Public Viewing

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS

The Cline Observatory is open to the public for viewing every Friday night throughout the year as weather permits.

In addition to viewing through the 24-inch telescope under the dome, we will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad.

The viewings begin at 7 p.m. November to February. From March to October, they start 30 to 45 minutes after sunset (determine sunset time for a particular date and see month-specific information below). Sessions usually last about two hours but may run longer or shorter depending on interest and sky conditions. Our sessions are unstructured – there's no program – just telescopic viewing.

Note that the observatory is open to the night air, and so will be cold in the winter and warm in the summer. Be sure to dress for the conditions.

For updates about how weather or other issues will affect this week’s session, check our Twitter Updates Page @gtccastro.

For other questions about the observatory and its programs, contact Tom English at trenglish@gtcc.edu or 336-334-4822, ext. 50023.

Public night viewings are free, and the observatory is open to anyone who wishes to attend. No reservations are necessary. There are no limits on the number of attendees, but we do ask that you let us know well ahead of time if you plan to bring a large group.

Public Viewing Schedule

June sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (around 9:15 p.m.). Sessions last about two hours and are held if weather permits. We will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad. (The main telescope in the observatory is under repair.)

Date Observing Program

June 7

Feature: Globular Cluster M3
Observing targets include: Galaxies, double stars, planetary nebulae
Moon: Thin crescent moon will set not long after the session starts.

June 14

Feature: Touring the Lunar Terminator
Other targets include: assorted deep sky objects
Moon: Moon (just past First Quarter) visible throughout the session

June 21

Feature: Double Star Cor Caroli
Other targets include: Other doubles, globular clusters
Moon: Bright Full Moon will limit views of some dim objects

June 28

Feature: Giant Elliptical Galaxy M87
Other targets include: Other galaxies, globular clusters, planetary nebulae, double stars
Moon: Not visible during the session

Sessions will continue in July.

July sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (around 9:15 p.m.). Sessions last about two hours and are held if weather permits. We will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad.

Date Observing Program

July 5

Feature: M13, the Great Hercules Globular Cluster 
Observing targets include: other globulars, double stars, galaxies, and nebulae
Moon: Not visible during the session

July 12

Feature: M57, the Ring Nebula
Other targets include: Globular clusters, double stars, galaxies, the moon
Moon: Waxing Crescent Moon visible throughout the session

July 19

Feature: Double Star Albireo
Other targets include: Other doubles, assorted clusters
Moon: Bright nearly Full Moon will limit views of some dim objects

July 26

Feature: Globular Cluster M5 in Serpens
Other targets include: other globulars, double stars, galaxies, and nebulae
Moon: Not visible during the session

Sessions will continue in August.

August sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (about 9 p.m. or a bit earlier by month’s end). Sessions last about two hours and are held if weather permits. We will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad.

Date Observing Program

Aug. 2

Feature: M27, the Dumbbell Nebula
Observing targets include: assorted deep-sky objects
Moon: Not visible during the session

Aug. 9

Feature: M11, the Wild Duck Cluster
Other targets include: assorted deep-sky objects
Moon: Waxing Crescent Moon visible early in the session

Aug. 16

Feature: Globular Cluster M95 in Hercules
Other targets include: assorted deep-sky objects, Moon
Moon: Bright Waxing Gibbous Moon visible throughout the session. Will limit views of some dim objects.

Aug. 23

Feature: M8, the Lagoon Nebula
Other targets include: assorted deep-sky objects, Saturn
Moon: Waning Gibbous Moon rises late in the session

Aug. 30

Feature: Saturn
Other targets include: assorted deep-sky objects 
Moon: not visible during the session

Sessions will continue in September.

Note: The observatory will be open on clear Friday nights throughout the year.

  

Special Viewing Sessions – Eclipses, Transits, Etc.

Occasionally, Cline Observatory holds viewing sessions for special events such as eclipses, transits, or other remarkable astronomical phenomena. These sessions are presented in the same manner as our Friday public viewings, though if the situation requires, we may shift our portable telescopes to other locations on campus.

Monday, April 8 – Solar Eclipse Viewing, 1:30-4:30 p.m., safe solar-filtered telescopes will be set up in Parking Lot F on GTCC's Jamestown campus.

As with our Friday public viewings, all Cline Observatory special viewing sessions are free and open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.

Recent special sessions we have scheduled include:

  • Partial Solar Eclipse Oct. 14, 2023
  • Total Lunar Eclipse May 15, 2022 (cloudy)
  • Total Lunar Eclipse Jan. 20, 2019
  • Expedition to Newberry, SC for Total Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017
  • Partial Solar Eclipse Oct. 23, 2014
  • Venus Transit June 5, 2012
  • Lunar Eclipse Dec. 10, 2010 (cloudy)
  • Total Lunar Eclipse Feb. 21, 2008
  • Total Lunar Eclipse  March 3, 2007
  • Mercury Transit  Nov. 8, 2006 (cloudy)
  • Total Lunar Eclipse  Oct. 27, 2004
  • Venus Transit  June 6, 2004 (cloudy)

Transits of Venus & Mercury

Three hundred visitors came to GTCC to observe the 2012 Venus Transit – a phenomenon that will not be seen on Earth again until 2117. For more information about this event and other transits, see our Transits page.

Lunar and Solar Eclipses

Cline Observatory is open for viewing lunar and solar eclipses visible in our area. Details about upcoming eclipses will be posted on our Eclipses page.

Meteor Showers

Cline Observatory DOES NOT hold special sessions for meteor showers because they are best observed without telescopes, and are usually best seen from dark locations between midnight and dawn.

The American Meteor Society provides an annual meteor shower calendar,  guides to visual observation of meteors, and weekly updates on meteor activity.  The International Meteor Organization provides annual shower calendars, visual meteor observing resources, and regular outlooks on meteor activity.