Looking for stars in your area? The Albuquerque Astronomical Society brings a love of astronomy to the state's night skies

Mark Goodman’s interest in astronomy dates back to a Christmas morning many years ago, when he found a telescope under the tree.

“It was a department store telescope — nothing fancy, small refractor. And I took it out, put it together, took it out on our driveway and found Saturn,” he said. “And (after) my first view of Saturn through that telescope, I was hooked.

“… That started what has been a lifelong interest in astronomy. It’s waxed and waned through the years. There have been some years that I haven’t really been actively engaged in observing, but I always had that passion for astronomy.”

Looking for stars in your area? The Albuquerque Astronomical Society brings a love of astronomy to the state's night skies

It might be an oversimplification, but that’s essentially the concept behind The Albuquerque Astronomical Society (TAAS). Founded in 1959, TAAS boasts more than 700 members and is considered to be one of the largest and most active astronomy clubs in the country.

“Our motto encapsulates our goals really simply: observe, educate, have fun,” Goodman said.

Goodman became the organization’s president this year, but he’s been a member for the past decade. TAAS welcomes a variety of backgrounds, from those like Goodman who have long-running in astronomy to beginners who have yet to view the night sky through a telescope.

For a yearly fee — there are regular, educator/military and student categories — one can become a TAAS member. This includes access to the club’s telescope loan program (these can be checked out for one month), as well as entry to the TAAS observatory, which is located south of Belen and features a 14-inch imaging telescope and a 16-inch Dobsonian telescope on site. Additionally, TAAS organizes field trips to visit various astronomical institutions and observatories in other parts of the country. Members also have access to TAAS monthly meetings, which often feature a guest speaker.

TAAS enjoys the level of engagement it does in part because the Land of Enchantment is home to some pristine skies that might not be present in other parts of the United States.

“We have great Dark Sky sites very close to Albuquerque. We’re fortunate to have lots of clear skies,” Goodman said. “… We have active groups within the state who are working to preserve the Dark Sky sites. There are many places around the state where people retire and move here specifically for the dark skies.

“So all of that is to say if this were the Ohio Valley Astronomical Society, I think there would be less interest just because the possibilities for observing are a lot less. Having been in that part of the world growing up, for part of my life, I can attest to that.”

To take advantage of these opportunities, TAAS hosts star parties at public sites, schools, remote locations and its own observatory throughout the year. Coming up on the calendar, the organization will be hosting a star party at Chaco Canyon — an International Dark Sky Park — on Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday Sept. 28.

“The really cool thing about it is that you can go camping in one of their campsites. Then the rangers will give a talk about the cultural history of Chaco and also some about the archaeoastronomy that has been discovered as some of the cultural activities at Chaco. And then our volunteers, our members, are there with their scopes.

“… It’s really a cool opportunity for people to go and experience that intersection of history and culture and the modern night sky.”

Later this year, TAAS will hold its Cosmic Carnival on Nov. 2. This is a signature event for the club, as it partners with the city of Albuquerque for an all-day extravaganza that includes daytime exhibits and activities for families and observing opportunities at night. Those are just a small sample of what one can enjoy by joining TAAS.

“(Newcomers) should join TAAS because it provides them with a community of like-minded observers,” Goodman said. “And whether they’re absolute beginners in amateur astronomy or they’re very experienced with the hobby, they have opportunities to get involved and to learn. And especially for beginners to have the resources that we provide in TAAS, both in terms of people who are eager to share what they know to the equipment that folks can have access to. It’s really an amazing way to get started in the hobby.”