04-11 - 2025-04-13, 2025-05-03, 2025-05-31, 2025-06-07 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States

Open House Apr2025
2025-04-13 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Come out and see our facility’s layout when it’s light, and see some of the equipment we have for member’s use.
(If you’d like to get practice opening up and operating a building/telescope, please let us know via the e-mail group so we can try to ensure there will be someone there at the Open House to accommodate you. )

RAS Annual Meeting and Spring Lecture
2025-04-22 19:00 - 21:00 | RIT Carlson 1125, RIT Carlson 1125, Rochester, NY, United States
RAS 2025 Spring Lecture Smith Frost Town
The Rochester Academy of Science Annual Meeting and Spring Lecture are Tuesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m. This live meeting (with Zoom remote) will be at the Rochester Institute of Technology Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, Room 1125, 54 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. After a brief introduction and report, the Annual RAS Officer election will conclude the business meeting. Note that you must have renewed your membership by March 31st to vote.
The Spring Lecture will follow the business meeting at 7:30PM. Our speaker is Dr. Alexander Smith, professor of Anthropology at SUNY Brockport. He is head of our RAS Anthropology Section. He leads the Archaeology project in partnership with the Rochester Museum & Science Center. This project is dedicated to the excavation and better understanding of an abandoned mill town known as “Frost Town”, located on what is now the Cumming Nature Center in South Bristol, NY. If time permits, Dr. Smith will also discuss his excavations of iron-age sites on Mediterranean islands such as Mallorca and Menorca.

ASRAS Astronomy Forum (April 2025)
2025-04-23 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Presenter: Craig Kaplan
Topic: “Cool Things to Know about a Hot Object”
This presentation will address the structure of the sun and origins of magnetic phenomena that affect the earth. Participants will also learn about web-based resources that will help them predict the occurrence of future powerful magnetic storms and aurorae.
As with most Forums, it will be geared towards a beginning or less experienced audience. All are welcome to attend. Contact Craig Kaplan (ckaplan0951@gmail.com) for zoom link.
Note: Rescheduled from February 26, 2025.

Public Observing Night
2025-04-25 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-05-16 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-06-20 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!

Member Observing Night
2025-04-26 19:30 - 23:30, 2025-05-24 19:30 - 23:30, 2025-06-21 19:30 - 23:30 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
If clear skies, take advantage of New Moon weekend with member Observing Night at the Farash Center. Please use the LOWER parking area and use red flashlights.

May Monthly Meeting
2025-05-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
In-person at the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy in Ionia, NY.
Come early to socialize and setup telescopes for observing, if weather is conducive.
Speaker: David Bishop, FRAS
Topic: Astronomy Year in Review

ASRAS Board of Directors Meeting
2025-05-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-04 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
Members welcome to attend. Contact Tony Golumbeck for details.

Strasenburgh Planetarium Free Telescope Observing
2025-05-10 21:00 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
Strasenburgh outlook for Sat 5/10/25: Yeah! We’ll finally be opening from 9 to 10:30 tonight as most forecasts show us clear, although a few show some clouds increasing. It will be in the mid 50’s but dress warm for a light wind.

Objects will be limited though. Jupiter early but getting low during the session, and disappearing into the sunset in the coming weeks. A nearly full Moon will make dim deep sky objects difficult and will only show a bit of crater detail on the very edge. Double stars will be ok. Mars there but now very small. There is a very bright space station pass starting at 9:35, passing high in the sky, so look up then even if you’re not downtown with us.

To visit us, park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, on the right, climb the 61 steps to the observing deck. We have a short window for observing as we have to turn the keys in about 10:45, and that window will be even shorter as we get into June.

We do this weekly on Saturday nights if clear. Free. Questions? Call Jim Seidewand 585-703-9876.

Open House May2025
2025-05-11 12:00 - 15:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States

Tour of Farash Center
2025-05-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
David Bishop will lead a tour of the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy for our friends and neighbors in the Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society (Syracuse’s Astro club).

ASRAS Astronomy Forum (May 2025)
2025-05-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Topic: How to buy a Telescope
Presenter: Anthony Krishock, Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society
As with most Forums, it will be geared towards a beginning or less experienced audience. All are welcome to attend. Contact Craig Kaplan (ckaplan0951@gmail.com) for zoom link.

Joint Mineral/Fossil Section meeting & picnic
2025-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
The Mineral and Fossil Sections will have a joint meeting and picnic at the Farash Center.

June Monthly Meeting
2025-06-06 19:30 - 22:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
In-person at the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy in Ionia, NY.
Come early to socialize and setup telescopes for observing, if weather is conducive.
Speaker: Kevin Righter, University of Rochester
Topic: OSIRIS- REx sample from Bennu

Strasenburgh Free telescope observing
2025-06-07 20:30 - 22:30 | RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester, NY, United States
We’re hoping for clear skies tonight, most forecasts show only a few clouds. We’ll be open from 8:30 to 10:30pm with temps expected in the mid 60’s and almost no wind. We have a gibbous Moon, best after 9pm, some double stars. Dimmer objects will be difficult in the bright moonlight made even worse by the smoke passing over the region. Alas, no good planets till Saturn in late September.
Telescope observing at Strasenburgh is always free. Park behind the planetarium and just before entering the rear glass doors, climb the 61 steps to the observing deck. We do this weekly on Saturday nights till winter sets in, but cancel if too cloudy to observe. Watch here for weekly updates on Saturday afternoon. Need more info? Call Jim Seidewand 585-703-9876.

Open House June2025
2025-06-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States

ASRAS @ ADK Expo
2025-06-14 09:00 - 15:30 | Mendon Ponds Park, Pittsford, NY, United States
ASRAS will staff a table at:
The 26th ANNUAL OUTDOOR EXPO presented by Genesee Valley Chapter Adirondack Mountain Club and Monroe County Parks
Saturday, June 14th, 2025
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Mendon Ponds Park, Pittsford NY

Outdoor Expo

RAS Board Meeting
2025-06-18 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
The RAS Board will meet at the Farash Center. Contact RAS President Michael Grenier for additional details.

ASRAS Astronomy Forum (June 2025)
2025-06-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Topic: The Voyager Missions
Presenter: Jim Porter, NASA Solar System Ambassador
As with most Forums, it will be geared towards a beginning or less experienced audience. All are welcome to attend. Contact Craig Kaplan (ckaplan0951@gmail.com) for zoom link.

ASRAS Board of Directors Meeting
2025-07-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom

July Monthly Meeting
2025-07-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
Because RSF will be in August for 2025, we will have a July meeting (in-person at the Marian and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy in Ionia, NY).
Come early to socialize and setup telescopes for observing, if weather is conducive.
Speaker: Martin Pepe
Topic: “Radio Astronomy in WNY”
Outline:

WHY ?
Status of ARA Sig – # of members
Summary ASRAS > Solar RT in Ionia NY – Debug
Status BAA 1.42 GHz in Java NY – Weatherproofing
Meteor Detection System with Passive Radio – Concept

If time allows: Marty may touch on the Status of Radio Jove 2.0 using an SDR & the IBT for Scouts, etc.

Open House July2025
2025-07-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy, 8355 County Road 14, Ionia, NY, 14475, United States
