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
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Other Kids on the Block—The Planets. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT. Visit the Chester County Lifelong Learning website to register online.
Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Chester County Parks Night event: Coatesville Star Party at Hibernia County Park. Parking at pavilion #5 lot with observing to take place in Fiddlers Field. The event is scheduled 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Obsserving Basics, Star Charts, and Planetarium Software. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT. Visit the Chester County Lifelong Learning website to register online.
Friday, April 10, 2026 - West Chester University Planetarium Show: “We Are Made of Star Stuff—The Lifecycle of Stars,” in the Schmucker Science Building. The show starts at 7 p.m. and run approximately one hour in length. For more information and reservations, visit the WCU Public Planetarium Shows webpage.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Meeting in Room 112, Merion Science Center, WCU (as well as via Zoom). The meeting starts at 7:30 PM, EDT. Guest Speaker: Dr. Masahiro Ono, NASA/JPL, "From the Surface of Mars to the Oceans of Enceladus and Europa: Advancing the Frontiers of Exploration with EELS Adaptive Robots."
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Observing Equipment, Binoculars, and Telescopes. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT. Visit the Chester County Lifelong Learning website to register online.
Friday, April 17, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - Introduction to Astronomy Class: Beyond Naked-Eye Observing. Room C106, Peirce Middle School, West Chester, 7 p.m. EDT. Visit the Chester County Lifelong Learning website to register online.
Friday, April 24, 2026 - Observing Session with WCU at the Mather Planetarium. Telescopes set up outside the planetarium, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Meeting in Room 112, Merion Science Center, WCU (as well as via Zoom). The meeting starts at 7:30 PM, EST. Guest Speaker: Dr. Anne Pommier, Carnegie Institution of Washington Earth and Planets Laboratory, “Mercury beyond MESSENGER – What We Know and New Missions to our Solar System’s Innermost Planet.”
Mercury shines at its brightest for the year, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and a bright new comet makes an appearance in April’s night sky. Catch Mercury low in the eastern sky before sunrise on April 3 at its greatest elongation. Then look up late April 21 into the 22nd for the Lyrids, with “shooting stars” radiating near the bright star Vega. Also this month, Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) may be visible with binoculars or a telescope, especially around April 17, before making its closest approach to Earth on April 27.
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://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/
HAPPENING NOW: Artemis II Gets Final Go — NASA Astronauts Head to the Moon
NASA has launched Artemis II, sending astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This crewed mission tests deep-space travel using the Orion spacecraft before future lunar landings.
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 2026. 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.
Star Parties & "Nights Out"
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
Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Chester County Parks Night event: Coatesville Star Party at Hibernia County Park. Parking at pavilion #5 lot with observing to take place in Fiddlers Field. The event is scheduled 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
Friday, April 17, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Friday, April 24, 2026 - Observing Session with WCU at the Mather Planetarium. Telescopes set up outside the planetarium, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. EDT.
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 2026, 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.
