Lunar Eclipse Watch

The Patterson Observatory will open for the year’s first total lunar eclipse on the evening of Sunday, May 15 beginning just after sunset. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and admission is free. You can bring your own telescope or binoculars or enjoy the eclipse through the observatory’s giant 20-inch or any of the smaller telescopes that members of the Huachuca Astronomy Club will set up. The event is weather dependent and in case of clouds, you can check for a recorded cancelation message by dialing 520-458-8278 extension 2214.

When the “Flower Moon” rises just before 7 p.m. MST, it will already be in the penumbral shadow of the Earth. The visible portion of the eclipse, however, begins when the moon enters the umbral shadow starting about 7:29 p.m. The moon will be totally eclipsed by 8:29 p.m. with mid eclipse at 9:13 p.m. Totality ends at 9:54 p.m.

HAC Swap Meet in April

Check out our flyer for the HAC Swap Meet this April!

NASA Artemis Program

The Artemis program is NASA’s return to the moon. The goal is to land the first woman and the next man, as well as a person of color, to the moon by 2025. The target is the lunar south pole, where water ice resides in abundance. NASA will harness the talents and capabilities of private industry, academia, and our international partners to build a sustainable presence on the moon. While living and working on the Moon, we will develop the skills, knowledge, and technologies necessary for a Mars landing in the next few decades.

Artemis 1, an unmanned test of the Orion crew module, Space Launch System (SLS). and Exploration Ground Systems at Cape Kennedy will launch in the spring of 2022.

Join us at the Patterson Observatory to watch the launch. We’ll announce the date and time when the launch date is set.

Visit https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram for more information.

Webb Across Arizona

Arizona State University has a new website that will track all the events planned for the upcoming celebration of the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Click here to check it out!

Virtual Tour of the Patterson Observatory

Take a virtual tour of the Patterson Observatory with this interactive website that lets you roam the building at your leisure. Many interesting displays are highlighted and detailed in this amazing high resolution photogrammetric capture of the facility. If you can’t make it in person, this is the next best thing!

James Webb Space Telescope Activities

Throughout the month of October 2021, the Sierra Vista Community will celebrate the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Click here to view the list of planned activities.

First Public Viewing Night of 2021!

Patterson Event
The Huachuca Astronomy Club (HAC) will host the first Patterson Observatory Public Night of the year! Weather permitting, on Thursday April 22, 2021. Doors open at 7 pm.

ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED. Please register on line at: https://www.universitysouthfoundation.com/patterson-observatory

The event will also be available virtually over Zoom. And a simultaneous partner event will take place at the Henry Hauser Museum (or in the Sierra Vista Library).

Watch our Facebook page for more details as we get closer to the date.