What is the Lake County Astronomical Society (LCAS)?

Updated

The Lake County Astronomical Society (LCAS) is a membership-based astronomy club for hobbyists at every skill level, from complete beginners to experienced observers and astrophotographers. It hosts free public meetings on the third Friday of each month and charges $25 per calendar year in dues for individuals and families. It is best suited to people in and around Lake County, Illinois, who want hands-on help choosing equipment, access to member-only dark-sky observing, and a community to learn with.

What LCAS offers

According to the club's own site, LCAS describes its purpose as helping members "choose the right equipment, explore a particular area of interest, such as astrophotography, and learn about the latest space discoveries." Its membership is explicitly mixed: many members are accomplished observers and astrophotographers, while others are new to the hobby.

Member benefits listed by the club include:

  • Monthly meetings
  • Invitation to all club activities
  • Fellowship with club members
  • Club trips to remote dark sky locations
  • Observing opportunities during the year
  • Use of rental scopes and binoculars
  • Monthly book club discussion group

Meetings and cost

Item Detail
Meeting schedule Third Friday of each month
Meeting cost Free and open to the public
Dues $25.00 per calendar year, flat rate for individuals and families
Mid-year join If you join in the last 3 months of the year, dues cover the rest of that year plus all of the following year

The club notes that everyone is invited to attend meetings, so you can try before joining.

If you don't own a telescope

This is one of the most practical reasons to start with a club rather than buying blind. LCAS states that non-owners are welcome to look through other members' scopes before buying their own, and that the club owns some basic telescopes members may rent for a nominal fee. That gives you a low-risk way to compare equipment in person before spending money.

Observing: members vs. public

LCAS does not have a permanent observatory. Its observing options split into two tracks:

  • Member-only dark sky events — held twice a month from March through November at dedicated dark sky sites provided by the McHenry County Conservatory, in McHenry County.
  • Public star parties — held after each public meeting, weather permitting.
  • Astronomy Under The City Lights — events run in collaboration with public libraries across Lake, Cook, and McHenry counties.

So if you are not yet a member, you can still observe at public star parties and library events; the remote dark-sky sessions require membership.

Who should consider joining

LCAS fits you if you:

  • Are new to astronomy and want to look through different telescopes before buying
  • Want a regular, low-cost local group ($25/year) rather than solo observing
  • Are interested in astrophotography or a specific subfield and want to learn from experienced members
  • Live in or near Lake County, Illinois, or the surrounding Cook and McHenry county area

It is less relevant if you want a permanent observatory to visit, or if you are outside the northern Illinois region, since the value is concentrated in local meetings, trips, and dark-sky sites.

How to get started

  1. Attend a monthly meeting on the third Friday — it is free and open to the public, and the site provides a map and directions.
  2. Talk to members about equipment and interests before committing.
  3. Decide whether to join; dues are $25 per calendar year.
  4. Send joining questions to the Membership Chair, and general questions or comments to the Publicity Chair (contact links are on the club site).

One practical tip: if you are considering joining late in the year, the club's policy means dues paid in the last three months also cover the entire following year, so timing your membership that way gets you more months for the same $25.