Since 1918 the MVAS has been the face of amateur astronomy in the Miami Valley dedicated to educating the public about science of astronomy and fostering the growth of amateur astronomy and fellowship. To that end, the non-profit MVAS, annually engages thousands of individuals through its monthly meetings, stargazes, and outreach programs. The Society also operates the John Bryan Observatory (JBO) located at John Bryan State Park.
Becoming a Member
MVAS accepts members throughout the year and has four available memberships: Individual, Family, Junior, and Student. Please visit our How to Join page for more information.
If you choose to become a member later in the year, please keep in mind that our renewal period for members is between January and March.
Upcoming Events
Members’ Night
Our next monthly members-only get-together is Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Please see the email newsletter for location and other details.
Public Stargazes
Our next public stargaze will be Saturday, July 11 at the John Bryan State Park Day Lodge at sunset.
General Meeting
Our next General Meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 12, starting at 7:00 PM at the VFW Post #3283, 5074 Nebraska Ave. in Huber Heights. These meetings usually include 30-45 minutes of business and discussions, followed by a brief social period and a 30 to 45-minute main program.
The agenda for the evening includes:
- Steve Hildenbrandt’s Constellations of the Month, Crater and Sextans
- Astrophoto Show & Tell
- A 45-minute program, Observational Signatures of the First Stars in the James Webb Space Telescope Era, presented by Dr. Visbal
Program Description:
The first stars in the universe, called Population III stars, formed from pristine gas left over from the Big Bang and helped bring an end to the cosmic “dark ages.” Despite their importance, these stars have never been definitively observed. A central goal is to understand their properties and develop robust ways to identify them observationally. In this talk, Dr. Visbal will describe how astronomers think the first stars formed and why they are so challenging to detect. He will highlight recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, including a distant, gravitationally-lensed object and how these first stars enriched the universe, leaving behind chemical fingerprints that can still be observed today.
About Dr. Visbal
Dr. Eli Visbal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Toledo. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University. He then held postdoctoral appointments at Columbia University and the Flatiron Institute in New York City before joining UT. His research is in theoretical astrophysics, where he uses analytical calculations and large-scale computer simulations to study how the first stars and supermassive black holes formed in the early universe. He is originally from Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Note: The VFW has a long driveway and sits behind the American Legion Post 200 on Nebraska Avenue. Please turn into the driveway with the VFW sign and follow back to the VFW building. If you use Google Maps (or similar software) to guide you to the VFW, make sure that the directions include turning onto Nebraska Ave. Do not park on Bellefontaine Rd. or Leeper St. and walk across private property to reach the VFW.
Please visit our Upcoming Events page to view our complete Google Calendar for the year!