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.

Presentation: Choosing Binoculars

Hands-on presentation “Choosing Binoculars” by Dr. Randy Hemann. 

Join us for an engaging public presentation, “Choosing Binoculars for Astronomical Observing,” where you’ll discover how a humble pair of binoculars can unlock stunning views of the night sky without the complexity of a full telescope setup. Whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned star-gazer, we will walk through key optical specifications—like aperture, magnification, exit pupil, and glass coatings—so you know exactly what to look for when choosing optics for sweeping views of the Milky Way, bright star clusters, and the Moon. Come learn how to pick the perfect pair for your budget, ask questions, and get ready to see the cosmos through a whole new lens!

Dr. Randy Hemann is president of the Rochester Astronomy Club and NASA Solar System Ambassador. Randy is a retired physician and former chief medical officer from Rochester, Minnesota. His interest in astronomy was planted at age 10 in his backyard on a cold winter night when his 3-inch reflector telescope “discovered” Saturn as this new “star” entering the constellation of Orion. That indelible impression never left him. Later in life, after extensive education in medicine and establishing his career, he purchased a 6-inch reflector telescope from a friend — and then it began. He joined a local amateur astronomy club and has performed as its president for the last 25 years. He enjoys producing daytime and nighttime astronomical outreach events for local schools, scouts, libraries, and regional state parks. Now retired, he and his wife Lynne travel the country in his motorhome, always toting several telescopes for impromptu campsite night observing sessions with others. He often pulls a trailer that houses his 18- and 30-inch Dobsonian telescopes for more extensive observing opportunities.

Observing

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

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

Facebook page

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

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

Facebook page

Presentation and sky observing

FRIDAY:

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

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

Public Sky Observing 2027-03/12 @ Oxbow Park
Mar 12 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Public Sky Observing 2027-04/23 @ Salem Glen Winery
Apr 23 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm