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GMT, Eastern U.S.A. Time Zone and Julian Date clock 

August 2010 - Astronomy and Rocketry Summer Camp Registration page  Click Here


new   Largest Amateur Telescopes webpage

Public Star Party:   Friday: July 2, 9

See details below

Tentative: Objects to be shown:
Venus, Mars, Saturn, Albireo, M13 in Hercules. M57 in Lyra. We ask for your suggestions also.

Morgan County Observatory
Latitude 39° 28′ 55.01″ N
Longitude 78° 13′ 17.58″ W
Courtesy Google Maps

Observatory (click to view larger image)

The MCOF Public Star Parties will be held on Friday

july 2, and 9, 2010 at 9:00 pm, at the Morgan County Observatory. There will be stargazing, refreshments, movies and hands on astronomy exhibits to entertain folks of all ages.

The Observatory will be open whether the sky is cloudy or clear. Check this website for last minute cancellations due to severe weather conditions.

To sign up for email notification of closing, Please email  MCOF President

MCOF would like to get the message out that all of us as citizens and business owners can help prevent light pollution by using minimal outdoor lighting, keeping all lights pointed downward, utilizing timers and motion detectors for outdoor lighting and turning off unneeded lights at night. These measures save money and energy, besides protecting our night sky from light pollution. For more information see:

http://www.darksky.org

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2010 Spring/Summer Calendar

Viewing nights are Friday Evenings unless noted - Check website for cloudy/raindate

April 9, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM

April 16, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM

April 23, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM- Redbud weekend

April 24, 2010   Saturday

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM- Redbud weekend

May 7, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM

May 14, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:00 PM

June 4, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 9:00 PM

June 11, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 9:00 PM

July 2, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 9:00 PM

July 9, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 9:00 PM

July 31 , 2010  -  Saturday

Open House at Observatory 7:30 PM. - Morgan County Fair

August 6, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:30 PM

August 13, 2010

Public Star Party at Observatory 8:30 PM

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Directions to Morgan County Observatory

The Observatory is located on the grounds of the Greenwood Elementary School, 8989 Winchester Grade Rd (Rt 13), Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

From Berkeley Springs: follow Rt 522 South 2 miles and take a left on Winchester Grade Rd (Rt 13), then travel 9 miles. The Greenwood Elementary School (8989 Winchester Grade Road) will be on the left. Go past the school and then park at the Observatory Parking lot next to the Observatory.

From Winchester, Va.: follow route 522 North to Reynolds Rd (Liberty Gas Station on left). Make right turn and go 5 miles to end (Reynolds Rd changes to Winchester Grade Road at West Virginia state line.), then make right turn onto Winchester Grade Rd (Rt 13) and go 4 miles to the Observatory. For information call 304-258-1013

For more information, see the Star Parties page or Star Parties Archive and
Indoor Star Shows Archive pages.

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Upcoming events - Local Astronomy Groups

Star Parties

Morgan County Observatory - Public Star Party: May 15,and 22 at 8:30 pm.

Analemma Society, Great Falls, Va Public Observing Sessions - Every Friday Night - Weather permitting

National Air and Space Museum Events - Sky Meadows Public Observing Night: Saturday - September 19, October 10, November 14, 2009  Dusk to 11 pm.

Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (Novac) Public Observing Session:
Sept 19, Oct 17, Nov 14, 21, Dec 12, 2009 at CM Crockett Park.
Sept 26, Oct 24, Nov 7, 2009 at Great Meadows State Park

Shenandoah Astronomical Society (SAS)   Public Astronomical Observing Session - none listed

Shenandoah Valley Stargazers (SVS) Public Observing Session: None Listed

TriState Astronomers: none listed

University of Maryland College Park, MD Public Observing Sessions - 5th and 20th of each month

Meetings

National Capital Astronomers and National Capital Astronomers  Sept. 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Novac - Northern Virginia Astronomy Club   Sunday, September 13, 2009.  Meetings normally held 2nd Sunday of the month at 7:00 pm.

Shenandoah Astronomical Society     Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 7:00pm. - Club Meeting at Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, Va.   Meetings held 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm.

Shenandoah Valley Stargazers No Meetings.

TriState Astronomers Next meeting: September 16, 2009 at 7:30pm. in the WCBOE William Brish Planetarium.

Westminster Astronomical Society Next meeting: Not listed


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The Links radio button contains links to 11 different topics which are listed below:

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Astronomy Now   Tonight's Sky

Amazing Space's - Tonight's Sky   requires Flash Player 7

Astronomy's - Sky Events  This website allows you to see up to 52 weeks in advance.

Sky & Telescope  "This Week's Sky at a Glance"

Star Gazer  by - Jack Horkheimer, The International Edition

The Sky This Week  U.S. Naval Observatory

Earth & Sky  Tonight's Sky

Night Sky Observer  Robert Nugent's The Sky this month

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Hold a Private Star Party at the Observatory !

Have a Private Star Party with your friends. See the "Get Involved" web page for membership levels for this or contact Kevin Boles at 304 258-1013 for information on pricing for Number of persons attending/# of hours use/trained operator to run telescope.

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Clear Sky Clock



Click on a moon of Jupiter for more information.


Link to JPLs NightWatch

Link to Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Link to NASA's Space Place

For more Astronomical Links click here: Astronomy Links Page

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Lunar Phases

CURRENT MOON

All times displayed below are in UT except for the clock in the bottom block which displays local time

phases.jpg
1 New Moon
2 Waxing Crescent Moon
3 First Quarter Moon
4 Waxing Gibbous Moon
5 Full Moon
6 Waning Gibbous Moon
7 Third Quarter or Last Quarter Moon
8 Waning Crescent Moon
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Tonight's Sky:


Tonight's sky

Click the above image for a chart of the sky above Morgan County Observatory.
Popup blockers must be disabled. Charts courtesy of Fourmilab Switzerland.

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Link to United Way of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia

Link to NASA's Space Place
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For broken links Please email MCOF Webmaster

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This Page Last Updated - June 30, 2010

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