Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

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Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

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Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society is the oldest organization of its kind in Michigan and one of the largest. Its purpose is to promote the exchange of information among those with a common interest in all areas of astronomy, to educate the public about astronomical discoveries and events and to cooperate with other amateur and professional astronomical organizations.

09/05/2026

Skies are expected to start clearing after sunset, so tonight's Public Observing Session at the Kalamazoo Nature Center is ON! Gates will open at 8:00 pm. Tonight's highlights include deep-sky objects in and around the Summer Triangle, which is an asterism made up of the bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair. For more details, visit https://www.kasonline.org/observing.html.

08/29/2026

The next total lunar eclipse visible from Michigan will occur on June 25/26, 2029. This event is certainly worth waiting for, though. Typically, during a total lunar eclipse, the full Moon only grazes the edge of the umbra, which results in either the northern or southern part of the Moon appearing brighter. However, as illustrated in the diagram below, the Moon will be plunged deep in the umbra in 2029. This positioning will likely make it one of the darkest lunar eclipses in recent memory. Hopefully, the skies will be clear!

08/28/2026

We hope everyone had the chance to enjoy last night's Partial Lunar Eclipse. Several members of KAS gathered at Richland Township Park to witness the event under crystal-clear skies.

If you missed it, here's a photograph taken by KAS President Richard Bell right at the peak of the eclipse, at 12:12 am EDT. The equipment used for this shot included a Stellarvue 130mm refractor and a Canon EOS R5 camera mounted on an Astro-Physics Mach1GTO. The image is a 4-second exposure at ISO 100.

If you witnessed or captured images of the eclipse, we encourage you to share your experiences and findings with us!

08/26/2026

A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible to skywatchers across North America on the night of August 27th-28th. As viewed from West Michigan, the umbral phase of the eclipse begins at 10:34 pm EDT. You’ll slowly notice the eastern (left) half of the Moon grow progressively darker. Maximum eclipse occurs at 12:13 am, with 96.2% of the lunar surface looking coppery red. The Moon exits the umbra entirely at 1:52 am. Right now, the forecast looks excellent, so head out and enjoy it!

08/22/2026

Tonight's Public Observing Session is ON! The gates at the Kalamazoo Nature Center will open at 9pm. Highlights of the evening include the stunning rilles, maria, mountain ranges, and craters on the Waxing Gibbous Moon. Admission is FREE! https://www.kasonline.org/observing.html

08/20/2026

Despite a chance for scattered thunderstorms in the morning, skies are predicted to be clear for our next Public Observing Session on Saturday, August 22nd. The highlight of the night is a Waxing Gibbous Moon. Never seen the Moon through a telescope before? Well, now is your chance! https://www.kasonline.org/observing.html

08/10/2026

Observers along a path from Greenland to the Mediterranean will get to witness a total solar eclipse, the first since April 2024, on August 12th.

From West Michigan, we will only see a *very* partial solar eclipse. A mere 1.31% of the Sun’s face will be obscured at 1:31 pm EDT. The eclipse begins at 1:06 pm and ends at 1:56 pm.

Obviously, you will need a pair of eclipse glasses or a #14 or darker (high number) welding glass to safely view the Sun.

KAS members will be on hand during Parchment Community Library's "Tiny Eclipse Watch Party" from 1:00 to 1:45 pm. https://www.parchmentlibrary.org/events/tiny-eclipse-party/

08/08/2026

Tonight's Public Observing Session is ON! Highlights include Super Summer Star Clusters. Kalamazoo Nature Center gates open at 9pm. Admission is FREE…as always. https://www.kasonline.org/observing.html

07/31/2026

A new month is upon us. Let's hope the nights of August will be clearer and drier than those in July. If that's the case, prepare by downloading our free August Night Sky starmap. The stars of summer await you!https://www.kasonline.org/files/0826map.pdf

07/25/2026

Tonight's Public Observing Session is CANCELED due to anticipated cloud cover moving in as night falls. We will try again on August 8th. https://www.kasonline.org/observing.html

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Kalamazoo, MI

Website

http://www.kasonline.org/

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