Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society - MPAS

03/04/2026

💫 LOOKING UP IN APRIL 2026 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/april-darkness-prevails/
⭐️ The Coalsack is a dark nebula visible to the unaided eye as a black patch obscuring part of the Milky Way about 600 light-years away in Crux, the Southern Cross. Photo: MPAS member Chris Kostokanellis ⭐️

By far the most impressive sight this month is the great arc of the Milky Way. It stretches all the way from the magnificent region in the east around the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius, through Crux, Carina and Vela, down to Puppis and Canis Major. The bright star Acrux, or Alpha Crucis, i...

09/03/2026

💫 LOOKING UP IN MARCH 2026 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/march-a-shell-of-its-former-self/
⭐️ RCW 58 is a faint emission nebula in the constellation Carina, formed from material shed by the massive Wolf-Rayet star WR 40 at its centre. Powerful stellar wind has pushed this gas into a thin, filamentary shell that glows mainly in hydrogen and oxygen. RCW 58 is about 13,000 light-years from Earth. Photo: MPAS member Nik Axaris ⭐️

The constellation Orion is gradually sinking out of view, so make the most of it before it disappears. Leo is very much still on show and can be found sitting high in the northern part of the sky. Not far away from Leo, a little lower in the northwest, are the brightest stars of the […]

18/02/2026

Come and see MPAS @ the Inverloch Equinox Festival !! We'd love to show you the magical skies from Inverloch.

07/02/2026

Come and visit us at the Frankston waterfront festival today.

20/01/2026

Outside now.

09/11/2025

💫 LOOKING UP IN NOVEMBER 2025 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/november-graceful-visitor/
⭐️ Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN), formerly known as SWAN25B, is a long-period comet discovered on September 11, 2025, in the constellation Virgo. It was better seen from the southern hemisphere, where it was higher in the sky after sunset. Photo: MPAS member Guido Tack ⭐️

In November, the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius are slowly leaving our night skies to be replaced by Orion and its nebulae, and the bright star Sirius. Looking towards the direction of the celestial pole you can find the constellations Reticulum, the Net; Hydrus, the Little Water Snake; Tuc...

13/10/2025

💫 LOOKING UP IN OCTOBER 2025 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/october-prawn-in-a-sea-of-stars/
⭐️ The Prawn Nebula, also known as IC 4628, is an emission nebula in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way. It stretches 250 light-years and is about 6000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. Photo: MPAS member Nik Axaris ⭐️

After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty – with the exception of the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not mean there is nothing else to see. Two of the celestial showpieces of the southern skies are on show this mont...

01/09/2025

💫 LOOKING UP IN SEPTEMBER 2025 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/september-shadow-on-the-moon/
⭐️ The moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, orbiting our planet at an average distance of 384,399km – about 30 times Earth’s diameter. On September 8 there will be a total lunar eclipse, when the sun casts Earth’s shadow over the moon. Photo: MPAS member Liam Laube ⭐️

Be sure to enjoy the rich regions of Scorpius and Ophiuchus this month before they sink below the western horizon. Just above them lies a rich region around the heart of the Milky Way, brimming with star clusters and bright nebulae. In contrast, the eastern half of the sky is relatively empty, altho...

03/08/2025

💫 LOOKING UP IN AUGUST 2025 💫
Our monthly article will keep you up to date.
https://www.mpas.asn.au/august-a-cracking-shot/
⭐️ The Dragon’s Egg Nebula, NGC 6164, is in the constellation Norma about 3870 light-years from Earth. Its shape gives it the appearance of a planetary nebula resulting from the death of an old star similar to the sun, but it is actually an emission nebula. Photo: MPAS member Nik Axaris ⭐️

This month you’ll find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead; to its south-west is Scorpius, the Scorpion. When you look towards these constellations, you are looking in the direction of the heart of the Milky Way. With the rich regions of Sagittarius and Scutum high in the sky, you can p...

28/07/2025

⭐️ What is VASTROC?
Victoria Astronomy Convention, or VASTROC, is a biennial conference for Amateur Astronomers from around Victoria.
The 20th VASTROC will be hosted by the Astronomical Society of Victoria's Geelong Chapter.

⭐️ This year's event is a one day event, Saturday, 9 August, 9am – 10pm AEST and is just two weeks away!

The ASV Geelong Chapter have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you a great lineup of speakers, an amazing dinner and Q&A panel, even some great prizes to be won.
Here are just some of the highlights;
Keynote Speakers:

🔹️ Dylan O'Donnell – Astrophotographer & Science Communicator

🔸️ Eileen O'Healy – Educator, Presenter & Astronomy Outreach Advocate
Special Guests Include:

🔹️ Stephen Slater – Acclaimed Archival Director of Apollo 8: Unseen, Apollo 11, and the newly released Sally Ride documentary

🔸️ Bill Stent – “The Telescope Gent” guiding us on a Tour of the Night Sky

🎟 Included with your Day Pass:

✅️ Morning Tea & Lunch

✅️ Access to all speaker sessions

✅️ Plus - Evening Dinner Function featuring a special Q&A Panel with Dylan O'Donnell, Eileen O'Healy, Duane Hamacher, and another guest (TBC). A perfect way to end the day with great company and cosmic conversation.

🎟 If you haven't booked your ticket, please don't miss out. You can book here -

A full-day astronomy event in Geelong with 15 speakers, keynote talks, lunch included & optional dinner Q&A with leading space science guests.