October Community Nights -- Bare Dark Sky Observatory

Join us for an evening of stargazing as you've never seen before! You will have the opportunity to view the moon, planets and stars through our 34" diameter Sam Scope, as well as our smaller planetary telescope. With the assistance of our Observatory Manager, up to 20 people will spend 2 hours viewing and learning about the dark skies.

Famous astronomical objects in the sky this month include:
Saturn
Neptune
Hercules Globular Cluster
Saturn Nebula
And many more

No parking is allowed at the Observatory. Shuttles to and from the Earth to Sky Park parking lot will be provided. Please arrive promptly at your designated time to the parking lot located by the red quonset hut buildings. Dress comfortably for nighttime weather, as it is sometimes cool in the mounatin air. There are no water fountains at the observatory so bringing bottled water is recommended. Closed toed shoes and a flashlight are also highly recommended.

Terms and Conditions:

In order to look through the Sam Scope you will need to be able to climb three to four steps of a rolling safety ladder. Be prepared to walk approximately 50 feet up a inclined mulch path to reach the Observatory. You will be outside the entire viewing time. The Observatory will not be open during inclement weather (rain, snow, clouds, etc.) We will always try to offer a rain date within the next two nights of the originally scheduled viewing night. You will be notified via email of any inclement weather, rain dates, or cancelations 36 hours in advance. In the event of a cancelation, you will receive a full refund. Please note that you will be at the Observatory and Earth to Sky Park at your own risk and will hold Mayland Community College, and the Mayland Community College Foundation harmless in the event of an incident. Mayland Community College is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged articles. Please use caution as the terrain is uneven.