RiverBend Astronomy Club ~ RBAC

06/13/2026

River Bend Astronomy Club appearing at Highland (IL) Schweizerfest!

The Highland (IL) Jaycees asked the River Bend Astronomy Club to appear at their Schweizerfest on the Square in Highland on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from Noon through 2pm in and around the West Tent. Comet Chef Jeff will whip up a batch or two of kitchen comets and demonstrate what is a day, a month, and a year. Club members will bring telescopes for safe solar viewing (skies permitting) and describe how the different types of telescopes work. We'll be there rain or shine!

The Highland (IL) Jaycees asked the River Bend Astronomy Club to appear at their Schweizerfest on the Square in Highland on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from Noon through 2pm in and around the West Tent. …

05/30/2026

The River Bend Astronomy Club helps the Highland Jaycees celebrate Schweizerfest on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from Noon until 2pm (or later) at the west tent on Highland's Square downtown. Watch Comet Chef Jeff make a kitchen comet or two and check out sunspots through solar telescopes. Hope to see you there!

05/27/2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – June 2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – June 2026 from In-The-Sky.org Moon Phases Last Quarter – June 8 New Moon – June 14 First Quarter – June 21 Full – June 29 – The Strawberry Moon, also called The Honey Moon Close Encounters June 2 – The Great Globular Cluster (M13) in Hercules is visible all night, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise....

https://riverbendastro.org/whats-up-in-the-night-sky-june-2026/

What’s Up in the Night Sky – June 2026 from In-The-Sky.org   Moon Phases   Last Quarter – June 8   New Moon – June 14   First Quarter – June 21   Full – June 29 – The Straw…

05/17/2026

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Please join us at Highland’s Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:30pm in the basement auditorium as we celebrate and honor our newest Sky Puppies! What’s a Sky Puppy? A Sky Puppy has completed the program sponsored by the Astronomical League where kids between the ages of 8 and 10 learn about astronomy and the night sky....

Please join us at Highland’s Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:30pm in the basement auditorium as we celebrate and honor our newest Sky Puppies!  What’s a Sky …

05/04/2026

https://youtu.be/hPyE3EpJ8-M

Check out this short video about how you can get involved and do real science!

Riverbend Astronomy Club & Citizen Science

04/28/2026

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What’s Up in the Night Sky – May 2026 from In-The-Sky.org Moon Phases Full – May 1 – Full Flower Moon Last Quarter – May 9 New Moon – May 16 First Quarter – May 23 Full – May 31 – Blue Moon Close Encounters May 3 – Close approach of the Moon and Antares. The Moon occults Antares for portions of the southern hemisphere....

https://riverbendastro.org/5418-2/

What’s Up in the Night Sky – May 2026 from In-The-Sky.org   Moon Phases Full – May 1 – Full Flower Moon Last Quarter – May 9 New Moon – May 16 First Quarter – May 23 Full – May 31 – Blue Moon …

04/25/2026

Impromptu Star Party, Saturday, April 25, 2026!

With the forecast for Monday, April 27 not promising for stargazing we decided to take advantage of clear and temperate skies TONIGHT, Saturday, April 25. Look for us at Glik's Northtown shopping center along Rt. 143 in Highland, IL from 7-10pm. We hope to see you!

With the forecast for Monday, April 27 not promising for stargazing we decided to take advantage of clear and temperate skies TONIGHT, Saturday, April 25.  Look for us at Glik’s Northtow…

03/25/2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – April 2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – April 2026 from In-The-Sky.org Moon Phases Full – April 1 – Full Pink Moon Last Quarter – April 9 New Moon – April 17 First Quarter – April 23 Close Encounters April 3: Mercury is at greatest western elongation and shows a half-disk in the morning near sunrise. It will be a difficult view with Mercury only 10° above the horizon at sunrise....

https://riverbendastro.org/whats-up-in-the-night-sky-april-2026/

03/21/2026

First Quarter Moon Day free telescope viewing March 23, 2026

The next First Quarter Moon Day with the RiverBend Astronomy Club ~ RBAC is this coming Monday, March 23, 2026. Stop by Highland's North Town Shopping Center along Rt. 143 at the stoplight between 7 and 9pm and catch views of the crescent Moon, Jupiter, Venus (if you get there before it sets around 8:15) and several deep sky objects. The weather looks to be decent but dress as if it's cold outside. Hope to see you there!

02/28/2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – March 2026

What’s Up in the Night Sky – March 2026 from In-The-Sky.org Moon Phases Full – March 3 – Full Worm Moon Last Quarter – March 11 New Moon – March 18 First Quarter – March 25 Close Encounters March 2: Regulus and the Moon are nearing conjunction as the early morning Sun begins to rise. March 3: A total lunar eclipse takes place in the early morning....

https://riverbendastro.org/whats-up-in-the-night-sky-march-2026/

What’s Up in the Night Sky – March 2026 from In-The-Sky.org   Moon Phases   Full – March 3 – Full Worm Moon   Last Quarter – March 11   New Moon – March 18   First Quarter …