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
Saturday, September 1, 2018 - CCAS Summer Party at Barb & Don Knabb's home in West Chester, PA. The party is for CCAS members and their families. See the August 2018 edition of Observations for more details about the party and for directions to Barb & Don's home.
Friday, September 7, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, September 8, 2018 - CCAS Special Joint Observing Session with Atglen Library at Wolf's Hollow County Park, Atglen, PA.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, Room 113, Merion Science Center (former Boucher Building), West Chester University. Meet & Greet over coffee and refreshments for members and non-members alike from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting starts immediately after at 7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: TBA
Friday, September 14, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Starr Farm Park, Downingtown, PA. The observing session is scheduled from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Saturday, September 15, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Hoopes Park, West Chester, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Knabb.
Saturday, September 29, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Bucktoe Creek Preserve, Avondale, PA, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The event is open to be public but registration for non-CCAS members is equired through The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County website. A small fee is required by The Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County to attend this event. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Knabb.
Friday, October 5-Saturday, October 6, 2018 - Joint CCAS - DVAA Camping Trip.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, Room 113, Merion Science Center (former Boucher Building), West Chester University. Meet & Greet over coffee and refreshments for members and non-members alike from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting starts immediately after at 7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: TBA.
Friday, October 12, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, October 13, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square, PA. This event is scheduled from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and is open to the public.
Saturday, October 20, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session, Willistown Conservation Trust Run-a-Muck. The observing session is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The event is open only to registered participants.
Astronomy Video of the Month: What's Up for September 2018?
What's up in the night sky for September? Outstanding views of the planets. Spot Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars with the naked eye. Then, set your sights beyond the solar system and take a late summertime road-trip of the constellations along the Milky Way.
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 Room MER112 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 partnered with Chester County Night School to offer a six-week program meeting Monday nights at Henderson High School from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The classes ran from March 19, 2018 through April 30, 2018, with no class on April 2, 2018 (the day after Easter). The cost for the courses was $59.00 per person.
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
Friday, September 7, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, September 8, 2018 - CCAS Special Joint Observing Session with Atglen Library at Wolf's Hollow County Park, Atglen, PA.
Friday, September 14, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Starr Farm Park, Downingtown, PA. The observing session is scheduled from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Saturday, September 15, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Hoopes Park, West Chester, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Knabb.
Saturday, September 29, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Bucktoe Creek Preserve, Avondale, PA, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The event is open to be public but registration for non-CCAS members is equired through The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County website. A small fee is required by The Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County to attend this event. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Knabb.
Friday, October 5-Saturday, October 6, 2018 - Joint CCAS - DVAA Camping Trip.
LI>Friday, October 12, 2018 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, October 13, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session at Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square, PA. This event is scheduled from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and is open to the public.
Saturday, October 20, 2018 - CCAS Special Observing Session, Willistown Conservation Trust Run-a-Muck. The observing session is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The event is open only to registered participants.
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 2018, 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.
