Vince_Condella's Blog

This Saturday, May 10, is National Astronomy Day, and our local astronomical organizations will have public events for those curious about the night sky.  This is the weekend to introduce somebody to the wonders of the universe, and there is no better ambassador for the science of astronomy than local amateurs who love their hobby.

Amateur astronomers around the world contribute daily to the body of knowledge of our solar system, our galaxy and our universe through their discoveries, often using home-built telescopes and computer-aided photo equipment.  We are lucky here in southeast Wisconsin to have strong local amateur astronomy clubs that will help anybody get interested in the stars and planets.

The Milwaukee Astronomical Society (MAS), a long-standing amateur organization based out of their observatory in New Berlin, will be holding public viewing and talks about our Moon this Friday evening.  They will also have telescopes set up for public viewing of the Sun on Saturday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Mukwonago.  The Friday night session begins at 7:30pm, and Saturday's event starts at 11 a.m. and goes all afternoon.

For information about the two-day event being put together by the folks at MAS, including directions to their New Berlin observatory, to go their web site at Milwaukee Astronomical Society.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cross Science Foundation, another wonderful local astronomical group, will hold public viewings of the stars and planets from their new observatory at Harrington Beach State Park (northern Ozaukee County) this Friday evening beginning at 7 p.m.  Saturday will be an all-day astronomy fest at Harrington Beach starting at 2 p.m. and going all the way through the evening.  There will be talks and demonstrations about various topics in astronomy, as well as solar viewing during the day and stellar and planetary viewing in the evening.

To learn more about the events at Harrington Beach State Park, go to their web site at Northern Cross Science Foundation.

Get outside and look up this weekend and get turned on to the wonders of our universe!