UIS Observatory
@uisobservatory.bsky.social
This account does not express the opinions of the U of Illinois. It is the home of UIS Friday Night Star Parties ⭐️🎉 and other outreach and research by Prof Martin. Go.uis.edu/starparties
Pinned
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
We saw Saturn at after work star party tonight. Student, Xyn Niewohner captured this image of Saturn, and five of its moons through our 14 inch telescope at the campus observatory.
December 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We saw Saturn at after work star party tonight. Student, Xyn Niewohner captured this image of Saturn, and five of its moons through our 14 inch telescope at the campus observatory.
After Work Starts Party for tonight December 4 is on! The weather is looking good and we are hopeful that will be able to share views of the Moon and Saturn.
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
December 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
After Work Starts Party for tonight December 4 is on! The weather is looking good and we are hopeful that will be able to share views of the Moon and Saturn.
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
December 2, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Pretty obviously not good weather. So the after work star party for December 1 is canceled due to clouds.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Pretty obviously not good weather. So the after work star party for December 1 is canceled due to clouds.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
December 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
The Moon 🌓 is near Saturn 🪐 tonight and tomorrow. Check out both with binoculars or a small telescope.
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The Moon 🌓 is near Saturn 🪐 tonight and tomorrow. Check out both with binoculars or a small telescope.
Reposted by UIS Observatory
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Our imaging camera has returned to us repaired! To prepare for putting it back into service I cleaned the filters in the filter wheel. The filters reflect the colors they don’t let through which is why the B filter looks gold and the R filter looks blue.
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Our imaging camera has returned to us repaired! To prepare for putting it back into service I cleaned the filters in the filter wheel. The filters reflect the colors they don’t let through which is why the B filter looks gold and the R filter looks blue.
Our paper on the distribution of the most luminous stars in the LMC is published!
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
On the Spatial Distribution of Luminous Blue Variables, B[e] Supergiants, and Wolf–Rayet Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud - IOPscience
On the Spatial Distribution of Luminous Blue Variables, B[e] Supergiants, and Wolf–Rayet Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, Martin, John C., Humphreys, Roberta M., Davidson, Kris
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Our paper on the distribution of the most luminous stars in the LMC is published!
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Reposted by UIS Observatory
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Looks like we are in for some cloudy weather for at least a few days. Here are two shots we took last week of the Bow Tie nebula and the Orion Nebula.
November 19, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Looks like we are in for some cloudy weather for at least a few days. Here are two shots we took last week of the Bow Tie nebula and the Orion Nebula.
Thursday I visited Christine Flynn’s fifth grade classroom at Saint Patrick elementary school in Springfield to demonstrate and explore how craters are formed.
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
November 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Thursday I visited Christine Flynn’s fifth grade classroom at Saint Patrick elementary school in Springfield to demonstrate and explore how craters are formed.
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
We had a good week at the Research Observatory with two clear nights and spectra for Psi Perseus and Beta Pisces.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
November 15, 2025 at 3:55 AM
We had a good week at the Research Observatory with two clear nights and spectra for Psi Perseus and Beta Pisces.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
A time lapse of the aurora display on the night of November 11, 2025 captured by the meteor camera at the UIS Field station at Lake Springfield.
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A time lapse of the aurora display on the night of November 11, 2025 captured by the meteor camera at the UIS Field station at Lake Springfield.
For those of you who live north of town, the aurora are still going. That green glow on the northern horizon isn’t everyone in Lincoln, Il holding a glow stick. That is aurora.
November 12, 2025 at 4:32 AM
For those of you who live north of town, the aurora are still going. That green glow on the northern horizon isn’t everyone in Lincoln, Il holding a glow stick. That is aurora.
Someone asked me what it meant that we’ve seen three spectacular aurora displays at latitude 40 N over the last two years. This about sums it up.
Tapping the XKCD sign again to explain that no, I won't be seeing an aurora tonight. Or at least I really hope not. That would be bad. :)
November 12, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Someone asked me what it meant that we’ve seen three spectacular aurora displays at latitude 40 N over the last two years. This about sums it up.
Reposted by UIS Observatory
We're now at the time of year when Orion is nicely up in the east-southeast as early as 10 p.m. Late this evening you'll find it lower right of the Moon. skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
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#astronomy #stargazing #gemini #moon #orion
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#astronomy #stargazing #gemini #moon #orion
This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 7 – 16
When the Great Square of Pegasus is high and level, Saturn and Fomalhaut hang below it, and low in the north the Pointers point straight up.
skyandtelescope.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
We're now at the time of year when Orion is nicely up in the east-southeast as early as 10 p.m. Late this evening you'll find it lower right of the Moon. skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
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.
#astronomy #stargazing #gemini #moon #orion
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#astronomy #stargazing #gemini #moon #orion
We used the 20-inch telescope last night to record spectra of the Be star Psi Persei.
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We used the 20-inch telescope last night to record spectra of the Be star Psi Persei.
The waxing gibbous Moon was bright and beautiful last night. We took this image with the wide field camera at the UIS research observatory.
It was a productive night. We also took spectra of the star beta Pisces with the 20 inch telescope.
Full moon (beaver moon) is tomorrow, November 5, 2025
It was a productive night. We also took spectra of the star beta Pisces with the 20 inch telescope.
Full moon (beaver moon) is tomorrow, November 5, 2025
November 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The waxing gibbous Moon was bright and beautiful last night. We took this image with the wide field camera at the UIS research observatory.
It was a productive night. We also took spectra of the star beta Pisces with the 20 inch telescope.
Full moon (beaver moon) is tomorrow, November 5, 2025
It was a productive night. We also took spectra of the star beta Pisces with the 20 inch telescope.
Full moon (beaver moon) is tomorrow, November 5, 2025
The waxing gibbous Moon is out tonight, November 2, 2026.
When I look at the Moon, I find the southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility where the first people walked on the Moon and hope we get to that again someday soon. We’ve been waiting more than 50 years since the last crewed trip to the Moon.
When I look at the Moon, I find the southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility where the first people walked on the Moon and hope we get to that again someday soon. We’ve been waiting more than 50 years since the last crewed trip to the Moon.
November 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The waxing gibbous Moon is out tonight, November 2, 2026.
When I look at the Moon, I find the southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility where the first people walked on the Moon and hope we get to that again someday soon. We’ve been waiting more than 50 years since the last crewed trip to the Moon.
When I look at the Moon, I find the southwest corner of the Sea of Tranquility where the first people walked on the Moon and hope we get to that again someday soon. We’ve been waiting more than 50 years since the last crewed trip to the Moon.
Happy Halloween everyone. No star party tonight. We have finished our fall 2025 season.
I’d like to share this article from the UIS observer about the October 3 Tsukimi Harvest Moon star party.
uisobserver.com/news/2025/10...
I’d like to share this article from the UIS observer about the October 3 Tsukimi Harvest Moon star party.
uisobserver.com/news/2025/10...
Tsukimi in Springfield: How UIS embraces autumn’s quiet moment to reflect, recharge and renew
Although most libraries close when the sun goes down, Brookens Library at the University of Illinois Springfield was open late Oct. 3 – but not for books. Under the amber glow of October’s only full h...
uisobserver.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Happy Halloween everyone. No star party tonight. We have finished our fall 2025 season.
I’d like to share this article from the UIS observer about the October 3 Tsukimi Harvest Moon star party.
uisobserver.com/news/2025/10...
I’d like to share this article from the UIS observer about the October 3 Tsukimi Harvest Moon star party.
uisobserver.com/news/2025/10...
It’s that time of year for mobiles in physics lab. This week the ASP 201 University physics students were applying an understanding of torque and balance to design their mobiles. Next week they will build them and we share the results.
October 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM
It’s that time of year for mobiles in physics lab. This week the ASP 201 University physics students were applying an understanding of torque and balance to design their mobiles. Next week they will build them and we share the results.
A colorful star field on a dreary day. This is an image of the Starfield around star Pi Aquarius, which was imaged with the UIS research observatory wide field camera last Thursday while taking a spectrum of that star.
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A colorful star field on a dreary day. This is an image of the Starfield around star Pi Aquarius, which was imaged with the UIS research observatory wide field camera last Thursday while taking a spectrum of that star.
We are sorry to say that there are too many clouds for us tonight. Start party for October 24 has been canceled. Thank you to everybody for a wonderful fall 2025 season.
If you want a star party fix follow the link below to a record recording of our October 3 star party.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
If you want a star party fix follow the link below to a record recording of our October 3 star party.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
October 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
We are sorry to say that there are too many clouds for us tonight. Start party for October 24 has been canceled. Thank you to everybody for a wonderful fall 2025 season.
If you want a star party fix follow the link below to a record recording of our October 3 star party.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
If you want a star party fix follow the link below to a record recording of our October 3 star party.
Go.uis.edu/starparties