{"id":1202,"date":"2025-07-15T15:19:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T15:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/?page_id=1202"},"modified":"2025-07-22T13:56:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T13:56:19","slug":"about-ghaas-our-amateur-astronomers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/about-ghaas-our-amateur-astronomers\/","title":{"rendered":"About GHAAS \u2013 Our Astronomy Club\u2019s Mission &amp; History"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1202\" class=\"elementor elementor-1202\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8df1da4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8df1da4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b990979 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b990979\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About GHAAS \u2013 A Nonprofit Led by Amateur Astronomers<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06060e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06060e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b90b8a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2b90b8a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c2b93d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3c2b93d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f64374 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f64374\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"623\">Founded in 1977, the <strong data-start=\"290\" data-end=\"344\">Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society (GHAAS)<\/strong> began with a small group of passionate <strong data-start=\"384\" data-end=\"407\">amateur astronomers<\/strong> united by their love of the night sky. Since then, we\u2019ve grown into a thriving <strong data-start=\"487\" data-end=\"513\">nonprofit science club<\/strong> dedicated to bringing the wonders of space to the public through education, events, and hands-on experiences.<\/p><p data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"847\">Incorporated in 1995, GHAAS continues to operate exclusively for educational and scientific purposes as a 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission has remained steady: to ignite curiosity and foster understanding of the cosmos.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f75b910 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f75b910\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3e17fd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3e17fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac22fd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac22fd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Mission: Astronomy Education &amp; Outreach<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e55a60c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e55a60c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"903\" data-end=\"1133\">We believe that <strong data-start=\"919\" data-end=\"942\">astronomy education<\/strong> is for everyone\u2014from complete beginners to lifelong skywatchers. Through engaging lectures, interactive demonstrations, and public telescope nights, we make astronomy accessible to all ages.<\/p><p data-start=\"1135\" data-end=\"1431\">Our <strong data-start=\"1139\" data-end=\"1161\">astronomy outreach<\/strong> programs are designed to spark wonder and provide real opportunities for people to explore the universe firsthand. Whether it\u2019s observing the Moon through a telescope or learning to capture the stars via astrophotography, GHAAS offers programs that educate and inspire.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-400dad4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"400dad4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33802e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"33802e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/kids-learning-astronomy-telescope-education.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1155\" alt=\"amateur astronomers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/kids-learning-astronomy-telescope-education.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/kids-learning-astronomy-telescope-education-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/kids-learning-astronomy-telescope-education-768x511.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7271b85 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7271b85\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64fbdcd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"64fbdcd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e87a7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3e87a7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Nonprofit Science Club for the Stargazing Community<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7195c9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7195c9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1497\" data-end=\"1759\">As a volunteer-run organization, GHAAS serves as a welcoming hub for the local and regional <strong data-start=\"1589\" data-end=\"1613\">stargazing community<\/strong>. We encourage collaboration and learning among members, while also supporting public initiatives like dark sky preservation and science literacy.<\/p><p data-start=\"1761\" data-end=\"1935\">From casual observers to seasoned <strong data-start=\"1795\" data-end=\"1818\">amateur astronomers<\/strong>, our club brings together people of all backgrounds to share knowledge, equipment, and enthusiasm for the night sky.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3078212 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3078212\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/tonight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Find More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1efeb03 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1efeb03\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85a8cb8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"85a8cb8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1127\" alt=\"join an astronomy club\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club.webp 1920w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/join-an-astronomy-club-1536x1024.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ec8afe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5ec8afe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-929ffbd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"929ffbd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8af8e09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8af8e09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What We Do<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3253a7 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"b3253a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Host regular telescope observation nights for the public<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Organize school visits and community events<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Offer educational lectures, workshops, and astrophotography sessions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Maintain an active membership with exclusive resources and benefits<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Support dark sky advocacy and space science literacy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2040baf elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2040baf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/ghaas.org\/Home\/donation\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Donate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About GHAAS \u2013 A Nonprofit Led by Amateur Astronomers The Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society Founded in 1977, the Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society (GHAAS) began with a small group [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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