15-16 June 2024
– Juxtaposition of the Moon with the Bright Star Spica
Illustration courtesy of
SKY & TELESCOPE
18-20 June 2024
– The Moon Visits the Bright Star Antares
Illustration courtesy of
SKY & TELESCOPE
Upcoming Public Star Gazes
Image credit: club member Jerry Sherman – taken at Grassland Mtn. Obs.
Continue to check this home page as weather could change the venue or postpone and possibly cancel a star gaze. Check again after 5:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the observing session for the latest info and update.
28 June 2024 — Friday night — This public star gaze will be held at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County, with a weather backup night of Saturday, 29 June. This event is free and open to everyone — registration is not necessary to attend. A temporary gate code, required for entry, will be provided here on the day of the star gaze by 5:00 p.m. Directions to Grassland Mountain Observatory can be found here. These star gazes normally conclude about 3 hours after sunset, and visitors are not permitted to stay past the conclusion time. Sunset occurs at 8:49 p.m.
5 July 2024 — Friday night — The location for this star gaze will be Lookout Observatory on the UNC Asheville campus, with a weather backup date of Saturday, 6 July. While the event is free and open to everyone, pre-registration is required to attend. To learn more about how to register, please visit the UNCA Lookout Observatory website here. Sunset occurs at 8:49 p.m., with shuttle service beginning about 9:30 p.m.
26 July 2024 — Friday night — This public star gaze will be held at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County, with a weather backup night of Saturday, 27 July. This event is free and open to everyone — registration is not necessary to attend. A temporary gate code, required for entry, will be provided here on the day of the star gaze by 5:00 p.m. Directions to Grassland Mountain Observatory can be found here. These star gazes normally conclude about 3 hours after sunset, and visitors are not permitted to stay past the conclusion time. Sunset occurs at 8:38 p.m.
Next Club Meeting/Speaker Presentation
There is no club meeting or speaker presentation in July, but check back here in late June for a posting with more details about the August 1st club meeting and speaker presentation. The August speaker will be Craig Gralley who will talk about his book “PARI: An Untold History of Spacemen and Spies”.