Club Meetings Cancelled
March 17, 2020
Due to the ongoing threat posed by the Covid 19 Coronavirus pandemic, the BSAC's is cancelling all of our regular monthly meetings until further notice.
We will announce the resumption of our monthly meetings here when circumstances allow us to safely gather. Check this space for news updates.
Montana Chapter IDA Forms
May 13, 2019
It is with great excitement we announce the formation of the Montana Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. Our Montana Chapter received its official status as of May of 2019.
The chapter currently has seven board members, chaired by noted local astrophotographer John Ashley. Yours truly, Mark Paulson is the current co-chair.
It is very easy to join our Montana chapter. Simply visit the main IDA website and go to their Membership Page and join the main organization. All members of the parent IDA automatically become members in our Montana Chapter.
Please check out our Monatana IDA Chapter page where you'll find their new "Dark Sky Destinations Map" showing 50 public campgrounds and 10 dark sky event centers, scattered across our state. Please also visit their own webiste, which features a wealth of information about light pollution and their efforts to preserve Montana's dark skies Montana IDA Chapter website. While you're there, please feel free to leave them a message.
DIL Astroturism Article
November 10, 2019
The front page of the Sunday November 10, 2019 issue of the Daily Inter Lake prominently featured a wonderful article by reporter Kianna Gardner on the growing astrotourism industry in Montana. The article described how the Flathead's relatively dark skies are becoming an attraction to those looking for a nighttime experience they cannot find at their own place of residence.
The importance of preserving the heritage of our dark skies in Montana cannot be overstated. Reducing the amount of Light Pollution and its many harmful effects in Montana will not only provide economic opportunities across the state, it will benefit all of the state's wildlife that we hold so dear.
A PDF of the DIL article can be opened by clicking this link: DIL-Montana's Dark Skies Spur Astrotourism
2020 G.N.P. Summer Events Cancelled
Summer Season, 2020
Due to the threat posed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Summer Astronomy Program at Glacier has tentatively been cancelled. As the situation progresses, however, the Park may open its Summer Programs on a limited basis. Please check with Glacier National Park directly for more information.
2020 Lone Pine Astronomy Prog.
Monthly, Summer 2020
Due to the threat posed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Summer Astronomy Programs at Line Pine State Park have been cancelled.
2020 Logan Pass Star Parties
July & August; 2020
Due to the threat posed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, all three of the Logan Pass Star Parties that had originally been scheduled at Glacier have been cancelled.
2020 Montana Starwatch
Summer, 2020
Although no decision has yet been made, the 2020 version of our Montana Starwatch may be cancelled due to the threat posed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
For more information as to the status of this annual event, please see the official Montana Starwatch website at: montanastarwatch.org.
Ken Hair (1938-2018)
June 13, 2018
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of yet another of the club's most beloved members. Ken Hair passed away June 13 of natural causes at his home in Kalispell. Ken had been an active member for over 15 years. His enthusiasm and love of Astronomy was all too evident to everyone in the club. Ken was inevitably the first to show up at every club meeting, star party or other public outreach event that the club held.
As it was with his fellow club member Al Ebeltoft, whom we lost last December, the members of the Big Sky Astronomy Club will also miss Ken's smile, his keen sense of humor, his support of the club and his love of the night sky, each of which he selflessly and enthusiastically shared whenever we were with him.
Godspeed, Ken.
Allen Ebeltoft (1938-2017)
December 31, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of the club's most beloved members. Al Ebeltoft passed on December 31st of natural causes at his home in Kalispell. Al was one of the original, founding members of the Big Sky Astronomy Club in 2000. He was a very active member, enthusiastically offering his time, talents and knowledge to the club's public outreach efforts. Al was also an avid astrophotographer who spent many hours in his personal observatory.
The members of the Big Sky Astronomy Club will miss his warmth, his support and his love of the night sky, each of which he selflessly and enthusiastically shared whenever we were with him.
Godspeed, Al.
BSAC Missoulian Article
November 14, 2013
Big Sky Astronomy Club member Joe Witherspoon and his personal observatory located outside of Twin Bridges, Montana, were featured in a very nice article published in the Missoulian newspaper on Thursday, November 14th, 2013.
The in-depth article described Joe's interest in astronomy, his personal observatory and what prompted his eventual move to Twin Bridges, having lived in the light pollution of Tacoma, Washington for many years.
The article can be read online at the Missoulian's website by clicking here.
BSAC Daily Inter Lake Article
September 4, 2013
The Big Sky Astronomy Club was featured in a very nice article published in Kalispell's Daily InterLake newspaper on Wednesday, September 4th, 2013.
The article described our history, our many outreach efforts along with our plans to build an observatory/education center and purchase a portable planetarium for use in our educational outreach.
The article can be read online at the Daily Inter Lake's website by clicking here.
