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 Store

Purchase Items

If you would like to join the BBAA, we have two options available for you to request membership. Those options are using PayPal on the fields available below or the US Postal Service. PayPal offers you the online payment security as well as providing instant notification that your membership request has been received. You do not have to have a PayPal account to use this option as the PayPal system also takes credit cards while providing security for you. To use PayPal for your membership payments, please select the desired options below and simply follow the instructions provided. To use the US Postal Service option follow this link.

Join the BBAA or renew your membership

  • Regular Membership ($23 per year):

    • All other immediate family members of the household are considered as Associate Members but cannot vote or hold office in the BBAA nor can they participate in Astronomical League (AL) Programs without becoming an AL member as an Associate Member. See Associate Member information below.

  • Associate Membership

      • With membership in the Astronomical League ($5 per year)

      • Limited to: (1) Those who have not graduated high school AND are under the age of 18 without an adult family member joined as a Regular Member

        • OR

      • (2) An immediate family member, regardless of age, of a Regular Member in good standing. Participation in the AL Programs is permitted with this membership.

    • Without membership in the Astronomical League (FREE)

      • Limited to: (1) Those who have not graduated high school AND are under the age of 18 without an adult family member joined as a Regular Member

        • OR

      • (2) An immediate family member, regardless of age, of a Regular Member in good standing. These members may participate in all club functions but can not vote or hold office.
      • NOTE: If you meet criteria (1) please send an email requesting your Associate Membership to treasurer (at) backbayastro (dot) org. Please include the following information in your email: Name, Address, Email, Phone, Date of Birth, Parent information.

The Back Bay Observer Newsletter

*** UPDATE *** Please disregard the YES or NO option for the club newsletter. In the past we offered the option to receive the Newsletter through the mail. We have decided to discontinue that option due to the disinterest by the majority of the club.

Personal Information Privacy Statement

Please provide all requested information. This information is not shared with the BBAA membership and is used only by the BBAA officers if they must contact you

Membership Options
Membership Status
Name
Mail Address
Email Address
Phone
Birthdate * Only if under the age of 18
Receive Newsletter

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LINKS TO THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE BELOW ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ITEM BUT NOT TO PURCHASE THE ITEMS. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR ORDERS THROUGH THIS WEBSITE USING THE FORM BELOW.

Look through the pictures below to see the apparel items offered by the BBAA. You may click on each items picture to go to the manufacturer's website for more information about color choices, sizes available, and other details about the items. Once you know what you want you fill out the details below and pay through PayPal on this site.

The club submits orders on a quarterly to semi-annual basis based on interest. If you are interested in ordering an item send an email to info (at) backbayastro (dot) org to inquire about when the clubs next order will be placed.

Port Authority Men's Legacy Jacket. J764 Port Authority Men's Legacy Jacket. J764

Port Authority Ladies Legacy Jacket. L764 Port Authority Ladies Legacy Jacket. L764

Port Authority Heavyweight Cotton Pique Polo. K420 Port Authority Heavyweight Cotton Pique Polo. K420

Gildan - Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt. 18500 Gildan - Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt. 18500

Gildan Performance T-Shirt. 42000 Gildan Performance T-Shirt. 42000

Port & Company - Pigment-Dyed Cap. CP84 Port & Company - Pigment-Dyed Cap. CP84

BBAA Apparel Information

All apparel items on this page are offered by Cavalier Sportswear which is a local company in Hampton Roads. This is the same company that we've ordered our polo shirts and ball caps from in the past.

APPAREL DETAILS

  • Each shirt below will have the clubs logo on the left chest area with the club name and motto on the back.
  • The polo shirt and jacket will only have the club logo on the left chest area.
  • The cap will have the club logo embroidered on the front.

PAYMENT DETAILS

There are two options to pay for the apparel. You can use the PayPal option or you may give one of the club officer's the cash. Please be aware that due to past issues all cash orders will NOT be submitted to Cavalier Sportswear until payment has been made to a club officer. Thank you for your understanding.

To purchase an item using PayPal please follow these steps:

  • Click on the photo of the item you are interested in. That will open a link to the Company Casuals website where you can see what sizes and colors are available for each item.
  • Now on the BBAA store page select the item you would like and specify the color and the size if applicable. Please fill in the other requested data to ensure delivery.
  • When finished click on the "Add to Cart" button. You will be able to select the quantity on the PayPal site before purchase.
  • If you want to order additional items then repeat the above steps for that item and click on the "Add to Cart" button and PayPal will track the multiple items for you.
Personal Information Privacy Statement

Please provide all requested information. This information is not shared with the BBAA membership and is used only by the BBAA officers if they must contact you. The personal information asked for when ordering the apparel will only be used to ensure delivery of the items that you have purchased.

Clothing Item
Sizes
Name
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone
Color
Additional Comments

Our solar-eclipse glasses have been manufactured by American Paper Optics and will provide eclipse safety for viewing all solar eclipses. Eclipse glasses, and eclipse viewers, block out 100% of harmful ultra-violet rays, 100% of infrared, and 99.999% of intense visible light, protecting your eyes and letting you view these spectacular natural phenomena. The eclipse shades include instructions printed directly on the frames to remind users to wear them during all portions of the eclipse. These safe solar eclipse glasses are independently tested, and CE certified and are essential for safe viewing of Sun. You can view the certificates for American Paper Optics here: Eclipse Glasses Safety Info.

The BBAA is selling our eclipse glasses for $1 each.

The BBAA doesn't normally ship any items. If you require us to ship the eclipse glasses to you please note that after looking at various options it appears that shipping will cost at least $10 extra. Since shipping is so expensive we suggest picking up in person and if that isn't option then getting enough solar glasses to justify the cost.

BBAA Solar Eclipse Glasses

Click photo for a higher resolution image

BBAA Solar Eclipse Glasses Information

    The BBAA used American Paper Optics for our manufacture of solar eclipse glasses for two reasons:
  • They are one of the manufactures recommended by American Astronomical Society that have been verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for such products.
  • APO is an industry leader in the manufacture of solar eclipse glasses making over 40 million for the 2017 eclipse alone

Please provide all requested information. This information is not shared with the BBAA membership and is used only by the BBAA officers if they must contact you. The personal information asked for when ordering the apparel will only be used to ensure delivery of the items that you have purchased.

Eclipse Glasses and Shipping
Name
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone

Donate to the BBAA Outreach Fund

The BBAA performs many outreach events every year with Schools, Scouts, City, and State organizations. In order to provide support to the organizations that make requests we must satisfy various operation needs such as websites, training events, club equipment, and other needs related to our outreach operations. Donations to our Outreach Fund allows us to train new members, purchase or manufacture observing equipment, cover our events with insurance, and other logistic requirements. Without donations our outreach events would be limited.

Donate to the BBAA Scholarship Fund

The BBAA has established a scholarship program to offer financial assistance to graduating high school students who have demonstrated an avid interest in astronomy. The scholarship award is normally awarded in the spring in the form of a check payable to the college or university listed on the recipient's scholarship application, or to such other college or university designated by the recipient to which the recipient has been accepted. Please donate to a worthy cause.

Members Event/Services Payments

Members Event/Services Payments

This option is for club members to pay for various club events or services (Training, workshops, educational trips...) when requested to do so. This option is not to be used unless you have received instruction to make a payment for events/services.