Wagman Observatory

Mars At Closest Proximity To Earth In 11 Years

May 17, 2016 by DeSantisK

Image of Mars in the night sky in May 2016. source:http://mars.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/nightsky/mars-close-approach/

From May 18 to June 3, 2016 Mars will be at its brightest. Just go outside and look up (SE) for a bright “orange star” that does not flicker. That will be the “red” planet Mars.

It takes the planet Mars about two Earth years minus 50 days to make its trip about the Sun. Mars appears brightest * in our Earth sky when Earth is in the line between Mars and the Sun. This happens about every other Earth year. Those other years Mars appears dimmer in our sky because at those times Mars and Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun. Some opposition years find Mars and Earth not only on the same side of the Sun, but also in closer proximity. 2016 is one of those years. Enjoy the view!

This year to the unaided eye Mars looks brigher and through a telescope Mars looks larger. Enjoy close-up views of the planet Mars and other wonders of the night sky at the June 10 and 11 Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh Star Parties scheduled at the Wagman Observatory and at the Mingo Observatory.

Weather Cancellation – Tonight’s May15, 2016 Wagman Star Party

May 14, 2016 by DeSantisK

Last updated 2016-05-14 12:01:09. No Image below? Read this. Not showing todays data? Clear your cache.

Near Deer Lakes Park, Russellton. Observatory of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

There is now 100% that tonight’s SP is canceled. See yinz in June. The next good weather that we will see will probably be next weekend during Full Moon. Typical for our area. Except for that week or so in Mid-April, it’s been a lousy Spring. The Sky gods are probably balancing out the good observing weather in Jan, Feb and March.

Tom Reiland

Wagman Star Parties May 13 & 14, 2016

May 10, 2016 by Heather Panek

Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh opens Wagman Observatory to the public Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, 2016. No reservations. No charge. No limit to group size. Just show up. Please refer to the Wagman 2016 Star Party Schedule for details. 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. Observatory Phone 724-224-2510.

Wagman Star Parties – Fri, April 15th & Sat, April 16th

April 13, 2016 by Heather Panek

Come see the evening planet, Jupiter. Catch one last glimpse of the Great Orion Nebula. It is all part of the show during the April Star Parties at Wagman Observatory sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. View the night sky with the Moon two days after First Quarter. Observe the Spring Constellations and Jupiter with its four Galilean satellites. This event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 starting at 8:00 PM EDT.

The Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory is locatedin 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 Spring sky such as the galaxies in the Coma-Virgo Cluster, planetary nebulae and star clusters.

Cancellation of the Saturday, April 9, Mingo Star Party

April 9, 2016 by DeSantisK

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh regrets to announce the Saturday, April 9,2016 Mingo Observatory Star Party is cancelled due to forecasted low temperatures and lower wind chill factors regardless of how much snow does or does not fall.

Please accept our invitation to try again next weekend at the Wagman Observatory Star Parties on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, 2016 or at the next Mingo Observatory Star Parties on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, 2016.

Download 2016 Star Party Schedule Brochures

Wagman Star Party Schedule 2016

Mingo Star Party Schedule 2016

Respectfully submitted, Kathy DeSantis.

Grants Awarded for CMU and Pitt Students to Assist AAAP Dark Sky Outreach

December 16, 2015 by DeSantisK

Thanks to Alex Gurvich (CMU Astronomy Club President) and Corinne Hite (Pitt Space Exploration and Astronomy club president) the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) will have some help promoting the value of dark skies in 2016. Along with their club sponsors and advisers and AAAP leadership they have secured funds to make this happen, Diane Turnshek, CMU and AAAP, facilitator. The Sprout Fund “Big Ideas” grant has awarded $1000 towards astronomy outreach at some AAAP 2016 Star Parties and University of Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory has contributed $500. The funds will purchase an International Dark Sky Association (IDA) banner promoting the value of the night sky, light pollution activity kits and a Parashield glare visor for public demonstration. It’s both the first time the these university clubs will be collaborating and the first time they will travel to Wagman Observatory and Mingo Observatory.

Updates and additional astronomy and AAAP information on AAAP’s Facebook Page.