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Welcome

The Northwest Suburban Astronomers is based in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago.  With a wide range of interests, experience, and equipment, our membership is over 150, making us one of the largest astronomy clubs in the mid-west.  Here you can find out about our public meetings, star parties, and the benefits of becoming a member.  Thanks for visiting, and clear skies.
 

 

Next NSA Meeting - Open to the Public

 Date: Friday, May 24, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
 Location: Willow Recreation Center (Hoffman Estates Park District)
3600 Lexington Drive (at Algonquin Road)
Hoffman Estates, IL (we meet in the lower level gym)
 Speaker: Mitch Trilling and Bruce Reuben
 Affiliation:
Northwest Suburban Astronomers
 Title:
CCD Astrophotography
 Abstract:
NSA members Mitch Trilling and Bruce Reuben will present updates in CCD astrophotography they are using to provide improved images.

NSA Star Parties (all are open to the public at no cost)

Saturday, June 8, 2013, 8:30 p.m. at Afton Forest Preserve (North Entrance) in DeKalb County, Illinois in cooperation with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District - The NSA will be hosting a public star party on Saturday June 8th at Afton Forest Preserve. Observing highlights will be Saturn, various Messier objects like open and globular clusters, double star systems and deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. Dress for a chilly evening and bring bug spray and a flashlight covered with red plastic or cellophane (red light preserves your night vision). Please arrive around 8:30 p.m. (sunset is at 8:29 p.m.) or come early and picnic or hike the trails. You are welcome to bring your own telescope or binoculars. In the event of inclement weather the event will be canceled. There is no cost to attend and no registration is required.

Afton Forest Preserve is located at 13600 Crego Road, DeKalb, Illinois (approximately one mile east of Illinois Route 23 and one mile south of Perry Road). Please park in main parking lot and walk west to where we will be set up. A map can be found at this link.

Saturday, August 3, 2013, 8:00 p.m. at Wildcat Mountain State Park, near Ontario, Wisconsin, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Come join the Northwest Suburban Astronomers for a night under the stars searching for galaxies, star clusters and nebulae with their large array of telescopes for public viewing. Our guest speaker, NSA club member Mark Behrendt, will guide you through how to pick out your first telescope. He will explain the different types of telescopes and give you realistic expectations on what you will be able to do and see with it. He will discuss the effects of light pollution and show some photographs taken by NSA club members, showing why they travel to Wildcat Mountain each year for it’s dark skies.

Wildcat Mountain State Park is located on State Route 33 southeast of the Village of Ontario in Vernon County, Wisconsin. The program will begin in the amphitheater at 8:00 p.m. Following the program telescope viewing will be provided by NSA members in the group campground (weather permitting). There is no cost to attend and registration is not required. A vehicle admission sticker is required to enter all Wisconsin state parks. Information can be found at this link. You can also camp at Wildcat Mountain. Camping information can be found here.

Yahoo group

Visit the member's yahoo group here. (The yahoo group is a resource for NSA members)


Clear Sky Chart

Northwest Suburban Astronomers is a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Illinois "to cultivate, foster and promote interest and participation in astronomy."