We talking about gigantic, blazing balls of gas that attract lesser creations into orbit around them. OK, maybe there is a similarity after all. Partly because Hawaii is so far from other lands, and partly because Hawaii is a crossroads of science and culture, and partly because Hawaii has some easily accessible, very tall mountains with clear skies, we've become a major astronomical center. If you'd like to learn more about astronomy and Hawaii's role in it, the Hawaii Astronomical Society is taking over a stage at Kahala Mall 1 to 7 p.m. tomorrow, which is also Astronomy Day. HAS was founded in 1949, and they're affiliated with the Western Amateur Astronomers.
Membership is open to everyone.
Members build telescopes, take pictures of space objects, chase eclipses, and stars blinking on and off as planets and asteroids pass in front of them. A meteor special-interest group builds radio equipment to spot the trails of ionized gas left by hurtling meteors. HAS members have even phoned up astronauts aboard the space shuttle and cosmonauts aboard the Mir Space Station. The society has a newsletter, TheAstronews, and conducts monthly dark-sky star parties, usually held the weekend closest to the new moon. The club owns several telescopes, and members volunteer to operate the Bishop Museum Planetarium's 12.5-foot telescope Friday and Saturday evenings.