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.