See a region of space where stars are being born, catch a dazzling views of four bright planets, visit the craters of the moon and marvel at our Milky Way Galaxy’s finest clusters and nebulae. It’s all part of the show during July Star Parties sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. .
The Star Parties start Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 at 8:45 PM EDT at the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Regional Park, Frazer Township, Pa., near the village of Russellton, in northeastern Allegheny County and some 18 miles from Pittsburgh.
This is an opportunity for amateur astronomers, students and the general public to observe the wonders of the summer sky such as Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Visitors will also be able to observe the Moon about one to two days after First Quarter, the Hercules cluster and the Ring Nebula.
Did you buy a telescope or get one as a gift and don’t know how to use it? Bring it along and members of the AAAP will be happy to help you learn how to use it!
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.
The members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh invite the public to Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory. More than 66,000 people have visited the observatory since its opening in 1987. Come and see what they’ve discovered and you’ve been missing.
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.