Wednesday, July 10, 2019

August schedule available!

Observatory nights for August 2019 are below:

Friday 2-Aug-2019 : 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Friday 16-Aug-2019 : 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Friday 30-Aug-2019 : 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Events are free, but because of occupancy limitations on the roof, we require guests to make reservations via Eventbrite.

Reservations can be made here:
https://mcobservatory-summer2019.eventbrite.com.


Events will be cancelled for bad weather. I will make the call as soon as I am able, usually about 2 hours prior to the event start time. An announcement will be sent to the email address you registered with Eventbrite and I will post the status on this website.


About the Guest Nights:

During Observatory Guest Nights we use Montgomery College telescopes to view and learn about visible solar system objects, star clusters, and nebulae. We also spend some time looking at the sky with just our eyes in order to locate constellations and planets that can be seen this time of the year.

You'll leave with a star chart and the ability to find celestial objects on your own.
Astronomy faculty will be on hand to answer questions about the universe.

Some things to note:

  • Dress for the weather. The observatory is located outside on the roof of the Science Center.
  • We meet in Science Center room 406 (SC406). We go up to the roof as a group. If you're late, there will be a staff member or student in SC406 to escort you upstairs.
  • Children are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend, although campus policy prohibits children younger than five years of age on the roof.
  • Parking is free.

I want to continue to improve the observatory nights. If you have suggestions or comments, please let me know.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Save the date(s) for events in August!

Thanks to everyone for your patience as I work out the observatory night schedule for the summer and fall months. We will host events in August (as well as in September and October, I promise!). Events in August will be held on Friday 2-Aug-2019, 16-Aug-2019, and 30-Aug-2019, starting around 9 pm. I will open up reservations on Eventbrite as soon as I get the go-ahead from the college.

In the meantime, you can click here to access a handy star chart and calendar of celestial events for July and August.

Also, I am super excited to be speaking at this event for the Smithsonian:

Astronomy 101: An Amateur's Guide
Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 10 am to 3 pm

I'll be giving the first talk- "The Basics: How To Read the Sky". There will also be talks on telescopes and astrophotography. More information can be found here.

Finally, I've been working on a couple of astronomy / observatory projects that I am eager to share. I'll be posting here again soon!

Wishing you clear skies and exceptional seeing,
-Carrie