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Miami Valley Astronomical Society

Abbreviation	MVAS
Predecessor	Dayton Astronomical Society
Formation	1918 (1918)
Founded at	Dayton, Ohio
Type	NGO
Purpose	Public education in science Promoting amateur astronomy
Coordinates	39.788823°N 84.201794°W / 39.788823; -84.201794
Fields	Astronomy
Main organ	Amateur Astronomer
Website	mvas.org

The Miami Valley Astronomical Society (MAVS) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The stated purposes of MVAS are to promote public education in science, particularly astronomy, and to promote amateur astronomy. The society sponsors star gazes for the general public and volunteers teach astronomy and related subjects for schools, scout groups and others.

MVAS has a close relationship with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (formerly the Dayton Museum of Natural History). The museum and society jointly created the museum's astronomy program and raised funds to build the museum's planetarium. The museum provides space for MVAS meetings, a library and the Apollo Observatory.

History

MVAS traces its roots to the Dayton Astronomical Society (DAS), the first astronomical organization in the area. Edward Deeds was a founding member of the DAS when it was organized in 1918. Interest and membership in the DAS dwindled by the 1930s. The Dayton Amateur Telescope Makers was organized about 1935. The group met in members homes until the second world war broke out and the group stopped meeting.

After the war, the last president of the amateur telescope makers, Frank Sutter, was contacted by former members and others interested in astronomy. Sutter was teaching astronomy at the Dayton Public Library Museum (later the Dayton Museum of Natural History) and arranged for meetings to be held there.

Activities

Public outreach

MVAS

Equipment and facilities

Apollo Observatory

Main article: Apollo Observatory

The Apollo Observatory is located in the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. The observatory was built with grants from local

Junior Observatory

The Junior Observing and Training Station, usually just called the Junior Observatory, is adjacent to the Apollo Observatory.

John Bryan State Park Observatory

The John Byran State Park Observatory consists of several building and telescopes. MVAS leases an abandoned US Air Force satellite tracking facility from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources located in the John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, Ohio. Society members can use the observatory after completing a qualification procedure. The general public may visit the observatory during MVAS sponsored star gazes.