Category: Public Night

  • April 2018 is Global Astronomy Month!

    April 2018 is Global Astronomy Month!

    Throughout the month of April members of the public will be joining with amateur clubs around the world in this global celebration of astronomy.   Our own organization, the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) will host its Astronomy Day event on Saturday, April 21st at C.M. Crockett Park giving members of the public a rare opportunity to experience safe views of our star, the Sun, unique on-field activities, special talks on astronomy and space exploration as well as amazing views Read more […]
  • Cancelled C.M. Crockett Public Night

    Cancelled C.M. Crockett Public Night

    Cancelling the public night for C. M Crockett Park scheduled for tonight. This is a tough call. Weather forecasts don’t agree as of 08:00. The Clear Sky Chart forecast says skies will clear to 20% coverage at 17:00 and then clear completely by 19:00. Forecasts by WeatherUnderground, Weather_Channel and Weather.com show clearing later with the possibility of a late shower. Local TV weather forecasts vary, too. Of most concern is forecasts of 5% to 30% possibility of precipitation until as late Read more […]
  • Binocular Messier and the AL Observing Program

    Binocular Messier and the AL Observing Program

    March is the time of the year when the Messier Marathon is possible.  This is also a great time to get started on your Binocular Messier observing program. A very useful resource (I would say essential) for observational astronomy is Sky and Telescope’s Pocket Sky Atlas.  It is available from many sources for less than $20. You may already have a set of binoculars that will allow you to complete the observing program.  If you don’t, a simple 10×50 set will cost around $30. Here Read more […]
  • Great Meadow Public Night Feb 18 – Cancelled

    Great Meadow Public Night Feb 18 – Cancelled

    I’m cancelling public night. Great Meadow fields are soft already. The melting snow will make it worse. When using the dirt roads to access our site, remember to try not veer off, causing damage and widening of the roads. We are grateful to be guests at Great Meadow so please don’t damage the facilities. I would suggest using the VRE garage again for the collimation workshop. We should be able to do star tests from the top level with non-artificial stars! Ray Young Great Meadow site coordinator Read more […]
  • Great Meadow Public Night Feb 18 – TBD

    Great Meadow Public Night Feb 18 – TBD

    There’s a public night scheduled tomorrow, Feb 18, at Great Meadow. The weather forecast is pretty decent. However, the state of the field is not known. I will send out an email tomorrow as to whether the ground is too wet to hold the event. A group of special needs scouts who are taking the Astronomy merit badge is expected to attend, so hopefully we can pull it off. Great Meadow is located 2 miles south of The Plains off of I66 exit 31.  Ray Young  Great Meadow site coordinator Read more […]
  • Cancelled – C.M. Crockett Public Night – 17 February

    Cancelled – C.M. Crockett Public Night – 17 February

    A nasty wintery mix of rain, sleet, freezing rain and/or snow tomorrow afternoon and evening isn’t suitable for telescopes, astronomers or the general public.

    Hoping for Clear skies for future dates,

    Tree Greenwood
    Crockett Park Site Coordinator

  • Cancelled – Great Meadow Public Night

    Cancelled – Great Meadow Public Night

    The forecast is actually for clear skies. But below freezing temps with some wind.

    I am postponing the public night to Sunday Jan 21, 5-10p. Note: Crockett is scheduled for Jan 20.

    Ray Young
    Great Meadow site coordinator

  • Public Event Cancelled for Great Meadow

    Public Event Cancelled for Great Meadow

    Gusty winds are in the forecast, so no public night 11/19.

    Ray Young

  • Public Event Cancelled for C.M. Crockett

    Public Event Cancelled for C.M. Crockett

    The public night scheduled for 18 November is canceled.  Although the Clear Sky Chart[1] currently says only 50% of the sky will be covered by clouds, all of the other forecasts predict “cloudy”[2] or “mostly cloudy”[3][4] with a chance of precipitation.  DC television weather-guessers all agree it will be mostly cloudy tomorrow evening with differing opinions on the timing and amount of precipitation. Hoping for clear skies for future public nights, R. J. ‘Tree’ Greenwood Crockett Read more […]
  • The 35th Annual NOVAC Star Gaze: Saturday, October 21

    The 35th Annual NOVAC Star Gaze: Saturday, October 21

    Join the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for Star Gaze at C.M. Crockett Park on October 21, 2017 from 3 pm to 11 pm! You don’t need any astronomy experience or equipment at all to enjoy Star Gaze. Enjoy the wonderful views of the landscape and night sky from one of our local dark sky sites. The program features solar observing through safe filters; telescopes to learn about and look through when the stars come out; and presentations about astronomy, space exploration, and the night sky. Head Read more […]