The Chester County Astronomical Society was formed as a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and enjoyment of astronomy for the general public. The Society holds meetings (with member or guest speakers) and observing sessions once a month. Anyone who is interested in astronomy is welcome to attend meetings and become a member of the Society. In addition to the monthly meetings and observing sessions, the Society also provides a variety of services to the public, including astronomy classes as well as telescopes and expertise for "star parties" for school, scout, and other civic groups.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT, with the Coatesville Library and Chester County Parks at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Rain date October 5th). For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT, with the Coatsville Library and Chester County Parks at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Raindate October 5th). For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - International Observe the Moon Night 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT, with the WCU Astronomy Club. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT, with the Middletown Free Library at 464 S. Old Middletown Rd, Media, PA 19063. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Friday, October 10, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, at Hibernia Park. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Saturday, October 11, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT, Downingtown Library. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Meeting, in Room 112, Merion Science Center, WCU. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: Dr. Eric Huff, JPL /NASA, "The Euclid Space Telescope Mission – Shedding New Insights into Cosmology."
Thursday, October 16, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, West Chester Courthouse, 3 Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Friday, October 24, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, with the Sierra Club at the John Heinz Nature Center. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Friday, October 31, 2025 - West Chester University Planetarium Show: “Spooky Scary Things In Space,” in the Schmucker Science Building. The show starts at 7 p.m. and runs approximately one hour in length. For more information and reservations, visit the WCU Public Planetarium Shows webpage.
Astronomy Video of the Month: What's Up for October 2025?
What are some skywatching highlights in October 2025? A supermoon takes over the sky, the Draconid meteor shower peeks through, and the Orionid meteor shower shines bright. Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up-skywatching-tips-from-nasa.
Visible in Daylight! Upcoming Supernova Could Light Up Earth’s Sky
Astronomers have identified V Sagittae, a binary star system 10,000 light-years away, as a doomed “cannibal star.” A white dwarf is devouring its companion, pushing it toward a massive supernova explosion. When it erupts, the blast could be as bright as the Moon, visible from Earth even in the daytime. Here’s what scientists know so far about this rare, once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event.
The society schedules monthly observing sessions in the Myrick Conservation Center of the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing sessions, which are planned around the new moon, are open to the public and announced in the Society's newsletter, Observations. Owning a telescope or binoculars is not required; anyone interested in observing the heavens is welcome to show up. If you do have a telescope and need help using it, our observing sessions are a great place to practice and learn from other society members.
The Chester County Astronomical Society's regular monthly meetings include a presentation from an invited speaker or the demonstration of an astronomical project by one of the Society's members. After the presentation, a brief business session is held to review the status of society activities. Meetings typically last 1-1/2 to 2 hours including an informal conversation over refreshments before the start of each meeting.
The Society meets at 7:30 PM the second Tuesday of each month in the Merion Science Center (former Boucher Building) at West Chester University (corner of South Church Street and Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, Pennsylvania). Click for Directions and Maps.
The Chester County Astronomical Society offers "nights out" to interested organizations including local schools, scouting groups, and other civic groups for the purpose of learning more about the heavens. For example, scouting groups often hold them to earn badges for their members. If your organization is interested in hosting a "night out", please contact us.
Upcoming Nights Out
Thursday, October 2, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT, with the Coatsville Library and Chester County Parks at SRT Fricks Lock Trailhead, 500 Fricks Lock Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465 (Raindate October 5th). For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - International Observe the Moon Night 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT, with the WCU Astronomy Club. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT, with the Middletown Free Library at 464 S. Old Middletown Rd, Media, PA 19063. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Friday, October 10, 2025 - CCAS Special Observing Event, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, at Hibernia Park. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Saturday, October 11, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Session, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT, Downingtown Library. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Thursday, October 16, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, West Chester Courthouse, 3 Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Friday, October 24, 2025 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. The observing session starts at sunset.
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - CCAS Solar Observing Event, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, with the Sierra Club at the John Heinz Nature Center. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
Star parties are national and regional events similar to "nights out" and open to the public. They are held throughout the year. For a list of upcoming national events in 2025, visit the star parties page.
The West Chester University Department of Geology & Astronomy hosts a planetarium show open to the general public on the 2nd Friday of each month. The WCU Planetarium is located in the Schmucker Science Center on Church St. To locate the planetarium, view the campus map.
The shows start promptly at 7:00 P.M. ET and run approximately one hour in length. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the planetarium. Each show includes an overview of what is visible in the current night sky and a special focus on some aspect of astronomy.
Reservations are required because the planetarium has limited seating. For contact information, visit the WCU Public Planetarium Shows webpage.
