Community Observatory

For the evenings of May 15th and 16th, 2026, between 9 PM and 11 PM in Northern California, the sky should be especially rewarding because the Moon will be at or near new phase, giving us dark skies for deep-sky observing. Evening Highlights Venus -- Brilliant in the West Venus will dominate the western sky shortly after sunset, shining as the brilliant "Evening Star."  It will still be visible during the early part of our observing window, especially around 9 PM, low in the west. Jupiter -- Bright and Easy to Find Jupiter remains one of the brightest objects in the evening sky and should be well placed for telescopic viewing. Through binoculars or a telescope you may see the Galilean moons and cloud bands. Spring Galaxies at Their Best Because the Moon is essentially absent, this is prime "galaxy season." Dark skies favor deep-sky observing: The Leo Triplet in Leo The Virgo Cluster M 64 Black Eye Galaxy in Coma Berenices M 3 high overhead Milky Way The brighter cor...

The Moon won’t rise until the early morning hours on both Friday and Saturday, giving us dark skies and excellent viewing conditions. These darker skies are especially helpful for observing deep-sky objects, which is perfect timing since we are in the heart of “galaxy season.” Speaking of galaxy season, here’s a stunning image captured by Docent Logan Brewer using our East Scope. On the left is Messier 108 (known as the “Surfboard galaxy”). M108 is a barred spiral galaxy & received its nickname because it's seen nearly edge-on. It is located about 46 million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major.  On the right side of this picture is Messier 97 (“Owl Nebula”). M97 is a glowing shell of gas expelled by a dying star known as a planetary nebula. This name can be misleading because it doesn’t have anything to do with planets! When astronomers looked at these nebulas through early telescopes, they observed the planet-like round shape of these nebula & that’s where the...

      What can you expect to see at the Community Observatory this weekend? Weather and a full moon will both be issues this weekend. We are looking at 75-80% cloud cover on both Friday and Saturday. If that forecast persists, we will likely cancel both nights. We also have the full moon falling on Friday night. White light is the enemy of being able to see dim objects. Our best objects on full moon nights are the planets and the Moon itself. Jupiter and Venus are the only planets easily visible in the evening sky right now. Let’s focus on the Moon this week. We have an extraordinary natural satellite! Here are some of the things that make it remarkable: ·        It is the biggest moon in the solar system when compared to its planet. It is about 25% the diameter of the Earth. Jupiter and Saturn both have bigger moons but they are a tiny fraction of the planet’s size. ·        The Moon is almost exac...

What can you expect to see at the Community Observatory this weekend? Hopefully the sky!  We always keep a close eye on the forecast to help us decide if the sky will be clear enough for us to remain open, but sometimes it’s a difficult decision.  As always, please make sure to check our website ( communityobservatory.com ) after 3pm to make sure we haven’t made the call to close due to unfavorable conditions.  On Earth Day, we’re reminded of something important… Of everything we’ve discovered in the universe, there is nowhere quite like home. Earth is uniquely suited for life. It has liquid water, a protective atmosphere, and a magnetic field that shields us from harmful radiation.  The distance Earth orbits the Sun is just right for water to remain a liquid. This distance from the Sun is called the habitable zone, or the “Goldilocks zone”. The stars we see in the night sky may feel distant, but they offer a powerful perspective.

This month, the new moon occurs on Friday, April 17.   If you’ve ever come out to the observatory on a New Moon night, you may have  noticed something missing.   The Moon! This is why New Moon nights are some of the   best times to visit the observatory! With no bright moonlight washing out the sky, it’s the best time to see faint galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. A New Moon occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. During this phase, the side of the Moon that is illuminated by sunlight is facing away from us, while the side facing Earth is in darkness. The Moon is   “tidally locked” to Earth, meaning it rotates on its axis at the exact same rate that it orbits our planet. Because of this perfect synchronization, we always see the same side of the Moon. That’s why these images of the “dark side of the moon” from the Artemis mission are especially exciting.  If you join us on Saturday, the young moon will be one day old & only...

  What Can You Expect To See At The Community Observatory This Weekend April 10–11, 2026 | 9:00–11:00 PM Spring is continuing to take hold in the night sky, and this weekend offers a beautiful mix of fading winter constellations and rising spring favorites. If you joined us last weekend, you’ll notice the seasonal shift becoming even more pronounced as the evening hours grow darker a bit later and the sky continues its transition. 🔭 What You’ll See By 9 PM, twilight is fading and the brighter stars and planets begin to emerge. The familiar winter constellation Orion is now sliding toward the western horizon, giving us one of our last good looks this season. Look for the bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel before they disappear into the glow of sunset.  Following close behind are the stars of Taurus and the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) —another seasonal farewell worth catching early in the evening. Turning south and overhead, the spring sky takes center stage. The constell...