April / May Starmap

The latest starmap is here: MCAO April/ May Starmap.

Of particular interest in May is a rare transit of Mercury across the Sun the morning of Monday 9 May 2016. Earthsky.org has lots of good information about the event here.

What we saw Friday night / Leo constellation info

We had a beautiful clear sky for our first observatory night of the season. Here's what we observed:

Through the 14-inch scope

• Jupiter
• Waxing gibbous Moon
• Mizar (double star in Ursa Major)

Through the 8-inch scope

• M42 (Orion Nebula)
• Waxing gibbous Moon
• Jupiter

Binoculars

• Alcor and Mizar (double star in Ursa Major)
• M44 (Beehive cluster in Cancer)
• Waxing gibbous Moon

Jupiter is currently in the constellation Leo, the Lion. The information sheet on Leo from the observatory night can be accessed here.

Many thanks to Kim and Ryan for operating the 8-inch telescope and binoculars, respectively, and thanks also to the MC Stargazer club members. These events would not be possible without the time and talent of Montgomery College students.

The upcoming spring and summer events are full, but we've added a wait list to the Eventbrite ticket reservations. If you are on the wait list, you will be notified by email if a slot opens up.

Spring 2016 observatory event schedule is live!

We have dates for the Spring 2016 Observatory Guest Nights (yay!). Reservations can be made on the Eventbrite website.

Friday 15 April 2016 : 9 - 10 PM

Friday 6 May 2016 : 9 - 10 PM
Friday 20 May 2016 : 9 - 10 PM

Friday 3 June 2016 : 9 - 10 PM
Friday 17 June 2016 : 9 - 10 PM

Friday 1 July 2016 : 9 - 10 PM
Friday 15 July 2016 : 9 - 10 PM