irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $18KLECTURE SERIES, CHILDREN'S FAIR, AND MONTHLY OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY EVENTS TO EXPAND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE UNIVERSE AND APPRECIATION OF ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES.
- #2 $11KOTHER EVENTS TO EXPAND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE UNIVERSE AND APPRECIATION OF ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Children's Space & Astronomy Fair (CSAF)
Educational event for children featuring hands-on astronomy activities and exhibits, drawing over 1,000 attendees
Haven Star Party & StarBQ (HSP)
Annual 8-9 day members-only star party in Sullivan County, NY, providing deep-sky observing, lectures, and social events under dark skies
Joy of the Universe (JOU)
Monthly public star parties at Anthony Wayne State Park from April through November, offering telescope viewing and astronomy education for all ages
Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF)
Annual spring event featuring lectures, workshops, and a large commercial exhibit floor for amateur astronomers and equipment vendors
RAC Lecture Series (RLS)
Quarterly educational lectures hosted by professors, researchers, and leading figures in astronomy and cosmology
activities · 1 group
What they do
-
Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 8 activities
- Conduct the Northeast Astro Imaging Conference (NEAIC)Hosts the annual two-day Northeast Astro Imaging Conference, a leading U.S. conference on astronomical imaging that brings together experts and amateurs for professional collaboration. The event includes 28 talks by 15 presenters, workshops, and networking for over 200 participants.
- Deliver public astronomy lectures and speaker seriesOperates a quarterly and bi-monthly public lecture series featuring professors, leading authorities, and renowned guest speakers on topics in astronomy and space science. Lectures are hosted in person at venues like Rockland Community College and made available online for broader public access.
- Host annual club social and fundraising eventsOrganizes annual social events including the RAC Annual Dinner in late winter and the StarBQ in late summer, which combine astronomy viewing with meals, local beer, raffles, and guest lectures to engage members and support club activities.
- Host public astronomy observing eventsConducts regular public stargazing events under the "Joy of the Universe" program at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area and other permitted dark sky locations including Lake Taghkanic and Lake Wawayanda State Parks, typically from April through November. These events include nighttime telescope viewing and solar observing during daylight hours.
- Host the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF)Organizes the annual Northeast Astronomy Forum, recognized as the largest astronomy and space expo in the United States, held at Rockland Community College. The event features over 120 exhibitors, lectures, workshops, solar observing, planetarium shows, children's activities, and attracts more than 4,000 attendees.
- Organize annual star parties and multi-day astronomy gatheringsHosts several multi-day star parties annually, including the 9-day Haven Star Party & StarBQ in the Catskills for members, the 10-day Summer Star Party in Massachusetts, and other extended observing events featuring telescopic viewing, educational lectures, family-friendly activities, and on-site camping at designated dark sky sites.
- Organize astronomy expeditions and excursionsPlans and conducts astronomy-focused travel expeditions to international destinations for major celestial events such as total solar eclipses and comet sightings, including past trips to Australia, Hawaii, and Mexico, with planned activities for future events like the 2024 total solar eclipse.
- Organize children's astronomy education eventsHosts the annual Children's Space & Astronomy Fair (CSAF) at NEAF, a free event for children featuring hands-on activities such as live planetarium shows, robotics, space crafts, solar viewing, and opportunities to meet NASA astronauts and astronomers, drawing over 1,000 attendees.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$195K
Contributions & grants$5K2%
Program service revenue$190K98%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$201K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$56K
Cash$35K
Investments$0
Liabilities$46K
Net assets$10K
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -17.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- AL NAGLER — OFFICER
- ED SIEMENN — OFFICER
- MIES HORA — TREASURER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- American Museum of Natural History Partner — Collaborates with speakers from the American Museum of Natural History for public lectures.
- Anthony Wayne Recreation Area Partner — Hosts RAC's Joy of the Universe public observing events.
- Astronomical League Network — Member organization participating in a national network of astronomy clubs.
- CUNY Graduate Center Partner — Engages with the CUNY Graduate Center by featuring faculty affiliated with its Astrophysics program as guest speakers.
- CUNY LaGuardia Community College Partner — Collaborates with faculty from CUNY LaGuardia Community College by inviting them as guest speakers.
- Catskill Brewery Partner — Supplies beer for the StarBQ event at the Haven Star Party.
- Catskill Brewery Partner — Supplies fresh IPA for the HSP StarBQ event.
- Columbia University Partner — Engages faculty from Columbia University as guest speakers for public astronomy lectures.
- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands Partner — Features astrophysicists from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands in NEAF Talks.
- Lake Taghkanic State Park Partner — Hosts RAC dark sky observing events with a permit.
- Lake Wawayanda State Park Partner — Hosts RAC dark sky observing events with a permit.
- Lowell Observatory Partner — Hosts astronomers from Lowell Observatory for NEAF Talks.
- MIT Partner — Includes researchers and faculty from MIT in NEAF Talks.
- NASA Partner — Features NASA scientists, mission managers, and directors in NEAF Talks.
- NEAF Expo Partner — Collaborates on event access by providing a 2-day pass to NEAF 2026 as part of NEAIC registration.
- Northeast Astronomical Society Funder — NAS is RAC’s fundraising entity, created to build an endowment for the Club’s educational outreach activities and events, including NEAF.
- Northeast Astronomy Forum Network — ROCKLAND ASTRONOMY CLUB organizes and hosts the Northeast Astronomy Forum as its primary public event.
- Northern Jersey Astronomical Club Partner — Co-sponsors the Starlight Symposium Program (SSP) with RAC.
- Palisades Interstate Parks Commission Partner — Cooperates with the Rockland Astronomy Club to host monthly public star parties at Anthony Wayne State Park.
- Rockland Community College Partner — Hosts RCC Lectures in partnership with RAC.
- Rockland Community College Partner — Hosts public lectures at Rockland Community College.
- Rockland County Legislature Government — Awarded the 'Pride of Rockland Award' to the Children's Space & Astronomy Fair.
- SUNY Rockland Community College Partner — Host venue for the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) event.
- Sky & Telescope Partner — Features coverage of RAC events such as the Summer Star Party.
- Sky & Telescope Partner — Sponsors the Summer Star Party and hosts live sky tours and lectures by its editorial and technical experts.
- Sky & Telescope Magazine Partner — Includes senior editorial staff from Sky & Telescope Magazine in NEAF Talks.
- Southwest Research Institute Partner — Features scientists affiliated with Southwest Research Institute in NEAF Talks.
- Tele Vue Partner — Proudly sponsors the Haven Star Party & StarBQ and provides vendor demonstrations at the event.
- Tele Vue Partner — Sponsors the star party and provides equipment for demonstration on site.
- United Launch Alliance Partner — Includes advanced programs manager from United Launch Alliance in NEAF Talks.
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Dark Sky Access as an Enabling Infrastructuremethodology: dark_sky_preservationBy securing and optimizing access to remote, high-elevation dark sky sites with specialized infrastructure like red lighting and clean power, the club enhances observational and imaging outcomes, because superior environmental conditions enable deeper engagement with advanced astronomy and astrophotography.
- Expert-Enhanced Public Astronomy Educationmethodology: expert-engagementBy featuring leading experts in astronomy and hosting in-depth scientific lectures, the club advances public understanding of complex topics like galactic evolution, because access to cutting-edge research increases credibility and stimulates deeper engagement with the science.
- Immersive, Integrated Astronomy Experience Modelmethodology: integrated_stem_artBy combining education, observation, exhibition, and social elements into a single event environment, the club creates immersive experiences that increase accessibility and engagement, because integrating science with art, adventure, and community activities stimulates curiosity and lowers barriers to participation.
- Passion-Driven Volunteer and Member Engagementmethodology: passion-driven_volunteer_engagementBy leveraging enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers and offering free access and equipment-sharing opportunities, the club fosters inclusive, lifelong participation in astronomy, because shared passion and low barriers to entry increase member retention and broaden community involvement.