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Astronomy is exciting. Astronomy is contagious. Astronomy is right at your fingertips. Imagine sharing a cool, moonless night under a canopy of stars and pinpointing treasures lying millions of light years away. Imagine discovering that the second star in the handle of the Big Dipper is really two stars, or a "double star". Or that, in the 18TH century, Charles Messier catalogued over 100 diffuse deep-sky objects – difficult to distinguish from comets through the modest telescopes of the day – that are all waiting to be seen and wondered at by you tonight. Imagine joining in on gatherings with friends and family and new acquaintances. Or, picture a group of school children at a school star party, buzzing with excitement, awaiting their first view of Jupiter and its moons and the great Orion Nebula, through a telescope. These and many other discoveries are here for you when you join our group, the ASN [Astronomical Society of Nevada]. The ASN's goal is to actively further everyone's exposure to the wonders above. We welcome all who are interested, whether you're a seasoned sky explorer or a novice with your first telescope. We also welcome those without telescopes, as we have several available for loan. The ASN has a wide variety of activities for our membership, no matter what level of interest you may have. Some of these include: public, private and school star parties; presentations and speakers; an annual Messier Marathon; weekend getaway star parties and overnight observing trips; an annual Astronomy Day celebration; field trips to various scientific organizations and observatories; special projects; and workshops covering everything from basic telescope use and construction to astrophotography. We also have a terrific publications discount program for Sky & Telescope Magazine and Astronomy Magazine; a Fleischmann Planetarium discount program; as well as a complete astronomical library program and a loaner telescope program. Astronomy isn't just for professionals. We're here to help you and encourage you to learn more. Then you can help spread the knowledge throughout the community. The ASN has three membership levels to choose from. We enthusiastically invite you to become an astronomical explorer in your own right.
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