FrontPage

Moon Eclipse at Dog Park North

Two weeks after the total solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse occurred. The total eclipse was only visible in a narrow strip that ended in Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. In Rochester, the Moon only slightly licked the Sun, it was a partial solar eclipse. As the H-Alpha photo below documents, the Moon only covered a tiny part on the right. […]
FrontPage

StarBQ 2026: A glorious night for Astronomy

This year, the club once again hosted StarBQ (spelled Star-B-Q: a Star Party and Barbeque) for its members. The original plan was for Friday and Saturday, August 14-16, but the weather didn’t cooperate. The weather was looking better for Sunday, August 16, so Plan B was activated. The afternoon started with sun-gazing at DJMOF (Dean Johnson Memorial Observing Field), followed […]
Members Blog

RAC storage

You need: address, 5 digits access code, 4 digits lock code, unit number. Be ready several times to enter access#lock: * 12345#1234 Get out in front of the gate, enter the code on the column, the gate will open. Drive under the canopy, enter the code to the yellow box left of the glass door to enter the building When […]
Impact point on Moon
FrontPage

Falcon 9 Upper Stage lunar impact

On August 5, 2026 at 1:35 a.m. CDT, the Moon will be approximately at the last quarter and more than 20 degrees above the eastern horizon in the North Central Region. At that time, the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will impact on its illuminated part on the left edge. In a telescope, impact of the 4000kg heavy […]
No Picture
Members Blog

Observing bright variable star Algol

Algol, designated Beta Persei (β Persei, abbreviated Beta Per, β Per), known colloquially as the Demon Star, is a bright multiple star in the constellation of Perseus and one of the first non-nova variable stars to be discovered. Algol is a three-star system, consisting of Beta Persei Aa1, Aa2, and Ab – in which the hot luminous primary β Persei […]
FrontPage

RAC at RochesterFest 2026

Solar Observing at RochesterFest The Rochester Astronomy Club marked another successful community outreach event on Saturday, June 27, celebrating its second annual appearance at RochesterFest. To combat the summer heat, club members Randy and Lynn thoughtfully provided a sturdy yellow canopy shelter, offering a much-needed reprieve from the blazing sun. Once settled in the shade, visitors were treated to an […]
No Picture
Members Blog

Observing Alpha Centauri from Fort Myers Beach

On my recent trip to Fort Myers Beach, Florida, I set my astronomical observation goal to observe the nearest bright star, Alpha Centauri. Alpha Centauri is known to be 4.3 light years away. The really closest star is Proxima Centauri at 4.2 light years away, with a brightness of 10.43 – 11.11 magnitude. It is 2.18° southwest of Alpha Centauri […]