The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kentucky intends to build an on-campus observatory. Please see the UK Observatory Website for more details. You can contact Professor Mike Cavagnero or Professor Gary Ferland for further information.

Winter meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. on one Friday each month and take place in Room 179 of the Chemistry-Physics Building on UK's main campus unless otherwise noted.

• February Meeting, February 15

  The February meeting will take place on February 15 at 7:30. Tim Knauer, the Director of UK's new observatory, will give a presentation about the new observatory and discuss BGAAC use of the facility. A tour of the facility will follow.

• Lunar Eclipse at the Arboretum, February 20

  Clear skies permitting, the BGAAC will host an observation of the lunar eclipse at the Arboretum at 500 Alumni Drive on the University of Kentucky Campus. We will meet near the parking lot. The eclipse begins at 8:43 PM on Wednesday, February 20. The total eclipse begins at 10:00 PM and lasts until 10:52. Please join us -- the next lunar eclipse visible in North America won't occur until December 2010!

These events are held at the Arboretum and State Botanical Garden of Kentucky at 500 Alumni Drive in Lexington. For general information about the Arboretum and for directions, please click here.

Arboretum Stargazing, Friday, June 6 at 9:00 PM
(Rain Date: Saturday, June 7 at 9:00 PM)

Arboretum staff and members of the Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club will set up telescopes outside the Visitors' Center, giving you close-up views of the crescent moon, planets, and other celestial wonders. If the sky is cloudy, this program will be rescheduled.

Arboretum Stargazing, Friday, July 11 at 9:00 PM
(Rain Date: Saturday, July 12 at 9:00 PM)

Arboretum staff and members of the Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club will set up telescopes outside the Visitors' Center, giving you close-up views of the crescent moon, planets, and other celestial wonders. If the sky is cloudy, this program will be rescheduled.

The Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club's public stargazing nights at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary begin in March 2007. Meetings begin around sunset and last two to three hours. There is no rain date. The main gate at Raven Rub is open for parking and park personnel there will direct you to the observing field.

Persons with telescopes can drive up a dirt road by the barn (turn off just before the main gate) and park at the edge of the observing field.

If the weather is partly cloudy, phone the park around 6:30 p.m. (272-6105) to see whether it's a go. If you would like to check on weather and seeing conditions, you can also check the Raven Run Clear Sky Clock.

The dates for 2008 are:

 

Saturday, March 8		Saturday, July 5
Saturday, April 5		Saturday, August 9
Saturday, May 3		Saturday, September 27
Saturday, May 31		Saturday, November 1