Amateur Astronomers Association to host free star parties for public in West Deer

A tradition of bringing new and passionate stargazers into the hobby is still going strong after 35 years.

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh will be holding free public Star Parties on Friday and Saturday at the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Regional Park in West Deer. The event will start at 8:45 p.m. both days, weather permitting.

Star Parties run monthly through November. The event gives amateur astronomers, students and the general public a chance to learn more about the sky and what it has to offer.

The 35-year-old observatory, built in 1987 and expanded in 1995, is home to two permanent telescopes.

“We have been doing this for decades and have a good track record,” said Bill Yorkshire, associate director of the observatory. “We have had families come two nights in a row.”

AAAP members will be on-site to answer any astronomy questions.

The organization has seen growth over the years, especially when covid hit. Yorkshire said membership has jumped to 500 members. In 2019, the organization was estimated to have 300 members.

“People wanted to do things, and this was outside,” he said.

Yorkshire said that on a good night more than 30 telescopes are set up across the site. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks, blankets and lawn chairs. Those interested in bringing their own telescope or binoculars can receive help or assistance from members on how to use them, Yorkshire said.

Tom Reiland, director of the observatory, said the event has been able to bring in an estimated 1,200 people a night depending on what will appear in the sky.

“It is nice getting people involved and giving them something to do,” he said. “It helps them get a better understanding of the universe.”

The heightened interest in space has brought many interesting questions and misconceptions about the universe to Reiland.

“Some people are not familiar with the phases of the moon, and people will get excited about a full moon or think it is something scary,” he said.

Astronomy is the only science the average person actually can contribute to, Reiland said, recalling a time he discovered a star cluster in 1985 from his backyard in Shaler.

Reiland said the observatory has not been in a good position for several star parties as the brightest planets — Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Mars — have been morning objects.

This weekend, people will see the moon two to three nights after its first quarter, the Ring Nebula and star clusters including the Hercules Cluster, he said.