Mar
21
7:00 PM19:00

March Astronomy Night

Venus and mighty Jupiter will be the first planets visible soon after sunset. Venus will be low in the west and Uranus will be visible once it gets dark enough between Jupiter and a slender crescent moon in the West. Jupiter's Galilean moons (Io,Ganymede and Callisto will be joined by Europa which will pop into view from behind Jupiter at 10:45PM. Evening objects include the fabulous Orion Nebula, the Double Cluster in Perseus, the beautiful double star Gamma Andromedae, the Beehive star cluster in Cancer, and the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus. All make for interesting objects to observe.

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Apr
18
7:45 PM19:45

April Astronomy Night

The planets Jupiter and Venus will be visible shortly after sunset. Jupiter's four Gallilean moons will all be visible, with Io & Europa closely approaching each other (from our line of sight) at around 8:35PM. The Orion Nebula will still be visible in the southwest. Double stars Cor Caroli and Gamma Leonis will be visible. An amazing red supergiant carbon star called La Superba will be visible. Wonderful globular cluster M3 will also be visible. The Beehive, an open cluster in Cancer, will be observable as well as the M104 (the Sombrero Galaxy) in Virgo and M51 (the Whirlpool Galaxy) in Canes Venatici . Amazing open clusters M46 and M47 in Puppis will also be observable. Planetary nebulae, like the Ghost of Jupiter (NGC3242) and the Cats Eye Nebula (NGC6543) will be visible. These are exploded star remnants.

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May
16
8:15 PM20:15

May Astronomy Night

The planets Jupiter and Venus are visible soon after sunset. Io, Jupiter's innermost moon will be transiting during the early evening. Io's eclipse shadow can be observed moving across Jupiter's cloud tops from 8:30-10:30PM. Other objects to view incklude the globular cluster M5 (a giant sphere of stars), La Superba (a red, super giant star), M13 (Hercules Cluster) and M92 also globular star clusters and among the ones most easily visible in the northern hemisphere. NGC4563 the Cat's Eye Nebula will be excellent as will The Ring Nebula after 10:00pm. Both of these are beautiful remnants of sunlike stars which have died and blown off glorious shells of gas. We might also target galaxies such as M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy and M104 The Sombrero Galaxy.

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Jun
20
8:36 PM20:36

June Astronomy Night

Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will be closely spaced and provide a good opportunity to glimpse illusive Mercury which will be visible for a short while after sunset in the SW. The waxing crescent moon will be an interesting target. Evening objects include the ghostly M57 (Ring Nebula), the remnants of a burned out, sunlike star,  beautiful blue & gold double star Albireo and many other double stars will be visible.  Fantastic globular clusters such as M13 (The Hercules Cluster) and M92 will grace the sky. Red Supergiant star La Superba and the amazing M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy will be visible. Nice open clusters NGC6819 (The Foxhead Cluster) and M71 (The Anglefish Cluster) will also grace the sky. 18 Scorpii, a near twin to the sun, will also be visible. This star is 45 lightyears away and shines at a barely visible magnitude 5.5, but is a nice object for the telescope. Realize the Sun would look this way to inhabitants of planets around this star in Scorpius.

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Jul
18
8:29 PM20:29

July Astronomy Night

The crescent Moon and Venus will be good for early viewing. Once it gets dark enough, we will target the Garnet Star, a very red, super giant star and Gamma Delphini (a double star) and M4 (the Crab Globular Cluster) in Scorpius. M16 (the Eagle Nebula), M17 (the Swan Nebula), M20 (the Trifid Nebula), and M22 (the Sagittarius Cluster) will be among the featured objects along with many other objects, weather permitting.

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Aug
15
7:58 PM19:58

August Astronomy Night

The crescent Moon and Venus will be early evening planetary targets. Saturn and Neptune rise after 10:00PM. Other objects are M11 (Wild Duck Cluster, a wonderful open cluster), M13 (Hercules Cluster), M22 (Sagittarius Cluster), a very large globular cluster, Beta Scorpii (double star), the Garnet Star, one of the reddest known stars, M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula) and M52 (the Cassiopeia Salt-and-Pepper Cluster will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Sep
19
7:01 PM19:01

September Astronomy Night

Venus will present a waning crescent shortly after sunset. Mercury may be visible, but will be very low to the horizon and be difficult to spot. The planets Saturn and Neptune will put on a nice show once the sky darkens sufficiently, followed by Uranus after 11:00. The Moon will be an excellent target this evening. Look for the Straight Wall, a huge seismic fault line visible only a day or two each month. Two asteroids are visible this evening after 10:00: Vesta and Pallas. M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Swan Nebula), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), Erakis (The Garnet Star) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Oct
17
6:15 PM18:15

October Astronomy Night

This will be a great evening to observe the planets Saturn, Neptune and later Uranus once it gets high enough above the horizon. Mercury will be a difficult target very low in the southwest immediatley after sunset. Saturn, near opposition, will be an awesome sight with beautiful rings and 5 or 6 moons (Titan, Dione, Tethys, Rhea, Enceladus and with a little luck Mimas) all positioned nearby this great ringed planetary wonder. The rings will be tilted nicely for viewing. The asteroids Vesta and Pallas are visible below Saturn. Other objects include beautiful double stars Albireo and Eta Cassiopeiae, the Double Cluster in Cassiopeia and NGC457 (ET Cluster), along with M15 (Pegasus Cluster) and NGC40 (the Bow Tie Nebula) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Nov
21
4:34 PM16:34

November Astronomy Night

The planet Saturn will be in an ideal position this evening. It should be possible to glimpse 5 or more of Saturn's moons this evening. The moons of Saturn will be strung out in alignment with the rings. Neptune is close by Saturn. Uranus is near opposition and will be visible all evening long. Jupiter & Mars rise together around 11:30 and will be a fine object shortly thereafter. Double stars, open clusters, NGC253 (Sculptor Galaxy), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M2 (globular cluster in Aquarius) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Sep
20
6:59 PM18:59

September Astronomy Night

The planets Saturn and Neptune will put on a nice show once the sky darkens sufficiently, followed by Uranus after 10:00. M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Swan Nebula), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), Erakis (The Garnet Star) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Sep
19
7:00 PM19:00

Girl Scouts Space Science Event

  • Whispering Pines Event Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

PAC Astronomy with the Geneseo Girl Scouts for their Space Science Event.

The planets Saturn and Neptune will put on a nice show once the sky darkens sufficiently, followed by Uranus after 10:00. M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Swan Nebula), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), Erakis (The Garnet Star) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Sep
12
6:00 PM18:00

Cancelled - Loud Thunder Boy Scout Observatory Event

  • Loud Thunder Boy Scout Camp (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Meet at the Boy Scout Observatory.

The planets Saturn and Neptune will put on a nice show once the sky darkens sufficiently, followed by Uranus after 10:00. M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Swan Nebula), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), Erakis (The Garnet Star) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Apr
19
7:45 PM19:45

April Astronomy Night

The planets Jupiter and Mars will be visible in the SouthWest shortly after sunset. Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) will approach and transit mighty Jupiter at around 9:30. At approx. 9:58, Io (another of Jupiter's moons) will begin to pass from Jupiter's shaddow and into the sunlight. It only takes a little more than 3 minutes for Io to move into the sunlight and becomee fully illuminated. The Orion Nebula will still be visible in the southwest. Double stars Cor Caroli and Gamma Leonis will be visible. An amazing red supergiant carbon star called La Superba will be visible. Wonderful globular cluster M3 will also be visible. The Beehive, an open cluster in Cancer, will be observable as well as the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus and amazing open clusters M46 and M47 in Puppis. Planetary nebulae, like the Ghost of Jupiter (NGC3242) and the Cats Eye Nebula (NGC6543) will be visible. These are exploded star remnants.

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Aug
17
7:30 PM19:30

August Astronomy Night

Sunset at 7:52 pm. Objects such M11 (Wild Duck Cluster, a wonderful open cluster), M22 (Sagittarius Cluster), a very large globular cluster, Beta Scorpii (double star) along with the Lagoon, Swan and Trifid nebulas which will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Jul
20
8:30 PM20:30

July Astronomy Night

Sunset at 8:32 pm. Once it gets dark enough, we will target the Garnet Star, a very red, super giant star and Gamma Delphini (a double star) and M51 (the Whirlpool Galaxy), a colliding pair of galaxies. These will be among the featured objects along with many other open clusters and globular clusters, weather permitting.

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Jun
15
8:30 PM20:30

June Astronomy Night

Sunset at 8:35 pm. The ghostly M57 (Ring Nebula), the remnants of a burned out, sunlike star,  beautiful blue & gold double star Albireo and many other double stars will be visible.  Fantastic globular clusters such as M13 (The Hercules Cluster) and M92 will grace the sky. Red Supergiant star La Superba and the amazing M104 Sombrerro Galaxy will be visible. The Cat’s Eye Nebula, another exploded star, will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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May
18
8:00 PM20:00

May Astronomy Night

Sunset at 8:18 pm. Objects to view will start with are the globular cluster M5 (a giant sphere of stars), La Superba (a red, super giant star), M13 (Hercules Cluster) also another globular but among the ones most easily visible in the northern hemisphere. M104 (The Sombrero Galaxy) will be excellent as will The Ghost of Jupiter, remnants of a super nova explosion along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Nov
18
4:00 PM16:00

November Astronomy Night

Sunset at 4:37 pm. The crescent Moon will make for an amazing sight at sunset, afterwhich the planets will again dominate the evening sky. As soon as it gets dark enough, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus all put on a great show. Jupiter's moons (Io, Europa Ganymede and Callisto) are all in a line and nicely visible. Double stars, open clusters, NGC253 (Sculptor Galaxy), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M2 (globular cluster in Aquarius) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Oct
21
6:00 PM18:00

October Astronomy Night

Sunset at 6:11 pm. This will be a great evening to observe the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus. Of particular interest will be a transit of Jupiter by Io which will begin at 7:30 and continue to 9:30, during which Io's eclipse shaddow should be visible in our telescopes. Saturn will also be an awesome sight with beautiful rings and 5 moons (Titan, Dione, Tethys, Enceladus and Rhea) strung out in a beautiful line. The first quarter Moon will also be an excellent object. Other objects include Eta Cassiopeiae (double star), NGC457 (ET Cluster), along with M15 (Pegasus Cluster) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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Sep
23
7:30 PM19:30

September Astronomy Night

Moved to Sept 23 because of rain on the 16th.

Sunset at 7:08 pm. Venus is a nice morning object, appearing as a 25% illuminated crescent. The planets Saturn and Neptune will put on a nice show once the sky darkens sufficiently, followed by Jupiter at 10:00 and Uranus shortly thereafter. M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Swan Nebula), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), Erakis (The Garnet Star) will be among the featured objects along with many other beautiful objects that should be visible weather permitting.

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