Welcome to the Westport Astronomical Society!
The Rolnick Observatory, located in Westport Connecticut, is open to the Public from 8PM to 10PM EST every Wednesday and Thursday night (weather permitting)!
Click Here for Directions to the Rolnick Observatory.
The Observatory houses a 12.5-inch f/4.8 Newtonian telescope;
on moonless nights, we also use a 25-inch Dobsonian telescope, the largest in the State of CT available to the public. WAS holds
its regular meeting at 8PM on the third Tuesday of each month in the Educational
Center on the Observatory site. All are welcome to attend.
Click Here for an aerial view of the Rolnick Observatory.
Thanks to all who Attended the Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party....
Thanks to the hundreds who showed up for our annual Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party! Even with a few
threatening clouds and some distant lightning we had a great time and really enjoyed meeting all of you!
Many of you gave us generous donations and signed up for our Astronomy Alerts Emails. We'll keep
you updated on everything that's coming up.
John Dobson Coming to the Discovery Museum...!
John Dobson, the man credited with inventing the Dobsonian telescope, will be selling and signing his
book, “The Moon is New” at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, as well as doing solar observing and
generally speaking with the public from 10:30 to 4:00 each day from August 25th to the 29th.
Please call ahead at the museum to confirm your visit because at 92 years old he is of delicate health.
He will also be giving a talk on August 29th at 7:30 at the museum followed by stargazing, weather
permitting. Admission to the Friday evening talk is free. He will also be selling and signing copies
of his book as well as autographing any personal telescopes you may bring.
Upcoming Speakers...
Our October 21st meeting we'll welcome the ultimate do-it-yourselfer Allen Hall;
the first ever 4 time first place winner at Stellafane for Mechanical Design, Craftsmanship, Optics and Innovative
Components in a telescope and mount. Allen will be speaking about “Tips and Techniques used in the Design &
Construction of Twin 16” Cassegrain Telescopes.” The twin 16” telescopes that Dick Parker and Allen brought
to Stellafane this year took 6 years to complete. During the construction they learned many new techniques
for the fabrication of the 153 individual components that go into these amazing instruments. We'll get a
general pictorial overview of their project from start to finish, with some emphasis on special machining
processes and optical techniques, including Allen actually grinding his secondary mirror while in the hospital's
ICU!
