How do i start an astronomy club ?

Question

i have no friends.. only know relatives ..

not popular but would like to have people over for a star party , teach em hpw to usetheir / a telescope .. observing.

even helping them with theirs.

how can i get that started if i know no one?

Answer 1

Are you sure there's not already one in the area?  Here's a site to help you find one.  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community...  There are other sites as well.  If you have a local university, try emailing their astronomy or physics department - they might have a club, or know of one.

Answer 2

If you've checked and found no nearby clubs, the thing to do is check with your local government to get permission to use a nearby park with an open field.  Make sure the police are aware of the club so they don't show up and shine spotlights in everyone's eyes.  (but make sure they know they're welcome to stop by for a look through your scope if they have time.)

Pick a date or dates that will work for you on a monthly basis - possibly the first and third Friday.  Avoid tying it to Moon phases because you want to make it as easy as possible for people to remember when you'll be there.

Next, put up fliers on grocery store bulletin boards, at your library, and announcements in any local chat rooms saying a new club is forming, and guests are welcome to stop by.  While you're at it, contact your local youth groups and civic groups to let them know you're starting this club and they're welcome to visit.

While you're at it, make an announcement on the forums at Cloudy Nights that includes your town and state in the subject line.

< http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/u... >

Ask your local newspaper(s) to make an announcement or write an article promoting the new club for you, and to list your meetings in their community calendar.

Send a notice of your meetings to your local cable TV company for inclusion on their community calendar.

Set up a Yahoo Group for the new club to keep in touch with each other.  List the Yahoo group, and possibly an email address you set up specifically for the organization in all your promotional material.  

Make sure as many people as possible know where you'll be, and when you'll be there.

Then on the date of the first meeting you've selected, show up and observe.  Have a couple of family members show up for the first few nights so it looks like it's more than one person.

If enough people know what you're doing, you'll get some visitors.  Not everyone will join, but a few will.  (in my club, typically 1% of visitors join - you may do better or worse while starting out)

While you're starting, you probably don't want to charge dues, but if people ask you might say something like "once we're more established we'll probably have dues so the club can buy stuff and start a web page.  My experience is most astronomical societies have dues in the general range of $25 per year for an individual, and slightly more for a family.  

It's likely to take a lot of effort to get the club up to critical mass, but once you're established, promotion will become easier because people will already know about you.

Good luck with your effort.

Answer 3

If you're in school, you might consider forming one involving teachers and students.  Obviously this might be an issue if classes are not in session for the summer, but it could certainly be something to consider when school starts up again.

Working through a school has the advantage, though, of teacher knowledge and authority, and easy access to others with the same interest or who would like to try something new.  

And go ahead and involve your relatives!  Everyone can enjoy and appreciate the night sky, even family.  Plus, they might have friends or coworkers who would like to get in on the fun.

Answer 4

get some astronomical stuff.make your room a solar system and invite your relatives.annonce it in your school or college.