Rochester Astronomy Club – Rochester Astronomy Club, Rochester, Minnesota

Mercury transit observed

November 30, 2019 Josef Chlachula FrontPage, Members Blog Comments Off

The innermost planet Mercury was on November 11, 2019 transiting in front of the Sun. Many club member prepared for this rare event at Mayo High School. They were hoping, that weather would allow to observe dark silhouette of the Mercury against bright Sun. Event started at 6:35 AM and ended at 12:05 PM. Observers experienced all kind of weather […]

July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind

July 11, 2019 John Martin FrontPage Comments Off

Apollo 11 Lunar Module Credits: NASA On the morning of July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins are strapped into the capsule of a 363-foot Saturn V rocket. Soon its 7.5 million pounds of thrust will propel them to the Moon. In 4 days, July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin will enter the lunar […]

Jupiter rising

June 3, 2019 Josef Chlachula FrontPage Comments Off

Warm summer nights beckon many of us outside to observe the celestial wonders that appear above us in the starry skies. Long summer days and short nights may disappoint many amateur astronomers, yet summer skies dazzle us with some of the grandest objects in the sky. Jupiter rises just as the summer sun is setting. With its great Red Spot […]

An evening with the lunar eclipse

January 26, 2019 Mike Carlin FrontPage, Members Blog Comments Off

January 21, 2019 at 9:00 PM dozens of members of the Rochester community join the RAC to brave the cold and enjoy the total lunar eclipse. The temperature dropped to a chilling -5. With the light breeze that accompanied the clear night, making it feel even colder. Although the air was cold, the skies were clear. With the Moon bright […]

Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday January 20

January 11, 2019 Josef Chlachula FrontPage Comments Off

Rochester Astronomy Club is planing public observing event from 9 PM at History Center of Olmstead County, see http://rochesterskies.org/event/total-lunar-eclipse-observing-2019-01-20/ The first full moon of 2019 will be a great opportunity for observing a total lunar eclipse. The Moon will almost be at its closest distance to the Earth, close to the perigeum, which means it will be slightly bigger, and such […]

Cometary indulgement by end of 2018

November 13, 2018 Josef Chlachula FrontPage, Members Blog Comments Off

Updated 12/10,11/17. About four years ago we could observe by naked eye comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy). This year in December, we expect to see periodic comet 46P/Wirtanen. Now, we have actually chance to see two comets! Comet 46P/Wirtanen has period 5.44 years. This year it will be as close as just 0.08 AU from the Earth, and it could be […]

What to expect at RAC Night Sky Viewing Events

October 10, 2018 John Martin FrontPage, Members Blog Comments Off

The RAC hosts regular Night Sky Viewing and Dark Sky Viewing events. If you are new to astronomy or new to the club, these events may be new for you as well. Knowing what to expect might make the events easier to navigate and more enjoyable. The observing events typically take place in a public location, after dark. Club members […]

Getting Connected with RAC!

September 12, 2018 John Martin FrontPage, Members Blog, News Comments Off

The Rochester Astronomy Club is always looking to connect with our community and encourages anyone that is interested in astronomy to attend our events. We have monthly meetings that are open to the public with interesting and informative presentations. Additionally, we have regular public observing events where club members set up telescopes and share viewing experiences with anyone that has […]

Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

September 11, 2018 Josef Chlachula FrontPage, Members Blog Comments Off

Would you like to see a comet? Now, in September 2018 is pretty good chance to see comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner by small telescope or even by binocular. Periodic comet 21P can be seen in in September the second part of the night. Below is path map till beginning of the October. About 2 AM is already high enough above horizon, and can […]

The 32nd Annual Okie-Tex Star Party is September 12 – 20, 2015.

February 25, 2018 admin FrontPage Comments Off

by Dean Johnson Go to http://www.okie-tex.com/ for more information. Last September five of us from the Rochester Astronomy Club traveled to the Okie-Tex Star Party, one of the biggest in the nation and we did it in style. Club President Randy Hemann lined up a very nice RV that his neighbor generously donated for a small fee and Vice President […]