About Us
Past and Present
The Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society was formed by a local group of professional and amateur astronomers in 1953. Our members have been studying the sky and educating people in the greater Bridgeport area for over 60 years. Today we are involved in the renovation of the Boothe observatory and telescopes, expansion of the educational center, and passing on the same passion for astronomy its founding members gave to the public.
Meetings take place at the BMAS Observatory, at Boothe Memorial Park in Stratford, Connecticut. We meet at 8:00 P.M. on the first and third Fridays of each month. In addition to regular meetings, we open the observatory for Public Open Houses, School Groups, Scouts, Jaycees, and other groups of people who are interested in a hands-on introduction to observational astronomy.
On clear nights, we're likely to spend the entire evening observing. The observatory has a 16" classical Cassegrain telescope with optics by Perkin Elmer, and a 4" Unitron Refractor telescope. In addition, many of our members bring personally owned state of the art telescopes.
Often, more experienced members will be working with newer members or visitors to help them learn how to use their own equipment. When the sky is cloudy, our meetings are informal discussions of whatever happens to interest our members. Topics range from recent observations and current astronomical construction projects to whatever friends might happen to discuss when they get together.
Each year, we organize group camping trips to star parties located within a few hours drive. These events are held in dark sky locations, where we can see much more than is possible in our local light polluted sky. Besides darker sky, these conventions provide an opportunity to meet other people who have similar interests, hear a variety of speakers, and hit the swap tables in search of used parts and equipment at bargain prices.
New members are always welcome, but people who are especially interested in UFO’s, Horoscopes, or Science Fiction would probably find more interesting conversation about those topics in another organization.
Contacts
President: Mark Holden (203)-261-2521
John Cleri (203)-278-0887
Kurt Zeppetello (203)-870-5495
Elliot or Stacey Severn (203)-377-9933
Planning to Visit?
We welcome your visit. If you are new to astronomy, you will find our open houses and meetings closest to the first quarter Moon are the best time to observe since the Moon is visible, but not bright enough to wash out deep sky objects. Feel free to call or email us for more information. The meeting closest to the full Moon is often used for discussion of club business or maintenance of our equipment.
Tours for Groups
If you’d like to arrange a tour for your organization, please contact us at least three weeks in advance. It’s a good idea to have alternate dates available, as our volunteers may not be available on your preferred evening. It’s also a good idea to allow for a cloud or rain/snow date. Donations are optional, but encouraged to help defray the expenses of operating, maintaining and improving our facilities.