About the Yakima Valley Astronomy Club
About the Club
In 2021, two local astronomy enthusiasts joined forced to start a new astronomy club, right here in the Yakima Valley. We hold events about once a month usually involving getting outside and looking at the night sky.
Learn what we’re doing next on our events page.
Memberships are free. Learn more about how to Become a Member.
If you have any questions about the club, email Sam at: maxamew@gmail.com
Meet the Founders
Zach Schierl is a lifelong astronomy enthusiast who received his first telescope (a 4.5" reflector) as a 10th birthday present. After stumbling across the rings of Saturn, he was hooked. Zach moved to Yakima in 2019 to teach astronomy and geology at Yakima Valley College. Zach is excited to be a part of the YVAC and hopes to grow interest and enthusiasm for astronomy, night sky photography, and dark sky stewardship in the Yakima Valley.
Sam Knox has been fascinated with space exploration and space science from a young age. He remembers watching space shuttle launches and the amazing journey of the Voyager probes through the outer solar system. He bought his first telescope at age 14 (earning money by painting fences) and has been hooked ever since. After living many years in cloudy Seattle, he re-located to the Yakima valley in 2017. Sam is always excited to share discovery of the night sky and to teach others about outer space.