James Paulson took this photo last weekend during the Southern Alberta Star Party in Elkwater. (Photo Courtesy James Paulson)

By Chris Brown

Medicine Hat Astronomy Club wants to grow membership to an out-of-this-world level

Sep 22, 2023 | 2:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A starry night awaits you at the Medicine Hat Astronomy Club’s Sunridge Observatory just west of the city when the club hosts its annual membership drive.

Secretary-treasurer James Paulson says membership has grown in the past year and the club would like to get its numbers even closer to the stars.

“We’ll have a really interesting presentation on astronomy, the membership that we’re offering offers a pretty good value, especially for families,” he explains. “It comes with a course, a six-week course that we’ll be teaching as well as an opportunity to have a key to the facility, orientation to using the telescope and just joining in on all the events that our club pursues throughout the year.”

Admission on Saturday costs $10, which will be deducted from your membership fee if you choose to join. The event starts at 7 p.m

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Paulson says he’s been starstruck for 53 years, first getting interested during the days of the Apollo space program.

The Medicine Hat Astronomy Club continues to change and improve its programming too, like the new Southern Alberta Star Party at Elkwater last weekend.

Paulson says about 80 people from across Western Canada gathered at Whispering Pines Camp at Elkwater.

“Five nights under the stars in one of the darkest spots you can imagine. Lots of photography taking place, lots of video, lots of opportunities for the kids at a whole science-astronomy event,” he says.

Paulson says the hobby of astronomy is bigger than life and is constantly changing and now is the time to get into it.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, you can contact the club through its Facebook page for more information.

by Chris Brown

Medicine Hat Astronomy Club wants to grow membership to an out-of-this-world level

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