Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

Your Bridge to the Stars

Mingo Observatory

AAAP Observatory Star Parties, May 18 and 19, 2018

by

The Saturday, May 19, 2018 Star Parties at both Wagman and Mingo Observatories are cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Friday, May 18, 2018 Star Party at Wagman Observatory is cancelled due to inclement weather.

AAAP invites the public to enjoy the spring skies and astronomy outreach this weekend at both the Wagman (8:45 PM)  and Mingo (6:30 PM) Observatories on both Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, nights. Enjoy the planet Jupiter and the Moon half a week past Full. Learn the constellations and bright stars. See distant nebula. View through the large observatory fixed telescopes and through the telescopes and big binoculars of our member volunteers on the the hill. Engage in stimulating discussion of astronomy topics. Learn about telescopes and astronomical observing. These events are free and open to the public. Donations to support continued outreach is appreciated. Check back here  and on AAAP’s Facebook for updates including inclement weather and ground conditions. If in doubt, please call the observatory phone numbers listed below.

Wagman Observatory, 225 Kurn Road, Tarentum, PA 15084  Phone 724-224-2510, Latitude 40.627 degrees N, Longitude 79.813 degrees W .

Mingo Creek Park Observatory, 1 Shelter 10 Road, Finleyville, PA  15332 Phone 724-348-6150, Latitude 40.211 degrees, Longitude -80.020 degrees Declination -9 degrees. 

AAAP 2018 Star Party Season Kicks-Off This Weekend

by

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.

Special Hotel Rates for Nights of Mingo Star Parties

by

While you are visiting Washington County, for the Mingo Observatory Star Parties the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency  (WTPA) would like to encourage you to further explore Washington County’s dynamic entertainment venues, historic attractions, shopping complexes and dining opportunities. To enhance the opportunity, the WTPA is offering  Special Star Party Hotel Rates available the nights of Mingo Observatory Star Parties. Please download the flyer for more information.

Spring is Here

by

Spring is here and AAAP is gearing up for the 2018 Star Party Season! Our AAAP observatory star parties kick-off in 3 weeks with Wagman on April 20 & 21 and Mingo on April 21. We have external star party events before that. AAAP has two spring 2018 meeting dates remaining on April 13 and May 11, at Carnegie Science Center.  Stay tuned and keep an eye on our Facebook Events and www.3ap.org website and calendar.

Annual Muzzleloader and Archery Hunting at Mingo Park December 26, 2017 through January 13, 2018

by

Mingo Creek Park will be open for Muzzleloader and Archery Hunting from Dec 26, 2017 through Jan 13, 2018. Often our star party guests equate open gates with a star party.  This time of year that is not true.  Beginning Friday, Dec 22 the Park Staff will leave all park gates (including Shelter 10 gate) open for the duration of the time hunting is permitted. Please avail yourself of hunting season safety considerations such as described here and here.  Members and their invited guests who may visit the Mingo Observatory hill be reminded of the hunting activity even into twilight.

AAAP 2018 Schedule of Observatory Star Parties

by

More on Star Parties here.

Mingo 2018 Star Party Dates: April 21, May 18 & 19, June 8 & 9, July 20 & 21, Aug 11 & 18, Sept 7 & 8, Oct 6 & 20, Nov 3 Note: 11/17/2017 Update  

Mingo 2018 Brochure coming soon. Special Hotel Rates have been negotiated for 2018 Mingo Star Party Dates. See Document here. 

Wagman 2018 Star Party Dates: Apr 20 & 21; May 18 & 19; Jun 22 & 23; Jul 20 & 21; Aug 17 & 18; Sep 15 & 29; Oct 13 & 27; Nov 10 2018  

Wagman 2018 Brochure coming soon.

Observatory Star Parties resume in April 2018.  In the meantime follow AAAP  Facebook and the AAAP Calendar for announcements of star gazing events scheduled at parks, libraries or other locations. Enjoy free fascinating and informative, cutting edge lectures in association with our monthly meetings held 7:30 PM on the 2nd Friday,* January through May and September through November held at the Carnegie Science Center. *Note the January 2018 Meeting will be on Friday, January 5, 2018. Actually, the January 5, 2018 AAAP Monthly Meeting in addition to the 7:30 PM lecture, includes a 6:30 – 7:30 PM Meet and Greet with Star Gazing at the Carnegie Science Center’s Rooftop Observatory.