You can do astronomy TONIGHT...
even if you can't find the Big Dipper!

Our club includes many people that are newbies, and one of the things we do is to get you started on the right foot. Click here to sign up for the FREE Astronomy Guidebook.

So even if you don't know an atom from an ångström, we'll help take the overwhelm out of the equation so you get the most out of this fascinating hobby.

Does this sound like you? Most folks in our group started right where you are now... and they all share one or more of the following:

  • You're excited about space exploration and astronomy, but don't know where to start

  • You love learning new things but not re-inventing the wheel

  • You went somewhere once and saw all those TELESCOPES and you want one, too!

If any of those resonate with you, then you're in the right place. Let's get you started doing real astronomy right now.

It's amazing how much you can see with just your eyeballs. One of the easiest things to do is to find the Apollo Landing sites on the moon.

First, you'll need a map: click here for a printable Moon Map. The image on the right shows the current moon phase. If the sky's clear and the moon is big and bright, just pop outside and look up.

The first thing you want to do is orient the map so you have it right-side up. The easiest way to do that is to find the 'belly button' on the moon (called Tycho). It's the large crater near the bottom. Find it also on the Moon Map and presto! You've just found your first astronomy feature!

CURRENT MOON
 

 

Now, let's see if we can find where Apollo 11 landed. Are you ready?

The Apollo 11 mission was the first human space flight to land on the Moon . Launched on July 16, 1969, it carried Mission Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr . On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon, while Collins orbited above.

To find the Apollo 11 landing site, just go straight up from Tycho until you hit the first large, dark basin (called the Sea of Tranquility) and you're there.

You can add a pair of binoculars to this adventure to really get a good feel for the surface features on the moon.

Free Astronomy Guidebook Download

Did you know that you can do astronomy without a telescope? It's fun, easy, and a great place to start when you are new to the field. We've got a quick-start guide that will help you get your feet wet and learn how to locate a few things tonight.

This free download is bundled with a back issue of our club's monthly newsletter the Celestial Observer. And it's free.

Just fill out the simple form below to get your copy of the Free Astronomy Guidebook emailed to you immediately.

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Do you own a telescope that you can't operate? One of the things we do is help you figure out how to use your own equipment. Many of the members of our club have used several different telescopes, tripods, eyepieces, and cameras over the years, and can answer your burning questions about tips, tricks, and troubleshooting.

When you sign up for the free download, we'll also send you a link to let you know all about our next star-gazing event (called a 'star party'), which usually occur once each month, weather permitting.

Did you know that members of our club get their pick of club telescopes? it's one of the perks of being a member of CCAS. Isn't it time to rediscover the universe?

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