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.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 2025 STEM Night at Kennett Middle School, Landenberg, PA 19350. Event scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST (with a 5:00 p.m. arrival for setup).
Tuesday, March 11, 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. EDT. Guest Speaker: Dr. Marc Gagné, Professor & Assistant Chair, Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, West Chester University, “Of Exoplanets and Cosmology: how JWST is probing exoplanet habitability and searching for the first stars and galaxies.”
Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Solar Observation, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Rachel Kohl Community Library, Glen Mills, PA.
Monday, March 17, 2025 - Solar Observation, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT. WCU campus near Student Center.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Spaceship Earth—the Sun and its effects on the Earth. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Our Moon—Phases and Faces. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT.
Friday, March 28, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, March 29, 2025 - Solar Observation, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Rachel Kohl Community Library, Glen Mills, PA.
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.
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.
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.”
Astronomy Video of the Month: What's Up for March 2025?
What are some skywatching highlights in March 2025? March has great opportunities to spy fast-moving Mercury, stay up late to enjoy a total eclipse of the Moon, and learn about the dark side of the Moon! 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.
A Sign For Habitability? NASA’S Curiosity Rover Just Discovered Shimmering Clouds on MARS
NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured something out of this world—literally! Shimmering twilight clouds glowing in red, green, and rainbow hues are lighting up the Martian sky. But these clouds are made of frozen carbon dioxide—dry ice! What does this mean for Mars’s past, its atmosphere, and future space exploration? Dive into this groundbreaking discovery and learn how it could shape humanity’s future on the Red Planet.
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.
Upcoming Nights Out
Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 2025 STEM Night at Kennett Middle School, Landenberg, PA 19350.
Monday, March 17, 2025 - Solar Observation, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT. WCU campus near Student Center.
Friday, March 28, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Friday, April 25, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
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 2024, 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.
