KERN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

REACH FOR THE STARS

About Us imageAbout Us image
Who We Are
The Kern Astronomical Society (KAS) was founded in 1956 with a charter to “foster interest in astronomy among members, amateur astronomers, and the general public”. We are a club of amateur astronomers that include individuals and families. Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome. The Kern Astronomical Society (KAS) would like to invite you to discover the “Wonders of the Universe.”

Why We Are Here
KAS intends to “bring the joys of astronomy” to the general public. We attend schools, scout groups, and a variety of other community events with telescopes and a lot of enthusiasm. We enjoy showing people everything from the rings of Saturn, to Jupiter’s moons, to the craters of the Moon, and more. See the star party coordinator below for more information.

Membership image
To learn more about the club, come to a KAS meeting! Our meetings are free, open to the public and family friendly.  We meet on the first Friday of the month at 6:30 PM for dinner followed by the business meeting and program at 7:30 PM at the Round Table Pizza at the corner of Gosford and White Lane (4200 Gosford Rd, Suite 101 in the “Meeting Room”) in Bakersfield—see the map below.

Annual membership is $25 and our memberships are "family" memberships. Members of KAS also get membership in the Astronomical League. New members get first crack at borrowing one of the club telescopes for a month!

Upcoming Events

TitleDateLocation
July - No Meeting07 Jul 2023
TBD04 Aug 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Nominations open for Club Officer election in Sept04 Aug 2023
Election of Club Officers01 Sep 2023

Past Events

TitleDateLocation
Mark Zaslove - Astrophotography02 Jun 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
KAS Picnic06 May 20232900 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, USA
Rod Guice - Meteorites05 May 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Tim Elam - San Andreas along Gorman07 Apr 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
The Winter Sky – Tim Stoner03 Mar 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Michael Malaska - Mapping Titan03 Feb 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Leslie Cunkelman - Goldstone06 Jan 20234200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
KAS Annual Christmas Party02 Dec 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
BRILEY LEWIS / LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE04 Nov 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Panamint Springs Star Party - Cancelled Cancelled28 Oct 2022
Star Party for the Boy Scouts21 Oct 2022
Q&A / Free Tools to Help New Astronomers07 Oct 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Dark Sky Festival - Sequoia23 Sep 2022Sequoia national park
NICK STROBEL / Exoplanets02 Sep 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
ROD GUICE / CLIMATE CHANGE05 Aug 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
July 23rd Club Star Party23 Jul 2022Frazier Mountain Trailhead - 20W03
JULY NO MEETING01 Jul 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
KATIE WIGHTMAN / SEQUOIA DARK SKY FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 23RD 24TH AND 25TH 202203 Jun 20224200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Angela Dorsey Atomic Clock06 Mar 2020Round Table Pizza
General Membership Meeting06 Mar 20204200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Terry Himes Climate Change07 Feb 2020Round Table Pizza

Star Parties

We have two club star parties every month on the Saturday evenings of third quarter Moon and new Moon (weather permitting).

Learn More

Club Officers

Click here for current officer's contact information. New officers are elected every September.

Learn More

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

Vincent Van Gogh

  • General Meeting Site (first Friday each month): Round Table Pizza, 4200 Gosford Road # 101
  • Bakersfield, CA 93389