Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

Your Bridge to the Stars

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CANCELLED Murrysville Community Park Star Party of May 15, 2018

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CANCELLED due to forecast of thunderstorms and soggy field conditions.

Murrysville Community Park May 15 beginning at 7:30 pm.

4056 Weistertown Rd. Murrysville Pa 15632.AAAP volunteers will engage in a star party at Murrysville Community Park on May 15. Free and Open to the Public. Another, is on the schedule for 7:30, Sunday, September 9, 2018.

New Horizons: Pluto and Beyond, by NASA Mission Specialist Mark Kochte, 7:30 PM, May 11, 2018, Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh May Meeting and Speaker Presentation

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Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh will hold the May Meeting and Speaker Presentation at 7:30 PM, May 11, 2018 at the Science Stage, Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.  The meeting lecture is free and open to the public. AAAP is excited to welcome back the most popular Mark Kochte, NASA Mission Specialist with the New Horizons Mission out of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.  This is one you do not want to miss. Mark will update us on the New Horizons Mission to Pluto and the upcoming invitation to spend New Year’s Day, January 1, 2019 with the NASA’s New Horizons visit to distant  Kuiper Belt Object 2014 Mu69, 44.2 a.u. from the Sun. Mark shares the behind the scene information that along with his excellent presentation skills make  his talks stand out. Be there on Friday to participate in the question and answer and to talk with Mark before and after his presentation. The presentation will be at the top of the evening followed by a break before the business meeting. The annual election of officers is held at this meeting. Members be sure to cast your vote. Afterwards, as always, those interested gather at Max’s on the North Side. Updates here and on AAAP’s Facebook Page. (Note: $5 per vehicle charge for use of parking lot.)

Urban Outreach Star Parties at the Schenley Overlook

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Urban Outreach Star Parties are at the Schenley Overlook unless otherwise noted.

All times are from 9PM-11PM.

May
Sunday 5/6 (Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower) [Rescheduled to Mon., 5/7, due to inclement weather.]
Monday 5/7 (Weather Makeup Date) 
Thursday 5/17
Sunday 5/20 (Weather Makeup Date)
Tuesday 5/29 (Emerald View)
Thursday 5/31 (Emerald View Makeup)

June
Sunday 6/10
Monday 6/11 (Makeup)
Tuesday 6/19
Thursday 6/21 (Makeup)
Friday 6/29 (Emerald View)
Saturday 6/30 (Emerald View Makeup)

July
Friday 7/13
Sunday 7/15 (Makeup)
Sunday 7/22
Monday 7/23 (Makeup)

August
Friday 8/3 (Emerald View)
Saturday 8/4 (Emerald View Makeup)
Saturday 8/11 (County Star Party – Boyce) – New Moon!
Tuesday 8/14
Thursday 8/16 (Makeup)
Friday 8/24
Saturday 8/25 (Makeup)
Tuesday 8/28 (Emerald View)
Thursday 8/30 (Emerald View Makeup)

September
Thursday 9/6
Monday 9/10 (Makeup)
Sunday 9/16
Tuesday 9/18 (Makeup)
Friday 9/30

October
Monday 10/1 (Makeup)
Thursday 10/4
(Emerald View)
Sunday 10/7 (Emerald View Makeup)
Friday 10/12
Sunday 10/14 (Makeup)
Sunday 10/21
Monday 10/22 (Makeup)

November
11/1 (Emerald View – No Makeup Date)

If you would like help learning how to set-up and use your own telescope or binoculars, please feel free to bring them and arrive an hour early. AAAP telescope volunteers will share views through their telescopes.

This free event is being run by the Pittsburgh City Park Rangers. Park ordinances are enforced at all times. All ages event. Leashed dogs are permissible but must be under the direct control of their owners, and must remain a minimum of 10 feet away from the telescope at all times.

 

Wagman Observatory May 18 & 19, 2018 Star Parties

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Wagman Observatory May Star Parties are Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19 starting at 8:45 PM EDT. This is an opportunity for amateur astronomers, students and the general public to observe the wonders of the Spring sky such as the galaxies in the Coma-Virgo Cluster, planetary nebulae and star clusters. View the planet Jupiter and the Moon four nights before First Quarter.   Observe the Spring Constellations, Venus and Jupiter with its four Galilean satellites.  It is all part of the show during the May Star Parties at Wagman Observatory sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh.

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. 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. The Star Parties will be held weather permitting. For more information check out our web page at: www.3ap.org, AAAP’s Facebook or phone the observatory at 724-224-2510.

AAAP 2018 Star Party Season Kicks-Off This Weekend

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The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh kicks-off its 2018 Star Party Season this weekend with the added “fireworks” of the Lyrid Meteor Shower and the weather looks good to very good all weekend! Wagman Observatory will have a star party on both Friday and Saturday starting at 8:05 PM. Mingo Observatory will open on Saturday at 6:00 PM for Safe Solar Viewing. Also on Saturday during the day, there will be AAAP telescope viewing and astronomy activities at the Westmoreland Earth Day, 1-6 PM, Winnie Palmer Nature Center, Latrobe, PA. On Sunday, AAAP will be at the Mt. Lebanon Earth Day (SUNDAY, 22nd APRIL 2018,11am – 3pm, MT LEBANON PARK, 900 Cedar Blvd, Mt. Lebanon, PA15228) offering telescope safe solar viewing and astronomy activities.  At Laurel Hill State Park the Earth Day Celebration starts early at 9AM, Saturday, at the Visitor Center.

During the daytime events, enjoy safe solar viewing and astronomy activities.  Night sky observing begins at dusk. Look for Lyrid Meteors when the sky darkens. These meteors will be best seen before dawn on Saturday and Sunday mornings. See the planet Venus. View the Waxing Crescent Moon. Catch a last glimpse of the Orion nebula and other wonders of the Spring sky such as the galaxies in the Coma-Virgo Cluster, planetary nebulae and star clusters. These events are free and open to the public. Star party donations are appreciated. Be sure to obtain our 2018 Star Party Schedule, printed copies at our events and downloads on our website.  Contact AAAP via Facebook or our website calendar for more updates and more information.