Members Observing Night Friday February 9, 2024 - 5:30 PM

Members Only Observing Night 

Friday February  9, 2024   Gates Open at 5:30 PM 

    See link to a direction map below   

We try to reserve Observatory nights nearest the New Moon for our CURRENT MEMBERS ONLY. You can bring along family or a friend if they want to observe with you.  This allows our members to work on their various observing projects, do some astrophotography, share ideas and help each other with their goals. The gates will open at 5:30 PM.     

If Friday's session is cancelled due to weather, we may try to be open on Saturday if weather conditions improve.   Check our website for updates.

Winter is still going strong !  Clear evenings usually accompany a sharp drop in temperature.   Our rural site temperatures drop quickly after sunset. Bring a warm coat, cap, gloves and wear warm shoes.  Be sure to bring along something to drink as well as an energy snack. Our observatory classroom provides a refugee to warm up a bit during the evening.   It is not recommended for you to sit on lay on the grass, there are chairs in the observatory classroom.

Jupiter and its moons are still well place for observing.  Sadly, Saturn is low on the SW horizon.  Soon to slip behind the sun on Feb 28.   Eight of the 20 brightest stars shine brightly in the winter sky. The constellations of Auriga, Taurus, Gemini, and Orion are easily visible along with more challenging patterns of Canis Major, Canis Minor, Eridanus and Lepus. Among the  deep sky treasures is popular  the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades.  Search out star clusters  such as M35, 36, 37, 38  and the elusive M 1 supernova remnant.  Other M object clusters include M 41, 46, 47, 50 and 93.  See if you can observe and sketch all twelve in one evening. 

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR CHANGES DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS    If the Friday session is cancelled due to weather, we will try again on Saturday evening.

Check Website to confirm

As a member you may bring family members or a friend that wants to observe with you but not large groups. Please keep minor family members within your observing area with a supervising adult.

 To develop your observing skills, you may want to consider trying to earn one of the over 40 well designed observing certificates from the Astronomical League. Check out some of their Observing Programs

 If you are not currently a member you may try one of our RSVP guest nights or you can easily join. Simply go to the JOIN section on our website. Submit the forms online or mail in your membership dues. Click here to Join our Club If you like you may can print off your application or image it as proof of your new membership but we will welcome you without it.
 

Location

ACT OBSERVATORY directions -  Follow our map directions  DO NOT USE GPS

MOSTLY PAVED ROADS – Hwy 75 to 201st St S – through Mounds OK

Most DIRECT ROUTE – Hwy 75 to 241st St S – some coarse gravel & dirt roads