When: Friday, March 16, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: Hemlock Crossing
Join members of the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association!
French astronomer Charles Messier was an avid comet hunter. He was frustrated by objects which resembled them but were not comets. He therefore compiled a list of these objects so that he would not keep confusing them during his comet searches. We will talk about what they are and, weather permitting, look at some of the brighter ones through telescopes. The Moon will be 3 days past first quarter.

There will be a viewing session after. (weather permitting)
For the outdoor viewing, telescopes will be provided, or you may bring your own.
Bring a lawn chair and binoculars (if you have them). There are no fees and advanced registration is not required. The program and viewing are for adults and older children. The Nature Education Center is located at Hemlock Crossing in Port Sheldon Township. From US 31, travel west on Croswell St. to West Olive Rd. Travel south on West Olive Rd. to the park entrance. The center is at the end of the park drive. Call 616-786-4847 if you need more information.

Wonders of the Universe
When: Sat, February 11, 7pm – 8pm
Where: Hemlock Crossing
Join members of the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association!
The Universe is a vast, infinite place.
Is our Sun the only star with planets around it?
Modern technology has allowed astronomers to discover that other stars have planets orbiting them.
What are these planets like? Come and hear about exoplanets and more.
This program will be held rain, snow, or shine (as long as road and weather conditions are safe).

There will be a viewing session after. (weather permitting)
For the outdoor viewing, telescopes will be provided, or you may bring your own.
Bring a lawn chair and binoculars (if you have them). There are no fees and advanced registration is not required. The program and viewing are for adults and older children. The Nature Education Center is located at Hemlock Crossing in Port Sheldon Township. From US 31, travel west on Croswell St. to West Olive Rd. Travel south on West Olive Rd. to the park entrance. The center is at the end of the park drive. Call 616-786-4847 if you need more information.

Join members of the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association on
Friday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ottawa County Parks Nature Education Center for a one hour indoor program on Life Cycles of Stars and Supernovas.

Stars, just like people, go through a life cycle. They are born in “stellar nurseries,” mature, and die. Some of them go away quietly while others explode with far-reaching effects in the Universe. This program will feature these wonderful events and show how you are made of “star stuff.” This program will be held rain, snow, or shine (as long as road and weather conditions are safe).

The indoor program will be followed by an outdoor sky viewing session (weather permitting). For the outdoor viewing, telescopes will be provided. Bring binoculars (if you have them), and dress to be outside. There is no program fee and advance registration is not required. This program is for adults and older children.

The Nature Education Center is located at Hemlock Crossing County Park in Port Sheldon Township. From US 31, travel west on Croswell St. a short distance to West Olive Rd. Travel south on West Olive Rd. about 0.3 miles to the park entrance. The Nature Education Center is located at the end of the park road. For more information, call 616-786-4847.

Join the SAAA & Ottawa County Parks in another in its series of astronomy programs and sky viewings in November.

The next program and viewing are scheduled for Saturday, November 19.
The evening will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Nature Education Center with a one-hour
indoor program on Buying a Telescope and How They Work.

Following the indoor program, there will be a two-hour outdoor viewing session (weather permitting).

For the outdoor viewing, telescopes will be provided, or you may bring your own. Bring a lawn chair and binoculars (if you have them). There are no fees and advanced registration is not required. The program and viewing are for adults and older children.

The Nature Education Center is located at Hemlock Crossing in Port Sheldon Township. From US 31, travel west on Croswell St. to West Olive Rd. Travel south on West Olive Rd. to the park entrance. The center is at the end of the park drive. Call 616-786-4847 if you need more information.

Come join the SAAA at the Holland campus Nov 4th

Take a tour of the autumn sky with Doug Furton of GVSU’s Physics Department on Friday Nov. 4, 2011, at GVSU’s Meijer Campus in Holland.

There will be an indoor program — rain or shine — from 7-8 pm, followed by an outdoor observing session, weather permitting, from 8 – 10 pm.

The indoor program will feature a multimedia presentation about the goings on in the late autumn/early winter sky followed by a question & answer session. The outdoor program will feature viewing of the moon, Venus, Jupiter, and other celestial wonders. Telescopes will be available courtesy of the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association and the GVSU Physics Club, but visitors are welcome to bring their own. Dress warm and bring a lawn chair to watch the sky as the evening unfolds.

Dr. Furton is a Professor of Physics at GVSU, and a part-time professional astronomer. Prof. Furton is an expert on interstellar dust and has taught astronomy for over twenty years. He presently writes a weekly column about astronomy and space science for the Grand Haven Tribune.

The event is free and open to all ages. Reservations are not required, but an RSVP to Lisa Miller (Milllisa@GVSU.edu) or Prof. Furton (FurtonD@GVSU.edu) would be helpful for planning purposes. GVSU’s Meijer Campus is located at 515 S. Waverly Rd. in Holland, MI.