Welcome to the Westport Astronomical Society
About Us
SEE YOUR UNIVERSE EVERY CLEAR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AFTER 8 PM
(After sunset in the summer)
Planning on coming for a WAS Wednesday Star Party? Great! Visits are always free but to keep operating our non-profit we suggest a donation of $5 per person if you are not a member of the Society. Want to support WAS over the year? Become a member!
For up-to-the-minute updates on opening the observatory, please check our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, Tumblr, LinkedIn, and Meetup feeds.
We hope to see you soon under the bright skies of Westport!
Since 1975, the Westport Astronomical Society has brought the wonders of the night sky to the thousands who have visited the observatory. We’re an all volunteer-run, non-profit organization that’s free and open to the public every Wednesday night from 8-10 pm if the skies are clear. Remember, near the summer solstice it doesn’t get dark until late, so please plan to come after sunset.
As one of the largest astronomy clubs in Connecticut, we are the go-to destination whenever an eclipse or comet makes the news, and our dedicated team of volunteers works hard to encourage an interest in natural science. For many visitors, a trip to our facility is their first opportunity to experience the wonders of space… and it can be life-changing. Young WAS members often go on to pursue degrees in astrophysics or related disciplines while older visitors have been inspired to try their hands at private stargazing and astrophotography.
Beyond our basic mission of keeping science in the community, the Westport Astronomical Society also serves as a crucial bridge between amateur observation and professional research.
The Dome Observatory covers a 14″ Celestron EdgeHD purchased in 2019 on top of a Astrophysics 1200 German Equatorial mount with an Explore Scientific 102mm f/7 Essential Apochromatic ED Triplet Refractor piggybacked on top. The lawn regularly hosts the HUGE 25″ Obsession telescope, one of the largest in Connecticut. You can also occasionally find us doing sidewalk astronomy in the community with various 8-10″ Dobsonian telescopes and we really love viewing the sun with the Lunt LS100Tha double stacked solar telescope.
WAS has free monthly meetings with experts at the top of their fields. We feature speakers from the Hayden Planetarium, The American Museum of Natural History, Yale, NYU, UConn, MIT, Wesleyan, and Columbia or educators from all over the globe who enrich our community with cutting-edge discussions on cosmology, physics, and astronomy. Additionally, there are additional special, private events scheduled throughout the year for our members and supporters.[/text]
Please consider supporting WAS and help us keep science in the community!
Upcoming Westport Astronomical Society Free Monthly Lectures and Events
October 14th, 12:10 PM to 2:35 pm – The Annual Eclipse
IF THE SKIES ARE CLEAR we will open the observatory to the public to view the Annular Solar Eclipse. The Sun’s corona is not visible during an annular eclipse and will be visible throughout much of North and South America.
On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. Visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America, millions of people in the Western Hemisphere can experience this eclipse.
During an annular eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing.
The maximum partial eclipse of 22% in Westport occurs at 1:23 p.m. Since 2000, it’s been cloudy 54% of the time.
October 17, 8pm: Marcia Bartusiak, MIT – The Day We Found the Universe
Participate in the Webinar on Zoom or the YouTube live stream on the Westport Observatory YouTube channel. Please feel free to ask questions in the chat and be a part of the live meeting.
The WAS Classroom will be CLOSED for this online lecture.
On October 4, 1923, a hundred years ago, a young Edwin Hubble photographed a star in the Andromeda nebula which led to his finding that the Milky Way was not alone but instead accompanied by billions of other galaxies. Six years later, in a series of meetings at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California, Hubble and others convinced Albert Einstein that the Universe was also expanding. In this talk, Marcia Bartusiak reveals the key players, battles of will, and clever insights that led to these discoveries, among the most startling in scientific history.
Combining her undergraduate training in journalism with a master’s degree in physics, Marcia Bartusiak has been covering the fields of astronomy and physics for more than four decades.
A Professor of the Practice Emeritus in the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she is the author of seven books on astrophysics and the history of astronomy, including Black Hole, Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony (winner of the American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award) and The Day We Found the Universe (winner of the History of Science Society’s Davis Prize).
In 2008 she was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, cited for “exceptionally clear communication of the rich history, the intricate nature, and the modern practice of astronomy to the public at large.”
October 21, 2023: International Observe the Moon Night
International Observe the Moon Night depends on when the moon is in the first quarter. This unofficial holiday was created to spread more awareness about the moon and its importance. We open the Westport Observatory and take out the scopes to celebrate the moon with the entire world!
The moon plays a major role in life on Earth—in fact, Earth wouldn’t be able to function properly without the moon. The tides would be few and far between, we wouldn’t have an eclipse (lunar or solar), and our nights would be a lot darker.
Details coming soon.
Details coming soon!
Details coming soon!
Details coming soon!
Details coming soon!
Sky Forecast at the Observatory
Visual astronomy only works if you can see the sky!
Astronomers, check these links to plan your observing:
• WAS on Weather Underground
• Hourly Astronomy Conditions
• NWS Satellite Animation Loops
• Transparency Animation
• Seeing Animation
Become a Member
Since 1975, the Westport Astronomical Society has been introducing new generations to the wonders of the night sky. Become a member today for special access to members-only benefits while helping support science in your community.
Become a MemberDirections & Talk to Us
We want to see you here at the Westport Observatory. Get directions and come to our events!
Directions/Talk To Us