News

January 16th, 2006 - New Telescope Lecture Series Starts
Did you get a new telescope this Christmas and are not sure what to do with it. Well you are in luck because the Tallahassee Astronomical Society is presenting a three lecture series "Getting Started in Astronomy" starting on our next general meeting on this January 16th, 2006. You can bring your new toy if you like, members will be there to show you how to use it and get the most out it. See you there!
May 22, 2005 - TAS has a new forum.
It was about time! Our old forum was getting very long in the tooth. We have a new moderated, private email up to date forum. Check it out. http://www.stargazers.org/cs
December 20, 2004 - TAS elects 2005 Board of Directors
Elections were held and a new board of directors has been elected. The new officers for 2005 are:
- Bill Skelley - President
- Joe Haley - Vice-President/ALCOR
- Jan Pelfrey - Secretary/Treasurer
- Barry Boerner - Education Chair
- Gene Kochanowsky - Observing Chair
It was decided that the number of board members could be reduced by combining the post of Secretary with Treasurer and by removing the past board member position.
August 16, 2004, General meetings Challenger Center, 6:30PM
TAS and TCLC have come to an agreement for meeting at the center. Our general meetings will now be held at The Challenger Learning Center starting at 6:30PM and ending at 8:30PM sharp. From time to time we enjoy a planetarium show as part of the meeting. Join us at our next meeting.
July 19, 2004, General meeting at Challenger Center, 6:30PM
The TAS General Meeting will be on the 3rd Monday of July, which is the 19th, at the Challenger Learning Center. If everything can be worked out this may become our permanent meeting place. Because the center closes at 8:30PM we will start the meeting early. Be sure to make it since we will probably be treated to a show in the Challenger's new planetarium.
June 21, 2004 - General meeting held at Meyers Park at 7PM.
The TAS General Meeting will be on the 3rd Monday, June 21 at 7:00 P.M. at Myers Park. This is a one time deal for June, but Joe is working with David Chapman of the City for a potential long term deal. There will not be a meeting on Friday June 4 at Mary Brogan.
March 15, 2004 - New date and time for general meeting
The meeting time for the TAS General Meeting has been changed. We will now meet on the first Friday of each month at MBMOAS. This will be in effect for our next meeting which will be April 2nd at 7PM in the Florida Room.
January 19, 2004 - TAS elects 2004 Board of Directors
Elections were held and a new board of directors has been elected. The new officers for 2004 are:
- Joe Haley - President
- Bill Skelley - Vice-President
- Juanita Raymond - Secretary
- Jan Pelfrey - Treasurer
- Barry Boerner - Education Chair
- Gene Kochanowsky - Observing Chair
- Shawn Moore- Board Member
Shawn Moore was appointed as ALCOR.
January 20, 2003 - TAS elects 2003 Board of Directors
Elections were held and a new board of directors has been elected. The new officers for 2003 are:
- Shawn Moore - President
- Louis Walker - Vice-President
- Doug Culbertson - Secretary
- John Haines - Treasurer
- Barry Boerner - Education Chair
- Gene Kochanowsky - Observing Chair
- Juanita Raymond - Board Member
Zane Boyster was appointed as ALCOR. At this time there is no StarLight Editor.
August 27, 2002 - StarHill is open! Thanks to the diligence of the Collins Center, TAS access to StarHill is back. Our old lock is on the new gate with the same combination as before. Any new members who would like to be shown how to get to the site, please make arrangements with the observing chair.
April 10, 2002 - StarHill is closed. Due to the denial of access by Mr. Charles Ward who owns property that must be crossed to get to the site, StarHill is no longer accessible. Mr. Ward informed Mr. Gene Kochanowsky, the TAS Observing chair, that anyone caught trespassing on his property would be arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. He also informed Mr. Kochanowsky that he would make efforts to see to it that all adjacent property owners also denied TAS access to it's observing site. Major Joyner of the JCSD confirmed to Mr. Kochanowsky that trespassers will be arrested. Efforts by Major Joyner to reach an accommodation between TAS and Mr. Ward have failed. TAS is considering all options to regain access to the site. Anyone who can assist us please contact TAS President, Juanita Raymond or Gene Kochanowsky.
March 18, 2002 - New Starlight Editor. Ron Fondo has accepted the position of starlight editor replacing the outgoing editor.
December 17, 2001 - TAS elects 2002 Board of Directors
Elections were held and a new board of directors has been elected. For the first time ever in TAS history there were two candidates running for the same office. The campaign for treasurer lasted for ten minutes after which a secret ballot was taken. The new officers for 2002 are:
- Juanita Raymond - President
- Shawn Moore - Vice-President
- Caroline Harris - Secretary
- John Haines -
- Barry Boerner - Education Chair
- Gene Kochanowsky - Observing Chair
- Joe Haley - Board Member
Rita LaBlanc and Caroline Harris were reappointed as ALCOR and StarLight Editor respectively.
November 19, 2001 - Welcome to our new Starlight Editor, Caroline Harris. She would like to let everyone know that all submissions are welcome however you must get them to her no later than the 27th of each month.
October 27, 2001 - McClay Gardens Stargaze
In cooperation with McClay Gardens, TAS will present a stargaze open to the general public. We will have slide shows and lectures as well as tour of skies. There will be star charts, telescopes and binoculars available to the public. Bring your jackets, blankets and lawn chairs.
TAS Past Present & Future - September 2001, by Juanita Raymond
December 18, 2000 - Camellia Nights Star Party is CANCELED. Due to the under-whelming response by the astronomical community to this event TAS has decided to cancel it. All those who have purchased admission my get a full refund from our treasurer. For further information on alternate plans for the original dates of the party please check out the threads on our StarHill discussion web.

November 25, 2000 - TAS 2nd Annual Amateur Astronomy Day
In cooperation with the Mary Brogdan Museum of Arts and Sciences (formerly known as Odyssey Science Center) TAS is putting on a day of talks, displays of equipment, photos, books and periodicals as well as views of the sun. Mark this on your calendar! This is a must see!
April 28-29 The Florida Caverns Family Star Gaze - In association with The Florida Caverns State Park we are hosting a camping and star gazing event in Marianna Florida.
TAS Past Present & Future - April 2000, by Juanita Raymond
On April 1st, 2000 the Tallahassee Astronomical Society will be hosting a Messier Marathon at it's dark site. The public is invited. There will be prizes awarded to those observers who locate the greatest number of objects in the least time. The grand prize is a weekend at a Panama City Beach Resort. The BBQ will begin at 4PM. For further information on the event please contact Chris Johnson at (850) 663-9428 or email your questions to starslidr@hotmail.com.
December 29, 1999 - A StarHill work day is scheduled for January 8, 2000. This is a special event.

December 15, 1999 - The TAS observatory on Starhill is being renovated. Improvements in the electrical system and the telescope mount are in progress. It is hoped that we can completed them before the end of January of 2000.

November 27, 1999 - The TAS Amateur Astronomy Day was a great success. At least 200 people visited the exhibits, talks and demonstrations. Two local TV stations were there to cover the show. We added seven new members and almost 100 children participated in the Junior Amateur Astronomer program. We almost sold all the books and calendars. It was great!

November 9, 1999 - Francois Bucher died today. Dr. Bucher was a long time supporter of the arts and sciences in the Tallahassee area. Because of Francois, TAS has a very nice dark site from which to observe the heavens. His interest and participation in the society will be greatly missed. He will not be forgotten.
June 24, 1999 - The Telescope & Binocular show has been changed to Amateur Astronomy Day.

April 19, 1999 - Its official, the Telescope & Binocular Show Committee is now formed. TAS in cooperation with Odyssey Science Center will be organizing a Telescope and Binocular Show. This will be the first event of its kind in Tallahassee. It'll be a great opportunity for people in the local area to see some BIG scopes, neat merchandise, swap hardware with other amateurs and see interesting exhibits. The current plan is to have the show in October or November. Please watch this space for more information on this event.

April 6, 1999 - Special Starlight edition covering our new meeting place. [You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this.]

March 31, 1999 - The TAS Board of Directors has approved our association with the Odyssey Science Center. Our general meeting will now be held at 7PM in Odyssey's Florida Lottery Room. See you there on April 19th! As always the general public is invited.
February 15, 1999 - TAS has formed a DarkSky committee.