Welcome to the Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference!

The Cedar Amateur Astronomers warmly invite you to join us in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in May 2026 for an unforgettable celebration of astronomy and science. Nestled in the heart of Eastern Iowa, Cedar Rapids offers beautiful spring scenery and a welcoming
community—making it the perfect setting for this year’s conference. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer, an educator, a student, or simply curious about the cosmos, you’ll find something inspiring at our event.

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A Conference for Everyone

​The Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference (EICC) is an umbrella for three primary events.

 

Track 1, the main event, is the 2026 annual conference of the North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL). It features:

• a fun and exciting night of pre-conference activities and an equipment swap meet at the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center (EIOLC) on the evening of Friday, May 15,

• the annual NCRAL Business Meeting, a full day of advanced presentations by distinguished speakers, educational exhibits, an optional banquet dinner, the post-banquet keynote address, an astrophotography contest, awards ceremonies, and networking opportunities on Saturday, May 16, and

• the opportunity to participate in four optional tours of astronomy-related attractions on Sunday, May 17.

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Track 2, running in parallel with Track 1’s afternoon activities on Saturday May 16, is designed for educators, students of all ages, families, and community members seeking hands-on activities, demonstrations, and short talks appropriate for the wide age range.
Track 2 will be conducted with the assistance of up to six NASA Solar System Ambassadors as well as additional volunteers and will also include:

• a portable planetarium experience,

• displays of telescopes and other astronomy-related equipment,

• the ability to observe the launching of a weather balloon,

• the ability for participants to purchase banquet tickets and attend the conference post-banquet keynote address, and

• the opportunity to participate in four optional tours of astronomy-related attractions on Sunday, May 17.

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The third event under the umbrella of the Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference is a totally free public lecture by a renowned Harlow Shapley Lecturer made possible through a program offered by the American Astronomical Association. The presentation will be offered in parallel with Track 1 morning events on Saturday, May 16. The presentation will be appropriate for all age levels, ensuring everyone has a chance to experience the excitement of astronomy.

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Registration Information

All Saturday events will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Cedar Rapids. As noted above, the pre-conference activities for Track 1 participants will be held at the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center on Friday evening and the optional tours of area astronomy-related sites will be held at various locations in Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, and Iowa City on Sunday. Additional information on all of these activities can be found elsewhere on this conference website.

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Registration and payment for Tracks 1 and 2 is required. The purchase of banquet tickets by Track 1 and Track 2 registrants is optional. Track 1 and Track 2 registrants can purchase multiple banquet tickets so that family members or friends that wish to attend the banquet and post-banquet keynote address are able to do so. Registration for Tracks 1 and 2, the banquet and post-banquet address, and the optional Sunday tours can be made through this conference website, and both on-line and mail-in registration and payment options are available. There is an early-bird discounted rate available for Track 1 participants, but everyone wishing to attend Track 1 or Track 2 is encouraged to register early to avoid running into event capacity limits. The costs for registration for both Track 1 and Track 2 can be accessed by clicking on the Conf Registration link at the top of each website page. You may view these costs without actually registering.

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A limited number of discounted hotel rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton (the official conference venue) are available. Reservations for these hotel rooms must be made through a hotel-provided website specifically set up for the Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference. The link for the dedicated hotel reservation website is not yet available, but will be provided on this EICC conference website as soon as it is available. Everyone wishing to reserve one or more rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton are also encouraged to register early to avoid running into capacity limits. The Useful Links portion of this EICC website will also provide links to other hotels in and near Cedar Rapids for those
who wish to stay elsewhere for any reason.

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Registration options are simple and secure, although you may still have some confusion because of the a la carte registrations options. Information is included in the FAQ section of this EICC website to help clarify any questions you may have. You may also address any questions to conference organizers using the email address: EICC@cedar-astronomers.org.

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All personal information provided during the registration process will be kept confidential and used solely for purposes of conference  administration.

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As noted previously, no advance registration or payment of any kind is required to attend the free Harlow Shapley Lecturer presentation on the morning of Saturday, May 16. If you plan to attend this event, try to arrive a bit early as space may be limited.​

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Additional Opportunities to Support the Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference.

 

As a non-profit organization, CAA relies on the generosity of sponsors and donors to make this event possible. We invite individuals and  organizations to support the conference through sponsorships, donations, or provision of door prizes. Please use the Donate button in the yellow oval below if you wish to make a monetary donation.