For Members
Member Services
Our Member Services Officer Ed Ellis is in charge of planning field trips and other activities for members. If you have any suggestions for future activities, please pass them on to the MSO or another club officer!
Not a member yet? Membership Info
Coming Up for Members
- Talkin’ Tuesday Tue, Oct 27 · 7:30–9:30 pm Bottoms Up Sports Bar & Grill Members Only
- NAA Board Meeting Tue, Nov 3 · 7:30–9:00 pm The Patio Members Only
- Group Night Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00–10:00 pm Private Location Members Only
- Members Only Night Sat, Nov 14 · 7:30–10:00 pm NAA Astronomy Education Center Members Only
The Focal Plane (the club newsletter) has information on all scheduled club star parties. They are also listed on the Calendar page of the club website, and are usually also announced in posts on the NAA Groups.io message board.
Star Parties
NAA star parties are held all year ’round. Members’ Nights are held at the observatories on the Saturday evening closest to new moon. On weekends near last quarter and new moon, members frequently bring portable telescopes to our Dark Site locations for informal star parties. See the Club Handbook for details on the dark sites.
Public Nights, held at the observatories on the Saturday evenings closest to first and last quarter moon, also double as star parties for members, who bring their portable telescopes to set up on the lawn and supplement the views available in the two observatory scopes.
Astronomical observing is always weather dependent. Our Member Services Officer is in charge of Members’ Nights: several hours before the event, they evaluate the available weather information and decide if the event should be cancelled, and post that decision on the NAA Groups.io message board and on the homepage of our website. For star parties at our Dark Sites, the go/cancel decision is entirely up to each individual member.
Questions
Do I have to bring a telescope?
Not at all! One of the main reasons we observe together is to share our views with each other. Most members are more than happy to show you the view through their instruments. Just walk up and ask!
May I bring friends?
Your guests are welcome at members’ star parties at our observatory; for guests at our Dark Sites, see the Club Handbook. Of course, if you have a family membership, all immediate family members are considered to be members and are welcome at any club events.
What about children?
Kids are fine at most star parties, as long as they are interested in observing! Please teach them basic star party etiquette: ask first before touching anyone’s telescope or other equipment, no running around, keep the noise down, and leave the flashlights in the car.
How do I prepare for a Star Party?
Dress properly: long sleeves and pants help keep mosquitoes off. Bring extra layers of clothing, since even summer nights can get surprisingly cool. Use ONLY RED flashlights: any white light will instantly ruin your fellow observers’ dark adaptation, as well as your own! Bring a lawn chair so you’ll have a place to sit. Plan on arriving before twilight ends, so your arrival and set-up will be safer and easier for you, and less disturbing to other observers.
How long do star parties last?
For events at the NAA observatories, starting and ending times will be listed on the club’s website Calendar and The Focal Plane, which will also show the times when the access gate will be opened. Members’ Nights may run until midnight or beyond in the summer, but the access gate will normally still close by 10 pm: we can stay later, but you cannot arrive after the gate closes.
How do I find out who else might be going out to the Dark Sites?
The best way to connect with other members is via the NAA’s Groups.io discussion group. Members can ask who is going out or look for a carpool, or you can suggest going out on a night not previously scheduled (great for spur-of-the-moment planning).
Getting Together
Talkin’ Tuesdays
Members meet to talk about the hobby or just socialize. Members can also send a message via groups.io if they have equipment questions that they may bring to our meet-up. During warmer weather, Member Meet-up is at the AEC, but during the Winter, or when the weather is inclement, we are indoors at Bottoms Up.
Social Time
After our General Meetings, NAA members get together to share some more stories, at Bottoms Up Sports Bar and Grill, 1807 S Washington St., Naperville (about 2 miles south of Grace United Methodist Church).
Annual Dinner
Join fellow members and guests for a relaxed evening of great food, conversations, and celebration as we reflect on another fantastic year together. The perfect opportunity to connect with other club members, recognize achievements, and toast to the year ahead.
Field Trips
Our Member Services Officer organizes sign-up, go or cancel notification, reservations, and carpooling for NAA field trips, from Yerkes Observatory to the Field Museum.
Annual Auction
Our annual auction is the program for the August General Meeting. If you plan to donate any items to the auction, please reach out to Member Services.
Group Purchases
The MSO coordinates group discounts available through the club on many astronomical accessories including books, calendars, and observing handbooks. Watch your newsletter for information on ordering times.
RASC Observer’s Handbook and Calendar
Each fall we put together a group order for the next year’s RASC Observer’s Handbook and Observer’s Calendar; Member Services sends out an announcement when the order arrives.
Baader Solar Film
The club purchased a bulk supply of Baader Solar Film and sells it to members in squares that make a solar filter for most small to medium sized telescopes, or a pair of filters for binoculars up to 50mm.
More For Members
Observatory Training
Members may become a “keyholder” of either observatory by attending instructional orientation sessions and then passing a test. Our Vice President Drew Carhart is in charge of the observatories, and can be contacted to schedule training sessions.
Dark Sites
Parcels of land more distant from the bright night skies of Chicagoland than our Astronomy Education Center; they are available for members to use on any night. See the Club Handbook for their locations, directions and rules.
Lending Library
The NAA has quite an impressive library of astronomical books, periodicals, and DVDs available for loan to members. Our Librarian brings an assortment to each regular monthly meeting.
Groups.io
The NAA discussion group on Groups.io is a members-only Internet service where we can post messages to other members; it is an excellent resource for both discussion and connecting with each other on a real-time basis.
The Focal Plane
The Focal Plane is sent to members in advance of each monthly meeting and provides a synopsis of past, present, and upcoming NAA activities; by reading it each month you can keep up with what is going on in the club.
Board Meetings
All club business is discussed at monthly executive board meetings. All members are welcome to attend board meetings; see the Focal Plane or the website for their dates and locations.
Suggest an Activity
If you have any suggestions for future activities, please pass them on to the MSO or another club officer!
Ed Ellis, Member Services Officer