Public Viewing Sessions
The Cline Observatory will be closed on Friday, July 3 as GTCC will be closed for the 4th of July holiday. Weather permitting, the Friday night public viewing sessions will continue on other Friday evenings throughout the summer.
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 Steve Desch at smdesch@gtcc.edu or 336-334-4822, ext 501500.
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
Our July Friday sessions start around 9:00 p.m. In general, we start about 45 minutes after sunset. Weather permitting, sessions last approximately two hours. We will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad in addition to the main telescope under the dome.
| Date | Observing Program |
|---|---|
|
July 3 |
Observatory Closed |
|
July 10 |
Feature: M13, The Great Globular Cluster of Hercules |
|
July 17 |
Feature: Waxing Crescent Moon Other targets include: Venus, assorted, star clusters, double stars, and nebulae. Moon: Thin Waxing Crescent Moon visible at the beginning of the session. |
|
July 24 |
Feature: The Big Dipper and the Northern Sky Other targets include: Assorted double stars, nebulae, and other clusters. Moon: Bright Waxing Gibbous Moon is visible during the session. |
|
July 31 |
Feature: Star Clusters of the Central Milky Way Other targets include: Assorted star clusters, nebulae, and double stars. Moon: Waning Gibbous Moon will rise later in the session. |
Sessions will continue in August.
Our August Friday sessions start at 9:00 p.m. at the start of the month, but as darkness gets earlier as the weeks pass, we will be starting around 8:30 p.m. by the end of the month. In general, we start about 45 minutes after sunset. Weather permitting, sessions last approximately two hours. We will have a variety of telescopes set up on our outside observing pad in addition to the main telescope under the dome.
| Date | Observing Program |
|---|---|
|
August 7 |
Feature: Summer Globular Clusters |
|
August 14 |
Feature: Dying Stars! The Ring and Other Planetary Nebulae |
|
August 21 |
Feature: Albireo |
|
August 28 |
Feature: Touring the Summer Triangle |
Sessions will continue in September.
Note: The observatory is 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.
As with our Friday public viewings, all Cline Observatory special viewing sessions are free and open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.
Past special sessions:
- Partial Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024
- 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.