From the President

Welcome Message to New Members

Let me be the first to welcome you to the Riverside Astronomical Society, a group of amateur astronomers who share your passion and love for the world of astronomy.

The RAS has a rich history dating back to the 1940’s. For over fifty years the club has been sharing the heavens with our friends, families, and the local community. The RAS was created by individuals who wanted to bring together those who shared the same enjoyment for astronomy. In the Riverside area, the club is very active in public outreach, which brings astronomy to everyone—we share our telescopes and knowledge of the sky with schools, nature centers, museums, scouts and the general public. The club also has special interest groups, which focus on topics like astrophotography and telescope-making. With hundreds of members, groups like these are great venues for sharing information and experiences.

The club has a fine group of volunteer officers who consistently provide the best programs and events for your education and entertainment. These people are truly good at what they do. We have events scheduled nearly every weekend, and many weeknights.

The RAS not only has the finest people and events, but the best of facilities. Our hosts at La Sierra University provide a comfortable, modern meeting space. Our 10-acre dark sky site with its clubhouse with kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, is hard to beat. We have established the infrastructure and provided great equipment, like Capella, the club’s 22-inch Dobsonian telescope, for all to use.

You are encouraged to make the most of your membership. Find out what the club can do for you and what you can do for it! If I can help in any way, please look me up.

Clear and steady skies!