Martz-Kohl Observatory

05/08/2026

TELESCOPE TRAINING AT THE STOCKTON LIBRARY: MAY 28th 🔭

03/26/2026

Martz-Kohl Observatory is pleased to announce a new free resource: a comprehensive interactive Constellation Tutorial and Reference guide that covers all 88 officially recognized constellations.

Every constellation has its own detail page packed with:

📷 Deep-sky NOIRLab photography and annotated images

🗺️ Official IAU star charts and Stellarium sky views

⭐ "Stars and Sticks" figures — rendered from real star position data, showing exactly which stars connect to form each shape

📖 Greek mythology, cultural history, and pronunciation guides

🔭 Star-hopping instructions to find them in your own sky

☄️ Associated meteor showers and peak viewing months

🎓 An interactive identification quiz

There’s also a dedicated Sky Stories page that delves into how the ancient Greeks utilized the night sky as their celestial hall of fame, immortalizing entire family dramas in the stars. Explore the three ways a mortal could secure a place among the constellations and learn how Ptolemy’s 2nd-century Almagest codified the figures we still employ today.

This resource is free and is accessible on any device.

🔭 Explore now: https://martzobservatory.org/constellations/

03/16/2026

Space STEM Camp Registration is now Open! Calling all future engineers, scientists and explorers! We are excited to announce that Space STEM Camp is returning from July 13-17. This is an amazing collaboration between the Martz-Kohl Observatory, Falconer Central Schools, and Jamestown Community College—and we want students entering grades 7–9 to join us!

What’s in store for our campers? If you’re entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade, get ready to move beyond the classroom and get your hands on real-world tech:

🤖 Robotics: Program rovers at JCC!

🚀 Aerospace: Build and launch your own rockets!

🔭 Astronomy: Explore the chemistry of the stars and build your very own Galileo telescope to keep!

One of the coolest highlights? Our Wednesday "Late Night" session! We’ll be at the Martz-Kohl Observatory from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, using the massive 24-inch telescope to peer deep into the night sky. 🌌

The Details:
📍 Where: JCC Campus & Martz-Kohl Observatory (Frewsburg, NY)
💰 Cost: Just $50 (thanks to generous local grants!)
🚌 Transport: We provide the bus between the college and the observatory.
🎉 Grand Finale: A Friday reception for families to see all the incredible projects the students completed!

As our Program Director Mary Plumb says, this camp is all about turning students into active explorers with the tools they need for a bright future in science.

Ready to join the mission?
Registration OPENS TODAY and is available to students across Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania. Spots fill up fast, so head over to our website to grab yours!

🔗 Register here: martzobservatory.org/space-stem-camp

Let’s make this summer out of this world!

The Martz-Kohl Observatory in Frewburg, NY, is a non-profit organization devoted to the amateur astronomer. The emphasis is on observational astronomy and citizen science, well-rooted in public education and enjoyment of the starry skies.

03/12/2026

Where were you about midnight on Tuesday, March 10th? If you were looking East, just past midnight, you would have seen one of the brightest meteors (fireball) recorded by the observatory. In between rain drops on March 6, our president, Tom Traub captured an image of Jupiter through the 24" telescope. Check out the Martz-Kohl Open Observatory Nights on Wednesday evenings starting at 7:30 PM.

01/22/2026

Experience Martz-Kohl Observatory during Doors Open Jamestown on this Saturday, January 24, with free admission and tours from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can also see the Chautauqua Amateur Radio Service (CARS) in action as they participate in Winter Field Day, demonstrating emergency communication skills in freezing conditions. Watch “Ham” operators connect with the world and explore our sophisticated telescope systems all in one visit. It’s the perfect day to be a tourist in your hometown.

01/21/2026

An image of the aurora on January 20, 2026 as captured by the observatory's AllSky camera

01/07/2026

✨ BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT MARTZ-KOHL OBSERVATORY IN JANUARY! ✨

Join us for a month of discovery featuring a deep dive into NASA’s future and a community-wide open house featuring science and service.

🚀 WEDNESDAY, JAN 21 AT 7:30 PM: SEARCHING FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

Hear from NASA Senior Fellow Lee Feinberg, the architect of the future Habitable Worlds Observatory. Learn how NASA plans to find and analyze distant Earth-like planets!

📌 WATCH WITH US: Join us at the observatory to see the talk on the big screen followed by an interactive Q&A.

📌 WATCH FROM HOME: This lecture will also be live-streamed via Zoom.

🔭 Weather permitting, public stargazing and telescope viewing will follow the presentation!

🏛️ SATURDAY, JAN 24 (10 AM - 4 PM): DOORS OPEN JAMESTOWN

Be a tourist in your own hometown with FREE admission to one of Chautauqua County's premier scientific attractions!

✅ Tour our world-class telescope facilities. ✅ Join the community-wide Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win prizes.

📻 JAN 24 & 25: WINTER FIELD DAY WITH C.A.R.S.

Meet the Chautauqua Amateur Radio Service (W2DRZ)! Watch local Ham operators demonstrate emergency communications in freezing winter conditions. Learn how they stay connected worldwide even when the grid goes down. Through a unique collaboration with the observatory, CARS maintains a permanent radio station on-site.

📍 LOCATION: 176 Robbin Hill Rd, Frewsburg, NY

🧥 DRESS WARMLY: Our lecture room is heated, but you will want a warm coat for the tours and stargazing!

🔗 FULL DETAILS AND ZOOM LINK: martzobservatory.org

12/31/2025

WE ARE CLOSED, TODAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025

12/10/2025

The observatory is closed, today, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - due to the weather

12/02/2025

Give the Gift of the Cosmos! Join the Martz-Kohl Observatory Today!

Looking for a truly unique holiday present? Give the gift of membership—or treat yourself—to the Marshall Martz Memorial Astronomical Association, Inc. (MMMAA), which operates the Martz-Kohl Observatory! Membership is your ticket to a year of astronomical discovery and skill-building. You will gain hands-on access to our high-powered telescopes and facilities, moving beyond basic stargazing into real exploration and citizen science. Our community is committed to helping you increase your knowledge and observing skills through mentorship, camaraderie, and free lectures.

Beyond using the equipment, members are actively involved through public viewing nights, exclusive stargazing parties, and opportunities to assist with vital educational outreach programs. You’ll stay informed via our newsletter and enjoy the added bonus of reduced subscription rates to astronomy oriented magazines. Gift the wonder of the universe this season—join the MMMAA today to expand your skills, access incredible resources, and share the passion for astronomy!

Student membership is only $15/year. Individual and family memberships start at $35/year. Info: https://martzobservatory.org