What Can You Expect to See at the Community Observatory This Week


The water supply at the Observatory has been restored! We are hoping to be open from 8–10PM on Thursday, August 27 for the lunar eclipse, but unfortunately, Mother Nature may have other plans. As of right now, the weather forecast is not looking very promising, with even our most optimistic forecast calling for around 78% cloud cover for Thursday night.

The lunar eclipse will already be underway when the Moon rises, with maximum coverage of approximately 96% occurring around 9:13 PM.

The good news is that you don’t need to be at the Observatory or have any special equipment to enjoy the eclipse! As long as the Moon is visible from your location, you’ll be able to watch the event with your own eyes.

If you do choose to join us at the Community Observatory, our docents will have telescopes aimed at the Moon, giving you an up-close look at the eclipse and all of its incredible lunar detail.


August 28 & 29, 2026 (9:00–11:00 PM)

Summer is winding down, but the evening sky at the Placerville Community Observatory still has plenty to offer. This weekend, our volunteer astronomers will be welcoming visitors from 9:00 to 11:00 PM on both Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting.

The Moon will be the dominant feature of the sky this weekend. The August Full Moon occurs on Thursday, August 27, so by Friday and Saturday evening, the Moon will still be essentially full— about 100% illuminated on Friday and 98% on Saturday. It will rise around sunset and remain in the sky throughout our observing hours, washing out many of the fainter stars and deep-sky objects.

But don't let the bright Moon discourage you! A nearly full Moon is actually one of the best objects to view through a telescope. Its bright, rugged landscape will reveal mountains, crater walls, valleys and spectacular ray systems extending from some of the younger craters. With the Moon so brightly illuminated, there will be plenty of detail to explore.


Summer Stars Still Shine

Even with the moonlight, the Summer Triangle—Vega, Deneb and Altair—will be prominent overhead. The Milky Way will still be visible, although the full Moon will greatly reduce the contrast of its fainter star clouds.

Several of the favorite summer telescope targets should remain enjoyable, especially the brighter objects:

• Albireo, the beautiful contrasting double star in Cygnus.

• M13, the magnificent globular cluster in Hercules, containing hundreds of thousands of stars.

• The Ring Nebula (M57) in Lyra, one of the most famous planetary nebulae in the summer sky.

• The Wild Duck Cluster (M11) in Scutum, a rich and compact open star cluster.

• Bright star clouds and clusters in Sagittarius and Scutum, particularly where the Milky Way passes through these southern constellations.

The bright Moon will make faint galaxies and nebulae much more difficult to see, but these brighter clusters and double stars should still provide rewarding views through the Observatory's telescopes.


Saturn Makes an Appearance

The planets are not especially well placed during the early evening this weekend, but Saturn is beginning to become a good late-evening target. Saturn and Neptune are both located in the constellation Pisces and rise during the evening, becoming increasingly favorable as the night progresses. Saturn, at about magnitude 0.5, is by far the easier of the two to spot.

If conditions permit, our docents may be able to give visitors a look at Saturn and its famous rings later in the evening. Neptune is much fainter and requires a telescope, but its distinctive bluish color makes it an interesting challenge for experienced observers.


What About the Weather?

The current forecast for the weekend is encouraging. Friday is presently expected to be partly sunny, with temperatures cooling considerably after sunset, while Saturday is forecast to be mostly sunny with even cooler evening temperatures. At this point, there is no indication of a major weather system threatening either observing session. Of course, the forecast can change, particularly when we're talking about cloud cover and evening transparency.

As always, weather conditions and air quality will determine whether the Observatory can open. Please check the Observatory's website (www.communityobservatory.com) or social media after 3:00 PM on the day of the event for the latest information.

Whether you'd like to explore the rugged landscape of the nearly full Moon, see the rings of Saturn, split a colorful double star, or simply spend a summer evening looking up at the stars, we hope you'll join us at the Placerville Community Observatory.


We look forward to sharing the sky with you!

Remember: Parking at the Folsom Lake College campus requires a $2 parking fee. If you are able, please also consider putting a little something in our donation box inside the Observatory. 


Clear skies!

 

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