Ford Amateur Astronomy Club

09/19/2026

Kids, meet a real meteorite! At Astronomy at the Beach, there's a hands-on table where you can hold an actual piece of the asteroid Vesta in your fingers - no glass case, no "don't touch" sign. It's exactly the kind of up-close moment that makes AATB such a hit with families. (Photo from a past AATB, courtesy of Amy Cantu.)

Today, Sept. 19, is the final day of Michigan's largest FREE astronomy event, happening now at Island Lake State Park! Free entry, a field full of telescopes, and plenty for young explorers to see and do.

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win the grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab. Ticket sales help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and details: https://www.glaac.org

09/19/2026

Space history alert: this year's Astronomy at the Beach theme is "Artemis – Returning to the Moon," celebrating NASA's Artemis II mission, which wrapped up this past April 10th. Four astronauts flew a 10-day loop around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, traveling farther from Earth than any humans in history — 252,756 miles! Come hear how it all went down and what's next for lunar exploration at Michigan's largest free astronomy event, Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park.

Entry is free, no registration needed. While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win this year's grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope — an 840-gram smart scope with a built-in tracking mount and intelligent camera system, sponsored by Dwarflab. Proceeds help keep AATB going strong for year 31.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule, raffle info, and directions: https://www.glaac.org

09/18/2026

Kids don't just look at pretty space pictures at Astronomy at the Beach — they get to sit down with the person who took them. This shot (photo: Amy Cantu, from a past AATB) shows one of our astrophotographers giving a young visitor a personal walkthrough of his deep-sky images and answering every question that comes up. That's the kind of relaxed, hands-on access families get all night long out on the telescope field.

Astronomy at the Beach is happening right now, Sept. 18 & 19, at Island Lake State Park — Michigan's largest free astronomy event. While you're out there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab — proceeds help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and details: https://www.glaac.org

09/18/2026

A new episode of Astronomy For Everyone is now available for your viewing pleasure!

In this episode AFE team member Kevin Medon discusses the 2026 tota...

09/18/2026

The telescope field is where Astronomy at the Beach really comes alive after dark. Astronomers from clubs all across southeastern Michigan roll in and set up their scopes side by side, and they're genuinely excited to let you look through them — no gear or experience needed on your end. Once night falls, stick around for the laser-guided tour of the sky, walking you across the constellations overhead point by point.

Photo: Bill, from a past AATB — gives you a feel for the kind of scene waiting for you Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park, Michigan's largest free astronomy event, now in our 30th year!

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win this year's grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope, sponsored by Dwarflab. It's an 840-gram powerhouse packed with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and event details: https://www.glaac.org

09/18/2026

Weather update: Astronomy at the Beach is happening rain or shine!

Q: What happens at Astronomy at the Beach if there is unfavorable weather?
A: Absolutely everything _except_ telescopes field observing.

Presentations, clubs and organizations, nerdy science demos, etc. are all inside the tents. Bring your curiosity and your questions.
We know the forecast for Sept. 18 & 19 is looking mixed, but don't let clouds keep you home. Astronomy at the Beach runs regardless of sky conditions. If clouds or rain roll in and the telescope field can't observe, everything under the tents goes on as planned: the keynote talk ("Life in the Universe" with Dr. Dale Partin), the "How to Make a Comet" demo, Jeff MacLeod's Gemini rocket simulator, club and vendor tables, food from Civil Air Patrol Unit 437, and the DWARF mini Smart Telescope raffle drawing.

Clear skies just mean we get the telescopes out too — but either way, there's a full night of hands-on astronomy programming waiting for you. Come rain, shine, or clouds, we'll see you at Island Lake State Park!

09/17/2026

Step inside the big activity tent at Astronomy at the Beach and this is what you'll find: families clustered around hands-on demo tables, kids trying out real astronomy activities, and volunteers happy to show them what's up. It's exactly the vibe we're building toward this year on Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake Recreation Area — Michigan's largest free astronomy event, and it's made for kids just as much as grown-up stargazers.

(Photo: Amy Cantu, from a past AATB — this is the kind of scene you'll find under our tents this year.)

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab. Ticket proceeds help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full event details: https://www.glaac.org

09/17/2026

Bringing the kids to Astronomy at the Beach this year? Good call — this is one of our most family-friendly nights of the year. Jeff MacLeod is rolling his incredible custom-built Gemini rocket simulator back onto the field, and it's always a huge hit with kids (and honestly, plenty of adults too). Runs take about 5 minutes and tickets go fast, so grab yours early. The Michigan Science Center will also be on site with their hands-on "How to Make a Comet" demo, and when everyone works up an appetite, Civil Air Patrol Unit 437 will have pizza, drinks, and snacks available for purchase.

Astronomy at the Beach is Michigan's largest free astronomy event, celebrating its 30th year on Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park. Entry is free and no registration is required.

While you're on the field, swing by and pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win this year's grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope — just 840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system, sponsored by Dwarflab. Proceeds go toward keeping AATB free for Michigan families.

Already sold on a DWARF mini of your own? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and details: https://www.glaac.org

09/16/2026

Ever seen a rocket simulator lit up like this after dark? That glowing red "OPEN" sign belongs to Jeff MacLeod's custom-built Gemini capsule simulator, and it's one of the biggest draws for kids (okay, and plenty of adults) at Astronomy at the Beach every year. Rides run about 5 minutes and the line grows fast once the sun goes down, so it's worth a stop early in the evening.

This is what AATB looks like once the telescope field lights up — photo by Amy Cantu, not from this year's event, but a good preview of what's coming.

Save the date: Astronomy at the Beach is September 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park, and it's Michigan's largest free astronomy event. Kids get hands-on activities, telescope viewing, and rides in the simulator all night long.

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win the grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab. Proceeds help keep AATB free for Michigan families.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and details: https://www.glaac.org

09/16/2026

talk gear: this year's Astronomy at the Beach raffle grand prize is a DWARF mini Smart Telescope, sponsored by Dwarflab. It weighs just 840 grams but packs a precision astronomical camera, an automatic tracking mount that follows targets across the sky on its own, and a full intelligent control system you run from your phone. No manual polar alignment, no fumbling with star charts — point it at the sky and let it do the work.

Want a shot at winning one? Pick up a raffle ticket at the event on Sept. 18 or 19 — proceeds help fund AATB, Michigan's largest free astronomy event, now in its 30th year at Island Lake State Park. Entry is free and no registration is required.

Can't wait for the raffle? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off your own DWARF mini: https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC

Full event details, schedule, and raffle info: https://www.glaac.org