Warren Astronomical Society

"Amateur" is not an insult.

An amateur astronomer is someone who learns the skies, learns how to observe or photograph the incomprehensibly distant and huge objects out there, learns about cosmology, and shares this knowledge with others - not because it's a paid occupation, not for recognition or praise, but because we love it.

The Warren Astronomical Society (http://www.warrenastro.org) meets twice monthly to share presentations about astronomy: observations, science, and history. There's a monthly discussion group that covers all sorts of topics (astronomical and otherwise).

And, of course, there are observing sessions: one to two public open houses per month and many informal members-only observing nights at our observatory, Stargate. Whether you're an experienced stargazer or need help learning your telescope, you're sure to find somebody to talk to.

Members have the opportunity to check out telescopes and other equipment with a minimal deposit. If you're interested in getting into astronomy but don't know what sort of telescope you'd like, a risk-free trial can be a great help. Attend an event and find out just how much a committed amateur can do.

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Meetup
Mtg and Talks: "How the USSR Lost the Moon Race" & "Curiosity Mars Rover"
- Mon Feb 06
  7:30 PM
- RSVP 6 days
  left
- 11 attending
- 89 spots left
- 0 comments
Cranbrook Institute of Science

39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI (map)
At the Warren Astronomical Society's Cranbrook meetings, we do a bit of club business early on, then have two presentations, one short and one full-length. Diane Hall... Learn more

Hosted by: Jonathan Kade (Webmaster), Robert Berta (Outreach Director, 2012), Jon Blum (President, 2012), and Debra Chaffins
Meetup
Meeting and Talk: "Winged Messengers to Mercury"
- Thu Feb 16
  7:30 PM
- → RSVP
- 4 attending
- 36 spots left
- 0 comments
Macomb Community College - South Campus - Library

14500 E 12 Mile Rd, Warren, MI (map)
The Warren Astronomical Society meets monthly on the third Thursday in a room in the library (Building J) at Macomb Community College's South Campus. We are meeting in... Learn more

Hosted by: Jonathan Kade (Webmaster), Diane Hall (First Vice-President (Program Chair), 2012), Robert Berta (Outreach Director, 2012), and suitti (Librarian)
Meetup
Stargate Observatory Open House
- Sat Feb 18
  7:00 PM
- → RSVP
- 2 attending
- 0 comments
Stargate Observatory @ Camp Rotary in Wolcott Mill Metropark

20505 29 Mile Rd, Ray, MI (map)
It's our mostly-monthly public open house: you get to use our equipment and our volunteers' knowledge to see what's out there in the sky tonight. We usually stay as long... Learn more

Hosted by: Jonathan Kade (Webmaster), and Robert Berta (Outreach Director, 2012)
Meetup
Mtg and Talks: "Einstein & Newton: Kinetics of Motion" & "60LCM Scope Review"
- Mon Mar 05
  7:30 PM
- → RSVP
- 5 attending
- 95 spots left
- 0 comments
Cranbrook Institute of Science

39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI (map)
At the Warren Astronomical Society's Cranbrook meetings, we do a bit of club business early on, then have two presentations, one short and one full-length. Bill Margolin... Learn more

Hosted by: Jonathan Kade (Webmaster), Robert Berta (Outreach Director, 2012), Jon Blum (President, 2012), and Debra Chaffins
Meetup
Meeting and Talk: "2011: A Year in the News"
- Thu Mar 15
  7:30 PM
- → RSVP
- 4 attending
- 36 spots left
- 0 comments
Macomb Community College - South Campus - Library

14500 E 12 Mile Rd, Warren, MI (map)
The Warren Astronomical Society meets monthly on the third Thursday in a room in the library (Building J) at Macomb Community College's South Campus. We are meeting in... Learn more

Hosted by: Jonathan Kade (Webmaster), Diane Hall (First Vice-President (Program Chair), 2012), Robert Berta (Outreach Director, 2012), and suitti (Librarian)
More Meetups

Recent Meetups

January 21 at 7:00 PM, 35 Astronomers attended
Stargate Observatory Open House
They rated it 5.002 (2 ratings)

“
Great observing and conversation. ...

—Jonathan Kade

“
I thoroughly enjoyed this event. The members of the Warren Astronomical Society were gracious hosts, helpful and entertaining. ...

—Joseph Tocco
January 19 at 7:30 PM, 38 Astronomers attended
Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
They rated it 3.002 (2 ratings)

“
I hate to disagree with a pro, but I loved Dave's talk. ...

—Jonathan Kade

“
While Dave does have a basic grasp of the subject, and an excellent background in physics, his skill at conveying the topic in a logical ...

—Mike Simonsen
January 9 at 7:30 PM, 50 Astronomers attended
Mtg and Talks: "Aliens ARE Here on Earth" & "Asymmetry in the Cosmos"
They rated it 5.001 (1 ratings)

At the Warren Astronomical Society's Cranbrook meetings, we do a bit of club business early on, then have two presentations, one short and one full-length. Bob Berta... Learn more
December 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM, 63 Astronomers attended
50th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Banquet
They rated it 5.003 (3 ratings)

“
The 50th anniversary was all about the WAS for 50 years. ...

—suitti

“
Great fun, one of the best ever.

—Ken Bertin
December 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM, 55 Astronomers attended
Mtg and Talks: "Doomed, Insignificant, and Ignorant" & "Observing Open Clusters"
They rated it 5.002 (2 ratings)

At the Warren Astronomical Society's Cranbrook meetings, we do a bit of club business early on, then have two presentations, one short and one full-length. Professor... Learn more

See all past Meetups

What's new

See all photos
New comment

suitti commented on Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 22 at 12:17 PM

"Dave's talk had many features i consider excellent. A technical talk, but his graphics gave a good visualization on what is thought to be going on. There was audience discussion. He stopped to allow it to happen...."

Read more…
New comment

Mike Simonsen commented on Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 22 at 11:29 AM

"Yes, but there is a lot of really excellent material out there also. I have a hard drive full. Admittedly, I have become a bit crusty and critical when it comes to public speaking events and presentations...."

Read more…
New comment

Jonathan Kade commented on Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 22 at 11:21 AM

"Meanwhile, Wikipedia has a terrible, brief entry on dwarf novae that would be utterly mystifying to the general public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_nova "Sudden release of gravitational potential energy"??..."

Read more…
New comment

Jonathan Kade commented on Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 22 at 11:21 AM

"Mike, to your point, here's a Z Cam video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?..."

Read more…
New Rating

Jonathan Kade attended Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 22 at 11:11 AM

"I hate to disagree with a pro, but I loved Dave's talk. I found that his depiction of concepts on the whiteboard engaged my imagination far better than a bunch of stock Wikipedia graphics...."

Read more…
New Rating

Jonathan Kade attended Stargate Observatory Open House
January 22 at 10:58 AM

"Great observing and conversation. We saw open clusters, multiple star systems, galaxies, and an amazing arrangement of Jupiter's moons. We also caught our first glimpse of Mars telescopically this year."

Read more…
New Rating

Joseph Tocco attended Stargate Observatory Open House
January 22 at 6:56 AM

"I thoroughly enjoyed this event. The members of the Warren Astronomical Society were gracious hosts, helpful and entertaining...."

Read more…
Group Review

Mike Simonsen wrote a group review
January 20 at 11:52 AM

"The WAS is an amazing group and still going strong. Love ya, man."
New Rating

Mike Simonsen attended Meeting and Talk: "Classical Novae"
January 20 at 11:52 AM

"While Dave does have a basic grasp of the subject, and an excellent background in physics, his skill at conveying the topic in a logical manner and framing it in the broader landscape of stellar evolution and astrophysics is very poor...."

Read more…
New Rating

Jonathan Kade attended Mtg and Talks: "Aliens ARE Here on Earth" & "Asymmetry in the Cosmos"
January 15 at 1:19 PM

"A great short talk by Fred Gluckson that easily could have been a long talk. Bob's topic was entertaining and effective at reminding us that alien life is far more likely to be microbes near thermal vents than little green men...."

Read more…