The GRAAA opens the James C. Veen Observatory to the public on the second and last Saturdays of the month (April through October), if the skies are clear. Please call the Starwatch number - 897-7065 - for updates and the status of a particular night if the weather conditions are questionable. You can also find updated information on our Twitter feed and our Facebook group.
Along with the observatory telescopes, association members set up their own telescopes so that visitors can view the splendors of the night sky. Visitors can tour the facility and enjoy an audio-visual presentation about the GRAAA and the James C. Veen Observatory.
Admission for public nights are $3 for Adults, $2 for 17 years and younger, and free for children under 5 years of age.
A map is located at the bottom of the page for directions to the Observatory.
A printable version of the schedule (along with the map) is available here (40k PDF).
Public Night Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
DATE |
TIME |
MOON PHASE |
FEATURED OBJECTS |
July 11 |
9:30pm - 12:00am |
Waning Gibbous (81%) |
Saturn, Deep Sky Objects |
July 25 |
9:30pm - 12:00am |
Waxing Crescent (20%) |
Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Deep Sky Objects |
August 8 |
9:00pm - 11.30pm |
Waning Gibbous (91%) |
Moon, Jupiter |
August 29 |
9:00pm - 11.30pm |
Waxing Gibbous (74%) |
Moon, Jupiter, Neptune |
September 12 |
8:00pm - 11:00pm |
Waning Crescent (40%) |
Jupiter, Neptune, Deep Sky Objects |
September 26 |
8:00pm - 11:00pm |
Waxing Gibbous (59%) |
Moon, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Deep Sky Objects |
October 10 |
8:00pm - 11:00pm |
Waning Gibbous (52%) |
Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Deep Sky Objects |