Welcome!

ICAstro was formed in September 2006. We are a group of astronomy enthusiasts who meet monthly to discuss current topics in space science and spend time observing together. All are welcome at our meetings and to join the crew. We have no dues/officers/bylaws and our only requirement is the ability to look up and say "Wow!" This website will keep you up to date on the latest astronomy happenings in Southwest Wisconsin and meeting times/places/agenda.  

We have an email list that we use for announcements and discussion. If you would like to join, visit our Google Group page and click on the join button.

For more information, contact John Heasley.

QLFARC is at 3625 State Hwy 23 North (formerly Thym’s just north and across the hwy from our old location at the main
QLF bldg and just south and across the hwy from the Don Q airplane).

We like to set aside time for people to socialize and to catch up with one another before we get down to astronomy.

News/equipment/events (15-20 minutes)

This is a time to share general astronomy items before we focus on our theme for the month.

• Club Calendar

Theme: Growing Food on Mars (45 minutes)

Eva Birtell of UW-Platteville will be sharing her exciting research with NASA designing a controlled ecosystem to provide future Martians with healthy and tasty meals.

ICA members were wowed by her presentation at last summer's WI Space Conference.

• Our club was founded in 2006 as an "unclub": no dues, no bylaws, no officers.  Somehow it all works.
  
• We like to have a theme for each meeting with club members and invited guests sharing informal presentations.  Please stay with the theme for this part of the meeting.  We cover other astronomical topics during the first part of the meeting.  Is there a presentation you would like to share?  A member you would like to encourage?
• Agenda will be emailed a week before the meeting and a reminder the day before.  Website and FB will be updated the best we can.
• If the meeting needs to be postponed because of weather, you'll get an email by Friday morning.
• You are invited to join our Facebook Group. Our google group emails will remain our main way to communicate club news and events.
• We like to gather for dinner before the meeting generally at restaurants where people can arrive and leave at various times (China One, Culvers, Duke's, Pizza the Hut, Red Room, Dino's).  It's easier on the club and restaurant if you RSVP.
• We try to keep our members happy and healthy.  If you have a cold or fly, please join us when you feel better.  Please avoids strong scents and perfumes.  Kindly move downwind when applying bug spray.
• It's our tradition at meetings to keep business to a minimum, to enjoy the company of one another rather than technology, to share space, to welcome new members, and to take the lead when we propose a new idea.
• "There are no passengers on Spaceship ICAstro.  We're all crew."
  

2020 Meetings (typically the Friday before New Moon)

Check the current agenda for our observing location. Links to maps for each site are below.  Park sticker required for the three sites at Governor Dodge.

Bethel Horizons - Twin Valley - Meadow Valley Trailhead -  Cox Amphitheater -

Need Help with your Telescope?

We often hear from people who own a telescope and don't know how to use it. If you'd like to learn how to use a telescope, bring your telescope to any of our meetings--we've got lots of experienced people who would be glad to help! 

Quick links

Clear Outside - Forecast of sky conditions

Heavens-Above - Predictions for the ISS and other satellites

SpaceWeatherLive- Forecast for northern lights.  We need a KP above 5 to see aurora.

AstroGadgets - John Wunderlin's very useful desktop program

The Sky This Week - Weekly astronomy column by David Oesper

UW-Space Place - Space Museum in Madison. Regular presentations and guests.

Universe in the Park - UW Astronomy programs and stargazing in WI State Parks

Ed Ting's Guide to buying a telescope