Our Astronomy Club is open to all ages and experience levels!
If you enjoy astronomy, then the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club is for you! We invite you to attend one of our meetings and experience it first hand.
See the meetings tab for details for any particular meeting. To become a member, click here.
Just some of the benefits…
- Learning & Interaction with Fellow Members
- Monthly Newsletter
- Monthly Meetings
- Meetings are typically held on the first Friday of most months at the Bays Mountain Nature Center and are free to attend.
- StarFest – Our Annual Astronomical Convention / Star Gathering Event
- Every Fall, our club hosts this regional gathering of amateur astronomers from around the Southeastern United States. It’s an enjoyable, long weekend of talks, observing, food, and fun. Please see the “StarFest” tab for all the details.
- Astronomical League
- Full BMAC membership includes membership to the national organization of the Astronomical League. This opens many more benefits and observing programs as well as a quarterly journal. Visit their site for all the details.
- BMAC Youtube!
- The BMAC has a Youtube channel. Click here to see what’s on!
- BMAC Astronomy Knowledge Compendium Test!
- The BMAC invites club members to learn more about the basics of astronomy. The following link is a take-home, open-book test. There is no time limit on taking the test. Once you complete it, you will have a better understanding of astronomy and can enjoy more of our monthly meetings. BMAC members who complete it can turn it in to the planetarium director for grading. If you receive a 90% or better, you will receive your choice of a BMAC collectible. If you receive less than 90%, you are given the opportunity to correct your answers.
- Take the test!
Join the Club
Meetings
The Bays Mountain Astronomy Club holds regular meetings.
All are welcome to attend the club meetings. Each meeting is unique and will include an interesting keynote speaker that presents a topic of astronomical interest. All of these programs should be of great interest to the general public and are lots of fun. We hope to see you at a future meeting!
December 6, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Location – BMP
Topic – BMACer’s Observing Night
February 7, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBD
Topic – TBA
March 7, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
April 4, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
May 2, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
June 6, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
August 1, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
September 5, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
December 5, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location – TBA
Topic – TBA
Opportunities & Rules
Opportunities & Rules
There are endless learning opportunities while being a member of the astronomy club. Our members are more than happy to help. Topics can run from using a telescope and star chart, to learning the details of astrophotography, or understanding the basics of astronomy like Moon phases and seasons.
Volunteerism
This is not the same as being a member of the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club. Anyone of any age can be a member of the club.
If you want to do more and provide help with public events such as StarWatch or Astronomy Day and engage with the public, use City equipment, or be the club chair, then this is considered volunteerism. We really appreciate your desire to help out! But, this will require you to fill out the City’s volunteer form and visit with the Park’s Volunteer Coordinator for an orientation meeting. The form is simple and should only take a few minutes. Part of the form is a background check and there is NO COST to you for this. Please bring the completed form to a club meeting, mail in or bring it to the Park’s front desk in a sealed envelope. After the form is processed and accepted by the Park, the Volunteer Coordinator will then contact you to attend an orientation meeting. They will then contact the Planetarium Director about your status.
Please note, doing a singular effort during a year, like providing a presentation at a meeting or helping out during Astronomy Day or such, would not require you to fill out the form.
If you are younger than 16, then you won’t be able to “volunteer,” but we still want to offer the opportunity for you to learn directly from one of our volunteers or staff on astronomy, how to use a telescope and how to find celestial objects in the night sky. If this occurs during a StarWatch, you won’t be able to bring in your own equipment as we can’t exclude visitors from wanting to look through your instrument. But, you can be instructed and use the instrument the volunteer is using.
Rules
In order to enjoy the full benefits of being a member of the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club, like earning the opportunity to run a scope in one of our observatories or even help at a public event, one needs to understand that being a member is akin to volunteerism to Bays Mountain Park. As such, a member needs to be in good standing, of good character and doesn’t abuse this privilege.
The Park and the City of Kingsport is enforcing some long held basic, good behavior guidelines regarding volunteers. If a volunteer (that has successfully been accepted into the volunteer program) does not play well with others, then they will not be a part of the volunteer program. Again, it is a privilege, not a right, to be a member of the club and to volunteer.
Not to put a negative tone to this letter, it is important to establish guidelines that we can all work by. Here is a short list of unacceptable behaviors:
- Being rude and/or abusive to another member/public/staff person. This includes verbal, unspoken, online and physical methods. Abuse also includes micromanaging, passive/aggressive behavior, high type-A behavior and more.
- Theft.
- Damage to equipment/property through gross negligence or on purpose.
- Shirking responsibilities.
- Being intoxicated, even by the smallest amount, by alcohol or drugs.
This is not an absolute list, but it should get the point across.
StarFest
StarFest is the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club’s annual astronomical convention / star gathering held each Fall. Cradled in the heart of the Appalachians, it is three days and two nights of astronomical heaven!
During the day, our delegates enjoy many keynote speakers, planetarium programs, activities, solar viewing and the splendor of autumnal colors. The night brings more speakers, activities, night viewing and crisp, cool air. Attendance can ONLY be attained by pre-registration with payment. Sorry, to be fair to our registered delegates, NO walk-ins nor “visits.” Your one, low cost registration includes everything: access to all speakers, all activities, five scrumptious meals, free access to the Park’s public programming, the opportunity to sleep/camp on Park grounds at no additional cost AND a unique, commemorative T-shirt with custom artwork.
Initiated in 1984, the Bays Mountain StarFest is still one of the finest astronomy events in the nation.
If you would like to be added to the StarFest mailing list, please click here.
StarFest 2025 will be November 7-9, 2025
[Registration for StarFest 2024 is now closed. The following information illustrates what a future event looks like.]
Notes for when registration opens:
Registration is through the CivicRec interface the City of Kingsport uses for all activities and rentals. If you already have a user account, just log in and click on the link below for the event to pay for registration and make your personalized choices like T-shirt size, vegetarian options, additional shirt orders, etc. If you are not in the system, you’ll set up a new user account with password. You’ll find StarFest in Ticketed Events under the BMP Astronomy / Observing divider within the Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium tab in the catalog. Please remember that you need to register each individual that is attending, even if they are a small child. Just add each person to your family user account in CivicRec and then add a new registration for each person to your cart and then check out. Please note, there are three student/child discounted price points for registration! And, there is no service fee for registering online. The event is through the Bays Mountain Park Association, the non-profit support organization for the Park.
If you need to pay with a check, use the button link below for the printable page option. Again, please use a separate sheet for each person registering.
Also, though camping/sleeping at the Park is offered for StarFest 2024 delegates at no additional charge, you might want to stay at the closest and finest hotel in the Tri-Cities region. Remember, we do not have showers nor sleeping dorms at the Park. The Marriott MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center is a four-star facility only three miles away. A special rate has been established. Use the button link lower on this page in the “Sleeping Arrangements” section. If you like, there are five other hotels within a quarter mile of MeadowView.
Bays Mountain StarFest 2024:
“Moonstruck”
Greetings Everyone!
The 39th StarFest at Bays Mountain Park is soon upon us. Expect beautiful fall colors, cooler weather and lots of astronomy fun for this astronomical convention / star party. The event is hosted by the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club (BMAC) and the Bays Mountain Park Association. It is being held on November 1-3, 2024. It is run as a non-profit event, so the registration fee is as low as possible to cover our expenses.
The theme of this year’s event is “Moonstruck.” Each of our four keynote speakers will focus on the Moon or moons of our Solar System. There’s a lot going on now in astronomy and space exploration regarding these natural satellites and our speakers will be guiding us through this moonscape of wonder. We think you’ll really enjoy this year’s topic and speakers!
This year includes four distinctive keynote speakers; five great meals; door prizes; the ever popular swap shop; telescope viewing*; and the recently upgraded main lobby and gift shop will be open.
In addition to all the StarFest activities, there are public programs and activities available at the park, such as the wildlife exhibits, planetarium shows, barge rides and plenty of trails to explore.
A unique facet of StarFest is a commemorative T-shirt with one-of-a-kind artwork that is included with each registration. Extra shirts can be pre-ordered.
This three-day long gathering is filled with great activities, but also makes sure there’s quality free time for you to explore the Park and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow StarFesters. Attendance will be limited and registration must be received by the deadline, October 13, 2024, 11:59p. To be fair to our registered delegates, there are no walk-ins nor “visits.” Please register each person. The easiest way to register is through our CivicRec online portal. Click the button link to register. Click on the other button link if you need to use a check and mail in your registration.
Registration includes everything. There are three levels of student discounts available. The student discount is quite generous to continue our long-term support of student involvement. If you cancel your registration by the October 13, 2024 deadline, you will receive a full refund. No refunds after that date.
Registration Rates:
- Registration: $210.00
- Student Rate (Grades ≥6) Full-time students: 30% discount: $147.00
- Please note this is for full-time students of any age. Sorry, “students of life” doesn’t count.
- Young Astronomer (Grades K-5): 60% discount: $84.00
- Proto-Astronomer (Grades less than K): 80% discount: $42.00
Adam Thanz – StarFest 2024 Chair
*Note: We’ll have public observing sessions in the fall, including the Saturday of StarFest. Delegates wanting to share day or night observing with other delegates or the public do so at their discretion. Personal observing is always an option.
Keynote Speakers & Activities:
Twilight Welcome
What could be a better way to start your long weekend than enjoying some time with your new and old astro-friends? We’ll be enjoying sodas and snacks while everyone checks in.
Dr. Erika Grundstrom – Director of Astronomy Labs – Vanderbilt University
Title:
“Amazing Moons!”
Abstract:
Throughout much of human history, there was only one moon and humans didn’t really realize it is a world of its own. Now we know of at least 600 moons (if we’re counting dwarf planet and asteroid moons)! We’ll look at some of the most fascinating worlds in the Solar System, especially ones we could consider “ocean worlds,” and investigate how we know what we know. Maybe we’ll touch on some famous fictional moons!
Bio:
Dr. Erika Grundstrom is Vanderbilt University’s Director of Astronomy Labs and an experienced educator who kids may have had as a teacher in Vanderbilt’s Program for Talented Youth or seen with an inflatable, portable planetarium around the Nashville area! As a kid, she lived on a farm close to the Canadian border where she thought the Northern Lights were normal (if totally awesome). But it was learning about constellations and the mythology with them that sparked a love of the stars and then “Star Trek: The Next Generation” that set her on a path to astrophysicist. When not astronomy-ing, she loves to partner dance with her hubby and hang with their two kids.
Dr. Sarah Milkovich – Planetary Geologist and Spacecraft Engineer
Title:
“Ocean Moons: The Distant Worlds of Europa and Enceladus”
Abstract:
A number of moons orbit Jupiter and Saturn. Two of these tiny worlds have captured our attention: Europa and Enceladus. Covered in bright ice with oceans of water lurking underneath, these distant moons might even be able to support life. Learn how we discovered icy geyser-like plumes on Enceladus with the Cassini spacecraft, and our plans for a closer look at Europa with the spacecraft Europa Clipper – launching soon!
Bio:
Dr. Sarah Milkovich is a science storyteller, sharing her enthusiasm for robotic space exploration and the stories of the people behind the robots. Sarah spent decades exploring the Solar System with a variety of spacecraft, including Mars Phoenix Lander, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Curiosity Rover, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, and the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn. She specialized in bringing together international teams of scientists and engineers to collect the best possible science within spacecraft engineering restraints. She holds a B.S. in planetary science from Caltech, and a M.S. and Ph.D. from Brown University in planetary geology with studies of ice on Mars, and volcanoes on Mercury. Sarah is a frequent public speaker at astronomy clubs and fan conventions.
Planetarium Program
“Forward! To the Moon”
Kari Byron from Crash Test World and MythBusters launches us on a journey beyond the Earth towards a sustainable future in space. NASA’s 21st century Artemis program, named after the Greek moon Goddess and twin of Apollo, is the next step in our mission to explore the Universe and land the first woman and person of color on the surface of the Moon. The show is followed by a brief tour of the current night sky. Produced by Fiske Planetarium in collaboration with TEND Studio with funding from NASA SSERVI and Lockheed Martin. A tour of our current night sky using our stunning Carl Zeiss Starmaster ZKP-4 star projector is included.
Panel Discussion
This presentation will be a guided discussion with our keynote speakers. Its purpose is to give insight into the people behind the professional titles. It will be quite interesting to see how each responds to the questions posed!
Dr. Amy L. Fagan – Associate Professor of Geology, Geosciences and Natural Resources Department Department Head – Western Carolina University
Title:
“Visiting a Piece of Home: Why it is important to go to the Moon and how it can tell us about Earth’s Early History”
Abstract:
Humans have not set foot on the surface of the Moon since 1972, but in that time scientists have continued to perform exciting research on the samples returned to Earth by the crews. Many questions have been addressed, but each leads to new ones. We will walk through the formation and evolution of the Moon, and how we learned this from the sample collection. We will also explore whether or not the existing sample collection is sufficient to answer the remaining questions that we have so far (spoiler alert, it’s not!).
Bio:
Professor Fagan is a lunar petrologist and geochemist specializing in lunar igneous rocks (e.g., mare basalt and troctolites), impact products (e.g., impact melt breccias and regolith breccias), and identification of exogenous meteoritic material within lunar samples; she is an Apollo Principal Investigator, and also has experience working with lunar meteorites. She earned her B.S. in Geology from Washington and Lee University (2006) and her PhD from the University of Notre Dame (2013) before joining the faculty at Western Carolina University, where she now serves as the Department Head of the Geosciences and Natural Resources Department.
Professor Fagan serves as the Emeritus Chair of the NASA-chartered Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG), composed of members from academia, government, and industry. She has also engaged in numerous support roles including JETT3; the Artemis III Science Definition Team; LEAG Specific Action Teams and other roles on the LEAG Executive Committee; and collaborative research.
Dr. Caitlin Ahrens – Planetary Geologist – Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology II at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Title:
“Unlocking the Moon: Exciting Opportunities in Lunar Exploration and Sample Return Missions”
Abstract:
We will dive into the many exciting opportunities of returning to the Moon through human and robotic exploration with CLPS and Artemis missions. The Moon presents many interesting challenges, from radiation to dust to extremely cold temperatures, and human exploration lends its own level of complex issues. We will also investigate the motivations for sample return, especially volatile samples, from the lunar south pole, and how these samples can guide us to an eventual sustainable presence on the lunar surface.
Bio:
Dr. Caitlin Ahrens is a research scientist from the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology II at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Ahrens received her B.S. in Physics/Astrophysics and Geology from West Virginia University in 2015, and a Ph.D. in Space and Planetary Science at the University of Arkansas in 2020. She is a member of the Diviner Science Team with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. In collaboration with Artemis, she serves as a technical support scientist for the Extravehicular and Human Activities Program to assist in risk assessments of astronaut, rover, and lander activity at the lunar surface. Her main area of research involves remote sensing of icy surfaces, volcanism, and volatile interactions, from the Moon to the outer Solar System at Pluto.
Meals
What’s StarFest without great food? [Dare we call our event StarFeast?] We think you’ll be excited about our menu. Please pay attention if you want the vegetarian option for any specific meal in case you don’t want the main dish.
Friday Dinner
Burgundy Beef Tips – Vegetarian: Eggplant Moussaka
Grilled Veggies, Baked Potato Casserole (w/ bacon), Corn Muffins with Butter, Key Lime Cheesecake Bars, Sweet & Unsweet Iced Tea, Coffee
Saturday Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs – Vegetarian: Vegetarian Hash
Skillet Breakfast Potatoes (vegetarian), Bacon, Chicken Sausage Links, Biscuit Bar, Gravy, Baked Goods, Fresh Fruit Mix, Coffee, Milk, OJ
Saturday Lunch
Delicious deli sandwiches on freshly baked authentic New York sesame, whole wheat and plain bagels with Boar’s Head brand roast beef, turkey, or black forest ham. All with cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. – Vegetarian: vegetable cream cheese spread on a bagel, topped with thinly sliced cucumbers lettuce and tomato
Antipasto Salad, Garden Salad, Special Cupcakes from Little Cake Bakery (Blackberry, Carrot Cake & Red Velvet), Sweet & Unsweet Iced Tea
Saturday Dinner
Bruschetta Chicken – Vegetarian: Portabella Dirty Rice Stuffed Peppers
Caesar Salad, Street Corn, Artisan Rolls with butter, Fall Cobbler Display, Sweet & Unsweet Iced Tea, Coffee
Sunday Breakfast
Praline French Toast – Vegetarian: Breakfast Burritos
Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Bacon, Smoked Gouda Cheesy Grits, Biscuits, Gravy, Fresh Fruit Mix, Coffee, Milk, OJ
Sleeping Arrangements
If you want to sleep within the Park grounds (at no additional charge!), you can bring a small camper / popup, sleep in your car, pitch a tent or use a hammock. If you bring a camper, you can set up in the large lot just above the observatories. If you want to use a generator, please set up in the overflow parking by the Maintenance Building up past the Farmstead Museum. If you want to pitch a tent or use a hammock, a great area is uphill, back behind the Zip Line up towards the Maintenance Building. This space will be out of the way of the general public and more secluded. Please, do not pitch a tent anywhere near the parking lots nor observatory. Also make sure tree damage does not occur. StarFest is the only event of the entire year in which we allow non-primitive camping. The Park does NOT have showers and camp fires are NOT allowed in the Park.
For those wanting a little more comfiness in the evening, we have arranged for a special rate at the Marriott MeadowView Resort. This is the closest and also the most luxurious amenity in the Tri-Cities region. It is a four+ star facility. Use the button link below or call the MeadowView Hotel (423-578-6600) and ask for the StarFest rate. This $139.00 + tax rate is guaranteed up to October 13, 2024. There are also five other hotels within a quarter mile of MeadowView for more options.
Pets
The park allows dogs, but they must be on a leash at all times, cleaned up after and not allowed near any of the animal habitats nor in any of the buildings.
Public Park Activities
As always, the schedule allows for many opportunities to enjoy park programming. Note, with your StarFest badge, you can receive free, on November 1-3, 2024, entrance to the Park and passes to planetarium shows, nature programs and barge rides. Yes, you need your stinkin’ badge! Check the Park’s scheduling calendar for details.
Barge rides are a 45 min. tour of the lake and its natural habitats. Nature programs are different for each time provided, so check the Park’s scheduling calendar for details.
Please note that if your family arrives with you, they MUST be fully registered if they also want to partake of any of the meals or attend any of the StarFest presentations or activities.
The Bays Mountain Astronomy Club and Bays Mountain Park Association look forward to seeing you for StarFest 2024! Please contact me if you have any questions.
Adam Thanz; StarFest Chair; 423-224-2532
Directions
