Starfax - An Overview

Starfax Association is an astronomy club based in Asheville, North Carolina and dedicated not only to astronomy but to related sciences as well. The club was founded in December of 1981 by Timothy Jordan. The club's name is a small play on words ("star" + "facts" = STARFAX). As is the case with most normal astronomy clubs, the level of astronomical interest of the members ranges from the novice to the fanatical.

The club meets once a month, weather permitting, for a star party, usually on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The star parties are usually held on the weekend closest to the new or last quarter moon. At present the club utilizes the early hours of the star parties to take care of any business and socializing before settling in for serious observing. In addition, the club publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Ecliptic, which members can use to exchange ideas and information.

In addition to observing with us on a monthly basis, most of our serious observers also pursue projects on an individual basis or in smaller groups. In the past pet projects of some members have included amateur telescope making, astrophotography, radio astronomy, photometry, collection and reporting of data on meteors and variable stars, and several long-term research projects on various deep sky objects. We even have one member who occasionally writes articles for Deep Sky, Sky And Telescope, and Astronomy magazines. Several members are currently writing books on astronomy.

Although the public is welcome at most of our events, we occasionally have gatherings aimed specifically at the public so as to educate them in things astronomical as well as make them aware of our club's existence. Of course, fellow astronomers from other clubs across the United States are especially welcome to join us at any time for an observing session here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

For further information about our organization, or astronomy in general, please feel free to attend one of our star parties or send email to owl@pobox.com.

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Last Update: January 4, 1997

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