Racine Astronomical Society

Public Night Open House
2026-07-24 20:30 - 23:00 (America/Chicago) | Modine-Benstead Observatory, 112 63rd Dr, Union Grove, WI, 53182, United States
Free admission and parking.

As a non-profit organization that is volunteer run, we encourage a small donation during your visit to help us defray the yearly costs of observatory maintenance and care. We do enjoy having families join us for these events but ask that you keep young children close by (the grounds are not illuminated for better observing) and instruct them to respect the telescope equipment provided by our members. On occasion we may have dozens of visitors waiting in line to observe at a particular telescope and your patience is greatly appreciated. Your many questions are expected and welcomed, since part of our club mission is to educate and inspire each of you to participate in the world of amatuer astronomy. The night of an open house there will be a message on the observatory answering machine if the skies are cloudy.

SkyChart Download

Public Night Open House
2026-08-21 20:30 - 23:00
As a non-profit organization that is volunteer run, we encourage a small donation during your visit to help us defray the yearly costs of observatory maintenance and care. We do enjoy having families join us for these events but ask that you keep young children close by (the grounds are not illuminated for better observing) and instruct them to respect the telescope equipment provided by our members. On occasion we may have dozens of visitors waiting in line to observe at a particular telescope and your patience is greatly appreciated. Your many questions are expected and welcomed, since part of our club mission is to educate and inspire each of you to participate in the world of amateur astronomy. The night of an open house there will be a message on the observatory answering machine if the skies are cloudy.

SkyChart Download

Public Night Open House
2026-09-19 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-10-16 19:00 - 22:00
Free admission and parking.

As a non-profit organization that is volunteer run, we encourage a small donation during your visit to help us defray the yearly costs of observatory maintenance and care. We do enjoy having families join us for these events but ask that you keep young children close by (the grounds are not illuminated for better observing) and instruct them to respect the telescope equipment provided by our members. On occasion we may have dozens of visitors waiting in line to observe at a particular telescope and your patience is greatly appreciated. Your many questions are expected and welcomed, since part of our club mission is to educate and inspire each of you to participate in the world of amateur astronomy. The night of an open house there will be a message on the observatory answering machine if the skies are cloudy.

SkyChart Download

Public Solar Day
2026-10-03 13:00 - 16:00
Join us for an exciting afternoon dedicated to observing our closest star—the Sun! This event offers a safe and educational experience for all ages, where you can see solar phenomena such as sunspots, prominences, and solar flares.

Safety First:Never look directly at the Sun without proper protection. Doing so can cause permanent eye damage. At our event, all viewing will be done through specialized solar telescopes equipped with certified solar filters that block harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation.

What You’ll See and How:

Hydrogen-Alpha Telescope: This instrument uses a narrowband filter to reveal stunning details like solar prominences and filaments along the Sun’s edge.

White-Light Filter Telescope: Perfect for observing sunspots and the Sun’s photosphere in natural light.

Our knowledgeable members will guide you through the equipment and explain the science behind what you’re seeing. Bring your curiosity and enjoy a rare opportunity to explore the dynamic surface of the Sun!

General Meeting/Star Party
2026-10-24 19:30 - 23:00
General meetings are open to the public and members of the club if they choose to attend. General meetings are intended to provide transparency to the club members by reviewing recent activities, finances, or changes that have been made by the Board of Directors. These meetings also provide an opportunity for club members to provide feedback. The public can attend these meetings if they are interested but, unless they are a club member, may not provide feedback during the meeting. Members of the public can also join the club by filling out an application and paying dues at these meetings.

Star Parties are only open to the members of the club and start after the conclusion of the general meeting. If a member of the public would like to stay for the star party they would need to join the club.
