Categories
Planetarium Shows

November 2024 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.


November 2nd – History of VBAS

In honor of VBAS 70th Anniversary our program tonight will highlight some of the history of our organization.

Presented by Gena Crook

November 9th – 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

November 16th – Why The Moon’s South Pole?

Why does everyone want to go to the moon’s south pole? What’s wrong with the moon’s equator or mid latitudes? Is it cold at the lunar pole? Will there be polar bears? Lunarians? Will they bring penguins for company? Isn’t it more difficult to get to the lunar pole than equator? And what’s wrong with the moon’s north pole? Are the people making these decisions lunatics? Why do scientists ask so many questions? Don’t you want to come to the show and find out

Presented by Naveen Vetcha

November 23rd – Stars Fell on Alabama

“…and Stars Fell on Alabama, that night…” Why are those words in a song, and what do they mean? Join educator Beth Bero as we explore the history of Alabama’s intersections with outer space! We will travel through time from 80 million years ago to last week, and leave you with the tools to search for your own “Alabama Space Rocks.”

Presented by Beth Bero

November 30th – NO SHOW!

Happy Iron Bowl!


Categories
News

2024 Telescope Buyer’s Guide Now Available

Choosing 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.

Categories
Planetarium Shows

October 2024 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 5th – GHOSTLY PARTICLES: SPACE NEUTRINOS

As the days become shorter and the skies grow darker, we are reminded of the things that go bump in the night. Join us as we take a spooky journey through a universe filled with particles that can never be seen.
We will unmask ghostly neutrinos from the beginning of time, the heart of the sun, and the skeletons within. We will pass through strange quantum realms where one can be three, and then become one again.
We will learn how neutrinos are like ghostly souls escaping a dying star undergoing supernova, the universe’s biggest bump in the night.
Be warned!  Dark energy may abound in this realm, and the ultimate fate of the universe may hang in the balance!

Presented by Eric Silkowski

October 12th – GHOSTLY PARTICLES: SPACE NEUTRINOS

As the days become shorter and the skies grow darker, we are reminded of the things that go bump in the night. Join us as we take a spooky journey through a universe filled with particles that can never be seen.
We will unmask ghostly neutrinos from the beginning of time, the heart of the sun, and the skeletons within. We will pass through strange quantum realms where one can be three, and then become one again.
We will learn how neutrinos are like ghostly souls escaping a dying star undergoing supernova, the universe’s biggest bump in the night.
Be warned!  Dark energy may abound in this realm, and the ultimate fate of the universe may hang in the balance!

Presented by Eric Silkowski

October 19th – Spooky Skies!

Boo! We will take a curious and kid-friendly look at the darker side of the night sky. We will explore some ancient legends, check out some ghostly nebulas and learn how both ancient and modern people enjoyed scaring themselves with things in the sky! Costumes for ages 12 and under welcome.

Presented by Beth Bero

October 26th – Spooky Skies!

Boo! We will take a curious and kid-friendly look at the darker side of the night sky. We will explore some ancient legends, check out some ghostly nebulas and learn how both ancient and modern people enjoyed scaring themselves with things in the sky! Costumes for ages 12 and under welcome.

Presented by Beth Bero

Categories
Planetarium Shows

September 2024 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.


September 7th – Exploring Gravitational Waves

Over one hundred years ago Albert Einstein postulated that gravitational attraction between two bodies, such as Earth and the Moon, would cause ‘ripples’ of space. NASA Space Place explains: “Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). These waves squeeze and stretch anything in their path as they pass by.” Join us as we all learn more about these waves together!

Presented by Gena Crook

September 14th – Exploring Gravitational Waves

Over one hundred years ago Albert Einstein postulated that gravitational attraction between two bodies, such as Earth and the Moon, would cause ‘ripples’ of space. NASA Space Place explains: “Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). These waves squeeze and stretch anything in their path as they pass by.” Join us as we all learn more about these waves together!

Presented by Gena Crook

September 21st – Hairy Stars (Comets)

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) reaches its closest point to the Sun on Sept 27th and should become visible in the northern hemisphere skies during October. Some predictions have this comet becoming a bright naked eye object! Come and learn all about the history of comets, how we discovered what they are, and how they could hold clues to the origin of the solar system.

Presented by Alex Hall

September 28th – Astronomy Day: Planetary Defense at NASA

Our Keynote Speaker will be Mr. Robert Landis of NASA. His topic “Planetary Defense at NASA” will be of interest to all visitors! Mr. Landis is currently assigned as a program executive to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). The office was established to manage the Agency’s planetary defense-related projects and coordinate activities across multiple U.S. agencies (along with international efforts) to plan appropriate responses to the potential asteroid impact hazard. Since its original inception as the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program in 1998, PDCO efforts have discovered more than 98% of the nearly 30,000 NEOs currently known.

Presented by Robert Landis

Categories
Archived

Amateur Astronomy 101 Registration Now Open

Registration has closed. See you next time!

This six week course is targeted to beginning observers, adults and teens, or those interested in a refresher course in basic observational astronomy. Learn the wonders of the night sky in a practical setting that involves both lecture and observing using your own or VBAS telescopes or binoculars. Tuesdays at 7:00-8:30 pm, Oct 8 – Nov 12.

Categories
Observatory

Night at the Observatory

VBAS 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 doesn’t end when the night is done because at the end of the evening you will take home the images acquired during your observing session. A VBAS certified operator will assist in target acquisition and imaging and can make suggestions for interesting deep-sky objects to discover.

Your Night At The Observatory requires no prior training or experience with telescopes. You will learn some of the fascinating history of the observatory and how to operate the large telescope. Contact observatory@vbas.org to book your own Night At The Observatory. See the file below for details and prices.

Categories
Planetarium Shows

August 2024 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.


August 3rd – Exploring the Milky Way

On a clear night in August, away from the city lights, a hazy band stretches across the sky. In this presentation, we’ll explore the Milky Way with our eyes, binoculars and a small telescope and discover what we know about our home galaxy.

Presented by Alex Hall

August 10th – The Moon

A presentation about our natural satellite, the Moon, and how it is unusually large for a small planet like Earth, and how its origin may have been much different from the ~300 other known moons in our solar system. There will also be a discussion of all the various interesting features on the Moon, including impact craters, lava flows, mountains, and volcanic domes, that are even visible even in a small telescope.

Presented by Frank Schenck

August 17th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

August 24th – Scale of the Universe

What is the biggest object you have ever seen? Is it a building, a geologic structure? Or maybe you have looked into the night sky and marveled at how big it is! Join VBAS as we consider the true scale of the universe with some mind-bending questions such as: “how big is time”?

Presented by Don Reed

August 31st – The Planets

To our ancestors, they were the wandering stars that moved mysteriously among the fixed stars. Today our space probes send back close ups of these distant worlds. Come and learn how our quest to discover what these wanderers actually are helped reveal the truth about our place in space.

Presented by Alex Hall

Categories
Archived

Astronomy Day 2024

September 28th, 1-5; 7:30 – 9 pm

Von Braun Astronomical Society will celebrate Astronomy Day on September 28th 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 speech followed by a planetarium show.

Astronomy Day is FREE and open to the public!

7:30 PM Keynote talk by Mr. Rob Landis on “Planetary Defense at NASA”

Rob Landis is currently assigned as a program executive to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). The office was established to manage the Agency’s planetary defense-related projects and coordinate activities across multiple U.S. agencies (along with international efforts) to plan appropriate responses to the potential asteroid impact hazard. Since its original inception as the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program in 1998, PDCO efforts have discovered more than 98% of the nearly 30,000 NEOs currently known.

Landis has an eclectic set of science and mission operations leadership and hands-on experience ranging from space-based observatories (Hubble Space Telescope, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer); deep space missions (Cassini-Huygensand the Mars Exploration Rovers [MER]); planetary surface operations (MER – Spirit and Opportunity); International Space Station (ISS) operations; and many others, including most recently, the project manager for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). In addition to the myriad of PDCO duties, on NASA’s behalf he also provides essential support to the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM).

Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in astrophysics from Michigan State University, and a Master of Science degree in space studies from the University of North Dakota. He also is a licensed private pilot for single engine aircraft.

Thanks to our Sponsors

Categories
Planetarium Shows

July 2024 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.


July 6 – Summer Skies

Traveling across the summer sky can be just as much fun as a summer trip! Join retired educator Beth Bero in this family-friendly adventure in the night sky. We will explore summer constellations, legends, motions of the night sky and current sky events.

Presented by Beth Bero

July 13 – Webb Space Telescope: The Journey So Far

Launched in December 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has revealed many unprecedented details of the universe during its initial two years of operation. Webb’s first images were released on July 12, 2022. Join us in a journey through space and time as we celebrate the anniversary of the first images. We will look at some of the recent images taken by JWST and learn what new things these images teach us about the cosmos.

Presented by Naveen Vetcha

July 20 – Why is Lunar Science ‘Going South’?

Why does everyone want to go to the moon’s south pole? What’s wrong with the moon’s equator or mid latitudes? Is it cold at the lunar pole? Will there be polar bears? Lunarians? Will they bring penguins for company? Isn’t it more difficult to get to the lunar pole than equator? And what’s wrong with the moon’s north pole? Are the people making these decisions lunatics? Why do scientists ask so many questions?
Don’t you want to come to the show and find out?

Presented by Eric Silkowski

July 27 – Summer Skies

What are we watching in the night sky this summer? I’m sure you have seen the Big Dipper and Orion, but have you successfully identified any other star patterns? We can help. We’ll be in the planetarium at 7:30 with a cool star projector and a dome shaped ceiling ready to point out summer constellations, tell stories, and just generally have fun looking at tiny points of light. Doors open at 7:00.

Presented by Gena Crook
Categories
Planetarium Shows

June 2024 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.


June 1 – Planetarium Centennial

The concept of a planetarium was started exactly one hundred years ago! We will explore a short history of planetariums through history and make predictions about the planetarium of the future.

Presented by Tom Burleson

June 8 and June 22 – Life in the Universe

One of the questions which humans have been asking for centuries is, “Are we alone in the universe?” This Saturday we will explore the types of life we might expect to find on other bodies in our solar system. During our presentation you might also learn some surprising facts about creatures here on Earth that are new to you! I hope you will join us.

Presented by Gena Crook

June 15 – Why is Lunar Science ‘Going South’?

Why does everyone want to go to the moon’s south pole?
What’s wrong with the moon’s equator or mid latitudes?
Is it cold at the lunar pole?
Will there be polar bears? Lunarians?
Will they bring penguins for company?
Isn’t it more difficult to get to the lunar pole than equator?
And what’s wrong with the moon’s north pole?
Are the people making these decisions lunatics?
Why do scientists ask so many questions?
Don’t you want to come to the show and find out?

Presented by Erik Silkowski

June 29 – Huntsville’s Place in Space

As we prepare to go back to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, the importance that Huntsville

played both back then and right now is something to remember. Join VBAS President Michael Buford for a
look through the history of Huntsville’s amazing contributions in aviation, its massive importance during the
Space Race, and Huntsville’s place in space now and in the future!

Presented by Michael Buford