4012 80th St SE Rochester MN 55904
Reload this page last minute for an updates. Event can be canceled due to weather or any other reason.
Due to COVID-19 situation, we changed observing format to BYOT (Bring Your Own Telescope). You should not expect to observe through somebody else’s telescope. Instead we will set up a telescope with a real time imaging system, and visitors should be able to see celestial objects on the monitor.
- General public observers are welcome to bring their own telescopes, including binoculars
- Observers should bring red light (read headlamp, red flashlight, red bicycle light)
- Observers need to wear masks. Gloves and hand sanitizer are recommended.
- Observers need to keep distance of each other at least 6 feet
- Telescopes should be set at least 10 feet apart
Not having a telescope? RAC members can show you constellations by laser pointer from a safe 6 ft distance.
Public Sky Observing under dark sky; planets Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, bright stars, double stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club.
Observing will be at Root River Park
| Month | Day | DoW | Start | End | ☽ age | Planets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 03 | Fri | 6 | 8 | 8.1 | ♀,♆,⛢ |
| Jan | 31 | Fri | 6 | 8 | 6.4 | ☿,♀,♆,⛢ |
| Feb | 28 | Fri | 6:30 | 8:30 | 4.8 | ♀,♆,⛢ |
| Mar | 27 | Fri | 8 | 10 | 3.2 | ♀,♆ |
| May | 015 | Fri | 9 | 11 | 8.7 | ♀ |
| May | 23 | Sat | 9:30 | 11:30 | 1.3 | ♀ |
| May | 29 | Fri | 9:30 | 11:30 | 7.3 | ☿,♀ |
| Jun | 20 | Sat | 9:45 | 11:45 | 29.3 | ♃,♄ |
| Jun | 26 | Fri | 9:45 | 11:45 | 6 | ♃,♄ |
| Jul | 18 | Sat | 9:30 | 11:30 | 27.9 | ♃,♄,⛢ |
| Jul | 24 | Fri | 9:30 | 11:30 | 4.8 | ♃,♄,⛢ |
| Aug | 22 | Sat | 8:30 | 10:30 | 4.5 | ♃,♄,⛢ |
| Aug | 285 | Fri | 8:30 | 10:30 | 10.8 | ♂,♃,♄,⛢ |
| Sep | 19 | Sat | 7:30 | 9:30 | 3.0 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| Sep | 25 | Fri | 7:30 | 9:30 | 9.4 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| Oct | 17 | Sat | 7 | 9 | 1.4 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| Oct | 23 | Fri | 7 | 9 | 7.9 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| Nov | 20 | Fri | 6 | 8 | 6.3 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| Dec | 18 | Fri | 6 | 8 | 4.6 | ♂,♃,♄,♆,⛢ |
| event | August 28 previous | next September 25 | ||||
Day upper index5 means 5 weeks gap instead of regular 4 weeks.
☿ – Mercury, ♀ – Venus, ♂ – Mars, ♃ – Jupiter, ♄ – Saturn, ⛢ – Uranus, ♆ – Neptune,