Voting Time Again?
Dear AOSNY Members and Friends,
April arrives with a quiet but profound shift in our skies. The familiar brilliance of winter begins to fade, giving way to something far more subtle—and far more expansive. We now enter galaxy season, a time when our view extends beyond our local stellar neighborhood and into the deeper architecture of the universe itself.
As Virgo, Coma Berenices, and Leo take center stage, we are presented with a sky rich in distant galaxies—each one anisland universe, each one containing billions of stars. The famed Leo Triplet and the vast fields of the Virgo Cluster remind us that what we see as faint smudges in the eyepiece are, in reality, structures of unimaginable scale and distance.
April is not about brightness—it is about perspective. It is about learning to see beyond the obvious and appreciating the depth that lies just beneath the surface of the night sky. This month at 3pm, we are proud to feature one of our own—AOS Club Member Steve Lieber—presenting: “Models of the Solar System.” This engaging and hands-on presentation will demonstrate the true scale of our solar system in away that is both intuitive and memorable. Through the use of models, Steve will illustrate the relative sizes of the Sun and planets, while emphasizing the immense distances that separate them. What quickly becomes apparent is just how small the planets are in comparison to the Sun, and even more striking, how vast and empty the space between them truly is. These are concepts that are often misunderstood, yet they are fundamental to how we communicate astronomy to the public.
Designed at a beginner’s level, this talk is especially valuable for those involved in public outreach, offering practical tools and approaches to help translate complex astronomical scales into something meaningful and accessible.
Club Elections – Leadership opportunity Nominations for club elections will close at this April meeting, with voting to take place in May. This moment is more than part of our annual process—it is a defining opportunity to shape the direction and future of the Amateur Observers Society of New York. Everything we have built as a club—our outreach, our partnerships, our presence in the community—exists because individuals chose to step forward and take ownership. Leadership within AOS is not about position; it is about commitment, vision, and the willingness to contribute to something that has a lasting impact on others. If you have ever considered becoming more involved, now is the time. Your experience, your perspective, and your energy are not just welcomed—they are needed. Whether your strengths lie in organization, education, technical knowledge, or simply a passion for sharing the night sky, there is a place for you to lead.
Ask yourself: Where can I make a difference? If that question resonates with you, then you are already on the path. We encourage all members to consider running for one of the open positions and to take part in guiding the next chapter of this organization. The future of AOS is not something we wait for—it is something we actively build, together.
Stars on Sunday: 7:00 PM Berliner Hall. This will be the final Stars on Sunday session of the spring season April invites us to look deeper—to move beyond the bright and obvious, and into the subtle and profound. It challenges us to expand not just our observations, but our understanding. Bring your telescopes. Bring your curiosity. And above all, bring your willingness to share this experience with others.
Clear skies,
Jason Cousins
President, AOSNY
