The membership of GLAAC includes several astronomy clubs and societies across southeastern Michigan. These groups hold regularly scheduled meetings with presentations by members and special guests. Many clubs have volunteers with telescopes who will lecture about astronomy and space science and hold stargazing sessions at your location.
Warren Astronomical Society
Founded in 1961, the W.A.S. is one of Michigan’s oldest and largest astronomy clubs. Each meeting, members and guests give talks about astronomy and space science.
The Warren Astronomical Society is a non-profit, IRC 501(c)(3) organization.
Meetings:
First Monday, 7:30 PM
Cranbrook Institute of Science
39221 Woodward Ave.,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Third Thursday, 7:30 PM
Macomb Community College
South Campus, Building J (Library)
14500 Twelve Mile Rd,
Warren, MI 48088
Covid-19 Notice: In-person meetings and Stargate open houses are temporarily on-hold. The W.A.S. is meeting using WebEx during their regularly scheduled meeting times. See the W.A.S. Meetup page for more info.
The University Lowbrow Astronomers
The Lowbrows are a diverse group of around 90 amateur astronomers, ranging from amateur telescope makers to professional rocket scientists (really!). Some of us just like to read, while others like to get out and observe or photograph the heavens.
We all have a more than casual interest in astronomy, and you do not have to be a student or alumnus of the UofM to join! Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, we hope that you will find us to be friendly, knowledgeable, and fun to be with.
The University Lowbrow Astronomers are a non-profit, IRC 501(c)(7) organization.
Meetings:
Third Friday of each month, 7:30 PM
Room G115 Angell Hall, University of Michigan, 435 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ford Amateur Astronomy Club
Covid-19 Notice: All in person meetings such as FAAC club meetings, Board Meetings and HFC Public Planetarium shows are cancelled until further notice. All FAAC club meetings and Board meetings will be held virtually. Details are available to the membership through our private club chat group.
The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club organizes a series of events throughout the year that are open to the general public.
Meetings:
Fourth Thursday of every* month, 7:30 PM
Henry Ford College (HFC) Administrative Services and Conference Center – Berry Amphitheater in Dearborn, MI (Except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas holidays, when special dates are selected).
Board Meetings are held at 7:00 PM the first Thursday of each month and are open to club members.
Stargazing
The FAAC has access to Island Lake State park, Spring Mill Pond as an observing site for club members.
During our Beginner Nights the park gates will be open until 10:00 PM. All visiting guests must be accompanied by a FAAC club member after 10:00 PM.
Farmington Community Stargazers
Public Outreach:
Several of our members will sometimes have presentations and astronomy talks at the Farmington Community Library and other institutions around the area. These talks usually require registration with the library/host institution.
Covid-19 Notice: In-person meetings and star parties are temporarily on-hold.
The Farmington Community Stargazers are a group of volunteer amateur astronomers who want to share the night skies with their community in Farmington/Farmington Hills and beyond. This club is open to people of all ages who have an interest in astronomy and a curiosity for exploring the Universe from their “backyard”.
Winter Activities:
In the months of November, January, and February, we hold astronomy presentations inside the Spicer House at Heritage Park. These talks range from 45 minutes to an hour in length and space is usually limited to 60-70 people. If the skies are clear, we venture outdoors in the cold for a brief sky tour and a chance to look through telescopes at the wonders of the winter sky.
Stargazing on the Sled Hill
We hold monthly star parties in association with the Farmington Hills Special Services and Heritage Park.
Oakland Astronomy Club
The Oakland Astronomy Club provides astronomical education through ownership and operation of facilities for the benefit of the general public, both youth and adult; to make available instructors for the conduct of seminars and class room education, which shall be available to other institutions of learning, public and private, as well as programs for the general public; to do research and study in the science of astronomy; to receive, administer and disburse funds for the furtherance of its educational purposes as well as for other charitable, philanthropic and scientific purposes for the public good and welfare and for no other purposes.
The Oakland Astronomy Club, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
Meetings:
7:00 PM on the second Sunday of every month except May at Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve: 333 North Hill Circle in Rochester.
Stargazing at Addison Oaks County Park
1480 W. Romeo Road, just 20 minutes North of Rochester, MI. Follow the Park signs to the parking lot of the Buhl Estate. Your host from the Oakland Astronomy Club will meet you at the West end of the parking lot.
Seven Ponds Astronomy Club
Covid-19 Notice: In-person meetings and star parties are temporarily on-hold.
The August 1, 2020 meeting at 7:00 PM will be via WebEx. For more information, click this link, to register for the online event click this link.
Seven Ponds Astronomy Club, is an active club of amateur astronomers founded in 1982, and affiliated with Seven Ponds Nature Center, located near Dryden, Michigan.
The club is somewhat unique in that they have no officers, elections, bylaws, meeting minutes or dues. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings free of charge. A person can telescope from the Nature Center during non-meeting nights by joining the Nature Center.
Meetings:
The club meets monthly, usually at Seven Ponds Nature Center. The club also goes on “field trips” to local and regional events. The club cooperates with other local clubs to organize outreach and other events.
The astronomy club at Eastern Michigan University is a student-based organization; the public is welcome to attend their meetings.
Meetings:
The club is planning to meet during the Fall 2020 semester on Tuesday evenings in 402 Sherzer starting mid-September, 2020. Meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Sherzer 402 and are open to the public, agenda TBA. The observatory is also scheduled to be open on clear Tuesday nights, IF clear, to coincide with these meetings. Any interested student is encourage to attend! Call 734.487.3033 to verify if we’re open for observing.
SAS provides the University of Michigan students, faculty, staff, and the Ann Arbor community with resources and educational material on astrophysics as well as to cultivate interest in STEM and astronomy among the student body.
Membership:
Any U of M student, faculty, or staff as well as anyone in the Ann Arbor community can become a member of SAS by simply showing up to one of our meetings or contacting sas-officers@umich.edu. There are no formal requirements for becoming a member, just show up to one of your meetings or events! As a member, you are allowed to participate in SAS events, get access to SAS resources and are allowed to vote on officer positions and other club matters unless you fit under the exceptions written in the voting section.
The Wayne State University Planetarium
Learn about the planets, our Solar System, stars, galaxies, and other wonders of the universe. Proudly featuring a state-of-the-art Spitz High Definition Digital System for a presentation of modern planetarium shows. Be dazzled by one of our amazing full- dome films.
Covid-19 Notice:All in-person planetarium shows are postponed until the start of the Fall 2020 term. The WSU Planetarium will instead be offering virtual planetarium shows and lecture series throughout the Fall.
Covid-19 Notice: In-person meetings and public open houses are temporarily on-hold until August 21st.
The General Motors Astronomy Club (GMAC) is a non-profit organization of people dedicated to sharing the night sky with others. Founded in 2017, our club is still growing and always looking for new members.
Meetings:
The club hosts monthly events at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground, as well as sidewalk astronomy events in downtown Milford and other locations in Southeast Michigan.
Membership:
Membership is appreciated, but you don’t have to join the club to enjoy the night sky with us. Most of our events are FREE and open to the public, and no equipment is required to participate.