Sep
19
Sat
2020
Cancelled – Star Gaze @ C.M. Crockett Park
Sep 19 @ 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
May
8
Sat
2021
It’s On!- Rappahannock County Park Public Night @ Rappahannock County Park
May 8 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
It's On!- Rappahannock County Park Public Night @ Rappahannock County Park

Join NOVAC and the Rappahannock County Park for a public observing session.

Audience: Members of the public, astronomy club members. Feel free to bring along any friends and family.

Volunteer Role: Bring binoculars or a telescope to share views of the planet Mars, galaxies and other deep sky objects.

Presentations:

  •  NOVAC member will p a 15-minute presentation by NOVAC member on how to find Mars, the M-44 beehive cluster and the M-104 Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo.
  • short educational presentation put on by the Park stressing the value of maintaining a light pollution free environment.

Masks: 

  • not mandatory before dark unless social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • required after dark.

Contact: RSVP to Torney Van Acker, Dark Sky Coordinator, at 703-250-7943 or torney630@gmail.com.

Apr
2
Sat
2022
Rappahannock County Park Open Observing Session @ Rappahannock County Park
Apr 2 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of Rappahannock County Park volunteers and NOVAC members. This is an open observing session and members of the public may bring their own telescopes and binoculars as well.

Note this program is only an observing session (no presentation).

As a reminder please ask permission from the telescope owner before using. Please monitor your children if they’re around expensive astronomical equipment. Remember, telescope mirrors are sensitive to cigarette smoke and bug spray. Pets should not be brought onto the observing field as well (unless they are service animals).

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows. If you’re arriving after dark, please dim your vehicle’s headlights as you approach the gravel parking lot.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Please visit the official website for more details.

Apr
23
Sat
2022
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center Star Party @ Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Apr 23 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center Star Party @ Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Midland | Virginia | United States

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend.

The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. Please park your vehicle in the main visitors lot and follow signs to the observing site from the main entrance. As a reminder, parking after 4pm is free.

Before sunset, feel free to inspect the different telescopes and other visual equipment on the field. Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC’s astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. After sunset be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky!

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

 

Apr
30
Sat
2022
Rappahannock County Park Dark Sky Event @ Rappahannock County Park
Apr 30 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of Rappahannock County Park volunteers and NOVAC members. Members of the public may bring their own telescopes and binoculars as well.

This program begins with a 15-minute presentation followed by night sky observing.

As a reminder please ask permission from the telescope owner before using. Please monitor your children if they’re around expensive astronomical equipment. Remember, telescope mirrors are sensitive to cigarette smoke and bug spray. Pets should not be brought onto the observing field as well (unless they are service animals).

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows. If you’re arriving after dark, please dim your vehicle’s headlights as you approach the gravel parking lot.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Please visit the official website for more details.

May
15
Sun
2022
Canceled- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Lunar Eclipse Viewing @ Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
May 15 @ 8:30 pm – May 16 @ 1:00 am
Canceled- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Lunar Eclipse Viewing @ Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Midland | Virginia | United States

THIS EVENT IS CANCELED DUE TO FORECASTED THUNDERSTROMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the Lunar Eclipse and other wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend.

The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. Please park your vehicle in the main visitors lot and follow signs to the observing site from the main entrance. As a reminder, parking after 4pm is free.

Before sunset, feel free to inspect the different telescopes and other visual equipment on the field. Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC’s astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. After sunset be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky!

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

 

May
21
Sat
2022
Rappahannock County Park Open Observing Session @ Rappahannock County Park
May 21 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of Rappahannock County Park volunteers and NOVAC members. This is an open observing session and members of the public may bring their own telescopes and binoculars as well.

Note this program is only an observing session (no presentation).

As a reminder please ask permission from the telescope owner before using. Please monitor your children if they’re around expensive astronomical equipment. Remember, telescope mirrors are sensitive to cigarette smoke and bug spray. Pets should not be brought onto the observing field as well (unless they are service animals).

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows. If you’re arriving after dark, please dim your vehicle’s headlights as you approach the gravel parking lot.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Please visit the official website for more details.

Jun
11
Sat
2022
Rappahannock County Park Dark Sky Event @ Rappahannock County Park
Jun 11 @ 8:30 pm – 11:00 pm

RSVP here.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of Rappahannock County Park volunteers and NOVAC members. Members of the public may bring their own telescopes and binoculars as well.

This program begins with a 15-minute presentation followed by night sky observing.

As a reminder please ask permission from the telescope owner before using. Please monitor your children if they’re around expensive astronomical equipment. Remember, telescope mirrors are sensitive to cigarette smoke and bug spray. Pets should not be brought onto the observing field as well (unless they are service animals).

Don’t forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated and plan on staying the entire evening or as long as the weather allows. If you’re arriving after dark, please dim your vehicle’s headlights as you approach the gravel parking lot.

Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Please visit the official website for more details.