RAC Press Releases
Dates Announced for 2015 Northeast Astronomy Forum and Space Expo (NEAF)

World’s Largest Astronomy, Space and Telescope Event for 24 Years Being Held April 18-19 in Suffern, NY

Suffern, New York, March 6, 2015 – Rockland Astronomy Club, Inc. (RAC), a non-profit astronomy education and outreach organization, announced the dates for it’s well-known astronomy, space, and telescope show, the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF). The annual event, in it’s 24th year, is being held on April 18-19, 2015 at SUNY Rockland Community College (RCC) in Suffern, New York, 35 miles north of Manhattan. Show Hours are Saturday 8:30-6 pm, and Sunday 10-6 pm.

Attended by thousands of enthusiasts and a general public audience of all ages, NEAF features internationally renowned guest speakers as well as America’s largest telescope exhibitor floor. There are more than 120 vendors from around the globe, astronomy workshops, Pro/Am conferences, planetarium shows, book signings, beginner’s classes, daily solar observing, and an astro-imaging gallery.

This year’s featured guest speakers include:
Marc Rayman, Mission Director/Chief Scientist for the   NASA/JPL Dawn mission to Vesta & Ceres;
Bill Gerstenmaier, Director of NASA’s Human Space   Flight Program;
Alan Hirshfeld, U of Mass, Author of Parallax and   Starlight Detectives;
Peter Saulson, Spokesperson for LIGO gravity wave   detection project;
Matt Penn, Chief telescope scientist, Kitt Peak   McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope;
Stephen Ramsden & Ben Jenkins, Charlie Bates Solar   Astronomy Project,
Christopher Go, Astro Imager
• And many more.

The 90,000 sq. ft. showroom is filled with the latest astronomy and optical gear, telescopes of all types and sizes, binoculars, mounts, accessories of every kind, books, toys, and meteors. There are valuable hourly door prize giveaways, amazing raffle prizes, children’s science programs and entertainment including a gyroball ‘anti-gravity’ ride, big bouncy castle, and much more.

Tickets can be purchased at the door both on Saturday and Sunday, or in advance online at: RocklandAstronomy.com/NEAF
Attendees may come for one or both days.

The Rockland Astronomy Club, Inc. (RAC), founded in 1958, is one of the East Coast’s premiere astronomy clubs and non-profit astronomy education organizations. In addition to NEAF, the club hosts a prominent astro-imaging conference, many lectures, workshops, star parties, planetarium shows, children’s programs, and other science and astronomy events.

RAC events include the Northeast Astro Imaging Conference (NEAIC), the Summer Star Party (SSP), the Children’s Space & Astronomy Fair (CSAF), monthly Joy of the Universe (JOU) public observing events, and bi-monthly public lectures on a wide variety of astronomy topics.

For further information about NEAF and the club,
please visit the RAC web site: rocklandastronomy.com