Astronomy at the Beach 2023

September 22 & 23 – our 27th year!
We will be having an in-person event again this year
at Island Lake Recreation Area!
6301 Kensington Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

Event is FREE! No registration required. Parking requires Recreation Passport or park entry fee (see below).

Download AATB 2023 Promotional PDF

Event Special Features

NASA – Representatives from NASA’s Glenn Research Center will be at the event with a 35 foot tall inflatable model of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and a scale model of NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

Telescopes on the field – Astronomers from across southeastern Michigan will set up solar telescopes during the afternoon, and telescopes of all shapes and sizes during the evening for you to observe numerous night sky objects!

Presentations and Hands-on

This year’s theme is: Getting Ready for Next Year’s Eclipse

We’ll have lecturers discuss on how to prepare for and photograph the Annular Eclipse happening on October 14, 2023:

And next year’s not-to-be-missed Total Solar Eclipse happening on April 8, 2024:

Schedule

Friday Sept. 22

4:00 – 6:00 PM: Solar Observing – Telescope field
7:00 – 7:30 PM: How to Make a Comet – Michigan Science Center
7:45 – 8:45 PM: Keynote: The Day we Discovered the Universe – Jesse Mason
9:00 – 9:50 PM: What is an eclipse? – Solar System Ambassador: Liam Finn
9:00 – 11:30 PM: Tour of the Constellations – Telescope field, periodically
10:00 – 10:50 PM: Meteorites and Tektites – Sandra Macika

Friday Speaker: Jesse Mason

Jesse Mason is a physics and astronomy professor for Henry Ford College. With degrees from Eastern Michigan University, Jesse’s passion for the cosmos was sparked in the mid-90’s by the arrival of the hauntingly beautiful Hale-Bopp comet. He has become a trusted voice in science communication, running an educational YouTube channel with over 10 million views, and founding the Farmington Community Stargazers, a popular outreach-based astronomy club. Additionally, Jesse serves as a research advisor for undergraduates at Henry Ford College, who are currently studying black holes with x-ray data from the Chandra Space Observatory. Mason lives in Livonia and loves to play music with his wife and four children.

The Day we Discovered the Universe

A hundred years ago this October, a picture was taken atop a mountain in California that revealed the Milky Way is one of but many galaxies in a universe whose enormity humanity had just begun to comprehend. The man behind the camera, Edwin Hubble, became an overnight celebrity in the astronomy world and his legacy was cemented by the explosive research that soon followed. Join Henry Ford College physics and astronomy professor Jesse Mason for a guided picture tour of Hubble’s incredible discoveries and learn about the science underpinning the Big Bang Theory.

Saturday Sept. 23

4:00 – 6:00 PM: Solar Observing – Telescope field
7:00 – 7:30 PM: How to Make a Comet – Michigan Science Center
7:45 – 8:45 PM: Keynote: The Great Total Solar Eclipse of 2024, Weather or Not? – Paul Gross
9:00 – 9:50 PM: What is an eclipse? – Solar System Ambassador: Liam Finn
10:00 – 10:50 PM: Meteorites and Tektites – Sandra Macika
9:00 – 11:30 PM: Tour of the Constellations – Telescope field, periodically

Saturday Speaker: Paul Gross

Paul Gross retired in 2023 after forty years at WDIV-TV Local 4. He stood out among local meteorologists due to his passion for science, frequently updating viewers on heavenly highlights they could see, NASA missions, etc. His weather and science reporting earned him eleven Emmy awards from the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences’ Michigan region. Paul is the proud owner of an 8” Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope!

The Great Total Solar Eclipse of 2024, Weather or Not?

Meteorologist Paul Gross is more than just a weather enthusiast, he’s also an astronomy enthusiast and is eagerly looking forward to next spring’s eclipse. But who has the best chance to see it? Paul will give some nice background on the astronomy of the eclipse, and then dive into what parts of the country have the best chance of getting cooperation from Mother Nature.

Food and Drink

The South Lyon Track Team will be at the event from 6-10 each night selling Pizza, Chips, Soda and Water.

Cost and Parking

The Astronomy at the Beach event itself is free. However, it is located within a state park, so a Michigan State Park “Recreation Passport” on your license plate tag is required to get you in; a metro-park sticker is not adequate (since this is not a metro-park).

If you do not have a Recreation Passport, you can buy the annual sticker at the gate for $13 (plus a $5 convenience fee – because they really want you to buy this option when you renew your vehicle registration tags).