Star Points for April 2009 by Curtis Roelle Amateur Astronomers: The Next Generation The number of amateur astronomers in Carroll County is on the rise. This month we will look at some new astronomy clubs organized and operated by high school students who share an enthusiasm for amateur astronomy. When I moved to Carroll County, the only other "Sky and Telescope" magazine subscriber in the city of Westminster was the county library. In the intervening years the number of local citizens with an interest in astronomy has grown considerably. This year the Westminster Astronomical Society, Inc. (WASI) is celebrating its silver anniversary. WASI has served its members and the general public for more than a generation through its monthly meetings and special programs, including public star parties and the operation of the planetarium at the Bear Branch Nature Center. The newest clubs have sprouted in local high schools. They are the brainchildren of motivated high school students who have been guided and encouraged to pursue their vision by nurturing faculty members. The first high school club was formed at Westminster High School (WHS) in 2006. The club was organized by its current president, WHS student Tony Gaetani. Tony is grateful for the support provided by the school, and quickly points to Rob Chapleski in his role as faculty sponsor. According to its web site, "The Astronomy Club is open to all students interested in discussions and investigations in Astronomy." Tony reports that the club's membership currently stands at 15. He also says that the club is presently focused on an "attempt to build our own telescope." Francis Scott Key High School (FSK) has a brand new astronomy club founded by its current president, Michael Miller. After toiling for a year, Mike was pleased when the FSK astronomy club was approved by the school's administration in the final week of classes last year. Rather than building their own telescope, the FSK club has taken a different approach to obtaining a telescope. In just two fundraisers they raised $700 for the purchase of a new telescope, a reflector with a 10-inch diameter mirror. Last month I attended a "first light" event for the new FSK telescope. There I met the group's faculty advisor, physics teacher Heather Kelleher. According to Mike it was she who suggested that he start an astronomy club at the school. Under the supervision of several experienced WASI members, about a dozen boys and girls worked together assembling the telescope, and then enjoyed using it to view Venus, Saturn, and other, more distant objects in the night sky. They also impressively devoured a stack of pizzas delivered during the star party. A third county high school with an active astronomy club is Century High School. Gary Fuhrman is the faculty advisor for the club, whose purpose is "To promote a deeper understanding of the science of astronomy at Century High School." Forming these clubs has been a challenging and rewarding experience for those involved. Mike expresses a sense of accomplishment and enjoys pursuing his astronomy passion and meeting people with similar interests. For Tony, the best part has been sharing with others the "excitement as we talk about astronomy during the club meetings." Like star clusters bursting with young, white-hot stars, these clubs are birthplaces for deep thoughts springing from young minds eager to understand the cosmos. Like others their age, these high school students enjoy meeting friends, eating pizza, and listening to music. In addition, they also possess a sense of awareness about the universe beyond the school.