Guest and Members Night Saturday October 26 – 6:00 PM

You are invited to join us Saturday October  26 at 6:00 PM for our Guests and Members observing night at our observatory. ( See direction details  below )  Weather permitting, we will have several telescopes set up for you to enjoy the stars, galaxies, and other treasures of the night sky.  Some of our members will have telescope outside for viewing.  You will also have an opportunity to visit the telescope in our observatory dome. When approaching a telescope ask the owner if they are willing to share the views.

Parking is available on the lot in front of the large building to our east.  We are expecting a large group so car pool if practical.  Please refer to the driving directions at the end of this event posting.

Come enjoy a night under the stars in our darker rural skies.  Now that autumn is well under way, expect much cooler temperatures at our rural hilltop location.  A warmer jacket and perhaps a cap and gloves will be a welcome accessories as the evening progresses.  We have chairs in the classroom, or you can bring your own lawn chairs.  You may also like to bring a snack and something to drink.  Please keep children with your group.  Younger children may enjoy a quiet activity of their own.   Please leave pets at home since this is a dark area with with people walking around enjoying the telescopes. 

Please check our website for before heading out as events may have to cancelled due to clouds or other weather conditions.

Comet c/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS )  is still well placed for viewing.  Although no longer a naked eye object, at our dark sky site it is still visible in binoculars and telescopes.   The earth's tiny guest moon you may have read about is much too dim to be seen with our instruments.  

The Orion Meteor shower had its peak activity on Oct 21st but we may still be able see a few of them.  These meteors come from the famous comet Halley which will return to our skies again in 2062. 

In the early evening Venus and Mercury will be visible in the southwest.  Since Mercury orbits close to the sun you have to look for it during evening twilight.   Its maximum separation from the sun occurs on Nov. 16    Venus is rising higher each evening and will be our evening "star" throughout the winter and early spring.  Saturn is already well placed for viewing after sunset.   It is currently traveling through the water jar of the constellation Aquarius.  The Milky Way and the stars of summer are still visible in the western portion of the sky.  The constellations of  Andromeda, Pegasus, Cassiopeia and Perseus a well placed for viewing in the eastern sky. Hopefully Daylight Savings time will be ending Nov. 3rd and we will be able to start enjoying the stars an hour earlier in the evening.  

PLEASE NOTE: If adverse weather is nearby, we may cancel or close earlier.  

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR CHANGES DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS

 Our observing ground gates will open at 6:00 PM. Guests are asked to park on the lot at the large building next to our observing field.  Please try to arrive before 7:00 PM and drive carefully if arriving after dark.  

 So that we can better prepared for our guests we would a appreciate an RSVP.  You can use our CONTACT TAB option on the TOP of our website bar. Small family or friends’ groups are welcome, but we cannot accommodate large groups at this time. Children MUST be supervised. Quiet activities for restless kids are beneficial.
  
   GUESTS - Please RSVP using the CONTACT TAB at the top of our webpage.

Please give us the FIRST & LAST NAME of the primary person.
An EMAIL and contact PHONE number. - Number of - ___ Adults / ___ Children

   If you send an RSVP on Saturday you may not get a reply but you may come anyway.
 
 A DONATIONS box is available to help us with the expenses of the observatory.
Suggested Donation is $ 5 per adult, $ 2 Kids under 6 Free. – Cash is best way.
 

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