On any given Friday or Saturday night, while most of America sleeps, there are hundreds, and likely several thousand amateur astronomers staying up to the wee hours, sometimes even to dawn, peering through their telescopes and binoculars at the moon, stars and planets.

A Griffin, Ga. based club, Flint River Astronomy Club (FRAC), has about 30 members ranging in age from those in their 20s to well past retirement age. The club was founded in 1997, and members and visitors meet on the second Thursday of each month at the University of Georgia Griffin campus, building 111, at 7:30 p.m.

After reports of the latest sightings and news on the latest gear, they usually have a program ranging in scope from the beginner to the advanced observer. Subjects may include how to clean delicate lenses, adjust mirrors, find Venus in the daytime or explain eclipses. People who have new telescopes sometimes bring their scope in to get help on using it or setting it up.

FRAC is a member of the Astronomical League (AL), a national organization with roughly 20,000 members. Through the AL, club members may earn lapel pins and certificates by observing such things as lunar features, clusters of stars, comets and double stars.

The club is also involved in presenting "public observings" in which the members take their scopes to requesting schools, Scout groups, churches or libraries to give many kids and adults their first view through a telescope. They have also taught short astronomy classes through a local college and recreation department.

FRAC has also held star parties each spring where as many as 80 people gather to view the night sky from a dark location, hear seminars, meet old friends and make new ones and vie for door prizes that often include new telescopes.

If you would like to attend a club meeting or need more information, visit their website at www.flintriverastronomy.org.

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