How do I attend a Spokane Astronomical Society general meeting?

Updated

The Spokane Astronomical Society (SAS) holds its general meeting on the second Friday of each month. Start time depends on the season: 7:00 pm from November through March, and 7:30 pm from April through October. Meetings are open to the public, and the location can change from month to month, so check the website's Announcements and Upcoming Events sections before you go.

Meeting basics

Item Detail
Frequency Second Friday of each month
Start time (Nov–Mar) 7:00 pm
Start time (Apr–Oct) 7:30 pm
Organization Non-profit, volunteer-run
Location Varies — confirm on the website

SAS describes itself as a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to promoting enjoyment and education in astronomy and astronomy-related topics throughout the Inland Northwest.

How to confirm the next meeting

  1. Go to spokaneastronomical.org.
  2. Open the Announcements section for the latest meeting post.
  3. Check Upcoming Events for the current schedule.
  4. Note the address, start time, and whether any pre-meeting activity is planned.

Because the venue is not fixed, this step matters. The July meeting, for example, was held at the "Party Palace" site at 8616 N Lehman Road, just north of Bigelow Gulch Road — not at a permanent club building.

What a meeting can include

Meetings are not limited to a formal program. The July general meeting began at 7:30 pm, but attendees were invited to arrive early for a burger cookout and potluck starting at 6:30 pm, bringing side dishes, desserts, or drinks to share.

That same meeting included solar observing: white light and Hydrogen Alpha solar telescopes were on hand, and attendees could learn how to observe the sun safely and understand what they were seeing. So a given meeting may combine a social meal, a presentation, and hands-on observing.

Practical tips

  • Arrive early if food is planned. Pre-meeting cookouts and potlucks have started an hour before the meeting.
  • Follow the driveway instructions. At the Party Palace site, visitors were asked to stay to the right at the fork in the road so as not to disturb the resident of the property. The landmark given was a giant bush with a rusty tractor perched on top.
  • Bring something to share if you're inclined. Potluck contributions were described as optional ("if you are so inclined").
  • Expect seasonal variation. Summer meetings may focus on solar observing because darkness is in short supply; other months may center on nighttime observing.

Quick answers

Do I need to be a member? The general meeting is described as a public gathering with an open invitation ("Hope to see you there!"), and no membership requirement appears in the meeting announcement.

Is there a cost? The available page content does not list any fee or pricing for attending a general meeting.

How do I know where it is? Check the Announcements and Upcoming Events sections on spokaneastronomical.org, since the location changes.