KERN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
REACH FOR THE STARS
About Us
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
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!
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!
Events
Upcoming Events
| Title | Date | Day | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography – John Hester | 05 Jan 2024 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| April Solar Eclipse – Darren Bly | 02 Feb 2024 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
Past Events
| Title | Date | Day | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Christmas Party | 01 Dec 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Europa Clipper | 03 Nov 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATE THE MOON | 21 Oct 2023 | Saturday | 11298 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Nick Strobel – OSIRUS-REx | 06 Oct 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Sequoia Dark Sky Festival | 09 Sep 2023 | Saturday | Sequoia National Park, 64740 Wuksachi Way, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262, USA |
| Election of Club Officers | 01 Sep 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| KAS Perseid meteor shower overnight star party at Chuchupate | 12 Aug 2023 | Saturday | Frazier Mountain Road, Frazier Park, CA, USA |
| Nominations open for Club Officer election in Sept | 04 Aug 2023 | Friday | |
| TBD | 04 Aug 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| COMMUNITY STAR PARTY AT RIVERWALK | 29 Jul 2023 | Saturday | 11298 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311, USA |
| July - No Meeting | 07 Jul 2023 | Friday | |
| Mark Zaslove - Astrophotography | 02 Jun 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| KAS Picnic | 06 May 2023 | Saturday | 2900 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, USA |
| Rod Guice - Meteorites | 05 May 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Tim Elam - San Andreas along Gorman | 07 Apr 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| The Winter Sky – Tim Stoner | 03 Mar 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Michael Malaska - Mapping Titan | 03 Feb 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
| Leslie Cunkelman - Goldstone | 06 Jan 2023 | Friday | 4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA |
Club Activities
Star Parties
We have two club star parties every month on the Saturday evenings of third quarter Moon and new Moon (weather permitting).
Learn MoreClub 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
Contact
- General Meeting Site (first Friday each month): Round Table Pizza, 4200 Gosford Road # 101
- Bakersfield, CA 93389
newsletter
We publish a periodic newsletter of club activities and upcoming astronomy events called the SYZYGY. Copies of the newsletter are posted on the web as PDF documents.
December 2023 KAS NewsletterNovember 2023 KAS Newsletter
October 2023 KAS Newsletter
September 2023 KAS Newsletter
August 2023 KAS Newsletter
July 2023 KAS Newsletter
June 2023 KAS Newsletter
May KAS 2023 Newsletter
April 2023 KAS Newsletter
March 2023 KAS Newsletter
February 2023 KAS Newsletter
January 2023 KAS Newsletter
December 2022 KAS Newsletter
