NSAAC Star Parties

NSAAC members volunteer their time and telescopes for public viewing. We do this at regularly scheduled (free) events when the weather conditions allow, which for New England is at best 1/3rd of the planned times:

  • Mendel Observatory at Merrimack College (Norht Andover): 20" Optical Guidance Systems R-C telescope for public viewing. Almost all clear Wednesday nights. Registration required on EventBrite. Signups are only enabled when we think it might be clear, genrally we decide on Monday for the upcoming Wednesday. If you do not see a signup for Mendel it's because we expect the weather will be bad (or the observatory is otherwise unavailable).
  • Collins Observatory at Salem State (Salem): 12" Cassegrain/Newtonian telescope. Clear Monday night when school is in session in the fall and spring (not open on holidays/breaks).
  • After club meetings in Boxford (first Friday of the month, except July), informal viewing through member telescopes at a nearby field.

Other club organized star party events are announced on our Facebook page and posted here. Though these events are free, we encourage you to register so you can receive weather updates.

Sometimes NSAAC will hold a star party organized at a park, library, or other public location. These are posted on our Facebook page, registration rules are determined by the host.

Upcoming (1)

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024 primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024

Friday • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024 primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024

Friday • 7:30 PM

Free

Past (68)

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24 primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024  NOTE DATE CHANGE primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024 NOTE DATE CHANGE

Fri, Apr 12 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse

Fri, Mar 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program

Fri, Feb 2 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation

Fri, Dec 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th

Free

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week primary image

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy

Fri, Nov 3 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24 primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024  NOTE DATE CHANGE primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024 NOTE DATE CHANGE

Fri, Apr 12 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse

Fri, Mar 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program

Fri, Feb 2 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation

Fri, Dec 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th

Free

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week primary image

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy

Fri, Nov 3 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC members volunteer their time and telescopes for public viewing. We do this at regularly scheduled (free) events when the weather conditions allow, which for New England is at best 1/3rd of the planned times:

  • Mendel Observatory at Merrimack College (Norht Andover): 20" Optical Guidance Systems R-C telescope for public viewing. Almost all clear Wednesday nights. Registration required on EventBrite. Signups are only enabled when we think it might be clear, genrally we decide on Monday for the upcoming Wednesday. If you do not see a signup for Mendel it's because we expect the weather will be bad (or the observatory is otherwise unavailable).
  • Collins Observatory at Salem State (Salem): 12" Cassegrain/Newtonian telescope. Clear Monday night when school is in session in the fall and spring (not open on holidays/breaks).
  • After club meetings in Boxford (first Friday of the month, except July), informal viewing through member telescopes at a nearby field.

Other club organized star party events are announced on our Facebook page and posted here. Though these events are free, we encourage you to register so you can receive weather updates.

Sometimes NSAAC will hold a star party organized at a park, library, or other public location. These are posted on our Facebook page, registration rules are determined by the host.

Events

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024 primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024

Friday • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024 primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, May 3, 2024

Friday • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24 primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024  NOTE DATE CHANGE primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024 NOTE DATE CHANGE

Fri, Apr 12 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse

Fri, Mar 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program

Fri, Feb 2 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation

Fri, Dec 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th

Free

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week primary image

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy

Fri, Nov 3 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24 primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY April 24

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024  NOTE DATE CHANGE primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2024 NOTE DATE CHANGE

Fri, Apr 12 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: April's Total Solar Eclipse

Fri, Mar 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: The Voyager Program

Fri, Feb 2 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Jan 3rd

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College WEDNESDAY Dec 20th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College THURSDAY Dec 14th

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Wednesday Dec 6th

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Planet Formation

Fri, Dec 1 • 7:30 PM

Free

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th primary image

Telescope Viewing at Merrimack College Monday Nov 20th

Free

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week primary image

Star Party @ Battis Farm - rescheduled (2nd try) from Sails & Trails week

Free

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy primary image

NSAAC Monthly Club Meeting: Dark Energy

Fri, Nov 3 • 7:30 PM

Free