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.

• Tuesday, July 7, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, July 10, 2026 - CCAS Special Observing Session: Starr Farm Park, West Chester, PA. The observing session starts at sunset. The session is from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 11, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 14 thru Friday, July 17, 2026 - Cherry Springs Star Party. Presented by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA. Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, PA. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, July 15 thru Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Green Bank Star Quest XXI. National Radio Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, July 17, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset (Rain date: July 18, 2026). For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Elwood L. Crossan Park Solar Observing Event, Landenberg, PA. 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Monday, July 20, 2026 - Downingtown Library Loaner Scope Talk #3, 122 Wallace Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335. The event is scheduled from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, July 22, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Tatnall School Camp, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 25, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Rachel Kohl Community Library, Glen Mills, PA. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.

A predawn meetup between the Moon and planets, a returning comet, dark skies for the Milky Way, and Saturn's unusually thin rings. Before sunrise on July 11 and 12, look east/southeast for the waning crescent Moon, Mars, and Saturn. Uranus is in the same part of the sky, but you will need binoculars or a telescope to spot it. Around July 14, use binoculars or a telescope to seek Comet 10P/Tempel 2 under dark skies of the New Moon. Those nights are also a great time to look for the Milky Way, while later in the month Saturn's rings appear strikingly thin through a telescope. 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://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/

For star parties and astronomy events near you, visit http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/. Learn about all of NASA's missions at http://www.nasa.gov/.

A rare interstellar comet called 3I/ATLAS passed through our Solar System, and new James Webb observations suggest it may be far older than the Sun itself. Its unusual chemistry could reveal clues from the early Milky Way and ancient planetary systems beyond our own.

Visit our website for up-to-the-minute updates: www.nasaspacenews.com.

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.

CCAS has partnered with Chester County Lifelong Learning to offer a six-week program meeting in the spring of 2026. For more information, including dates of the classes, contact our Education Co-Chairs. Learn more about the location, the topics covered, and how to register on the classes page.

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.

• Tuesday, July 7, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, July 10, 2026 - CCAS Special Observing Session: Starr Farm Park, West Chester, PA. The observing session starts at sunset. The session is from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 11, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Friday, July 17, 2026 - CCAS Monthly Observing Session, Myrick Conservancy Center, BRC. The observing session starts at sunset (Rain date: July 18, 2026). For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Elwood L. Crossan Park Solar Observing Event, Landenberg, PA. 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Wednesday, July 22, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Downingtown Library, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Tatnall School Camp, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Saturday, July 25, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Rachel Kohl Community Library, Glen Mills, PA. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact our Observing Chair, Don Miller.
• Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - CCAS Solar Observing Session: Middletown Free Library, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. 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 2026, 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.