From April through October, the TCAA holds monthly observing sessions
that are open to the public. These "star parties" are held at our observatory at
the Sugar Grove Nature Center, a dark sky site southwest of Bloomington.
In 2021, we will hold the following observing sessions
Additional prominent sky objects such as planets, nebulae,
star clusters, and galaxies will be viewed when visible.
| Date | Featured Topic | Time |
| April 17 | April Public Observing Session | 08:00PM - 10:00PM |
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The TCAA will host its first public talk and telescope viewing session for 2021 at Sugar Grove Nature Center on Saturday evening, April 17. Though this is an outdoor event, COVID precautions will be observed. Please wear a mask to this event. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. Other precautions will be observed as well. Details will be provided at the event.
The session begins with a talk in the picnic shelter at 8:00 PM. If the sky is clear, a brief sky lecture will follow and, after that, viewing of the heavens with telescopes will take place. If the sky is overcast, the event will still be held, whereas the sky observing portion will be canceled. In the event of an overcast sky, our observatories will be opened for inspection. Only in the event of rain will the event be canceled.
Download the public viewing session brochure below for complete details.
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| May 15 | May Public Viewing Session | 08:30PM - 10:30PM |
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Despite the overcast sky, the TCAA will host a public viewing session this evening at Sugar Grove Nature Center.
Our speaker will be TCAA President Tim Stone. Tim's topic will be
GALAXIES OF THE SPRING SKY
In the spring, our line of sight on the sky looks straight out of our galaxy into the vast depths of space beyond, showcasing thousands of bright galaxies and millions of dim ones. We will tour this neighborhood of the universe, highlighting some of the most beautiful galaxies in the heavens.
The presentation will commence at 8:30 PM and will last 20-30 minutes.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: The overcast sky will prevent sky watching. Nonetheless, we will have open houses at both Sugar Grove and Prairie Sky Observatories following the presentation.
COVID PRECAUTIONS: Out of an abundance of caution, attendees are requested to wear face masks. Face masks will be available in adult and child sizes should they be needed.
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| June 12 | Navigating with Stars | 09:00PM - 11:00PM |
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For centuries, navigators have relied on stars to identify directions, compute latitude, and even read local time. We will explore these ideas and examine the problem of measuring one’s longitude at sea – a fascinating problem that defeated some of the best minds in the world for many years.
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| July 10 | Venus & Mars Tonight | 08:30PM - 10:30PM |
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Venus and Mars are alright tonight, but in the coming days Venus will pass Mars as seen in Earth’s evening sky. Venus is an inferior planet whereas Mars is a superior planet. Learn how and why they move as they do.
OBSERVING FIRST!
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| August 14 | Our Amazing Moon | 08:30PM - 10:30PM |
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The moon has many regular features and changing appearances. Learn about our nearest neighbor in space and observe the 5-day-old moon through a telescope.
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| September 11 | The ISS: Past, Present, and Future | 07:30PM - 09:30PM |
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The International Space Station has been orbiting Earth since its launch in 2000. Since that time, millions of Earthlings have seen it course across our morning and evening sky. If you’ve never seen it, learn where, when, and how to do so.
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| October 09 | Jupiter & Saturn | 07:00PM - 09:00PM |
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Jupiter and Saturn offer stark contrasts when compared to the inner planets. We will review how and why they formed in their current locations and their impact on the formation of the rest of the solar system. We will learn how the two greatest planets are similar yet different.
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If you would like to arrange a special event for your group, please follow this link to Request a Special Event.