The members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh invite the public to Mingo Observatory and Wagman Observatory, Saturday, October 17, 2015. Get to know the Autumn Sky under a large (30% illumination) waxing crescent Moon.
Ther Sun sets around 6:40 PM. Arrive earlier if you are interested in safe solar viewing. The sky should clear after 8PM and hold clear to around 11 PM. Clear and Cold go together. Temperatures are to drop below freezing on Saturday night. It is suggested you dress warmly. There are only two more star party dates left on the calendar: November 7 Wagman Observatory “Mid-Autumn Star Party” and November 14 Mingo Observatory “Bundle-Up Star Fest.”
Did you get a telescope recently and don’t know how to use it? Bring it along and members of the AAAP will help!
Looking to buy a telescope, accessories, star charts and books? We’ll have free handouts, guides and booklets to point visitors in the right direction.
See the AAAP web page for more info at: www.3ap.org and the AAAP Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Astronomers-Association-of-Pittsburgh/114188205266611
Mingo Observatory
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Update of October 17, 3PM:
Mingo will open at 6:30PM.
Accuweather Forecast: http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/finleyville-pa/15332/hourly-weather-forecast/335428?hour=14 Skies are supposed to clear around 8PM to be 70% clouded, leaving some room for stars. As long as there is no threat of rain the roofs can open to run the telescopes. Mingo will have a planetarium program and avail of the newly heated planetarium.
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1 Shelter 10 Road Finleyville, PA 15332 ~ 724-348-6150 ~ Latitude 40.211 degrees Longitude -80.020 degrees
There are no Iridium Flares predicted.
Two ISS Passes,October 17, 7:20 PM NNW and 8:56 PM NW, Note: Both are close to the horizon. – Times approximate for Mingo Observatory listed here. Please visit www.heavens-above.com or you favorite similar website for times and sky locations specific to your location on Earth. : http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=40.211&lng=-80.019&loc=Mingo+Creek+Park+Observatory&alt=0&tz=EST
DateBrightnessStartHighest pointEndPass Type(mag)TimeAlt.Az.TimeAlt.Az.TimeAlt.Az.
| 17 Oct | -1.0 | 19:20:18 | 10° | NNW | 19:22:04 | 14° | NNE | 19:23:52 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 17 Oct | -0.4 | 20:56:02 | 10° | NW | 20:56:44 | 15° | NW | 20:56:44 | 15° | NW | visible |
Solar Obeserving (weather permitting) at tba p.m. SAFELY View the Sun early with our 4″ Lunt Solar Telescope. Planetarium Shows (rain or shine) beginning at 7:00 p.m. Planetarium Schedule: 7:00 PM: Sky Show, 8:00 PM: Program TBA 9:00 PM: Sky Show, 10:00 PM: Program TBA Celestial Observing (weather permitting) beginning at Dusk. See wonders of the night sky through our 24 inch Ritchey-Chretien Reflector and 10 inch Refractor telescopes. Observe Double-stars, planetary nebulae, astonishing star clusters, distant galaxies. The Planets Saturn and its rings, Jupiter and its Galilean moons, Venus and more starting at dusk (sky conditions permitting! ). Mingo Creek Park Observatory is Open Rain or shine, cloudy or clear!
Call Mingo at 724-348-6150.
GPS coordinates are Lat 40*:12′:42″ Long 80*:01′:14″
Students, scouts, youth groups, adults, and children accompanied by adults are welcome. If you know others who would be interested in receiving these notices, please register for the Mingo Email Blast.*
* Mingo Observatory Email Blast
Would you like to receive occasional emails about Mingo Observatory Star Parties and Observing Events? Be sure to sign up at the Mingo Observatory Reception Desk or contact MingoAssocDirector2@3ap.org.
Mingo Creek Park Observatory is Handicapped Accessible.
Route 88 South of Finleyville Traffic Advisery for September 21 – Late October, 2015
Wagman Observatory
225 Kurn Road Tarentum, PA 15084 ~ 724-224-2510 ~ Latitude 40.627 degrees Longitude -79.813 degrees
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. Nearly 62,000 people have visited the observatory since its opening in 1987. Come and see what they’ve discovered and you’ve been missing. This event is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 starting about tba PM EDT. The Wagman Star Parties will be held WEATHER PERMITTING. The public should call 724-224-2510 for more information.
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._Wagman_Sched_2015
Click on the date to get a star chart and other pass details.
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 17 Oct | -1.1 | 19:20:09 | 10° | NNW | 19:22:05 | 15° | NNE | 19:24:03 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 17 Oct | -0.5 | 20:56:00 | 10° | NW | 20:56:44 | 16° | NW | 20:56:44 | 16° | NW | visible |
Check for updates and see the Guide Star AAAP Newsletter and AAAP Facebook Page.
Whats’s Up For October Skies?
Updates and additional astronomy and AAAP information on AAAP’s Facebook Page.
