UIS Observatory

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 7 – 16 When the Great Square of Pegasus is high and level, Saturn and Fomalhaut hang below it, and low in the north the Pointers point straight up.

We're now at the time of year when Orion is nicely up in the east-southeast as early as 10 p.m. Late this evening you'll find it lower right of the Moon. skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
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#astronomy #stargazing #gemini #moon #orion

The star Psi Perseus imaged by the UIS observatory wide field camera

We used the 20-inch telescope last night to record spectra of the Be star Psi Persei.

The waxing gibbous moon as imaged by the wide field camera at the UIS research observatory on November 3, 2025

The waxing gibbous Moon was bright and beautiful last night. We took this image with the wide field camera at the UIS research observatory.
It was a productive night. We also took spectra of the star beta Pisces with the 20 inch telescope.
Full moon (beaver moon) is tomorrow, November 5, 2025

The waxing gibbous Moon in the night sky on November 2, 2026

The waxing gibbous Moon with the location of the Apollo 11 moon landing site marked.

The waxing gibbous Moon is out tonight, November 2, 2026.
When I look at the Moon, I find the southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility where the first people walked on the Moon and hope we get to that again someday soon. We’ve been waiting more than 50 years since the last crewed trip to the Moon.

Tsukimi in Springfield: How UIS embraces autumn’s quiet moment to reflect, recharge and renew Although most libraries close when the sun goes down, Brookens Library at the University of Illinois Springfield was open late Oct. 3 – but not for books. Under the amber glow of October’s only full h...

Happy Halloween everyone. No star party tonight. We have finished our fall 2025 season.
I’d like to share this article from the UIS observer about the October 3 Tsukimi Harvest Moon star party.

uisobserver.com/news/2025/10...

An array of different colored pieces of foam board and dowels that will be the raw material for building mobiles and physics lab

The cutting and gluing station for physic students to build their parts for their mobile

Students hard at work in physics lab planning their mobile

A balance sheet and plan for a component in one mobile design

It’s that time of year for mobiles in physics lab. This week the ASP 201 University physics students were applying an understanding of torque and balance to design their mobiles. Next week they will build them and we share the results.

The star field around pi Aquarius imaged by the UIS research observatory wide field camera on October 24 UT

A colorful star field on a dreary day. This is an image of the Starfield around star Pi Aquarius, which was imaged with the UIS research observatory wide field camera last Thursday while taking a spectrum of that star.

The star party on October 24, 2025 is canceled due to clouds

A satellite picture of Illinois covered by clouds on October 24, 2025

Clouds in the sky on the evening of October 24, 2025 they make a pretty sunset but not good for star parties

We are sorry to say that there are too many clouds for us tonight. Start party for October 24 has been canceled. Thank you to everybody for a wonderful fall 2025 season.
If you want a star party fix follow the link below to a record recording of our October 3 star party.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

The weather forecast for Springfield, Illinois for Friday, October 24 shows clouds arriving in the late afternoon and evening

UIS Friday night star party Friday, October 24 from 8 to 10 PM at the UIS Campus Observatory weather permitting

The last Friday night star party of the 2025 season is tonight October 24 from 8-10PM at the UIS Campus Observatory weather permitting.
Clouds are supposed to be moving in late this afternoon, but possible their arrival is delayed and we squeak in star party tonight.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

Friday night star party on October 24 at the UIS campus Observatory between 8 to 10 PM. Weather permitting.

Final star party of the fall 2025 Friday night star party season Oct 24 from 8 to 10 PM at the US campus Observatory weather permitting.
Hoping clear weather we’ve enjoyed for several days lasts but it is not for certain.
Check back here on Friday afternoon about the weather.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

The star field around the star 59 Cygni image by the UIS research observatory wide field camera on October 23 UT

Last night we used the 20 inch telescope to gather spectra of the star 59 Cygni. We took the deep image of the field around 59 Cygni using the wide field camera in parallel.

A picture of the sun taken through the UIS Observatory solar telescope by student Carl Bryant on October 21, 2025

On Tuesday, the introductory astronomy class went up to the campus Observatory to get a first hand look at the Sun through the solar telescope. Student Carl Bryant snapped this picture with his phone.
Note all the prominences around the edge of the Sun.☀️

UIS star party at the campus Observatory October 24 from 8 to 10 PM. Weather permitting.

Let’s go! Next UIS Friday Night Star Party ⭐️🎉 is this Friday, October 24 from 8-10 pm at the Campus Observatory (weather permitting).
Hoping for good weather 🤞
Go.uis.edu/starparties

A person looks up at Comet Lemmon, a faint smudge between the Big Dipper and the star Arcturus.

A person looks up at Comet Lemmon, a faint smudge marked with a circle between the Big Dipper and the star Arcturus.

Comet Lemmon, a faint smudge between the Big Dipper and the star Arcturus.

Comet Lemmon, a faint smudge circled between the Big Dipper and the star Arcturus.

A small group of Springfieldians gathered at the top of the hill in Centennial Park tonight to try to see Comet Lemmon. It was visible with binoculars but a real challenge with the unaided eye.

A chart from the Adler Planetarium showing where comet Lemmon will be over the next few weeks

The Adler Planetarium is not on this platform so I am sharing their graphic, all credit to them.
Comet Lemmon is getting brighter. You need a good flat northern horizon. Use the Big Dipper to find it. Ppl have told me they can’t see it yet naked eye but it is visible as a fuzz in photos.

No Star party tonight (October 17). Too cloudy. Try again next week.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

Higher Education’s Compact with America: Shared Principles for the Common Good https://bit.ly/3WbZv8K

The weather forecast for Springfield, Illinois for Friday, October 17, 2025

We are hoping for good weather tonight for Star Party but being realistic about the prospects for telescope viewing.
If the weather is too cloudy, we will not open. A decision on that will be posted here by 6 PM.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

Start parties at the UIS campus observatory on October 17 and 24th 8 to 10 PM. Weather permitting.

Campus space astronomy interest group meetings every other Thursday at 12:30 to 1:30 PM next one on Thursday, October 16

Two events at the UIS Campus Observatory this week.

Space & Astronomy interest group meeting on Thursday Oct 16, 12:30-1:30 pm

Friday Star Party, Oct 17, 8-10 pm weather permitting
Go.uis.edu/starparties

The starburst Galaxy imaged by the UIS research observatory wide field camera.

Disappointed we didn’t have star party last night, but here’s a picture of the Starburst Galaxy that we took with the wide field camera earlier in the week. It’s called the Starburst Galaxy because it holds the record for hosting the more supernova observed than any other galaxy at seven.

UIs Star parties at the campus observatory on October 17 and 24 from 8-10 pm weather permitting

Mood: Clouds ☁️
Sorry no Star Party tonight (Oct 10).
Too cloudy for telescope viewing ☁️☁️☁️
There is a capture of a previous virtual Star Party at the link for anyone needing a fix.
We will try again on Oct 17!

Go.uis.edu/starparties

The forecast for Friday, October 10 in Springfield Illinois is for clouds in the evening

Friday night star parties at the UIS campus Observatory this fall on October 10, 17th and 24th from 8 to 10 PM weather permitting

Tonight’s Star Party is weather permitting (Friday, Oct 10 from 8-10 PM).
We are waiting to make a decision on the weather by 6 pm, but right now that forecast is for clouds ☁️☁️. If it is cloudy at star party time we will not be open. Check back here for updates.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

UIS star parties at the campus Observatory on October 10, 17th and 24th weather permitting

The next Star Party is this Friday, Oct 10 from 8 to 10 PM at the UIS Campus Observatory weather permitting.
Check back here on Friday to get information about the weather.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

Sunset at the campus Observatory on Friday, October 3, 2025

Messages people left for us on the whiteboard after star party on October 3, 2025

Thanks to the 109 people who showed up tonight to share a views of the Moon during theTsukimi Harvest Moon Star Party.
A recording of the live stream can be found here:

www.youtube.com/live/Jav_91m...

At tonight’s star party, the telescopes will be focused mostly on the moon

The Tsukimi harvest moon star party on October 3 from 8 to 10 PM at the campus Observatory

The weather is looking good and we are a go for star party between 8 and 10 PM tonight at the campus Observatory.

We are going to live stream the star party tonight on our YouTube channel to join that between 8-10 CDT at this link
Go.uis.edu/virtualstarparty

Tsukimi harvest Moon star party, October 3, 2025 from 8 to 10 PM at the UIS campus Observatory

Tonight (Oct 3) is the night for our Tsukimi Harvest Moon Star Party at the campus Observatory between 8 and 10 PM.
The forecast looks good. We will be open regardless of the weather.
Tonight’s star party is in memory of Denyce Gammell sponsored by Majorie Wallé, EdD.
Go.uis.edu/starparties

We love kids, their questions and their enthusiasm. A kid at the telescope becomes the center of attention. We answer all their questions. At Star party you can come and go as you want. It is easy to bail when they get restless. We tolerate moods with humor. We want everyone to have fun.

Start party at the UIS campus Observatory on Friday, October 3 from 8 to 10 PM featuring viewing of the moon

Special star party Friday Oct 3 featuring Moon viewing in the tradition of the Japanese autumn festival of Tsukimi in memory of Denice Gammel sponsored by Majorie Wallé Ed.D.
This will be held rain or shine, but the weather forecast for Friday right now is very favorable
Go.uis.edu/starparties

The helix nebula imaged by the UIS observatory wide field camera

This is the Helix Nebula imaged by the UIS observatory wide field camera. The Helix looks a lot like its cousin, the Ring Nebula because they are both planetary nebula formed by dying stars, becoming white dwarfs.