MC Observatory Live- More Presentations!

Need some inspiration to get outside and look at the stars? I've got you covered! Lets explore the summer sky together. I've scheduled a series of Webinars in June and July. Each one will focus on a particular constellation or area of the sky. I'll be sneaking in a few astronomy lessons too!

Schedule is below. Click on the title to reserve your place. :)

All presentations will begin at 7:30 PM EDT.

Fri 5-Jun-2020 : Boötes/Corona Borealis- Herdsman with a Sweet Tooth

Fri 26-Jun-2020 : Hercules- Strongman with a Star Cluster

Fri 17-Jul-2020 : Cygnus- Swan in a Triangle

About the presentations:

• Presentations are given live via Zoom Webinar. When you register you will be given a link for the event. You'll also receive a reminder email an hour before the presentation begins.
• You won't be on camera! Don't worry about what you look like :). This is a Webinar, so you will automatically enter with your mic muted and no video. That doesn't mean you can't participate, though! Chat will be open, as will the Q&A.
• I will talk for 20 to 30 minutes, and then will take questions. The entire event will last about 40 minutes max.

Can't wait to see what's up in the night sky? Please enjoy a current star map:

June/July 2020 Star map (pdf)

Want to start learning about Boötes? An information sheet is here.
Want to start learning about Hercules? An information sheet is here.
Want to start learning about Cygnus? An information sheet is here.

And here's a screen shot of our pilot webinar on Leo.

MC Observatory Live Lecture at home!

Need something fun to do next Friday night? If so, I'd love for you to join me for a virtual evening under the stars. Next Friday at 8 PM I'll be giving a live presentation (via Zoom) about the constellation Leo the lion.

You'll learn Leo's history and mythology as well as what exciting deep sky objects dwell within it's boundaries. Best of all, I'll show you how to find Leo in the night sky. The presentation will last about thirty minutes and there will be time for questions from YOU (yes, you!) at the end.

MC Observatory presents:
Leo the Lion
Live online via Zoom
Friday 15 May 2020 at 8:00 PM

Please register for the webinar HERE.

Can't wait to see what's up in the night sky? Please enjoy a current star map and some information on Leo:

May/June 2020 Star map (pdf)
Leo the Lion information sheet (pdf)

Observatory Status - Update

I'm posting to let you know that due to the COVID-19 situation:

All in-person events at Montgomery College are suspended until further notice, including all upcoming observatory nights.

This breaks my heart, but it's what needs to happen. We'll get back to gathering together under the stars once it's safe to do so.

In the meantime, I am working to schedule live public online astronomy lectures to take the place of the observatory nights, with time for you to participate and ask questions. (Hopefully I'll have some answers!) If there are any astronomy topics you would like me to present, please let me know. You can fill out the "Contact Form" on the bottom of the page, or send me an email. Once I get the technology and topics sorted, I will post dates and details right here.

I also have an April/May 2020 Star Map for you here: MCAO April/May Starmap.

I create these maps using the wonderful http://www.heavens-above.com/ website and Stellarium software. (Stellarium is a free planetarium software program. If you'd like to know what's up in the sky, I highly recommend it.)

Observatory Status

I'm stopping by to let you know the status of our observatory events. Yesterday Montgomery College announced that as a preventative measure against COVID-19, the college will be engaging in emergency remote learning until April 3. During this time, all of our classes will be delivered remotely and non-essential gatherings are to be cancelled or postponed.

As part of this cordon sanitaire,

I am cancelling the observatory events that are scheduled for Friday March 27th and Friday April 3rd.

If you've registered for these nights, you will also receive an email from Eventbrite about the cancellation. I'm hoping to keep the events after April 3rd on the calendar, but if the college deems it necessary to continue remote learning, that may change.

I am really sorry to have cancel these events. Getting to share the universe with the college and local community is truly one of my great joys. Sincere thanks for your continued interest in astronomy and our observatory. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email. I look forward to seeing you again at the observatory once this cloud has passed. Please take care.