Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton, Inc.
About Us
AAAP is an astronomy club based in Princeton New Jersey. Our mission is to provide opportunities for members and the public to enhance understanding and appreciation of the universe including cosmology, astrophysics, planetary astronomy, astrobiology, space flight, telescope optics and astrophotography, and other emerging fields.
Our monthly meetings convene at Peyton Hall, home of the world-renowned Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences. AAAP is grateful for the privilege of holding our regular meetings and guest lecture series on the second Tuesday of the month at Peyton Hall. Presentations by Princeton faculty and other professional astronomers are part of our club's heritage. We revel in the atmosphere provided by this center of excellence in astronomy and astrophysics.
The AAAP owns and operates the AAAP Simpson Observatory in historic Washington Crossing State Park in Hopewell Township, Mercer County NJ. The location provides a beautiful natural forest setting under relatively dark skies, surrounded by over 1500 acres of preserved forest in the State Park and adjacent Baldpate Mountain and Fiddlers Creek preserves maintained by Mercer County and Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space. The AAAP observatory houses state of the art robotic mounts supporting a Celestron-14 reflector telescope, a 5" Explore Scientific apochromatic refractor, the historic 6.25" Hastings refractor, and a Takahashi Mewlon-250. Both eyepiece and CMOS/CCD camera astronomical observing using these instruments is available to members year round, as well as to the public on Friday nights (winter months excepted). Members also bring personal telescopes to set up on the grounds next to the Observatory in the Park.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION is found on our website and requires $40 annual dues.