Members Observing Night Friday May 3, 2024 - 7:45 PM

Members Only Observing Night 

Friday May  3, 2024   Gates Open at 7:45 PM 

    See link to a direction map below   

NOTE: Due to recent heavy rains, the MOSTLY PAVED ROUTE link below may be a better path.  

We try to reserve Observatory nights nearest the New Moon for our CURRENT MEMBERS ONLY. You can bring along family or a friend if they want to observe with you.  This allows our members to work on their various observing projects, do some astrophotography, share ideas and help each other with their goals. The gates will open at 7:45 PM.     

The rural evening temperatures are often cooler than in town. So, a light jacket may be useful.  Warmer weather also has invigorated our insect “friends”.    Please apply insect repellents away from the telescope areas.  Also, it is not recommended to lay on the ground even with a blanket.  We have chairs in the classroom, or you can bring your own lawn chairs.

Be sure to check our website for weather cancellations before heading out.  

Sunset is 8:13 PM so we will be looking for the first stars to become visible about 8:40 PM.  The Spring Constellations of Leo, Virgo and Ursa Major offer many galaxies accessible to mid-sized telescopes.  This would be a great time to work on your Messier Observing Certificate or another observation program. 

Diligent observers should look for 9^th magnitude comet 13P/Olbers in Taurus.  This comet will continue to be a nice evening target as it brightens to around 7.5 Mag in July.

Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower   

Members of this shower are visible from late April through mid-May.  This year they are predicted to peak in the predawn hours of May 6^th but can be seen for several days before and after.   These meteors are part of the Comet Halley debris stream which encounter our atmosphere at a screaming rate of 145,000 mph.  Comet 1P/ Halley was closest to the Sun ( perihelion ) in 1986.  It is now at the furthest end of its orbit ( aphelion ) beyond Neptune  35.3 AUs away.  It will soon journey inward bound again for its September 2062 perihelion. 

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR CHANGES DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS     

As a member you may bring family members or a friend that wants to observe with you but not large groups. Please keep minor family members within your observing area with a supervising adult.

 To develop your observing skills, you may want to consider trying to earn one of the over 40 well designed observing certificates from the Astronomical League. Check out some of their Observing Programs

 If you are not currently a member you may try one of our RSVP guest nights or you can easily join. Simply go to the JOIN section on our website. Submit the forms online or mail in your membership dues. Click here to Join our Club 

Location

ACT OBSERVATORY directions -  Follow our map directions  DO NOT USE GPS

MOSTLY PAVED ROADS – Hwy 75 to 201st St S – through Mounds OK

Most DIRECT ROUTE – Hwy 75 to 241st St S – some coarse gravel & dirt roads