The Chester County Astronomical Society was formed as a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and enjoyment of astronomy for the general public. The Society holds meetings (with member or guest speakers) and observing sessions once a month. Anyone who is interested in astronomy is welcome to attend meetings and become a member of the Society. In addition to the monthly meetings and observing sessions, the Society also provides a variety of services to the public, including astronomy classes as well as telescopes and expertise for "star parties" for school, scout, and other civic groups.

• Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Other Kids on the Block—The Planets. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
• Friday, April 4, 2025 - Observing Event at Sacred Heart Academy, 480 S Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. The event is scheduled 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. EDT.
• Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Solar Observing Event with Middletown Free Library Homeschool, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT.
• Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Observing Event with Atglen Public Library at Wolf's Hollow Park, 1399 Schoff Road, Atglen, PA 19310. The event is scheduled 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, in person (as well as via Zoom) at West Chester University’s Merion Science Center, Room 112. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. EST. CCAS Member Speaker: Dr. Roger Kennedy, CCAS member, solar astronomer, and science educator. “Bringing Solar Science to the General Public.”
• Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Obsserving Basics, Star Charts, and Planetarium Software. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
• Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Observing Equipment, Binoculars, and Telescopes. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
• Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Beyond Naked-Eye Observing. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
• Friday, April 25, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Saturday, April 26, 2025 - Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Rain date: April 27th).
• Saturday, May 3, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: West Goshen Park Star Party, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. 1023 Fern Hill Road, West Chester, PA 19380.
• Monday, May 5, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Solar Observation, 12:00 pm. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Middletown Free Library Homeschool.
• Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, in person (as well as via Zoom) at West Chester University’s Merion Science Center, Room 112. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. EST. Guest Speaker: Dr. Julien de Wit, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), MIT, “Characterizing exoplanets with high-precision transit methods to measure biosignatures and assess potential habitability.”
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Solar Observation, 10:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Rain date May 15).
• Friday, May 30, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Thursday, June 19 thru Sunday, June 22, 2025 - Cherry Springs Star Party. Presented by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA. Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, June 20, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Star Party with Chester County Parks and Coatsville Library, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT, at Hibernia Park. (Rain date: June 21st same time.) For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, June 20, 2025 - Friday Night Lights Star Party, 7:00-10:00 p.m. EDT, ChesLen Preserve, Coatesville, PA. This is a fundraiser for the Natural Lands Trust where music is provided. Several local astronomy clubs set up telescopes for the concert goers to view the night sky during the event. If you are not a member of CCAS you must purchase tickets from the Natural Lands Trust. CCAS members who want to assist with the astronomy portion of this event must bring a telescope or mounted astronomical binoculars to qualify for free admission.
• Saturday, June 21, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session "FamilyFest" at the American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA. from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT (Arrive by 9:00 a.m. EDT).For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, 2025 - Green Bank Star Quest XX, Optical Star Party & Conference. National Radio Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia. Presented by the Central Appalachian Astronomy Club.
• Wednesday, June 25-Sunday, June 29, 2025 - York County Star Party, Susquehannock State Park, 1880 Park Dr, Drumore, PA 17518. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, June 27, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Friday, July 18, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session, Battle of the Clouds, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT. Cohosted by the Chester County Library System. (Rain date: July 19th.)
• Tuesday, July 22 thru Friday, July 25, 2025 - CCAS Special Camping Trip & Observing Session at Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.

Following a planet-free morning sky in March, April brings planets back to your mornings, as well as the evening sky. Also look for Lyrid meteors, and hunt for the "faint fuzzy" wonder that is the distant and ancient city of stars known as globular cluster M3. Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up-skywatching-tips-from-nasa.

For star parties and astronomy events near you, visit http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/. Learn about all of NASA's missions at http://www.nasa.gov/.

Astronomers have made two groundbreaking discoveries in the Milky Way! ALMA has detected swirling "space tornadoes" near our supermassive black hole, reshaping our understanding of galactic turbulence. Meanwhile, the Green Bank Telescope has uncovered a massive, hidden molecular cloud, revealing new secrets about star formation and material flow. How do these discoveries change our view of the universe? Watch the full video to find out!

Visit our website for up-to-the-minute updates: www.nasaspacenews.com.

The society schedules monthly observing sessions in the Myrick Conservation Center of the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing sessions, which are planned around the new moon, are open to the public and announced in the Society's newsletter, Observations. Owning a telescope or binoculars is not required; anyone interested in observing the heavens is welcome to show up. If you do have a telescope and need help using it, our observing sessions are a great place to practice and learn from other society members.

The Chester County Astronomical Society's regular monthly meetings include a presentation from an invited speaker or the demonstration of an astronomical project by one of the Society's members. After the presentation, a brief business session is held to review the status of society activities. Meetings typically last 1-1/2 to 2 hours including an informal conversation over refreshments before the start of each meeting.

The Society meets at 7:30 PM the second Tuesday of each month in the Merion Science Center (former Boucher Building) at West Chester University (corner of South Church Street and Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, Pennsylvania). Click for Directions and Maps.

CCAS has partnered with Chester County Lifelong Learning to offer a six-week program meeting in the spring of 2025. For more information, including dates of the classes, contact our Education Co-Chairs. Learn more about the location, the topics covered, and how to register on the classes page.

The Chester County Astronomical Society offers "nights out" to interested organizations including local schools, scouting groups, and other civic groups for the purpose of learning more about the heavens. For example, scouting groups often hold them to earn badges for their members. If your organization is interested in hosting a "night out", please contact us.

• Friday, April 4, 2025 - Observing Event at Sacred Heart Academy, 480 S Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. The event is scheduled 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. EDT.
• Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Solar Observing Event with Middletown Free Library Homeschool, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT.
• Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Observing Event with Atglen Public Library at Wolf's Hollow Park, 1399 Schoff Road, Atglen, PA 19310. The event is scheduled 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
• Friday, April 25, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Saturday, April 26, 2025 - Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Rain date: April 27th).
• Saturday, May 3, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: West Goshen Park Star Party, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. 1023 Fern Hill Road, West Chester, PA 19380.
• Monday, May 5, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Solar Observation, 12:00 pm. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Middletown Free Library Homeschool.
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Solar Observation, 10:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Rain date May 15).
• Friday, May 30, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Thursday, June 19 thru Sunday, June 22, 2025 - Cherry Springs Star Party. Presented by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA. Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, June 20, 2025 - CCAS special observing event: Star Party with Chester County Parks and Coatsville Library, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT, at Hibernia Park. (Rain date: June 21st same time.) For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, June 20, 2025 - Friday Night Lights Star Party, 7:00-10:00 p.m. EDT, ChesLen Preserve, Coatesville, PA. This is a fundraiser for the Natural Lands Trust where music is provided. Several local astronomy clubs set up telescopes for the concert goers to view the night sky during the event. If you are not a member of CCAS you must purchase tickets from the Natural Lands Trust. CCAS members who want to assist with the astronomy portion of this event must bring a telescope or mounted astronomical binoculars to qualify for free admission.
• Saturday, June 21, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session "FamilyFest" at the American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA. from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT (Arrive by 9:00 a.m. EDT).
• Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, 2025 - Green Bank Star Quest XX, Observing & Conference. National Radio Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia. Presented by the Central Appalachian Astronomy Club.
• Wednesday, June 25-Sunday, June 29, 2025 - York County Star Party, Susquehannock State Park, 1880 Park Dr, Drumore, PA 17518.
• Friday, June 27, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Friday, July 18, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session, Battle of the Clouds, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT. Cohosted by the Chester County Library System. (Rain date: July 19th.)
• Tuesday, July 22 thru Friday, July 25, 2025 - CCAS Special Camping Trip & Observing Session at Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.

Star parties are national and regional events similar to "nights out" and open to the public. They are held throughout the year. For a list of upcoming national events in 2025, visit the star parties page.

The West Chester University Department of Geology & Astronomy hosts a planetarium show open to the general public on the 2nd Friday of each month. The WCU Planetarium is located in the Schmucker Science Center on Church St. To locate the planetarium, view the campus map.


The shows start promptly at 7:00 P.M. ET and run approximately one hour in length. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the planetarium. Each show includes an overview of what is visible in the current night sky and a special focus on some aspect of astronomy.

Reservations are required because the planetarium has limited seating. For contact information, visit the WCU Public Planetarium Shows webpage.