Members of asv

[mattyb217 (Matt)]

As you may have seen in previous threads I am a beginner in astronomy & was thinking if joining an astronomy society. The ASV is the closest one to me so I was thinking of joining up, can anyone give me some feed back on it. I am pretty shy, not out there kind of guy so hoping that it's a warm welcoming place.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

I am an ASV member though not a very active one due to time pressure.

I have found the ASV to be a pretty good bunch, if you were quick in getting a membership happening there is a members only star party on at the ASV site near Heatcote this weekend. I have not been to that one myself but I believe there is usually a pretty good turnout. At those events peole are usually really happy to chat and to observe through each others scopes. I try to get to the Messier star party each year at the ASV site.

Aside from that, it is a bit out of your way (Even more so for me from Kilmore) but the Mount Burnett observatory in the Dandenongs is a really good community too. They have meetings there on Fridays with talks of a more or less formal nature, depending on the topic of the day.

[Rod]

Hi Matt

I have been an ASV member on and off since I was in my teens. I am 54 now. It is a great club with lots of interesting people and great facilities - dark sky site, club room, library, assorted interest groups, telescopes for loan, interesting speakers at monthly meetings etc.

I would recommend joining one of the interest sections. There is a new astronomers group for example. I think that's the best way to get to know people.

I have often joined other clubs closer to where I live which I have thoroughly enjoyed too but I would always keep my ASV membership. Access to the Heathcote dark sky site is worth the membership price on its own for me.

Hope that helps

Rod.

[mattyb217 (Matt)]

Great thanks for the Feed back guys

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

Hi Matt,
I had a bit to do with numerous members of the ASV last year around the time of the solar eclipse. Everybody I dealt with seemed very friendly and easy going.

Cheers
Joe

[dannat (Daniel)]

you can come to one of or monthly meetings to check us out, calendar at asv.org.au

[Rob_K]

Hi Matt - I'm a 'remote' member of ASV and because I don't live close to Melbourne I don't get to participate in most of their activities nor meet many of the members. That said, I reckon that the benefits of membership are huge in terms of the resources that they have available for members and what you actually get with your membership - the Crux magazine, annual almanac, updates on activities, heads-ups for astronomical events, etc. You can also participate in various sections (comet observing, astrophotography, meteor observing etc) through members-only Yahoo groups. For you I think, the biggest advantage would be meeting and talking with people.

Cheers -

[mattyb217 (Matt)]

Thanks Joe, Daniel & Rob

I think I will come to one of the monthly meeting & check it out. A big part in joining is so I can interact & talk with people about astronomy. No one I know has the same interest as I do in astronomy so it would be nice to talk with people that do

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Hello Matt,

I'm with the ASV, monthly travelling to their deep sky site. I was shy of joining, but years down the track, it was an excellent choice. Many visual, and more and more AP users come every month.

Some go religiously to monthly meetings, but i like just catching up in the field. By the way, It's great sharing.

Steve