FAAC Homepage -- Ford Amateur Astronomy Club

Welcome to our Michigan,
National, and International
visitors.

Join our Ford Amateur Astronomy Club:Fill out this form, mail it in or bring it to our next meeting.

      ASTRONOMERS GONE WILD! ! !

ASTRO JEOPARDY WINNERS

Dateline: May 4, 2013
Location: Annual FAAC Banquet 2013
Story:

Our annual ASTRO JEOPARDY CONTEST was won by these awesome, clued-in, and particularly eruodite amateur astronomers who attended the 2013 FAAC BANQUET. The annual banquet honors the FAAC SIRIUS AWARD WINNER who has displayed leadership and inspiration to our club and the community.

This year's ASTRO JEOPARDY competition collimated //pun intended// on the identification of visual aspects of astronomical bodies by our august group of visual and astrophotographic astronomers in attendance.

The ASTRO JEOPARDY winners are seen above.

A good time was had by all.

You are invited to these
Upcoming Events:

The 2013 Meeting Schedule
      Imaging SIG and General Membership Meetings @ 5:30 PM
      Click on "Club Informaiton" at the left for details.
Imaging SIG General Membership Meetings May 9 23 June 13 27 July 11 25 August 8 22 September 12 26 Oct 10 24 Nov 14 No Meeting Dec 12 5
Beginner's Nights (see Current Attractions at Left)

February, 2013
AN ALL TIME HIGH:
Club membership totals 187

Our MISSION and Direction

The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club (FAAC), meets in Dearborn, Michigan (48126) and was established in 1992 as a non-profit astronomy club within the Ford Employees Recreational Association (FERA) of Ford Motor Company. Currently, new members do not need to be Ford employees as membership is open to all astronomy enthusiasts.

FAAC is dedicated to encouraging the study of Astronomy, math, the sciences, and related subjects for the benefit of its members and the general public. We are vigorously dedicated to amateur astronomy-related public ourreach. The club presently has over 180 members with a wide variety of keen interests ranging from simple naked-eye sky gazing to observing Messier and deep-sky objects, variable star observing, the use of computers with astronomy, and astro imaging.

General Meetings are open to the public and are held monthly in Dearborn at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) the 4th Thursday of each month at 5:30PM (see Meeting Schedule above for November and December dates).

Beginner's Nights allow you to bring your telescope to a local site before dusk and learn more about it...OR...to talk to others about their equipment before you buy your first set of binocular or telescope, or more equipment. This is HIGHLY! recommended!!

Be sure to ask questions -- don't be shy! We're not mind readers (that's some other club :D...or the state of astronomy before Galileo); we are eager to help you to learn easily and not make the same mistakes we may have. Ask!

We have a productive Mentoring Program for members at all levels of proficiency from beginner newb to expert.

Why Join An Astronomy Club

1st To learn about amateur astronomy and observing techniques. A great way to learn how to observe the heavens is to do it yourself, and our club provides both the training and opportunity.

2nd To interface with others who share your interest in a particular field of astronomy. The best way to learn how to observe the heavens is to do it with the aid of a more experienced observer. Our Copernicus Mentoring program helps everyone learn from the more experienced among us.

3rd To enjoy the social aspect of observing and meeting. Our membership consists of people from all walks of life: from students to medical doctors; ; from enginers and retired engineers to business owners; who all enjoy the beauty and mystery of the cosmos. Our monthly meetings, observing sessions, and annual banquet provide an excellent way to socialize and meet new people who share your interests.

We have two active Special Interest Groups: the Astro Imaging SIG and the The Hector J Robinson Observatory (HJRO) SIG.

HJRO is part of the Lincoln Park School System, in Lincoln Park, Michigan. (more HJRO/LPSO photos) and here.

 NOW INSTALLED! and open for public viewing (on clear nights!) 
    is the new 14" Celestron SCT on a Losmandy Titan mount 
    with Gemini GoTo!!! Watch here for public shows. <<<

Planetarium

Our astronomers staff the newly remodled (1 / 4 / 2012) and more comfortable Dearborn HFCC Hammond Planetarium with weekly star shows (see "Planetarium 2012 Show Dates" below),

Tuesday nights at 7:15PM, and

Saturday afternoons at 3:00pm.

The planetarium seats 38 people, and admission is free: no reservations -- seating is first-come only. In the event of an overflow, the planetarium presenter will often offer a show 1 hour later if there are no scheduling conflicts (not always possible.).

Along with a seasonal, digital slide show our avid astronomers discuss the stars and constellations, moon and planets, and answer questions.

FAAC's current, active qualified Planetarium volunteer operators include:
Dennis Salliotte, Robert Clubb, Larry Halstead, Bob FitzGerald, and Tim Campbell.

Private shows for groups can be scheduled through Steve Murrell.

Henry Ford Community College Planetarium is staffed by FAAC members!

. . . pre 2012 Planetarium pictures - - before the extensive 2012 Hammond upgrade.

Planetarium 2012 Show Dates
HFCC Hammond Planetarium Schedule Look under LOCATION, for "The Hammond Planetarium", to find Programs/Dates/Times [in yellow].

 Shows are Tuesdays and Saturdays,
 There are no summer shows (the college is closed for the summer).  
 Look for new shows in the fall.


Tuesday shows begin at 7:30pm (doors open at 7:15)  
Saturday shows begin at 3:00pm (doors open at 2:45) 

 Plan to arrive earlier to get a seat!  
 The doors close promptly at showtime
 For safety reasons, the doors remain closed during each presentation

Our Club has a very active FAAC Yahoo! Group site, where you will find news, notifications, and discussions on the latest sky events, the latest member astro photos, observing and astro imaging reports, advice on equipment...all kinds of stuff, in the form of an email forum discussion group between our members. Members are encouraged to join the Y!G (Yahoo! Group) which is open to all FAAC members (you'll have to join FAAC and then signup with a Yahoo! account to use it).

OF INTEREST TO ASTRONOMERS: