Hello and welcome to John Glenn Astronomy Park Program Reservation System! Program availability is based on the number of parking spaces that we have available. Currently, our limit is 70 cars. However, you may bring as many people with as you can fit in your car!
In order to keep things safe and fun, we require that you reserve your spot ahead of time. Please look through the available programs and choose the one that best fits your schedule. Please note that programs are weather dependent. We will send out an e-mail by noon on the day that a program is cancelled. So, be sure to watch for it if the weather looks cloudy.
We will occasionally add additional programs if there are interesting celestial events (comets, meteor showers, novae etc,.), so watch this space.
Before you come be sure to download the JGAP app. Our app, the JGApp, teaches you about the many features of our plaza, and how to use them to appreciate the movement of the Sun and Earth, the position of the stars, and the scale of the bodies in our solar system.
See you at JGAP!
In order to keep things safe and fun, we require that you reserve your spot ahead of time. Please look through the available programs and choose the one that best fits your schedule. Please note that programs are weather dependent. We will send out an e-mail by noon on the day that a program is cancelled. So, be sure to watch for it if the weather looks cloudy.
We will occasionally add additional programs if there are interesting celestial events (comets, meteor showers, novae etc,.), so watch this space.
Before you come be sure to download the JGAP app. Our app, the JGApp, teaches you about the many features of our plaza, and how to use them to appreciate the movement of the Sun and Earth, the position of the stars, and the scale of the bodies in our solar system.
See you at JGAP!
Leo the Lion
(27 spots left)
Saturday April 26th 2025
Perhaps the oldest of the western constellations, Leo is perfectly placed. Leo lies in thedirection of many galaxies, like the pair M65 and M66. We will be hunting down these objects this weekend in dark skies.(8:15 PM)
Perhaps the oldest of the western constellations, Leo is perfectly placed. Leo lies in thedirection of many galaxies, like the pair M65 and M66. We will be hunting down these objects this weekend in dark skies.(8:15 PM)
The Asteroids
(38 spots left)
Friday May 2nd 2025
The name %u201CAsteroid%u201D comes from the ancient Greek word meaning %u201CStar-like%u201D, and they do, indeed look like stars. This weekend, one of the brightest of them, Vesta, is well placed for viewing. It%u2019s small, and looks just like a star, but if you observe it multiple times you%u2019ll see that it does something that stars do not do: move. Also, the rugged crescent moon. (8:30 PM)
The name %u201CAsteroid%u201D comes from the ancient Greek word meaning %u201CStar-like%u201D, and they do, indeed look like stars. This weekend, one of the brightest of them, Vesta, is well placed for viewing. It%u2019s small, and looks just like a star, but if you observe it multiple times you%u2019ll see that it does something that stars do not do: move. Also, the rugged crescent moon. (8:30 PM)
The Asteroids
(51 spots left)
Saturday May 3rd 2025
The name %u201CAsteroid%u201D comes from the ancient Greek word meaning %u201CStar-like%u201D, and they do, indeed look like stars. This weekend, one of the brightest of them, Vesta, is well placed for viewing. It%u2019s small, and looks just like a star, but if you observe it multiple times you%u2019ll see that it does something that stars do not do: move. Also, the rugged crescent moon. (8:30 PM)
The name %u201CAsteroid%u201D comes from the ancient Greek word meaning %u201CStar-like%u201D, and they do, indeed look like stars. This weekend, one of the brightest of them, Vesta, is well placed for viewing. It%u2019s small, and looks just like a star, but if you observe it multiple times you%u2019ll see that it does something that stars do not do: move. Also, the rugged crescent moon. (8:30 PM)
The Moon's Hump: 8:30 PM
(62 spots left)
Friday May 9th 2025
The Ancients looked at the moon that was not half and not full as having a hump. The Latin word for Hump is %u201Cgibbous%u201D. This weekend%u2019s moon is gibbous. On Friday, the bright crater Aristarchus is easily seen. (8:30 PM)
The Ancients looked at the moon that was not half and not full as having a hump. The Latin word for Hump is %u201Cgibbous%u201D. This weekend%u2019s moon is gibbous. On Friday, the bright crater Aristarchus is easily seen. (8:30 PM)
The Moon's Hump: 8:30 PM
(60 spots left)
Saturday May 10th 2025
The Ancients looked at the moon that was not half and not full as having a hump. The Latin word for Hump is %u201Cgibbous%u201D. This weekend%u2019s moon is gibbous. On Saturday, the large crater Pythagoras, with its central mountain, is peeking out of the shadow. 8:30 PM
The Ancients looked at the moon that was not half and not full as having a hump. The Latin word for Hump is %u201Cgibbous%u201D. This weekend%u2019s moon is gibbous. On Saturday, the large crater Pythagoras, with its central mountain, is peeking out of the shadow. 8:30 PM
The Mother of the Hubble: 8:30 PM
(61 spots left)
Friday May 16th 2025
May 15 marks the 100th birthday of the %u201CMother of the Hubble Space Telescope%u201D Nancy Grace Roman who guided the conception and planning of the most famous observatory of all time. So we%u2019ll be looking at a few of the spring objects that the Hubble has featured in its images. To the human eye these objects are not bright and colorful like deep Hubble images, but the light you see is the actual light that left on its way to Earth thousands, or even millions, of years ago. (8:30 PM)
May 15 marks the 100th birthday of the %u201CMother of the Hubble Space Telescope%u201D Nancy Grace Roman who guided the conception and planning of the most famous observatory of all time. So we%u2019ll be looking at a few of the spring objects that the Hubble has featured in its images. To the human eye these objects are not bright and colorful like deep Hubble images, but the light you see is the actual light that left on its way to Earth thousands, or even millions, of years ago. (8:30 PM)
The Mother of Hubble: 8:30 PM
(63 spots left)
Saturday May 17th 2025
May 15 marks the 100th birthday of the %u201CMother of the Hubble Space Telescope%u201D Nancy Grace Roman who guided the conception and planning of the most famous observatory of all time. So we%u2019ll be looking at a few of the spring objects that the Hubble has featured in its images. To the human eye these objects are not bright and colorful like deep Hubble images, but the light you see is the actual light that left on its way to Earth thousands, or even millions, of years ago. (8:30 PM)
May 15 marks the 100th birthday of the %u201CMother of the Hubble Space Telescope%u201D Nancy Grace Roman who guided the conception and planning of the most famous observatory of all time. So we%u2019ll be looking at a few of the spring objects that the Hubble has featured in its images. To the human eye these objects are not bright and colorful like deep Hubble images, but the light you see is the actual light that left on its way to Earth thousands, or even millions, of years ago. (8:30 PM)
Galaxy Season: 8:45 PM
(59 spots left)
Friday May 23rd 2025
With the glare of the moon out of the way, the faint, distant universe can be more easily seen. This month marks the start of Galaxy Season, when the multitudes of galaxies in the constellations Leo, Virgo, Ursa Major, and Coma Borealis can be explored. (8:45 PM)
With the glare of the moon out of the way, the faint, distant universe can be more easily seen. This month marks the start of Galaxy Season, when the multitudes of galaxies in the constellations Leo, Virgo, Ursa Major, and Coma Borealis can be explored. (8:45 PM)
Galaxy Season: 8:45 PM
(54 spots left)
Saturday May 24th 2025
With the glare of the moon out of the way, the faint, distant universe can be more easily seen. This month marks the start of Galaxy Season, when the multitudes of galaxies in the constellations Leo, Virgo, Ursa Major, and Coma Borealis can be explored. (8:45 PM)
With the glare of the moon out of the way, the faint, distant universe can be more easily seen. This month marks the start of Galaxy Season, when the multitudes of galaxies in the constellations Leo, Virgo, Ursa Major, and Coma Borealis can be explored. (8:45 PM)
Crescent Moon and Big Dipper: 9:00 PM
(63 spots left)
Friday May 30th 2025
The crescent moon is both lovely in its own right, and not so bright that it overwhelms other celestial objects. Take a look at its rough and rugged surface, and then stick around to see some the brightest galaxies behind the stars of the Big Dipper. (9:00 PM)
The crescent moon is both lovely in its own right, and not so bright that it overwhelms other celestial objects. Take a look at its rough and rugged surface, and then stick around to see some the brightest galaxies behind the stars of the Big Dipper. (9:00 PM)
Crescent Moon and the Big Dipper: 9:00 PM
(63 spots left)
Saturday May 31st 2025
The crescent moon is both lovely in its own right, and not so bright that it overwhelms other celestial objects. Take a look at its rough and rugged surface, and then stick around to see some the brightest galaxies behind the stars of the Big Dipper. (9:00 PM)
The crescent moon is both lovely in its own right, and not so bright that it overwhelms other celestial objects. Take a look at its rough and rugged surface, and then stick around to see some the brightest galaxies behind the stars of the Big Dipper. (9:00 PM)
The Bay of Rainbows: 9:00 PM
(61 spots left)
Friday June 6th 2025
One of the most distinct features on the gibbous moon is ancient, eroded, Ohio-sized crater which lunar mappers call sinus iridium, the bay of rainbows. It is just one of many lunar features visible tonight. (9:00 PM)
One of the most distinct features on the gibbous moon is ancient, eroded, Ohio-sized crater which lunar mappers call sinus iridium, the bay of rainbows. It is just one of many lunar features visible tonight. (9:00 PM)
The Bay of Rainbows: 9:00 PM
(64 spots left)
Saturday June 7th 2025
One of the most distinct features on the gibbous moon is ancient, eroded, Ohio-sized crater which lunar mappers call sinus iridium, the bay of rainbows. It is just one of many lunar features visible tonight. (9:00 PM)
One of the most distinct features on the gibbous moon is ancient, eroded, Ohio-sized crater which lunar mappers call sinus iridium, the bay of rainbows. It is just one of many lunar features visible tonight. (9:00 PM)
Two Bears and a Dragon: 9:00 PM
(63 spots left)
Friday June 13th 2025
Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco the Dragon are high in the north on late spring evenings. (9:00 PM)
Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco the Dragon are high in the north on late spring evenings. (9:00 PM)
Two Bears and a Dragon: 9:00 PM
(63 spots left)
Saturday June 14th 2025
Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco the Dragon are high in the north on late spring evenings. (9:00 PM)
Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco the Dragon are high in the north on late spring evenings. (9:00 PM)