• Rock Creek

    Rock Creek

    Park District of Columbia

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  • Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Road Closures and Construction update Winter 2013

    Construction work on Rock Creek Parkway at Waterside Drive has resumed. Work will continue into Spring 2013. Delays are expected as lane closures occur to accomodate work. More »

Exploring the Sky

Telescope
 

Come See the Stars!
2013 Schedule



Month Day Time Things of Interest
April 6 8:30 PM Winter constellations; Jupiter
May 4 9:00 PM Saturn rising; the Beehive in Cancer; Big Dipper high
June 1 9:00 PM Mercury and Venus setting; Vega rising
July 13 9:00 PM Summer Triangle; Moon passing near Virgo
August 10 8:30 PM Saturn near Spica; Andromeda rising
September 7 8:00 PM Cassiopeia level with Polaris; Venus near Spica
October 5 7:30 PM Vega overhead
November 2 7:00 PM Pleiades and winter constellations appear


Exploring the Sky is an informal program that for over sixty years has offered monthly opportunities for anyone in the Washington area to see the stars and planets through telescopes from a location within the District of Columbia.

Sessions are held in Rock Creek Park once each month on a Saturday night from April through November, starting shortly after sunset. We meet in the field just south of the intersection of Military and Glover Roads NW, near the Nature Center. A parking lot is located immediately next to the field.

Beginners (including children) and experienced stargazers are all welcome-and it's free!

Questions? Call the Nature Center at (202) 895-6070 or check the Internet sites: http://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/planetarium.htm or http://www.capitalastronomers.org

A presentation of the National Park Service and National Capital Astronomers.

Did You Know?

Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) at about 2.5 million light years from the earth is the farthest object visible to the naked eye. You can learn more amazing astronomy facts at the only planetarium in the NPS in Rock Creek Park. More...