The Columbus Astronomical Society

01/20/2026

Hi gang,
There is an aurora going on RIGHT NOW (6:40 PM EST, 1/20/26)

Dull red glow has been seen from suburban Columbus (by me).
If you want to see it better, get out to a rural site (JGAP might work).

Or, better still, go north. The further north you go, the better it will be.

If you can't see it, try taking a picture with the "night mode" of your cell phone. They're generally capable of picking up the color.

Image taken in October 2025

05/02/2025

Hi CAS folks (and everyone else):

Did you miss the April 12, 2025 meeting of the CAS? If so, you can see a video of it (and most other recent meetings) at the CAS YouTube channel.

This month, Professor Mark Pinsonneault gave a talk about his work on Astroseismology, the study of the ripples and waves on the surfaces of stars which, like earthly seismology, gives astronomers the ability to probe the depths of a star.

His work (and that of countless other astronomers) would be sent into overdrive by the deluge of data from the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope ("The Hubble on Steroids") were it not to have been a victim of recent budget cuts by DOGE. Though completed and ready to go, this telescope may not launch.

The April 12, 2025 Meeting meeting of the Columbus Astronomical Society featured OSU professor Mark Pinsonneault who spoke on his work on Astroseismology- wh...

04/12/2025

Hi CAS Friends,

In case you didn't seen the announcement, Saturday April 12 CAS meeting (8:00 PM) has been moved to a new location:

7802 Liberty Rd.
Powell, OH

Here's a map link:

7802 Liberty Rd N, Powell, OH 43065

04/02/2025

Stargazing can be good for your health.

From the Yorkshire Moors in England to the South African wilderness, star bathing is emerging as a transformative wellness trend – offering awe, calm and a cosmic reset.

03/29/2025

Galaxy Season is upon us. This means that the Milky Way circles the horizon and as we look up into the night sky, we are looking away from the plane of the galaxy. This unobscured view allows us to see the galaxies beyond the Milky Way. The Highlands Astronomical Society has a great article on the highlights of Galaxy Season.

Galaxy Season Added on 09 February 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Galaxy Season Observing night of February 7th 2024   February and March is 'galaxy season'. These are the months when the constellations of Leo the lion...

03/13/2025

Info for Thursday-Friday's Total Lunar Eclipse!

The weather is looking good (in Ohio, at least) for the March 13-14 Total Lunar Eclipse!

This eclipse is perfectly placed for observers throughout North America (and much of South America) to see the whole thing from beginning to end.

Starting at just before midnight Eastern Daylight Time on March 13th, (Thursday night) and continuing on into Friday Morning, March 14th, this event will be visible high in the sky for most of it.

The moon first enters Earth's the fuzzy, indistinct outer shadow (the >penumbraumbra

01/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dw9TeY9Pt/

The moon crept up on Mars and occulted it on the night of January 13, 2025. This video was taken in Columbus, Ohio and the Occultation occurred just before ...

01/11/2025

Hello CAS'ers!

Due to heavy snow banks in the driveway at Perkins Observatory, Tonight's CAS meeting (January 11) has been moved to next Saturday, January 18.

11/17/2024

Did you witness one of the amazing auroral displays this year; the best were visible in Ohio on October 10, August 12 and, the greatest of them all, May 10.

If you'd like to learn about what causes these events, and what impact they might have on life (and tech) here on Earth, Alex McCarthy explains it all in his talk. It was given on November 9, 2024 at the monthly meeting of the CAS.

The meeting of the Columbus Astronomical Society, November 9, 2024 was held at Perkins Observatory.On May 10 of this year, skywatchers around the world witne...