Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

Your Bridge to the Stars

Sunday, September 27, 2015, Supermoon, Lunar Eclipse Wagman Star Party and Mingo Star Party

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On Sunday night the  27th enjoy the total eclipse of this year’s Super Moon also known as a Blood Moon at AAAP’s Observatories. The event is free (donations greatly appreciated) and open to the public. The Mingo Planetarium presentations will occur regardless of weather, however, outdoor eclipse observation at Mingo Observatory and Wagman Observatory is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.
The eclipse timeline (all times EDT):
Partial Eclipse begins: Sep 27 at 9:07 PM
Full Eclipse begins: Sep 27 at 10:11 PM
Maximum Eclipse: Sep 27 at 10:47 PM
Full Eclipse ends: Sep 27 at 11:23 PM
Partial Eclipse ends: Sep 28 at 12:27 AM The event is free and open to the public. The Mingo Planetarium presentations will occur regardless of weather, however, outdoor eclipse observation at Mingo Observatory and Wagman Observatory is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.

 

Mingo Observatory

7:30 PM Start time Mingo Observatory, 1 Shelter 10 Road Finleyville, PA 15332 ~ 724-348-6150 ~ Latitude 40.211 degrees Longitude -80.020 degrees  Phone 724-348-6150

Route 88 Construction Between Patterson Road and Ginger Hill Road: Route 88 south of Finleyville is getting some retaining wall work just north of Ginger Hill Road where lot of folks turn off of Route 88 to get to Mingo Observatory if they are coming from the north on Route 88 and planning to turn onto Ginger Hill Road. According to Penn DOT Route 88 (Finleyville Road) will be closed between Route 1087 (Ginger Hill Road) and Patterson Road beginning Monday, September 21 and will not reopen until late-October. Please plan your trip to allow for the closed section of Route 88. Ginger Hill Road runs between the ridge road, Rte. 136 and Route 88. The railroad trestle and Rte. 43 cross Rte. 88 at this intersection. Patterson Road Runs from Rt. 88 to Finleyville-Elrama Road.  Finley-Elrama Road meets the River Road.  Ginger Hill Road meets Route 88 to the south where of Patterson Road meets Rte. 88. Coming form the south on Route 88 folks will still be able to turn at Ginger Hill Road and proceed to Mingo as usual.  However, travelers coming from the north on Route 88 will be detoured at Patterson Road before they reach Ginger Hill Road. Please check back for suggested detour information. Consider Mingo Church Road as an alternate route if coming from the North on  Rte. 88. As well, if possible members may be interested use Rte. 136 if possible to avoid Rte. 88 .  we will be posting a map and suggested detour.

 

Wagman Observatory

7:10 PM Start time, 225 Kurn Road Tarentum, PA 15084 ~ 724-224-2510 ~ Latitude 40.627 degrees Longitude -79.813 degrees Phone 724-224-2510

 Wagman Observatory will be open to the public for the Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday night September 27 starting at 7:10 PM until Midnight.  Totality lasts from 9:11 to 10:23 PM.  Mid-eclipse is at 9:47 PM. Guests will also have the opportunity to observe Neptune and Uranus and other celestial wonders during this event.  This is the second of two Total Lunar Eclipses in 2015.  The other is the morning of April 4 shortly before sunrise.The Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory is located in Deer Lakes Regional Park, Frazer Township, Pa., near the village of Russellton in northeastern Allegheny County and some 18 miles from Pittsburgh.Looking to buy a telescope, accessories, star charts and books? Wagman Observatory is the place to start. We’ll have free handouts, guides and booklets to point visitors in the right direction.The Star Parties will be held WEATHER PERMITTING. The public should call 724-224-2510 for more information.  For Media use only contact Tom Reiland at home 412-487-8326 in the evening. The members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh invite the public to Nicholas E Wagman Observatory. More than 62,000 people have visited the Observatory since its opening in 1987.
Admission is free, though we gladly accept donations to cover the cost of operation. To reach Wagman Observatory, follow the Orange Belt (accessible from Routes 8 and 28) to Deer Lakes Park, near Russellton. Follow the road through the Park for 1.2 miles and turn left on to the Observatory grounds. Please use parking lights only when you drive through the gate.For additional directions or to check on the weather conditions, please call the observatory at 724-224-2510. If you get our voice mail or a busy signal, keep trying. We receive many calls for information just before and during the star parties.
UStream online cast of lunar eclipse beginning at 8:30 PM as past of Star Gazers weekly series.
NASA’s live stream from 8:00 p.m. until at least 11:30 p.m. EDT broadcast from Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., with a live feed from the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, Calif.