Public Viewing
PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS
The Cline Observatory is open to the public for viewing every clear Friday night throughout the year.
As of March 2022, sessions will be held on the outside observing pad, rather than in the observatory dome. We will have several telescopes set up for viewing a variety of objects. We plan to transition back into the dome sometime this summer.To address ongoing COVID variant concerns, sessions will be set up in a controlled manner with some COVID precautions still in place.
The viewings begin 30 to 45 minutes after sunset during March-October (determine sunset time for a particular date). 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 regarding 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.
There is no charge for public night viewing and the observatory is open to anyone wishing to attend. No reservations are necessary, and there are no limits on the number of attendees. (We do ask that you let us know well ahead of time if you plan to bring a large group.)
Public Viewing Schedule
July sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (approximately 9:15), and last about two
hours. Sessions are held if weather permits. We are still using some pandemic protocols at our
sessions — telescopes on the observing pad, dome area closed (We hope to open soon!), and additional precautions as necessary.
| Date | Observing Program |
|---|---|
| 1 July | Waxing crescent moon visible during the session. We'll also view clusters, double stars, nebulae, and galaxies as conditions permit. |
| 8 July | A bright waxing gibbous moon will be visible throughout the session. We'll also view clusters, double stars, nebulae, and galaxies as conditions permit, but bright moonlight & hazy summer skies might limit the views. |
| 15 July | Moon not visible, so we'll concentrate on star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and double stars. Saturn may be visible late in the session. |
| 22 July | Moon not visible, so we'll concentrate on star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and double stars. Saturn will make an appearance late in the session. |
| 29 July | A very thin crescent moon might be viewable just at the start of the session, and Saturn will be visible late in the session. In between, we'll observe some globular clusters, open clusters, nebulae, and double stars. |
Sessions will continue in August.
August sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (approximately 9 p.m.), and last about two hours. Sessions are held if weather permits. We are still using some pandemic protocols at our
sessions — telescopes on the observing pad, dome area closed (We hope to open soon!), additional precautions as necessary.
| Date | Observing Program |
|---|---|
|
5 August |
Moon (just past first quarter) visible during the |
|
12 August |
The bright moon (just past full) will interfere with our ability to view some faint objects, but we'll try for some double stars, clusters, and nebulae as conditions allow. Saturn will be featured, and Jupiter may be visible at the end of the session. |
|
19 August |
Moon not visible, but Saturn (throughout the session) and Jupiter (at the end) are visible. We will also show various star clusters, nebulae, and double stars. |
|
26 August |
Moon not visible, but Saturn and Jupiter are visible. We will also show various star clusters, nebulae, and double stars. |
Sessions will continue in September.
September sessions start as darkness falls on Friday evenings (approximately 8:30 p.m.), and last
about two hours. Sessions are held if weather permits. We are still using some pandemic protocols at our sessions — telescopes on the observing pad, dome area closed (We hope to open soon!),
additional precautions as necessary.
| Date | Observing Program |
|---|---|
|
2 September |
The moon and planets will be featured – the waxing crescent moon will be visible throughout the session, and Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune are also visible. We'll view several deep sky objects as well. |
|
9 September |
The full moon will interfere with our ability to view some faint objects, but we'll try for some double stars, clusters, and nebulae as conditions allow. Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune will be featured as well. |
|
16 September |
Moon not viewable during the session, but Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune are visible. We will also show various star clusters, nebulae, double stars, and the Andromeda Galaxy. |
|
23 September |
Jo Cline Memorial Astronomy Lecture, Koury Auditorium, 7 p.m. – observing begins after the talk, weather permitting. |
|
30 September |
The moon and planets will be featured – the waxing crescent moon will be visible throughout the session, and Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus are also visible. We'll view several deep sky objects as well. |
Sessions will continue in October.
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.
Recent special sessions we have scheduled include:
- 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.