Welcome to VBAS!
The Von Braun Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization of amateur and professional astronomers. We are sharing our love of space with the community through our planetarium and observatories located in Monte Sano State Park just east of Huntsville, Alabama.
Latest News
Donate to the VBAS Stars for All Endowment Fund
VBAS established an agency fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville in 2024. VBAS is the sole beneficiary of the distributions from this fund, which is used to provide long term financial stability for our organization. Your donation will help continue VBAS operations well into the future.
- Astronomy 102 Registration OpenThis course is a supplement to our Astronomy 101 class in the Fall and is intended to provide a depth of information on astronomy from its history to modern concepts, including amateur astrophotography, black holes, and cosmology. The course is targeted to beginning observers, adults and teens, or those interested in a refresher course in… Read more: Astronomy 102 Registration Open
- 2024 Telescope Buyer’s Guide Now AvailableChoosing a first telescope for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task. There are many different choices at all sorts of price ranges. Some are good and some are not so good. Let our Telescope Buyer’s Guide help you in your decision.
- Night at the ObservatoryVBAS is pleased to offer a program that provides guests an opportunity to direct an observing session using the historic Swanson 21” telescope with a modern digital camera. Our Night At The Observatory is a personalized program that allows small groups to experience an evening of observing deep-sky objects of their choice. And the fun… Read more: Night at the Observatory
Upcoming Shows
- February 2025 Planetarium Shows
All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.
Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.
Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.
February 1st – Scale of the Universe
Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered “how big is the universe?” Some people might look at an image of Mt Everest and think “that’s big.” Others may look at our Moon in the night sky and think “that’s big.” You have probably heard astronomers refer to the “Big Bang.” We all have differing views of what is “BIG.” Join us on the evening of February 1st as VBAS Astrophotographer Don Reed takes us on a trip through the universe to answer that age old question of “How Big is the Universe.”
Presented by Don Reed
February 8th – Space Observatories
What are we learning from the Space Observatories? Join us as we explore the wonders of the universe.
Presented by Abbie Cone
February 15th – Messier: Star Clusters, Nebulas, and Galaxies… Oh my!
Comet hunter Charles Messier made a now-famous list of “objects to avoid” in the night sky. Come join us on an odyssey introduction to many of the most beautiful objects in astronomy!
Presented by Cyril Bryan
February 22nd – Messier: Star Clusters, Nebulas, and Galaxies… Oh my!
Comet hunter Charles Messier made a now-famous list of “objects to avoid” in the night sky. Come join us on an odyssey introduction to many of the most beautiful objects in astronomy!
Presented by Cyril Bryan
