The University Lowbrow Astronomers
Who Are We?
We are a diverse group of around 90 amateur astronomers, ranging from amateur telescope makers to professional
rocket scientists (really!). Some of us just like to read, while others like to get out and observe or photograph
the heavens. The bottom line is that we all have a more than casual interest in astronomy, and you do not
have to be a student or alumnus of the University of Michigan to join! Whether you are a novice or a seasoned
veteran, we hope that you will find us to be friendly, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. The University Lowbrow Astronomers are a non-profit, IRC 501(c)(7) organization.
Benefits
Your dues (see below) entitles you and your
immediate family (spouse and children) to the following benefits:
- Monthly newsletter. Eight pages full of late breaking astronomical
news, information, reports, and club business, delivered right to your door
(or at least your mailbox). Many articles are written by our own members
and some are available on this web site.
- Magazine subscription discounts. As a Lowbrow, you can receive Sky and Telescope magazine for $43.95 per year, and Astronomy magazine for $34.00 for one year, $60.00 for two years , or $83.00 for three. Subscribe to them both and you might save enough to cover your dues!
- Access to a 24 inch(!) telescope. The Lowbrows have access to the
University’s 24 inch McMath Cassegrain telescope on
Peach Mountain near Pinckney. See for yourself what REAL light
gathering power is! Also, if you own your own telescope, there is
room at the observatory site to set it up at one of the darkest sites in
the Ann Arbor area. The observatory is on North
Territorial Road, 1.1 miles west of the Dexter-Pinckney Road intersection.
- Private hotline. We have a private telephone hotline, for Lowbrows
only, by which you can obtain late breaking news, or to find out if anyone
is going out to the observatory on a given night.
- E-Mail list. All members have the option of being included in our
e-mail list. A variety of information is distributed in this way.
- The University Lowbrow Astronomers are a member of NASA’s Night Sky Network. More information is available here.
- The Lowbrow Library. This consists of a variety of astronomy books and DVDs as well as materials for the Night Sky Network.
- Unless otherwise indicated, monthly meetings are held on the third Friday of every month, at 7:30 pm. Besides club business, meetings always
feature a speaker and/or some kind of presentation. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings are held in Room G115 Angell Hall on the campus of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor [go here for a map].
(The July meetings are usually held on the campus of Eastern Michigan University). Per tradition, after each meeting we adjourn to the nearby Pizza House for
food and camaraderie. See the calendar of astronomy events for meeting topics.
- Public Open Houses at Peach Mountain are scheduled on a regular basis.
When it is clear, these are well attended by visitors, so you are encouraged
to help with these events, whether directing parking or foot traffic, or
providing a telescope for viewing. The Lowbrows are also involved
with a variety of other astronomy related events over the course of the
year. See the calendar of astronomy events.
- There also is a telescope making subgroup within the club, which meets
each month on the Sunday that follows the regular Friday meeting, at club
members’ homes. It is open to any member interested in telescope
making. Announcements for subgroup meetings are posted in the monthly
newsletter.
- In addition, there is a computer subgroup.
This subgroup discusses the varied applications of computers within astronomy.
Meeting times for the computer subgroup vary.
See the club photo album for a sample
of some Lowbrow activities.
Officers
President |
Charles Nielsen |
(734) 747-6585 |

|
President Emeritus |
Dr. Mark Vincent |
|
|
Vice Presidents |
Adrian Bradley |
(313) 354-5346 |
|
|
Jim Forrester |
(734)-663-1638 |
|
|
Dave Snyder |
|
|
|
Brian Ottum |
|
|
Treasurer |
Doug Scobel |
|
|
Newsletter Editor |
Amy Cantu |
|
|
Observatory Director |
Jack Brisbin |
(734) 455-7827 |
|
Observatory Director Emeritus
|
Percival Lowell (deceased) |
|
Webmaster |
Krishna Rao |
|
|
Online Coordinator |
Jeff Kopmanis |
The Observatory Committee
Jack Brisbin |
Ken Cook |
Jim Forrester |
Tom Ryan |
Kurt Hillig |
Yasuharu Inugi |
Mike Kurylo |
D C Moons |
Nathan Murphy |
Charlie Nielsen |
Mike Radwick |
|
Dave Snyder |
|
|
Annual dues are:
- $30.00 for individuals/families
- $20.00 for students (at least half-time) and individuals/families age 55 or older
- $5.00 if you live outside of Michigan's lower peninsula
To join online using PayPal then contact the club treasurer at 
To join by check via US mail then send your name, address, phone number(s), e-mail address, and dues check to
University Lowbrow Astronomers
1308 Gold Ct.
Traverse City MI 49696
Make your check payable to "University Lowbrow Astronomers".
Web Site
The University Lowbrow Astronomers maintain the web site you are now viewing which contains a variety of information.
Club members have contributed most of the material on this web site. The web server is provided by the University
of Michigan.
This site is regularly updated
(look at the calendar for recent
changes) and consists of several different sections:
- Open Houses—Information about open houses (where the public can look
through telescopes) and other astronomy events in Southeast Michigan.
- Links—Links to other astronomy web sites.
- Peach Mountain—Information about the facilities used by the lowbrow astronomers
(including a history of the various observatories operated by the University of Michigan from 1854 to the present).
- Pictures—Photographs and sketches made by Lowbrow Astronomers (many taken at Peach
Mountain).
- The Club (which includes this file)—Information about the club, its members and activities (this
includes a list of topics of past and upcoming club meetings).
- The Club Photo Album—Photographs of Lowbrows at various club activities.
- Club Newsletter—A collection of articles from our newsletter. These articles
are all written by club members and cover a variety of topics (including astronomy equipment, history and other
information).
- Book List—A list of astronomy books (from astronomy books for children to more advanced
books).
- Observer’s Guide—Information on
astronomy observing (includes an overview of what a beginner can
expect to see in the night sky and more advanced topics).
This and other information may be found on our home page or through the club
search engine.
For comments about this web site or to obtain more information about the
club, contact us.
The club operates under a set of by-laws. The current version of the
by-laws was approved at the April 2010 meeting.
View the current by-laws
In April 2010, the club approved the first amendment made since the
bylaws were approved by the membership in 2003. One amendment is to correct a wording problem. In the description of the Webmaster’s duties
the word “newsletter” is used in a place where it should be “website”. Obviously, the Webmaster deals with our website, and our Newsletter Editor with our
newsletter. The other proposed amendment is to raise the club spending limit without a general membership vote of approval, from $100 to $250. The reason
for this is because more than once club members have spent funds exceeding the limit due to time limitations. The money needed to be spent for a club
function or property before it was possible to bring it to the next available club meeting for vote.
University Lowbrow Astronomers Bylaws, Rev. 2, 3/3/03
Page 4, Article IV, Section B, 3, f, 2:
"General expenditures are the ongoing expenses incurred in the fulfillment of the duties of officers and the basic objectives of the Club" to be changed
to "General expenditures are the ongoing expenses incurred by the officers in the fulfillment of their duties and the basic objectives of the Club"
Page 4, Article IV, Section B, 3, f, 3:
Part of text "($100)" to be changed to "($250)".
After IV.B.f.3.c, add the sentence: "Special expenditures under $250.00 must be approved by a majority of the club officers, including either the President
and/or the Treasurer." This will become IV.B.f.3.d.
After the above sentence, add the sentence: "Since the Treasurer and the President have check signing authority, checks written to either party must
be written and signed by the other". This will become IV.B.f.3.e.
Page 5, Article IV, Section B, 6, a, 2:
"The contents of the newsletter should not be" to be changed to "The contents of the website should not be"
Links
Copyright Info
Copyright © 2018, the University Lowbrow Astronomers. (The University Lowbrow Astronomers are an amateur astronomy club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan).
This page revised Monday, August 29, 2022 2:59 PM.
This web server is provided by the University of Michigan;
the University of Michigan does not permit profit making activity
on this web server.
Do you have comments about this page or want more information about the club? Contact Us.