LINKS, the Westminster Astronomical Society, Inc.

Telescopes and Accessories

Local Maryland Vendors

Company 7 —Maryland-based telescope showroom (plus additional links)
Hands-on-Optics— "Biggest" Showroom of telescopes and accessories in the local area.

Internet Vendors

Astronomics — telescope reseller
Celestron International— telescope manufacturer (most types)
Coulter Optical (Murniaghan Instruments)— telescope manufacturer (Dobsonian)
Edmund Scientific —Telescopes & lots more
Meade International— telescope manufacturer (most types)
Obsession Telescopes — Makers of Huge Dobs
Orion Telescope & Binocular Center — Telescopes,binoculars,and accessories
Tele Vue — refractors and eyepieces

CCD cameras & electronics

Apogee Instruments
Cryocam
Santa Barbara Instuments Group — SBIG

Books, References and Software

Books

Willmann-Bell Inc. — wide selection of printed astronomical material
Cambridge University Press

References

Astronomy Magazine
Sky Publishing Corp. — Publishers of Sky & Telescope Magazine
Harvard University's Ephemerides of Comets— Import current ephemerides of comets and other close objects.

Software

MegaStar —Windows-only electronic sky atlas
Software Bisque— Astronomical Software, CCD programs, and more...

Light Pollution

Fatal Light Awareness Program — "FLAP", Light Pollution's effects on the bird population
International Dark Sky Association—The number one source on light pollution.
Light Pollution Awareness Website

Cool Kids Sites

Nine Planets— Learn about the Nine Planets
Exploratorium
NASA's Spaceplace

Maryland Area Astronomy

Astronomy Clubs

Baltimore Astronomical Society
Cumberland Astronomy Club
Goddard Astronomy Club
Greenbelt Astronomy Club
Harford County Astronomical Society
Howard Astronomical League of Centeral Maryland.
National Capital Astronomers (Washington, DC)
Southern Maryland Astronomical Society

Institutions

Applied Physics Laboratory— Laurel (Johns Hopkins University)
Davis Planetarium (Maryland Science Center)
Space Telescope Science Institute — they operate the Hubble telescope
IOTA— International Occultation & Timing Association

Observatories

Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory— (Maryland Science Center)
University of Maryland Campus Observatory Open House

News Columns and journals

Astronomical Society of the Atlantic— Electronic Journal
Star Points (Monthly column in Carroll County Times newspaper)

Earth and Space Weather

Earth Weather

Accuweather —Get your local weather from the same of your local weatherman.
Clear Sky Clock— Great for planning observing sessions, gives accurate forecasts for sky clarity.
Intellicast—the source for weather servicing Time Warner, CNN, NBC, the FAA...
www.weather.com— The Official website of The Weather Channel
The National Weather Service— The starting point for official government weather forecasts, warnings...

Space Weather

Spaceweather.com — get up-to-date activity on Solar Activity
Geophysical Institute, Alaska — Gives up-to-date auroral predictions.

Educational Resources

Things to Know

Telescope Etiquette— Important rules while attending at Star Party.
Star Party Checklist— A list of what to bring and what not bring.
Public Outreach— Westminster Astronomical Society, Inc. will come to your institution and provide a star party.
Monthly Star Charts— These star charts will show you where to find exo-planetary systems (Other stars with planets orbiting them).

Lesson Plans

Coming Soon!