Mastodawn

Artemis II Watch Party — TONIGHT at Westport Observatory! Clouds are socking in our Weekly Wednesday Star Party, but we're trading eyepieces for something better — a rocket headed to the Moon! Artemis II lifts off at 6:24 PM ET, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. Classroom opens at 5:30 PM. See you there!
#ArtemisII #NASA #Moon #WestportObservatory #WAS #Astronomy #LunarMission #SLS #Orion #SpaceExploration

Westport Observatory 3d ago

Artemis II Watch Party — Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 PM, Westport Observatory!
For the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans are heading to the Moon. NASA's Artemis II crew lifts off at 6:24 PM ET on a 10-day journey — the critical step toward a lunar landing in 2028. Join us for live coverage starting nearly an hour before liftoff. Don't miss it!
#ArtemisII #NASA #Moon #WestportObservatory #WAS #Astronomy

Westport Observatory 4d ago

🔭 Astrophotographers — don't sleep on this one! Tonight at 7:30 PM, WAS member Carl Lancaster breaks down N.I.N.A., the free software that automates your entire imaging night. Features, setup, system requirements & a live demo. Beginner or pro, you'll walk away with something. Seating is VERY limited — sign up now! 👉 was-ct.org/events/nina 📍 Westport Observatory Classroom
#Astrophotography #NINA #Astronomy #WestportObservatory

Westport Observatory Mar 25

Our new AllSky Camera has a preview of the clouds we expect tonight, 3/25. The Westport Observatory's Weekly Wednesday Star Party is CANCELLED. Fingers crossed we see you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/

#StarParty #WestportObservatory #AllSkyCamera #WestportCT #WAS

Westport Observatory Mar 24

The Westport Observatory's USGS seismic equipment picked up the big M 7.5 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga this morning. Want to know more about earthquakes — particularly those here in New England? Alan Kafka visits us in April to talk about them!
https://was-ct.org/events/alan-kafka/
#Earthquake #Seismology #Tonga #NewEngland #WestportObservatory #USGS #AlanKafka #ScienceTalk #Geoscience #EarthScience

Westport Observatory Mar 21

SEISMIC ALERT — This morning at 8:16 AM eastern, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, approximately 1,900 miles from Westport Observatory. Our USGS monitoring equipment detected the significant temblor in real time. There is no danger of a tsunami from this event. https://was-ct.org/science/seismometer/

#Earthquake #Seismology #MidAtlanticRidge #USGS #SeismicActivity #EarthquakeAlert #NoTsunami #WestportObservatory #Geology #SeismicMonitoring

Westport Observatory Mar 20

Stargazers, bittersweet news — our 2026 Messier Marathon at Westport Observatory is cancelled. Today's the first day of spring, and spring showed up RIGHT on cue with clouds and rain to shut us down! We were ready to chase all 110 Messier objects, but Mother Nature had other plans. Clear skies ahead! https://was-ct.org/

#MessierMarathon #WestportObservatory #Astronomy #Stargazing #Equinox #Spring #Messier

Westport Observatory Mar 18

Tonight 3/18, just one day past the equilux — when day and night hold equal measure, the Westport Observatory opens at 8:00 PM for a final look at the winter sky.
With a new moon conditions are ideal for exploring distant galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae, along with planets Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus. Dress warmly for outdoor viewing. https://was-ct.org/programs/public-viewing/
#WestportObservatory #StargazingTonight #WinterSky #NewMoon #Astronomy #NightSky #Equilux #StarParty #Venus #Jupiter #Uranus

Westport Observatory Mar 17

WAS welcomes back Dr. Lisa Upton to our science lecture series! How well did we predict Solar Cycle 25 — and what comes next? Join us tonight, March 17 at 8PM in our classroom, live on YouTube, or via Zoom webinar.
was-ct.org/events/solar-cycle-25-update/
#Astronomy #SolarPhysics #SpaceWeather #SolarCycle25 #Heliophysics #STEM #WomenInSTEM #WestportObservatory #WestportAstronomicalSociety

Westport Observatory Mar 14

Major upgrade at the Westport Observatory — made possible by Gault Family Companies, who covered 50% of our new mini-split systems plus installation! 🙌 We're saying goodbye to inefficient resistive heating and hello to serious energy savings on our $600+/month electric bills. A huge thank you to the Gault team for their professionalism, and to our amazing members for making it happen! 💙
#WestportObservatory #Astronomy #EnergyEfficiency #MiniSplit #CommunitySupport #LocalBusiness #Gault