Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs

Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs GLAAC was founded to make it easier for amateur astronomy clubs to collaborate on big events.

The Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs is an organization dedicated to communicating astronomy with the public. It was formed with the purpose of making it easier for our clubs to work together and do more. Our biggest collaborative event is Astronomy at the Beach, held every September in SE Michigan.

As the association behind Astronomy at the Beach, we love seeing kids get hands-on with science — like finding out their...
09/10/2026

As the association behind Astronomy at the Beach, we love seeing kids get hands-on with science — like finding out their weight on the Moon at our "Planetary Scale" table. It's a small activity, but it's exactly the kind of moment that hooks a future astronomer.

Two nights, Sept. 18 & 19 — AATB is Michigan's largest free astronomy event, hosted by clubs from across the state. While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win the grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope from Dwarflab, with proceeds supporting the event.

Thinking about getting your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off: https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Everything you need to know — schedule, location, raffle details — is at https://www.glaac.org.

Photo credit: Amy Cantu, captured at a past AATB — a preview of what's waiting for your family this year.

Kids (and kids-at-heart!) — Astronomy at the Beach isn't just telescopes. This year Jeff MacLeod brings back his wild cu...
09/10/2026

Kids (and kids-at-heart!) — Astronomy at the Beach isn't just telescopes. This year Jeff MacLeod brings back his wild custom-built Gemini rocket simulator, a full mission console built right into a truck bed, and the Michigan Science Center returns with their hands-on "How to Make a Comet" demo. Hungry? Civil Air Patrol Unit 437 will have pizza, drinks, and snacks available for purchase all weekend.

Mark your calendars: Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park. Entry is free — it's Michigan's largest free astronomy event, and no registration is needed.

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840g, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab. Proceeds help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full event details: https://www.glaac.org

As the umbrella group behind Astronomy at the Beach, we love seeing what actually happens once the sun starts going down...
09/09/2026

As the umbrella group behind Astronomy at the Beach, we love seeing what actually happens once the sun starts going down: camp chairs circle up, telescopes come out, and total strangers end up trading stories about the sky. It's a genuinely welcoming scene for families — kids get to ask "what's that?" as many times as they want, and someone always has an answer.

Mark your calendars for Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake Recreation Area for AATB 2026 — Michigan's largest free astronomy event, hosted by GLAAC's member clubs. While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, automatic tracking mount, built-in astronomical camera), generously sponsored by Dwarflab. Proceeds from raffle ticket sales help fund the event.

Can't wait until September? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off your own DWARF mini at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and raffle details: https://www.glaac.org

Photo: Amy Cantu, from a past Astronomy at the Beach.

Ever wonder what you could win at Astronomy at the Beach this year? The raffle grand prize is a DWARF mini Smart Telesco...
09/09/2026

Ever wonder what you could win at Astronomy at the Beach this year? The raffle grand prize is a DWARF mini Smart Telescope, sponsored by Dwarflab — a pocket-sized powerhouse. At just 840 grams, it packs a precision astronomical camera, an automatic tracking mount, and an intelligent control system that does the heavy lifting of finding and following targets for you.

Pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win one — proceeds help fund AATB, Michigan's largest free astronomy event, happening Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park. Entry is free, no registration needed.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full event details and raffle info: https://www.glaac.org

Every year at Astronomy at the Beach, our member clubs set up tables under the tent - Warren Astronomical Society, Unive...
09/08/2026

Every year at Astronomy at the Beach, our member clubs set up tables under the tent - Warren Astronomical Society, University Lowbrow Astronomers, and more - so families can meet real astronomers, ask questions, and pick up resources built with curious kids in mind. It's one of the most low-key, welcoming corners of the whole event. (Photo: Amy Cantu, from a previous AATB - a good preview of what the tent looks like.)

This year's event runs Sept. 18 & 19 - Michigan's largest free astronomy event, free entry, no registration required.

Pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab - every ticket sold helps fund AATB.

Thinking about getting your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off: https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full details: https://www.glaac.org

Mark your calendars: Astronomy at the Beach is Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park — Michigan's largest FREE astrono...
09/08/2026

Mark your calendars: Astronomy at the Beach is Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park — Michigan's largest FREE astronomy event, celebrating its 30th year! Friday and Saturday nights we're honored to host keynote speaker Dr. Dale Partin, who teaches astronomy at Macomb Community College, presenting "Life in the Universe." It's a fitting pairing with this year's theme, Artemis II: Returning to the Moon, marking NASA's historic April 2026 mission that sent four astronauts around the Moon and set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.

While you're there, pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope, sponsored by Dwarflab — just 840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system. Proceeds help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule and details: https://www.glaac.org

Every summer, volunteer astronomers converge on the field like this — hauling in scopes, leveling tripods, watching the ...
09/07/2026

Every summer, volunteer astronomers converge on the field like this — hauling in scopes, leveling tripods, watching the sky put on a show overhead — hours before Astronomy at the Beach opens to the public. Photo: Amy Cantu, from a past AATB. If you're bringing kids, that pre-opening window is one of the best times to arrive: volunteers are still setting up and love fielding questions from curious young visitors before the evening crowd arrives. AATB returns Sept. 18 & 19 to Island Lake Recreation Area — Michigan's largest free astronomy event. While you're there, grab a raffle ticket for a chance to win our grand prize: a DWARF mini Smart Telescope (840 grams, with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system), sponsored by Dwarflab. Every ticket purchased helps fund the event. Considering a DWARF mini for yourself? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC. Full event details: https://www.glaac.org

Mark your calendars: Astronomy at the Beach turns 30 this year! Join us Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park for Mich...
09/07/2026

Mark your calendars: Astronomy at the Beach turns 30 this year! Join us Sept. 18 & 19 at Island Lake State Park for Michigan's largest free astronomy event — entry is free, no registration needed. Here's a look at the energy of a past AATB (photo: Doug Bock) — a packed field of telescopes, keynote talks, hands-on demos, and family activities all weekend long.

This year's raffle grand prize is a DWARF mini Smart Telescope — a compact 840-gram smart scope with a precision astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent control system, generously sponsored by Dwarflab. Pick up a raffle ticket at the event for a chance to win — proceeds help fund AATB.

Shopping for your own DWARF mini? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off at https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full details, schedule, and more at https://www.glaac.org. See you under the stars!

GLAAC member clubs, this is the scene you'll be building on Sept. 18 & 19: telescopes shoulder to shoulder down the fiel...
09/06/2026

GLAAC member clubs, this is the scene you'll be building on Sept. 18 & 19: telescopes shoulder to shoulder down the field, and every one of them open to anyone who walks up and asks for a look.

Astronomy at the Beach is Michigan's largest free astronomy event, hosted at Island Lake Recreation Area, and it's designed with families in mind. Kids are welcome to walk the whole row, meet the astronomers running each setup, and look through a dozen different telescopes in a single evening.

This year's raffle grand prize is a DWARF mini Smart Telescope, provided by Dwarflab: an 840-gram smart scope with a built-in astronomical camera, automatic tracking mount, and intelligent controls. Tickets go on sale at the event, and every dollar helps fund AATB, so pick one up for a chance to win.

Already sold on the DWARF mini for yourself? Use code GLAAC at checkout for 5% off: https://checkout.dwarflab.com/discount/GLAAC.

Full schedule, directions, and raffle details: https://www.glaac.org.

Photo: Amy Cantu, from a past AATB telescope field

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Brighton, MI
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