BACK BAY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS


"Bringing Astronomy to the People of Hampton Roads"

BACK BAY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS


"Bringing Astronomy to the People of Hampton Roads"

BACK BAY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS


"Bringing Astronomy to the People of Hampton Roads"

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Welcome to the BBAA website

We are a group of dedicated amateur astronomers drawn together by a common interest in astronomy. Our club was founded on December 14, 1978 by members dedicated to promoting amateur astronomy.

We invite you to come to our any of our free monthly events to take a look through our telescopes and learn more about the night sky.

The BBAA is an active member society of the Astronomical League, a part of the Night Sky Network, and a member of the Virginia Association of Astronomical Societies (VAAS). We are also active on social media. Please visit our social media pages on BBAA Yahoo Group, BBAA Facebook Group, BBAA Twitter page, BBAA Facebook page and Instagram to stay up to date with our club's latest activities.

Clear skies

BBAA Documents

Before attending the club member only observing sessions at Chippokes State Park or Cornland Park please download a copy of the permits.

Event Etiquette - What to do or not do around the telescopes.

Event Guidelines - How to have a successful event.

BBAA Toolkits from the NSN - Kits that NASA has sent us to help do outreach events. You can request a specific topic for us to cover.

Chippokes Permit

Observing at Chippokes State Park is a privilege that we club members have worked hard to maintain. It requires adherence to some rules outlined in our special use permit that we must obtain each year.

At least one individual must have a copy of the permit for the observing group. We have decided to place the permit online for BBAA members to download and printout their own copy.

Please protect our privilege to use Chippokes by following their rules. If you have any questions, please ask any of the other members and we can help you with any concerns you may have.

For more information about Nightwatch at Chippokes, please see our event information page.

To download the permit for this event, club members can click below and login to the Night Sky Network's website. After logging in club members should navigate to the event they want the permit for and it will be attached at bottom of the event's information page.

Chippokes State Park Permit

Cornland Permit

Corn Watch @ Cornland Park, Chesapeake, Va. is a BBAA's "observers only" session at Cornland Park, in Chesapeake.

This is where we can work with new members on using their equipment or just getting together. The session runs from dusk until dawn. Our night use of the park requires a permit and your BBAA Membership Card, in case your presence is questioned by law enforcement.

Please make sure you download a permit. As always, this is a city park and no alcohol is permitted. Please try to leave the are as you found it and remove all trash from your observing area.

NOTE: To turn off the new LED security light in the parking lot, go to the Firehouse, let them know you are with the BBAA, and ask them for the key to the switchbox. Unlock the box and leave the padlock unlocked, shut off light, and return the key to the firehouse. Please do not keep it with you. At the end of the night the last person there must turn the light on and then lock the box.

For more information about Cornwatch at Cornland Park, please see our event information page.

To download the permit for this event, club members can click below and login to the Night Sky Network's website. After logging in club members should navigate to the event they want the permit for and it will be attached at bottom of the event's information page.

Cornland Park Permit

Back Bay Observer Newsletter

Our club newsletter editor is: Richard Roberts.

editor -at backbayastro -dot org

The Observer welcomes any contributions (articles, pictures or both) from any club member on topics ranging from reports on observing, outreach events, observing trips, star parties, equipment reviews, do-it-yourself projects, news of member's achievements & honors, general interest astronomy/space articles, etc. So, if you have something you'd like to share, please send what you have to the email address above and our editor will work with you to get those items into the newsletter. Please note that our editors job is to make it easy for you to submit an article. So don't worry about grammar, article length, polishing up, etc. Just send it to them and they will work to make it great!

2019 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP --- --- DEC
2018 --- --- --- APR --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
2017 --- FEB --- APR MAY --- --- --- --- --- --- DEC
2016 JAN --- MAR APR --- --- --- AUG --- OCT --- ---
2015 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY --- JUL --- SEP --- NOV DEC
2014 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2013 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL --- SEP OCT NOV DEC
2012 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2011 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010 --- FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT --- DEC
2009 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2008 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2007 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2006 JAN FEB MAR --- --- JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Meeting - Minutes / Video / Audio

Currently our elected Secretary is Eddie Parris.

secretary -at backbayastro -dot org

Meetings that were recorded on video will have a camera icon 🎥 next to the month that links directly with the video online.

Meetings that were recorded using Zoom automatically generate an audio only 🎧 file. You can download this file and listen to it on your mobile device or in your browser.

NOTE (1): In 2019 the club officers decided to start broadcasting the club meetings on Facebook Live. Initially this was sporadic so there are some gaps in what videos are available. We switched to Zoom in 2020 due to its popularity at the time.

NOTE (2): Due to technically difficulties there is no audio or video available for this meeting.

2024 JAN
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2023 JAN
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2022 JAN
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2021 JAN  🎥 FEB  🎥 MAR  🎥 APR  🎥 MAY JUN  🎥 JUL AUG  🎥 SEP  🎥  🎧 OCT  🎥  🎧 NOV  🎥  🎧 DEC  🎥  🎧
2020 JAN FEB  🎥 MAR  🎥 --- MAY --- --- --- --- OCT --- DEC  🎥
2019 JAN FEB MAR APR  🎥 MAY --- JUL  🎥 AUG  🎥 --- OCT  🎥 NOV  🎥 DEC  🎥
2018 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2017 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG SEP OCT NOV
DECNo meeting minutes this month
2016 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG
SEPNo meeting minutes this month
OCT NOV DEC
2015 JAN FEB
MARNo meeting minutes this month
APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUGNo meeting minutes this month
SEP OCT NOV DEC
2014 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2013 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN --- --- --- --- --- ---
2012 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2011 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
JUNNo meeting minutes this month
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JULNo meeting minutes this month
AUG
SEPNo meeting minutes this month
OCTNo meeting minutes this month
NOV DEC