Howdy fellow skywatchers!

If you’re reading this, you have stumbled across the web site of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society. CUAS is a group affiliated with the Champaign Park District devoted to watching the night sky. Our members come from all different ages and backgrounds. The club has several meetings each month. First, there is a “business meeting” held on the second Thursday of the month at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College, starting at 7pm. We’ll talk about club projects, both current and future, share stories, and have some sort of program. The public is invited. Meetings typically last 90 minutes. We also like to meet out at our observatory, which is located southwest of Champaign on 700E. We typically have a public open house on the Saturday of the month closest to the first quarter Moon. Members can also learn how to use our homemade 16-inch Cassegrain telescope and become a keyholder so they can use the telescope whenever they want to.

Joining the club is simple, but we are also a low-pressure sell. Membership is $15 per year pro-rated to January 1. But, if you want to, join us for a meeting or two, meet a few people, and then decide on whether you’d like to join us or not. We hope you'll consider joining CUAS and receiving our monthly e-newsletter, telling of the planets and stars for the month and club events. The sky is ours for the taking! The universe is at your doorstep . . . why not join us and see what's up there. You'll be amazed!

Clear Skies,
Dave Leake, President-elect, Champaign Urbana Astronomical Society