[General Meetings]
Last Updated 05.10.2008
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The KAS meets on the first Friday of every month at 7:00 pm in the presentation center of the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC), located on the fourth floor of Old Central High School.  Our General Meetings are open to the public and admission is always FREE.  You may enter Old Central through the Dutton Street entrance.  Elevator access is available.   Meeting days and times may vary, please check the Schedule of Events page before attending a meeting.

The first hour is generally the entertainment portion of the meeting with the business portion of the meeting in the second hour after a snack break. The program topics vary from month to month. Some of the programs are:
  • Video Presentations.
  • Lectures on Robotic and Manned Space Exploration.
  • Lectures on Amateur and Professional Astronomy.
Sometimes our meetings have a special theme to them. In July members bring their special creations that help enhance the observing experience. This is called "Gadget Night". In August we have our annual "Perseid Potluck Picnic". The October meeting is "Astrophotography Night". Members show off their best (and sometimes worst) astrophotographs. For the past fourteen years many members have entered the Astrophotography Contest and try to win one (or more) of the 5 categories. In December we hold a holiday party with lots of treats and surprises.

We have had a wide variety of guest speakers over the years. Some of the topics range from meteor collecting to CCD imaging. We've even had someone try to convince us that the Russians faked their entire space program!  For a detailed description of upcoming meeting please visit the Schedule of Events page.

2008 General Meeting Calendar
Date Time Location
-------------- -------------- --------------
January 11 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** Simon Newcomb:  The Unknown Astronomer -- Mike Sinclair ***
February 1 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** Pluto - What's in a Name -- Dr. Kirk Korista, WMU Associate Professor of Astronomy ***
March 7 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** BIG – The History of the World’s Largest Telescope - Mark Miller ***
April 4 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** What it Takes to Build a Large Telescope -- Dan Morgan ***
May 2 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** Visitors from Space:  Meteors and Comets -- Dr. John Grace ***
June 6 7:00 pm WMU - Rood Hall
*** Tales from the Many Tails of Comets -- Dr. Arunav Kundu, MSU ***
July 11 7:00 pm WMU - Rood Hall
***  Gadget Night ***
August 9 6:00 pm Nature Center
*** Perseid Potluck Picnic ***
September 12 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** Explorer 1:  Beginnings of the Space Age ***
October 3 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** Astrophotography Night ***
November 7 7:00 pm KAMSC
*** TBA ***
December 5 6:30 pm KAMSC
*** Holiday Party ***

Download the 2008 Meeting Schedule
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

May Meeting Picts






The KAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the exchange of information among those with a common interest in all areas of astronomy, to educate the public about astronomical discoveries and events and to cooperate with other amateur and professional astronomical organizations.