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Public
Viewing and Community Outreach
 Sharing our knowledge of space has
always been an important part of NOVAC. Many of our members are avid
astronomers and are very enthusiastic about the hobby. Each year we hold
several public observing sessions and the annual Star Gaze to help you
learn more. Please make plans to attend.
See
2012 NOVAC public viewing events below.
You do
not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to
attend. All you need is an interest in the wonders of the cosmos.
 Preparation begins before leaving home. Dress warmly! Summer nights can still
become cold. Please check the weather forecast.
For
lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (darker the better). Bring
along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as
long as the weather allows. Please dim your vehicles headlights when
arriving and departing.
Feel
free to walk around and enjoy the sights through the equipment on display
but please ask the owner before using. It's best to control children around
expensive astronomical equipment. Remember, telescope mirrors are sensitive
to cigarette smoke and bug spray. Pets should not be brought onto the
observing field.
Please
check back with this website prior to leaving for the event. If it's
cancelled, there will be a notice prominently displayed on the homepage
(www.novac.com).
Club members
will begin to arrive just prior to sunset. We advise you to arrive before
darkness, too. The CM Crockett Park will be closed to non-NOVAC members at
11:00 PM.
For more
information on NOVAC outreach and outreach requests, please contact the
NOVAC Outreach Coordinator at:
Please
Note:
- NOVAC outreach events should generally be held on
one of our scheduled public viewing events.
- Weather conditions may
cause last minute cancellations
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2012
NOVAC Public Viewing Events
January
21st -
CM Crockett Park
28th -
Great Meadow
February
25th -
Great Meadow
18th -
CM Crockett Park
March
17th -
Messier Marathon CM Crockett
Park
24th -
Great Meadow
April
21st -
Great Meadow
14th
- CM Crockett Park
May
TBD - ASTRONOMY DAY at Sky Meadows
State Park
26th - CM Crockett Park
12th -
Great Meadow
June
9th - CM Crockett Park
July
14th -
CM Crockett Park
20th
(Friday) - Great Meadow
August
10th
(Friday) - Great Meadow
TBD,
8pm - Sky Meadows State Park
11th -
CM Crockett Park
September
8th - CM Crockett Park
TBD,
7:30 pm - Sky Meadows State Park
October
6th - Fall
Star Gaze (Rain or shine) - CM
Crockett Park
TBD, 6
pm - Sky Meadows State Park
13th -
Great Meadow
November
10th -
Great Meadow
TBD,
4:30 pm - 9:00 pm - Sky Meadows
State Park
17th -
Leonid Meteor Shower (No backup date) - CM Crockett Park
December
8th - CM Crockett Park
TBD - Sky Meadows State Park
Skywatching at Sky Meadows State Park
Join Sean O'Brien, staff astronomer of the Albert Einstein
Planetarium, and other local amateur astronomers (many from NOVAC),
for public telescopic observing under dark, star-filled skies at Sky
Meadows State Park, near Paris, Virginia. The evening begins with a short
night sky orientation at dusk, followed by telescopic observing.
Other
Public Events
The
following opportunities are sponsored by other organizations and schools
in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
The Analemma Society
Sponsors public observing every Friday at Observatory Park, near the
village of Great Falls, Virginia.
The Astronomy Dept. of the University of
Maryland
Holds a public lecture
followed by informal observing at the observatory in College Park,
Maryland the 5th and 20th of each month.
The Montgomery College
Planetarium
Has one or two programs each month, and special programs can be arranged.
NOVAC Monthly Meetings
Don't forget that our meetings, generally held at George Mason University
on the second Sunday evening of each month (except when that Sunday is
Mother's Day or Easter), are open to the public.
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