VBASWelcome to VBAS’s new website! Developed in collaboration with a talented class of students at UAH, this new service is now in operation to benefit VBAS membership and the general public.
If you’d like to visit the legacy website, click here. It will be online for a while longer, though it will not be receiving news and event updates.
If you have any suggestions for the new site, please click here to contact us!
Click here to view credits for the class at UAH.
We have resumed monthly in-person Society meetings (no planetarium shows, just yet).
Join us for our July monthly Society meeting in-person at the Planetarium on Friday, July 16th at 7:30 PM (7:00 PM for pizza!). Our program will by presented by Frank Schenck, VBAS Director of Facilities and Equipment, and will be about Lunar and Planetary Photography.
We will also broadcast the meeting via Zoom. Link to the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81477205214
Watch July’s recorded meeting here:
As we currently have suspended our public activities, including planetarium shows and outreach events we have put together a brief video tour of the September night sky for your enjoyment. We hope to be able to explore the universe with you in person soon but until then we will have to do so virtually.
The June monthly member meeting will by presented by Peggy Walker online at 7:30pm on June 19th!
Updated November 2021.
Our weekly Saturday night planetarium shows are resuming on December 4th! Masks required indoors.
While April’s monthly member meeting has been cancelled due to our current policy for in-person events, the guest presentation has moved online!
Join us an learn about “The Art of Solar Astrophotography Using Narrowband Imaging” with Joe Matus, a local NASA engineer who is sharing insights to the hardware, software, and process of photographing our nearest star.
The Art of Solar Astrophotography Using Narrowband Imaging (Final)
VBAS is pleased to announce a new 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 Jeff Delmas, Observatory Director, to book your own Night At The Observatory. See the file below for details and prices.