CAS Member Services and Benefits CAS Member Services and BenefitsAll CAS members receive the monthly newsletter, Prime Focus , and are encouraged to contribute to it. In it are interesting articles about personal astronomical experiences, observing tips, and general "sky happenings." In addition, there is a social calendar and highlights of the upcoming month's celestial events.
Both Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazine offer special discount rates to astronomy club members. Sky & Telescope annual subscriptions cost $32.95 when paid for through the Society. Club members also enjoy a 10% discount on books, posters, etc. from the Sky Publishing catalogue. Astronomy magazine subscriptions cost $29/year. (Note: new subscriptions and renewals must be processed through the club treasurer in order to take advantage of these discounts. Please make your check payable to the Columbus Astronomical Society.)
CAS members can also take advantage of a 10% discount on purchases from the Perkins Observatory gift shop (excluding telescopes). Members only need to show their club membership card at the time of purchase.
Set up your telescope at Perkins Observatory for public nights (any clear night!) to enjoy the fellowship of other members. Perkins has a darker sky than Columbus, although not as dark as our private observing sites (see below). The best part of Perkins is the people you meet there. Guests always appreciate a glimpse through any telescope. New CAS members are encouraged to participate in order to learn more about Perkins Observatory and the club. Just bought a telescope and are new to the club? Bring it up for instruction on how to set up and use it.
Through special arrangements, the Society has two dark sky observing locations available for members to use. Conkles Hollow is located in the Hocking Hills State Park, and is about a 1 hour, 15 minute drive from central Columbus. Grieser Field is more distant but darker and is located south of Zanesville (about a 1 hour, 45 minute drive from Columbus).
The Society operates a private mailing list on YahooGroups.com, The_CAS, which enables members to easily communicate in between the monthly meetings. The mailing list helps make short-notice observing sessions, used equipment for sale, and the exchange of other club news possible. Details about how to subscribe and the rules-of-use can be found on the site. (Please note that this is a private mailing list for CAS members only.)
Society members can post free classified advertisements on the CAS Trading Post website.
Club members may apply for telescope time on a Celestron C-14, which is housed in the Little Dome. The Little Dome is located southeast of Perkins on land formerly owned by OWU and now owned by Dornoch Golf Course. Ohio Wesleyan University owns the telescope. Access to the Little Dome and use of the C-14 is restricted to members who have been active in the CAS for at least six months. Applicants must undergo a checkout session at the Little Dome to become familiar with C-14 use protocols, agree to follow them, and pay a one-time key deposit of $5.00 and an annual $15.00 key fee. Proceeds are used for the maintenance of the scope and future upgrades. SIG contacts: Jeff Canter and Ted Saker.
Any club member interested in CCD imaging may obtain the use of the club's Cookbook 245 Camera built by CAS past president Chuck Bruckelmyer. The LDC modification is installed. The camera is located at Perkins. See the CAS President if you want to try your hand at CCD astroimaging with the club's camera.
The club's 16" Newtonian reflector telescope was built by Brant Archinal, Tom Burns, John Kerns, Dick Suiter and Doug Wereb. It was recently refurbished by Bill Burton and other CAS members. Club members may contact the CAS Secretary to initiate a request for use of the telescope. BST use is subject to the following guidelines approved by the 1999 Board of Trustees:
The prospective user must be a CAS member in good standing for at least 3 years before qualifying to check out the BST into their possession. The prospective user must have adequate means to transport the scope safely. The checkout period is limited to a "reasonable" length of time not to exceed 10 days unless special permission has been granted by the Board. The user may not remove the BST outside Ohio without special Board permission. In addition, the Board has the right to refuse a prospective user's request to check out the scope.