Mark Evans Observatory

03/14/2025

05/27/2024

SUMMER SUN DAY SUNDAYS COMING!

Seasonal summer is a great time to view the sun. The TCAA will open up their roll-off-roof observatory each Sunday during JUNE if the sky is clear. Sessions will continue into July and August if there is sufficent interest.

Viewing will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitors will safely view the sun using both white-light and hydrogen-alpa telescopes. Look for our new A-frame display board with this lovely sign in the parking lot to catch the attention of passersby. Stay tuned for details!

Enjoy! [cjw]

03/10/2024

OYE, OYE! Hear all about it!
SOLAR ECLIPSE PROGRAM - Sunday afternoon, March 24
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
Limited seating...

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, Funks Grove Nature Spaces (FGNS - formerly Sugar Grove Nature Center) will host an engaging and educational program centered around the sun and the April 8th total solar eclipse visible from southern Illinois. (The eclipse will be a major partial as seen locally.)

This program will offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn about this celestial phenomenon and how to observe it safely. The Twin City Amateur Astronomers will present the program.

In addition to experiencing a lecture, attendees will have the opportunity to witness a demonstration of safe viewing practices for observing the solar eclipse. Safety is paramount when observing the sun directly, and our experts will provide valuable tips and techniques to ensure a memorable and safe viewing experience for all.

If the sky is clear, the Prairie Sky and Sugar Grove observatories within FGNS will be open for visitors to marvel at white-light and hydrogen-alpha views of the sun before and after the formal presentations. Equipped with state-of-the-art telescopes and guided by knowledgeable astronomers, guests can observe the sun in all its glory.

The observatories will be open from 12 noon until 30 minutes after the end of the last lecture demonstration. No reservations are required to visit the observatories.

Presentations begin inside the FGNS main building at 1 p.m. and will repeat starting at 2 p.m. Seating is restricted to those who sign up for a spot using SignUpGenius; each presentation will be limited to 50 registrants.

While there is no fee for attending this program, a free-will offering will be accepted to benefit Nature Spaces, a privately held, non-profit entity.

To register for either of our presentations, go to SignUpGenius, create an account with your name and email address, and select your session. Please read and follow all instructions carefully, or your reservation will not be recorded. Here is the URL:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49A4AD2DA7FFC34-48466996-solar #/

Please note that this opening is for a special event only. Funks Grove Nature Spaces is otherwise closed to the public until April 1.

01/03/2024

Connect with some local astronomers and join in for some local events!

01/03/2024

Connect with some local astronomers and join in for some local activities!

10/14/2023

The observatory on Illinois Wesleyan University's campus will be open during the eclipse on Saturday from 11am-1pm. The Twin City Amateur Astronomers will also be hosting more advanced viewing at the Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funk's Grove (about 15 miles away). Timing details for Bloomington are available at:

Which upcoming lunar and solar eclipses are visible in Bloomington, Illinois, USA and what do they look like?

08/16/2023

Via the Twin City Amateur Astronomers:

07/16/2023

Pretty sunset skies next week!

From the Astronomical League!

07/04/2023

A new window on the universe.

Jorge Cham, aka PHD Comics, illustrates how researchers have turned our Galaxy into a giant antenna for catching gravitational waves, spotting for the first time a background hum of such waves.

05/27/2023

Now showing...
Supernova 2023ixf in M101 near the Big Dipper. Very rough shot through the observatory's main scope. This is an exploding star in a galaxy 21 million light-years away. The tremendous distance means it is too dim to see with our eyes alone, but it can be spotted with good binoculars or a small telescope. A star map is shown below. For the next few weeks, 2023ixf will outshine the entirety of the other trillion stars in it's galaxy. A comparison photo from Stellarium-web shows the before picture. Happy hunting!

05/21/2023

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSION TONIGHT!
Saturday, May 20, 8:30 - 10:30 PM
Sugar Grove Nature Center

Come on out! The forecast for this evening is for a cool, clear, and smoke-free sky! We should be able to see the stars and view celestial objects with our telescopes.

The program begins at 8:30 PM with an illustrated talk about starlight and how astronomers use the art of spectroscopy to learn about stars and nebulae of the night sky.

Afterward, we will have telescopes set up in the parking lot for viewing celestial objects. We will also open up the observatories shown in the accompanying image.

Don't miss it! This is a family-friendly viewing session. There is no cost and no reservations; just show up. Be sure to dress warmly, as it will cool down quickly after sunset.

Drive slowly as you enter and exit the parking lot as there are likely to be people walking around in the darkness. Arrive early to get a good seat.