Atlanta Astronomy Club
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta Astronomy Club (AAC) is one of the largest organizations of beginner and amateur astronomers in the South Eastern United States. The club seeks to provide enjoyment and education to the public through amateur astronomy
.
in Decatur, Georgia
from the Harvard
College Observatory, founded the Atlanta Astronomy Club in 1947 to promote the collaboration of professional and amateur astronomers and to provide a venue for non-professionals to share their interests.
The AAC incorporated in 1963 as a nonprofit organization. It is educational, literary and scientific in nature and is dedicated especially to promoting the public knowledge of and interest in astronomy.
Notable alumni and current membership achievements and contributions to the community and scientific body of knowledge are established. Peter Herdvary, a Hungarian-born geologist and former AAC member, who had a lunar crater named for him by the International Astronomical Union
, in recognition of his work as an amateur astronomer. In 1994, AAC members Jerry Armstrong and Tim Puckett discovered a supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy
(Messier object M51). Another Club member, Alex Langoussis, assisted Tim Puckett in his supernovae searches and now has over a dozen to his credit. Official recognition by the IAU brought worldwide attention to this pair of Georgia amateur astronomers. They were featured on CNN
, as well as other news media around the globe.
Michael A Covington is an AAC member and is the author of The Practical Amateur Astronomy Series published by Cambridge University Press
. He has written the books Digital SLR Astrophotography, How to Use a Computerized Telescope, Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes, Astrophotography for the Amateur, and The Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide with Jay M. Pasachoff as well as several other books for Barron's Educational Series
. Covington is a computational linguist during the day and has been on the faculty of University of Georgia
since 1984.
Current AAC Board member Richard Jakiel has written over 70 articles that have appeared in Astronomy Magazine and Sky and Telescope as well as an astronomy textbook for German Universities and is a frequent lecturer and presenter to ALPO, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers
.
The AAC is also part of the NASA
Night Sky Network
and offers awards and certificates upon completion of viewing certain objects in the sky, as well as The Keith J. Burns Award, in honor of "Kosmik Kow" Burns, former AAC president and active amateur astronomer who passed away in November 2010. The Keith J. Burns Award is given to the person who best demonstrates the joy of discovery, commitment to education and sharing with the amateur astronomy community that Keith Burns was the paragon of to the local community.
Also scheduled is a Dark Sky Observing (DSO) event every new moon weekend, so that observers can have an opportunity to pursue their own observing agendas.
Sessions for beginners and the public are also scheduled through the year.
The AAC hosts an annual star party, The Peach State Star Gaze (known fondly as The PSSG) at the nearby Deerlick Astronomy Village home of the darkest skies in the southeast.
In the spring the club holds a no frills "star party" called the Zombie Party usually to coincide with the yearly Messier marathon
. This marathon star gaze is very popular.
Georgia Astronomy in State parks (GASP) events are held 4 to 5 times a year in State parks around Georgia. The Club gives a short presentation to the public and sets up scopes to show the campers the night sky.
session in public areas to share their knowledge and the sky with others.
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
.
Founding
Dr. William Calder, who came to Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
from the Harvard
College Observatory, founded the Atlanta Astronomy Club in 1947 to promote the collaboration of professional and amateur astronomers and to provide a venue for non-professionals to share their interests.
The AAC incorporated in 1963 as a nonprofit organization. It is educational, literary and scientific in nature and is dedicated especially to promoting the public knowledge of and interest in astronomy.
Membership
Membership in the AAC is open to anyone with a general interest in astronomy. The ACC is for casual skywatchers who can name the constellations as well as those who have telescopes and binoculars and know the celestial objects scientific classifications and numbers. The AAC welcomes all with an interest in astronomy, regardless of race, color, creed, age or sexual orientation.Notable alumni and current membership achievements and contributions to the community and scientific body of knowledge are established. Peter Herdvary, a Hungarian-born geologist and former AAC member, who had a lunar crater named for him by the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
, in recognition of his work as an amateur astronomer. In 1994, AAC members Jerry Armstrong and Tim Puckett discovered a supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy
Whirlpool Galaxy
The Whirlpool Galaxy is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy that is estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way Galaxy. in the constellation Canes Venatici...
(Messier object M51). Another Club member, Alex Langoussis, assisted Tim Puckett in his supernovae searches and now has over a dozen to his credit. Official recognition by the IAU brought worldwide attention to this pair of Georgia amateur astronomers. They were featured on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, as well as other news media around the globe.
Michael A Covington is an AAC member and is the author of The Practical Amateur Astronomy Series published by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. He has written the books Digital SLR Astrophotography, How to Use a Computerized Telescope, Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes, Astrophotography for the Amateur, and The Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide with Jay M. Pasachoff as well as several other books for Barron's Educational Series
Barron's Educational Series
Barron's Educational Series, Inc. is an American test preparation company, founded in 1941 as a publisher of materials to help students to prepare for college entrance examinations, and that offers online college entrance exam preparation classes...
. Covington is a computational linguist during the day and has been on the faculty of University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
since 1984.
Current AAC Board member Richard Jakiel has written over 70 articles that have appeared in Astronomy Magazine and Sky and Telescope as well as an astronomy textbook for German Universities and is a frequent lecturer and presenter to ALPO, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers
Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers
The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers is an international scientific and educational organization established in March, 1947 in the United States by Walter H. Haas, and later incorporated in 1990...
.
The AAC is also part of the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Night Sky Network
Night Sky Network
Night Sky Network is an educational effort sponsored by NASA to help educate the public through astronomy clubs across the United States....
and offers awards and certificates upon completion of viewing certain objects in the sky, as well as The Keith J. Burns Award, in honor of "Kosmik Kow" Burns, former AAC president and active amateur astronomer who passed away in November 2010. The Keith J. Burns Award is given to the person who best demonstrates the joy of discovery, commitment to education and sharing with the amateur astronomy community that Keith Burns was the paragon of to the local community.
Events
Monthly meetings are held at 8pm on the Friday nearest the full moon. Club business is briefly discussed, followed by amateur and professional speakers from all over the country.Also scheduled is a Dark Sky Observing (DSO) event every new moon weekend, so that observers can have an opportunity to pursue their own observing agendas.
Sessions for beginners and the public are also scheduled through the year.
The AAC hosts an annual star party, The Peach State Star Gaze (known fondly as The PSSG) at the nearby Deerlick Astronomy Village home of the darkest skies in the southeast.
In the spring the club holds a no frills "star party" called the Zombie Party usually to coincide with the yearly Messier marathon
Messier marathon
A Messier marathon is an attempt, usually organized by amateur astronomers, to find as many Messier objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep sky objects...
. This marathon star gaze is very popular.
Georgia Astronomy in State parks (GASP) events are held 4 to 5 times a year in State parks around Georgia. The Club gives a short presentation to the public and sets up scopes to show the campers the night sky.
Public outreach
Each year The Atlanta Astronomy Club sets up scopes and presentations for schools, museums, state parks, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and many others free of charge. As part of their outreach they also have sidewalk astronomySidewalk astronomy
Sidewalk or Street Corner Astronomy refers to the activity of setting up a telescope in an urban setting on a for profit or non-profit basis as an entertainment or for public education.-Overview:...
session in public areas to share their knowledge and the sky with others.