Public Viewing
PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS
The Cline Observatory is open to the public for viewing every clear Friday night throughout the year.
The viewings begin ½ hour after sunset during March-October, and at 7:00 during November-February. (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
Click on the links below to read viewing schedule.| February Sessions (Sessions Start at 7:00 p.m.) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Featured Object | Host |
| 1 Feb | Winter Open Cluster Tour | Beth Desch |
| 8 Feb | The Moon – Sea of Crises | Dennis Hands |
| 15 Feb | Life of a Star | Tim Martin |
| 22 Feb | Double Cluster in Perseus | Alec LaGrega |
| Sessions Continue in March | ||
| March Sessions (Sessions Start as Darkness Falls) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Featured Object | Host |
| 1 Mar | M42 – the Great Orion Nebula (session begins after the Variable Star Lecture) | Jeff Swanson |
| 2 Mar | TriStar Regional Astronomy Event | |
| 8 Mar | Galaxies M81/M82 | Aaron Martin |
| 15 Mar | Astronomical Firsts | Jeff Regester |
| 22 Mar | Open Cluster M35 | Kevin Erdy |
| 29 Mar | Object TBA | Robert Royals |
| Sessions Continue in April | ||
| April Sessions (Sessions Start as darkness falls) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Featured Object | Host |
| 5 April | Double Star h3945 (The Winter Albireo) Observing begins after the Science Hall Open House) |
David Connor |
| 12 April | Statewide Star Party, featuring the Moon (Observing begins after the Stellar Society Lecture) |
Brian Morris |
| 19 April | Beehive Cluster | Errika Wyatt |
| 26 April | Featured Object TBA | Host TBA |
| Sessions Continue in May | ||
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 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.