Benefits of Membership

Benefits of ASET Membership

 1. Monthly meetings providing personal interaction with other astronomers throughout the full range of experience - novice 

       thru veteran. 

 2. Monthly ASET Newsletter, Polaris, emailed directly to you. 

   Includes locally written articles, member submitted images, and calendars of monthly astronomy events. Members may 

   submit articles, and have access to post Classifieds in the newsletter. 

 3.    Access to Members' Loaner Program - provides the opportunity to borrow telescope equipment for learning and 

        evaluation before purchase.

 4. Opportunities to plan and participate in public outreach events across East Texas.         

 5. Automatic Membership in the Astronomical League (AL) - an organization with thousands of members across all of North 

       America!

 6. Access to the Facebook ASET group, where more than 100 local astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts plan events, 

       start new projects, and share their work. 

 7. Access to Special Interest Groups. ASET special interest groups bring together people with similar goals to work 

       independently. 

 8.     Access to the ASET Discord, where members can chat online. 

 9. Opportunities to present at the monthly ASET meetings. Members of ASET are encouraged to present! 

10. The ability to run for Officer positions. Officers in ASET have a powerful opportunity to direct the future of astronomy in 

       East Texas!

11. Youth Astronomy awards such as the East Texas Science Fair Astronomy Award.

Benefits of Astronomical League Membership

As the largest amateur astronomy organization in the world, the League offers a strong voice for amateur astronomers. When we call or visit government offices and businesses to discuss light pollution or other issues on the behalf of the 20,000+ members of the League, they listen very closely. The AL defends astronomy, fights light pollution, and protects funding for planetariums.    

  The "Reflector" Quarterly Publication, a color-glossy, quarterly astronomy magazine. Members are encouraged to submit articles to this national magazine for national recognition. 

  More than 60 AL observing programs, ranging from very basic to very advanced, are available to members. These programs are designed to enhance observing skills and provide fresh understanding of astronomical topics. Certificates, hat/lapel pins and stickers are awarded for the completion of programs!  

  AL Astro Notes are bits of information or tools that might be of use to amateur astronomers.  They each cover a specific topic and are narrow in scope.

  The AL Web Store is available at: https://www.astroleague.org/store/

     The AL sells Astronomical Handbooks, which are low cost and very popular -- another of the many benefits of League membership.    

  AL membership also helps fund youth awards, such as the National Young Astronomer Award (NYAA).

     A total of three major youth awards programs with over $10,000 in prizes. Thanks to your support, the AL sponsors young winners to travel to conventions with cash prizes, telescopes and lifetime passes to the McDonald Observatory.    

  Opportunity to participate in national and regional conventions including joint meetings with IOTA (International Occultation Timing Association) and ALPO (Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers). These conventions provide an excellent venue for astronomers to get together and share ideas.    

  Membership supports free advertising and publicity for DarkSky International, a light pollution activism group with global and local reach.

  Membership supports five major adult recognition awards; the national Webmaster Award, the Peltier Award, the newsletter editor (Mabel Sterns) award, and so many others. Additionally, AL membership supports Sky and Telescope's Astronomy Day award program. 

  AL Membership supports the first ever AL National Office. Prior to this, the League existed for 60+ years operating out of home offices. With over 300 member societies and about 20,000 members, we urgently needed to make this move to provide better service to all members.