8 PM Presentation about Summer Sky

by Dr. Randy Hemann

This presentation offers an engaging journey through the summer night sky, guiding stargazers of all experience levels through the season’s most striking celestial highlights. Attendees will learn how to locate prominent landmarks like the Summer Triangle—a massive stellar trio composed of Vega, Deneb, and Altair—and trace the glowing band of our Milky Way galaxy stretching across the warm evening air. The session also previews highly anticipated seasonal spectacles, including the spectacular Perseid meteor shower, while providing practical tips on using basic stargazing gear and mobile apps to navigate the cosmos from your own backyard. Whether you are a casual observer or a budding astronomer, this presentation provides the essential tools and knowledge to transform an ordinary summer night into an extraordinary cosmic exploration.

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.

9 PM Observing

Public Sky Observing of the planet Venus, bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club. At 10 pm, the Moon rises above the eastern horizon, two days after the full moon phase on July 29 at 10:36 am with clearly visible craters on the terminator of the waning moon.

What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here.

Public Sky Observing of the planets Venus 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 August/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 08/08, Sun and Moon 08/08, 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

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Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 8.6 days after New Moon, planets Venus Saturn Neptune 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 August 21 evening


Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky August/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 08/21, Sun and Moon 08/21, 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

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See 2026-Dark-Sky-Festival-Flyer.pdf

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 9.6 days after New Moon, planets Venus Saturn Neptune 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 Saturday August 22 evening

Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky August/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 08/22, Sun and Moon 08/22, 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

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 1.5 days after New Moon, planets Venus Saturn Neptune 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 Saturday September 12 evening


Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky September/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 09/12, Sun and Moon 09/12, 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

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 7.5 days after New Moon, planets Saturn Neptune 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 September 18 evening


Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky September/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 09/18, Sun and Moon 09/18, 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

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 10/03, Sun and Moon 10/03, 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

Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 5.6 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 October 16 evening


Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Resources: In the Sky October/2026, Phases of the Moon 2026, Planets rise and set 10/16, Sun and Moon 10/16, 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

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

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

Facebook page

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