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.

• 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.
• Friday, July 25, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Saturday, August 2, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session from 10:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. EDT at Downingtown Library, Downingtown, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Thursday, August 14, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session from 10:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. EDT at CVT at Exton Park, 132 Church Farm Ln, Exton, PA 19341. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, August 19 thru Friday, August 22, 2025 - CCAS Special Camping Trip & Observing Session at Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, August 22, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Friday, August 29, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session: Starr Farm Park, Downingtown PA. 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, September 6, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, CVT at Exton Park, 132 Church Farm Ln, Exton, PA 19341. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, in person (as well as via Zoom) at West Chester University’s Merion Science Center, Room 112. Our guest speaker is Dr. Bhuvnesh Jain from the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Astronomy and Physics. His presentation is titled "The Nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy and their Roles in Galaxy Formation."
• Wednesday, September 17 thru Sunday, September 21, 2025 - York County Fall Star Party, Susquehannock State Park, 1880 Park Dr, Drumore, PA 17518. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, September 20, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event with the Atglen Public Library and Chester County Parks at Wolfs Hollow County Park, 1766 Glen Run Rd, Atglen, PA 19310. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, September 26, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing session starts at sunset.

What are some skywatching highlights in July 2025? Look for Mars in the evening, Venus and Jupiter in the morning, and find the eagle constellation, Aquila, soaring overhead. 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/.

In November 2026, NASA’s Voyager 1 will become the first human-made object to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth, 25.9 billion kilometers away. Here’s what that means for space, time, and communication.

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, 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.
• Friday, July 25, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Saturday, August 2, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session from 10:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. EDT at Downingtown Library, Downingtown, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Thursday, August 14, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session from 10:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. EDT at CVT at Exton Park, 132 Church Farm Ln, Exton, PA 19341. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, August 19 thru Friday, August 22, 2025 - CCAS Special Camping Trip & Observing Session at Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, August 22, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing session starts at sunset.
• Friday, August 29, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Session: Starr Farm Park, Downingtown PA. 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, September 6, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, CVT at Exton Park, 132 Church Farm Ln, Exton, PA 19341. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, September 17 thru Sunday, September 21, 2025 - York County Fall Star Party, Susquehannock State Park, 1880 Park Dr, Drumore, PA 17518. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, September 20, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event with the Atglen Public Library and Chester County Parks at Wolfs Hollow County Park, 1766 Glen Run Rd, Atglen, PA 19310. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, September 26, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. 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 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.