Join the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) for Astronomy Day at C.M. Crockett Park on April 29, 2017. Astronomy Day is a national event held to promote and share amateur astronomy. Come out at 3 PM to observe the Sun! Stay until nightfall to see some planets and deep sky objects! The program features solar observing through safe filters, telescopes to look at and look through when the stars come out, and presentations about astronomy, space exploration, and the night sky.The presentation portion is rain or shine. Presentations are generally appropriate for all ages. Evening observing is weather-permitting, but we can observe under even partly cloudy skies! Entrance to the park ends at 9 pm, no exceptions! Crockett Park charges $7 per vehicle if you’re not a Fauquier County or NOVAC member, but the event itself is completely free..

The lead article continues the last issue’s “travelogue,” with Ryan Rapoza’s astronomy experiences south of the Equator (Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji). Tom Watson offers a piece on “prehistoric astronomy” and the first of a series of product reviews. Jerry Hubbell contributed the content for a new “Op Ed” feature. His subject is advice and opinions on how beginners should start observing the sky, with an emphasis on “starting simple” to more easily learn the sky. Click the “newspaper” icon to the right.

Tonight, December 21, 7 pm–Come on out to our monthly club meeting.  Ryan Rapoza will talk about his astronomy experiences on his recent trip to the Southern Hemisphere that included Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.