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.
- Astrophotography 101The Von Braun Astronomical Society is offering a beginner level classin astrophotography (AP 101). This course is designed for individualswith little knowledge of astronomy. It is planned for 3 sessions asoutlined below. Cost is $25 for VBAS members and $30 fornonmembers. Session 1: Introduction to the night sky and equipment overview Session 2: A detailed… Read more: Astrophotography 101
- Moon Tree dedicationLaunched atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Moon Tree seeds traveled into lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft as part of the Artemis I mission in 2022. The seeds travelled thousands of miles beyond the Moon and spent more than 25 days in space before returning to Earth. The Von Braun Astronomical Society applied to… Read more: Moon Tree dedication
- 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.
Upcoming Shows
- April 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.
April 5th – Telescopes in Space
We will explore the fascinating world of space-based telescopes and how they allow us to see the universe in ways our eyes alone cannot. By diving into the electromagnetic spectrum, we’ll uncover how different wavelengths of light reveal a more complete picture of the cosmos. Join us as we journey through the night sky, discovering how each part of the spectrum helps us unlock the secrets of the universe!
Presented by Abbie Cone
April 12th – Magic Carpet
We can use the star projector in the planetarium to pretend to fly anywhere on Earth – like a magic carpet! Gena Crook will demonstrate the motion of the stars across the sky at the equator, the north pole, and the southern hemisphere. We will also watch how the sun changes positions at these locations. You may be surprised if you haven’t actually been to the equator or the north pole in person! This program will put the star projector to work and allow us to see its unique educational capabilities.
Presented by Gena Crook
April 19th – Volcanoes!
Volcanoes are awesome! Who doesn’t love seeing film of a massive volcanic explosion or rivers of burning hot lava? But, did you know Earth isn’t the only planet with volcanoes? And, did you know some volcanoes are not hot but incredibly cold? Come to this show and you will have a blast learning about the solar system’s amazing volcanoes!
Presented by Eric Silkowski
April 26th – Volcanoes!
Volcanoes are awesome! Who doesn’t love seeing film of a massive volcanic explosion or rivers of burning hot lava? But, did you know Earth isn’t the only planet with volcanoes? And, did you know some volcanoes are not hot but incredibly cold? Come to this show and you will have a blast learning about the solar system’s amazing volcanoes!
Presented by Eric Silkowski
