Submitted Photos

IC 434
Photographer: Roger Dier
IC 434
Photographer: Roger Dier
Witch’s Broom Nebula (NGC 6960)
Photographer: Macastronomer
Great Orion Nebula
Photographer: Macastronomer
The Swan (M17)
Photographer: Macastronomer
Looking at me, looking at the sky
Photographer: Macastronomer

Nov
6
Fri
Member’s Dark Sky Weekend @ Eagle Bluff
Nov 6 – Nov 7 all-day

November Members’ Dark Sky Weekend at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center

Eagle Bluff Observing
Eagle Bluff Observing

Join fellow club members for a weekend under dark skies!
Friday is the primary observing night, with Saturday as the backup.

  • Bring your telescope, or enjoy the views through others’ scopes.
  • Bring a friend!
  • Be considerate of members working on observations or astrophotography.
  • Use red lights to help preserve everyone’s night vision.
  • Use laser pointers responsibly.
  • Most importantly, enjoy the night sky!

Check back for updates and additional event details.

Nov
7
Sat
Public Sky Observing 2026-11/07 @ Root River Park
Nov 7 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Public Sky Observing of the planets Saturn Neptune Uranus bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club.

What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here.

Reload this page before you leave for the event. Event can be cancelled in case of cloudy weather or another reason.

 

Resources: In the Sky October/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 10/31, Sun and Moon 10/31, Sun today, Holidays 2026
Moon Features You Can See From Earth,
Messier list, Caldwell list, Double stars list, Carbon stars list

2026 Public Sky Observing Plan
Month Day DoW Location Sunset Start End ☽ age Planets Title
Jan 23 Fri Oxbow Park 17:03 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 8.0 ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Randy Hemann
Feb 27 Fri Oxbow Park 18:30 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 9.9 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Presentation
Mar 27 Fri Oxbow Park 19:06 8:00 PM 9:30 PM 8.4 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ⛢ Mike Benson
Apr 24 Fri Oxbow Park 19:42 8:30 PM 10:00 PM 6.9 ♂ ♃ ⛢ Bob Fealey
May 15 Fri Eagle Bluff 20:31 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 27.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 16 Sat Eagle Bluff 20:32 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 28.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 22 Fri Watson 20:16 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 5.4 ♀ ♃  
Jun 06 Sat Root River Park 20:40 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 26.6 ♀ ♃  
Jun 19 Fri Watson 20:57 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 5.1 ♀  
Jul 11 Sat Root River Park 20:54 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 25.2 ♀  
Jul 14 Tue Mayo Park 20:51 12:00 PM 2:00 PM 28.6 ♀  
Jul 17 Fri Watson 20:49 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 2.5 ♀  
Jul 18 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:48 7:30 PM 3:30 AM 3.5 ♀ @Members night
Aug 01 Sat Frontenac 20:35 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 16.7 ♀  
Aug 08 Sat Root River Park 20:24 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 23.8 ♀  
Aug 14 Fri The Dean Johnson 20:16 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 1.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 15 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:15 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 2.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 16 Sun The Dean Johnson 20:13 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 3.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 21 Fri Watson 20:04 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 8.6 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Sun observing
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Dark sky festival
Sep 12 Sat Root River Park 19:26 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 1.5 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Sep 18 Fri Watson 19:18 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 7.5 ♄ ♆  
Oct 03 Sat Root River Park 18:47 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 22.2 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Oct 16 Fri Watson 18:24 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 5.6 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Ast.day
Nov 07 Sat Root River Park 18:01 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 20.8 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Nov 13 Fri Oxbow Park 16:45 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 3.9 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
Dec 11 Fri Salem Glenn 16:31 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 2.3 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
event October 16 previous next November 13

☿ – Mercury, ♀ – Venus, ♂ – Mars, ♃ – Jupiter, ♄ – Saturn, ⛢ – Uranus, ♆ – Neptune

Color code
Oxbow Park Root River Park Soccer Fields Out of Rochester Moon visible

Facebook page

Nov
10
Tue
RAC Monthly Meeting November 2026 @ RCTC Room EA103 (use the southeastern entrance to RCTC.)
Nov 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Please come to the Rochester Astronomy Club monthly meetings! These meetings are free and open to the public. Each month we will try to bring you a different presentation and share observing notes and tips.

Agenda will be published on the Sunday before the meeting.

We are offering these meetings in a hybrid fashion, you can attend either in person or via ZOOM. To attend the meeting virtually via ZOOM, you will need to register using the link below.

You only need to register once to gain access to all of these meetings for 2026

Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pXIUeCDoRgWWDNE3KB0c6g

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Nov
13
Fri
Public Sky Observing 2026-11/13 @ Oxbow Park
Nov 13 @ 7:07 pm – 8:07 pm

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 3.9 days after New Moon, planets Saturn Neptune Uranus bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club.

What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here.

Reload this page before you leave for the event. Event can be cancelled in case of cloudy weather or another reason.

Moon on Friday November 13 evening

Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky November/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 11/13, Sun and Moon 11/13, Sun today, Holidays 2026
Moon Features You Can See From Earth,
Messier list, Caldwell list, Double stars list, Carbon stars list

2026 Public Sky Observing Plan
Month Day DoW Location Sunset Start End ☽ age Planets Title
Jan 23 Fri Oxbow Park 17:03 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 8.0 ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Randy Hemann
Feb 27 Fri Oxbow Park 18:30 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 9.9 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Presentation
Mar 27 Fri Oxbow Park 19:06 8:00 PM 9:30 PM 8.4 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ⛢ Mike Benson
Apr 24 Fri Oxbow Park 19:42 8:30 PM 10:00 PM 6.9 ♂ ♃ ⛢ Bob Fealey
May 15 Fri Eagle Bluff 20:31 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 27.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 16 Sat Eagle Bluff 20:32 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 28.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 22 Fri Watson 20:16 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 5.4 ♀ ♃  
Jun 06 Sat Root River Park 20:40 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 26.6 ♀ ♃  
Jun 19 Fri Watson 20:57 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 5.1 ♀  
Jul 11 Sat Root River Park 20:54 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 25.2 ♀  
Jul 14 Tue Mayo Park 20:51 12:00 PM 2:00 PM 28.6 ♀  
Jul 17 Fri Watson 20:49 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 2.5 ♀  
Jul 18 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:48 7:30 PM 3:30 AM 3.5 ♀ @Members night
Aug 01 Sat Frontenac 20:35 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 16.7 ♀  
Aug 08 Sat Root River Park 20:24 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 23.8 ♀  
Aug 14 Fri The Dean Johnson 20:16 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 1.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 15 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:15 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 2.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 16 Sun The Dean Johnson 20:13 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 3.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 21 Fri Watson 20:04 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 8.6 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Sun observing
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Dark sky festival
Sep 12 Sat Root River Park 19:26 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 1.5 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Sep 18 Fri Watson 19:18 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 7.5 ♄ ♆  
Oct 03 Sat Root River Park 18:47 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 22.2 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Oct 16 Fri Watson 18:24 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 5.6 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Ast.day
Nov 07 Sat Root River Park 18:01 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 20.8 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Nov 13 Fri Oxbow Park 16:45 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 3.9 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
Dec 11 Fri Salem Glenn 16:31 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 2.3 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
event October 31 previous next December 11

☿ – Mercury, ♀ – Venus, ♂ – Mars, ♃ – Jupiter, ♄ – Saturn, ⛢ – Uranus, ♆ – Neptune

Color code
Oxbow Park Root River Park Soccer Fields Out of Rochester Moon visible

Facebook page

Dec
4
Fri
Member’s Dark Sky Weekend
Dec 4 – Dec 5 all-day

December Members’ Dark Sky Weekend

Join fellow club members for a weekend under dark skies! Friday is the primary observing night, with Saturday as the backup.

  • Bring your telescope, or enjoy the views through others’ scopes.
  • Bring a friend!
  • Be considerate of members working on observations or astrophotography.
  • Use red lights to help preserve everyone’s night vision.
  • Use laser pointers carefully, and avoid pointing across a telescope’s field of view while it’s imaging.

Check back for updates and additional event details.

Dec
11
Fri
Public Sky Observing 2026-12/11 @ Salem Glen Winery
Dec 11 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wonders of the Winter sky

Presentation by Robert Fealey

This presentation invites audiences to explore the crisp, brilliant spectacle of the winter night sky, renowned for harboring some of the brightest stars and most iconic constellations of the year. Guided by the unmistakable figure of Orion the Hunter, attendees will discover how to navigate the heavens using the Winter Hexagon—an expansive asterism linking stellar powerhouses like Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Rigel—while unveiling deep-sky wonders such as the glowing Orion Nebula and the Pleiades star cluster. The session also addresses the unique advantages of winter stargazing, from longer, darker nights to unusually clear atmospheric conditions, while offering essential tips on equipment and cold-weather preparation. Designed for stargazers of all skill levels, this talk equips viewers with the knowledge to step outside and confidently decipher the season’s magnificent celestial canvas.

Observing:

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 2.3 days after New Moon, planets Saturn Neptune Uranus bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club.

What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here.

Reload this page before you leave for the event. Event can be cancelled in case of cloudy weather or another reason.

Moon on Friday December 11 evening

Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky December/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 12/11, Sun and Moon 12/11, Sun today, Holidays 2026
Moon Features You Can See From Earth,
Messier list, Caldwell list, Double stars list, Carbon stars list

2026 Public Sky Observing Plan
Month Day DoW Location Sunset Start End ☽ age Planets Title
Jan 23 Fri Oxbow Park 17:03 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 8.0 ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Randy Hemann
Feb 27 Fri Oxbow Park 18:30 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 9.9 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ♄ ⛢ ♆ Presentation
Mar 27 Fri Oxbow Park 19:06 8:00 PM 9:30 PM 8.4 ☿ ♀ ♂ ♃ ⛢ Mike Benson
Apr 24 Fri Oxbow Park 19:42 8:30 PM 10:00 PM 6.9 ♂ ♃ ⛢ Bob Fealey
May 15 Fri Eagle Bluff 20:31 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 27.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 16 Sat Eagle Bluff 20:32 9:00 PM 3:45 AM 28.0 ♀ ♃ @Members night
May 22 Fri Watson 20:16 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 5.4 ♀ ♃  
Jun 06 Sat Root River Park 20:40 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 26.6 ♀ ♃  
Jun 19 Fri Watson 20:57 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 5.1 ♀  
Jul 11 Sat Root River Park 20:54 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 25.2 ♀  
Jul 14 Tue Mayo Park 20:51 12:00 PM 2:00 PM 28.6 ♀  
Jul 17 Fri Watson 20:49 9:30 PM 11:30 PM 2.5 ♀  
Jul 18 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:48 7:30 PM 3:30 AM 3.5 ♀ @Members night
Aug 01 Sat Frontenac 20:35 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 16.7 ♀  
Aug 08 Sat Root River Park 20:24 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 23.8 ♀  
Aug 14 Fri The Dean Johnson 20:16 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 1.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 15 Sat The Dean Johnson 20:15 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 2.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 16 Sun The Dean Johnson 20:13 9:00 PM 6:00 AM 3.0 ♀ ♄ ♆ @Members night
Aug 21 Fri Watson 20:04 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 8.6 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Sun observing
Aug 22 Sat Forestville 20:03 8:30 PM 11:30 PM 9.6 ♀ ♄ ♆ Dark sky festival
Sep 12 Sat Root River Park 19:26 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 1.5 ♀ ♄ ♆  
Sep 18 Fri Watson 19:18 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 7.5 ♄ ♆  
Oct 03 Sat Root River Park 18:47 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 22.2 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Oct 16 Fri Watson 18:24 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 5.6 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Ast.day
Nov 07 Sat Root River Park 18:01 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 20.8 ♄ ♆ ⛢  
Nov 13 Fri Oxbow Park 16:45 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 3.9 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
Dec 11 Fri Salem Glenn 16:31 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 2.3 ♄ ♆ ⛢ Presentation
event November 13 previous next January 15

☿ – Mercury, ♀ – Venus, ♂ – Mars, ♃ – Jupiter, ♄ – Saturn, ⛢ – Uranus, ♆ – Neptune

Color code
Oxbow Park Root River Park Soccer Fields Out of Rochester Moon visible

Facebook page

Jan
8
Fri
Member’s Dark Sky Weekend
Jan 8 – Jan 9 all-day

January Members’ Dark Sky Weekend

Join fellow club members for a weekend under dark skies! Friday is the primary observing night, with Saturday as the backup.

  • Bring your telescope, or enjoy the views through others’ scopes.
  • Bring a friend!
  • Be considerate of members working on observations or astrophotography.
  • Use red lights to help preserve everyone’s night vision.
  • Use laser pointers carefully, and avoid pointing across a telescope’s field of view while it’s imaging.

Check back for updates and additional event details.

Jan
15
Fri
Public Sky Observing 2027-01/15 @ Oxbow Park
Jan 15 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Presentation and sky observing

Feb
5
Fri
Member’s Dark Sky Weekend
Feb 5 – Feb 6 all-day

February Members’ Dark Sky Weekend

Join fellow club members for a weekend under dark skies! Friday is the primary observing night, with Saturday as the backup.

  • Bring your telescope, or enjoy the views through others’ scopes.
  • Bring a friend!
  • Be considerate of members working on observations or astrophotography.
  • Use red lights to help preserve everyone’s night vision.
  • Use laser pointers carefully, and avoid pointing across a telescope’s field of view while it’s imaging.

Check back for updates and additional event details.

Feb
12
Fri
Public Sky Observing 2027-02/12 @ Oxbow Park
Feb 12 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm