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
Night At The Observatory
Our “Night At The Observatory” is a personalized program that allows small groups to experience an evening of imaging and observing deep-sky objects of their choice and keep all the photos captured using our historic Swanson 21″ telescope. Note: The program will be paused for the months of June, July, and August due to the late sundown. We’ll resume in September.
Click here for more information.
Astronomy 101 Registration Now Open!
Our popular Fall course on techniques in observational astronomy is back! We’ll meet on Tuesdays, Oct 6th through Nov 10th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm for six sessions in total. Price: $25 members, $30 nonmembers. The course is targeted to beginning observers, adults and teens, or those interested in a refresher course in basic observational astronomy.
Click here for more information.
- In Memoriam: Tom BurlesonLong time Von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS) member Tom Burleson passed away September 19th, 2026 after a short battle with liver cancer. Tom is survived by his wife Barbara and their four children: Kathy LaChine (Leigh), Elizabeth Popkey, Thomas “Michael” Burleson, and Patrick Burleson. Tom, a 21-year veteran of the United States Air Force, was… Read more: In Memoriam: Tom Burleson
- Frank Schenck Astrophotography Contest 2026
- Astronomy Day 2026October 17th, 1-5 PM & 7:30 – 9 PM Von Braun Astronomical Society will celebrate Astronomy Day on October 17th in person at Monte Sano State Park! Daytime events (between 1 – 5 pm) will include: mini-planetarium shows, Telescope tours, and Meteor radar demos. Evening events (between 7:30 – 9 pm) will include a keynote… Read more: Astronomy Day 2026
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.
Upcoming Shows
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October 2026 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.
October 3rd – The Science of Sci-Fi
Science fiction has always pushed the limits of imagination but how much of it could be real? We will dive into the science behind the best stories, from the alien biology of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars to the psychological and physical mysteries of Sphere, the survival driven physics of Project Hail Mary, and the visionary space travel of 2001: A Space Odyssey. We’ll break down what stories get right, where they stretch the truth, and how real-world science and engineering shape what’s possible.
Presented by Maggie Johnson
October 10th – Magic Carpet
Our star projector can help us pretend to fly anywhere on Earth – like a magic carpet! See the motion of the stars across the sky at the equator, north pole, and southern hemisphere. Watch how the sun changes positions at these locations. Y ou may be surprised if you haven’t actually been to the equator or the north pole in person! We will put the star projector to work and use it to show its unique educational capabilities.
Presented by Gena Crook
October 17th – Astronomy Night!
Special Guest Speaker, Dr. Heidi Haviland, Planetary Scientist of NASA, will talk about Lunar Science from Artemis I, II & Commercially Landed Payloads. Dr. Haviland will highlight the science gained during the recent Artemis and commercial lander missions. Test flight Artemis I included several biology payloads and deployed ten Cube Satellites. Come learn more about these historic missions!
Presented by Dr. Heidi Haviland
October 24th – Spooky Skies!
Join us for a fun and child-friendly look at the scarier side of the autumn night sky. Learn about ancient traditions based on observations of the night sky and take a look at some scary nebulas! Costumes for ages 12 and under welcome. Treats available after the show.
Presented by Beth Bero
October 31st – Spooky Skies!
Join us for a fun and child-friendly look at the scarier side of the autumn night sky. Learn about ancient traditions based on observations of the night sky and take a look at some scary nebulas! Costumes for ages 12 and under welcome. Treats available after the show.
Presented by Beth Bero
