Giving Tuesday is Dec 2! We kept our Free Science Lectures going on Zoom, and now we’re upgrading the Westport Observatory classroom to bring everyone back together. Help us make it media-ready for even better talks, both in person and online. Support WAS science! #GivingTuesday #WestportObservatory

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope your day is packed with good food, good laughs, and zero unexpected cosmic surprises (unless Betelgeuse finally blows—then all bets are off). Huge thanks to our supporters, members, and their families. You’re the gravity that keeps this whole place together.

Astronomers may have spotted dark matter at last. Gamma rays near the Milky Way’s center—seen by NASA’s Fermi craft—fit what you’d expect from colliding WIMPs. Other galaxies don’t show it yet, so caution is high, but the stakes are huge. www.theguardian.com/... #DarkMatter #Astronomy #WAS

Clouds shut us down tonight, so the observatory is CLOSED (11/26). Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And if you can, please think of the Westport Observatory on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2)—we’re fundraising for an A/V upgrade to keep our science lectures going strong. #WestportObservatory #Thanksgiving

Michigan has 10 dark-sky sites, but industry keeps chipping away. From Big Cypress to the Boundary Waters, the Arctic, and even Chile’s Atacama, natural darkness is under threat. Gifted NYT: www.nytimes.com/2025... #DarkSkies #LightPollution #Astronomy #Conservation #WAS #WestportObservatory

Comet ATLAS (C/2025 K1) is literally cracking up near the North Star — four fragments and counting. It’s even glowing gold, thanks to its bizarre carbon-poor chemistry. Around 10th magnitude and visible pre-dawn between the Big Dipper and Polaris. Wild sky show tonight. 🌟 spaceweather.com/

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS just delivered its best color image yet—blue CO+ tail, green C₂ head, all classic comet stuff. The twist? A jet is blasting toward the Sun while the tail streams away. Interstellar visitors love drama. More at spaceweather.com. #CometATLAS #3IATLAS #Astronomy

NASA just unveiled new images of Comet 3I/ATLAS, taken from spacecraft between Earth and Mars. The data suggests it might come from a solar system older than ours. And no—still a comet, not aliens. More updates as it passes by. abcnews.go.com/Techn... #Comet3IATLAS #NASA #Astronomy

Clear, cold skies tonight — perfect for opening the dome at the Westport Observatory! No Moon means prime Deep Sky viewing: nebulae, galaxies, and more. Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus shine early, with Jupiter rising later in the east. We open at 8! was-ct.org/programs/... #WestportObservatory

Tonight’s the night! 🚀 MIT’s Professor Sara Seager joins us for “From Lab to Cosmos: Three Frontiers in the Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth.” She’ll present live online while we host the full event in person. See you in the classroom at 8 PM! was-ct.org/events/sa...

Heads up! The Leonid meteor shower peaks early Monday with no moonlight—perfect viewing. You might see up to 12 meteors/hour. Taurids are still around too—slow, sparse, but capable of big fireballs. More info: www.astronomy.com/ob... #Leonids #Taurids #MeteorShower #Astronomy #WestportObservatory

The November Field of View newsletter is live from the Westport Astronomical Society. mailchi.mp/was-ct/fo... #WestportCT #WestportObservatory #WestportAstronomicalSociety #Astrophotography

WAS's Phil Harrington was up early this morning and captured our interstellar interloper, Comet 3I/ATLAS, with his Celestron Origin astrograph. A look at a comet that keeps everyone guessing. Curious about all the supposed “anomalies”? Astronomer Jason Wright breaks it down: sites.psu.edu/astrow...

Clouds win again. ☁️ The Westport Observatory will be closed tonight for viewing — and of course, it had to happen on another night with a chance of aurora. http://www.was-ct.org/ #WestportObservatory #Aurora #Stargazing #SpaceWeather #WestportAstronomicalSociety

🌌 THE STORM IS NOT OVER 🌌 Last night’s auroras wowed skywatchers from Canada to El Salvador! Two CMEs hit Earth on Nov. 11th, triggering a G4 storm seen in 45+ states. Another CME could arrive tonight—eyes up! 📸 John Stetson, Sebago Lake, Maine Spaceweather.com #Aurora #NorthernLights

What an epic night of aurora across the world — and right here in New England! And it’s not over — there may be another CME is on the way, possibly bigger than the first two. Here are a few incredible shots from our members, reporting in from Arizona, Long Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

VERY Limited Supplies! The 2026 Westport Astronomical Society Calendar is here — featuring stunning astrophotography from our talented members and daily sky data from Phil Harrington. Perfect for any stargazer! Get yours before they’re gone → was-ct.org/calendar-...

Comet 3I/ATLAS is back, visible pre-dawn in Virgo. A Nov. 8 image reveals 4–5 tails, including a jet toward the Sun—unlike recent fuzzy photos. It’s still on its predicted path. Spaceweather.com is asking for confirming shots. #Comet #3IATLAS #Astronomy #Astrophotography

A CME hit Earth early Nov. 6, sparking a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm. Up to three additional CMEs are expected through Nov. 9. More nights of aurora potential for northern skies! Even better? Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) is glowing in the sunset sky. 📸 Details @ Spaceweather.com

🌕💥 DOUBLE LUNAR IMPACT! Two asteroids slammed into the Moon last week—both caught by Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii. Traveling at 60,000 mph, the space rocks left fresh craters in the lunar soil, a reminder our serene neighbor is constantly under fire. 🔗

Solar activity has spiked with multiple X-class flares and at least three CMEs heading for Earth. Impacts are expected Nov. 6–7, possibly causing auroras visible across the northern U.S. Watch for updates @ Spaceweather.com #Aurora #SolarStorm #SpaceWeather #Astronomy

🌬️☁️ Clouds and strong winds will keep the Westport Observatory closed tonight, 11/5. Stay warm, and we’ll see you under clearer skies next week! 🔭✨ #WestportObservatory #Astronomy #Stargazing #WestportAstronomicalSociety

🚀 25 Years Aboard the ISS! 🛰️ The International Space Station marks 25 years of continuous human presence in space. As it nears retirement in 2030, NASA’s push for commercial stations faces delays — raising concern over a future gap in orbit. spacenews.com/on-the... #ISS #NASA #25YearsInSpace

🌌 Next WAS Speaker: Dr. Sara Seager (MIT) — From Lab to Cosmos: Three Frontiers in the Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth! Join us Tuesday, Nov 18 at 8 PM at the Westport Observatory & online for an inspiring talk on the search for life beyond our planet. 🔭 👉 was-ct.org/events/sa...

🌟 A Rare Golden Comet! 🌟 Most comets glow green — but not this one. Comet ATLAS (C/2025 K1) has emerged from its close solar encounter shining a brilliant golden hue. ☄️✨ Photographed by Dan Bartlett of June Lake, California. Learn how to spot it in the morning sky at Spaceweather.com

Unfortunately, the Star Party at Aquila’s Nest Vineyard is canceled tonight 11/1. We’ll reschedule soon and be back with wine, stars, and cosmic views of your universe. 🍷🔭 Stay tuned for a new date → www.aquilasnestviney... #WestportObservatory #StarParty #Stargazing #AquilasNestVineyard

🌟 Comet 3I/ATLAS brightens rapidly! 🌟 As it reached perihelion on Oct. 29, spacecraft watching the Sun saw a sudden surge in brightness. Scientists expect it to emerge from solar conjunction much brighter and easier to see from Earth. 🔭 Full story: Spaceweather.com

🍷✨ The WAS Away Team heads to Aquila’s Nest Vineyard this Saturday at 6:30 PM for a night of wine and stargazing! See ☄️ Comets Lemmon & SWAN, 🌕 80% Moon, 🪐 Saturn, Uranus & Neptune, plus a Tiangong pass at 7:48 PM. 🍇 Sign up → tinyurl.com/26zgr4lr #StarParty #Astronomy

The clouds have cast their spooky spell over the Westport Observatory tonight — we’re socked in! No stargazing this evening, but don’t fear the dark too much — we’ll rise again next Wednesday for our Star Party! https://was-ct.org/ #WestportObservatory #Halloween #Stargazing #StarParty #Boo

The USGS seismic detectors at the Westport Observatory picked up the M6.5 earthquake this morning at 8:38 AM, just east of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe, 1,832 miles from Westport. This quake is not related to Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, now tracking toward Jamaica. #Earthquake #WestportObservatory

🌠 We’re opening early tonight at the Westport Observatory for views of Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2)! A few passing clouds won’t stop us—see Saturn, Neptune, and deep-sky wonders at our Star Party! 🔭✨ 📸 Kathy & Ryan Denke, WAS SeeStar30 #Astronomy #CometSWAN #ZWO

🌠 Comet Night — Tonight! 🌠 If the weather cooperates, join us tonight (Mon Oct 20, 7–9 PM) at the Westport Observatory Tower to view Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) as they make their closest approach to Earth this week! Check for updates: was-ct.org/programs/...

🚨 Speaker Update! 🚨 The government shutdown moved Naveen Vetcha to January, but we welcome CUNY’s Iman Behbehani this Tuesday, Oct 21 at 8 PM! Join us online for “The Life Cycle of Matter through Stars,” as Iman explores Betelgeuse on Zoom & YouTube: was-ct.org/events/im... #WestportObservatory

It’s Star Party season! The WAS Away Team is out on the streets of Fairfield County with our telescopes, sharing the universe with all! Check out member astrophotography, a new October speaker, and Monday’s Comet Star Party: mailchi.mp/was-ct/fo... #WestportObservatory #WestportAstronomicalSociety

Comet Night! Join us Monday, Oct 20, 7–9 PM for tower views of Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) as they approach to Earth this week. We’ll open only if skies are clear: was-ct.org/events/le... Photo: Phil Harrington #WestportObservatory #CometLemmon #CometSWAN #Astronomy #CT

The Webb Space Telescope: The Journey So Far Join us Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 8 PM for a talk by Dr. Naveen Vetcha, Team Lead at Amentum’s Space Exploration Division. Explore Webb’s incredible discoveries! 📺 The classroom will be closed Watch on YouTube or Zoom: was-ct.org

Congratulations to WAS member Michael Southam!His stunning image of LDN 1295 — The Giraffe Nebula featured as today’s AAPOD2 Image of the Day! Captured under the dark skies of Cherry Springs State Park, PA. www.aapod2.com/blog/... #Astrophotography #AAPOD2 #GiraffeNebula #Astronomy #CherrySprings

Tonight at the Westport Observatory! Join us for the Weekly Star Party at 8 PM. Spot early views of Comets C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), along with Saturn, Neptune, and more. was-ct.org/programs/... #WestportObservatory #Starparty #CometLemmon #Astronomy #WAS #CometSWAN

Starship takes flight (again)! SpaceX is set for its 11th Starship test flight tonight at 7:15 PM ET from Starbase, Texas. The mission will test satellite deployments, heat shielding, and new booster engine configs — the final flight of version 2 before v3 debuts later. spacenews.com/spacex...

🌌 Historic cosmic first! Astronomers have captured the first-ever image of two black holes orbiting each other — a breathtaking confirmation of decades of theory! The quasar OJ287, reveals a pair of titanic black holes dancing in deep space. www.space.com/astron... #Astronomy #BlackHole #OJ287

🌌 Missed September’s Westport Astronomical Society Free Science Series Lecture? Catch Professor Adam Frank’s fascinating talk “The Search for Life in the Universe” — exploring how science hunts for life beyond Earth. 👽✨ 🎥 Watch it now (or again!): youtube.com/live/Z89... #WestportObservatory

🌏 A powerful M7.4 earthquake struck off the southeastern coast of the Philippines near Mindanao, about 79 miles from Davao. Tsunami warnings were issued. The USGS seismometer at the Westport Observatory detected the quake 8,850 miles away! 🌎 #Earthquake #Philippines #Seismology

✨ Clear skies tonight, Westport! ✨ Join us at the Westport Observatory for Public Night starting at 8PM. Cool, crisp air and perfect views of Saturn’s rings, Neptune, and your universe! 🌌🔭 🔗 was-ct.org/programs/...

While interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS steals the spotlight, Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) is rapidly brightening and may soon be visible to the naked eye! It should be a dazzling evening sight around the New Moon in late October. 🌠 Photo: Rolando Ligustri 🇮🇹 🔗 Spaceweather.com #CometLemmon

🌙✨ Tonight! Join us at the Westport Observatory for International Observe the Moon Night! 🌍🚀 Point a telescope at the Moon, share stories, and connect with millions worldwide. 📸 Share your shots with #ObserveTheMoon + #WestportObservatory! 🌒💫 #MoonNight2025 #NASA

🚀 A cosmic visitor is flying by Mars today! Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will swing just 29 million km from the Red Planet. NASA & ESA orbiters are ready to capture images and data on this rare traveler from beyond our solar system. 🌌 🔗 skyandtelescope.org/... #CometAtlas #Mars #Interstellar

🌙✨ Join us Sat, Oct 4 for International Observe the Moon Night! ✨🌙 We’ll celebrate Earth’s closest neighbor with telescopes, stories & skywatching fun at the Westport Observatory. 📸 Share your shots with #ObserveTheMoon & #WestportObservatory! #MoonNight2025 #NASA #WestportObservatory

As we observed Saturn and its moon Enceladus tonight, a new study of Cassini data revealed the icy moon is bursting with complex organic molecules in its plumes — the same kinds linked to life on Earth. 🌊🧬 Its hidden ocean may hold the chemistry for life. 🔗 Read more: www.scientificameric...

✨ Clear Skies Tonight! ✨ We’re opening the Westport Observatory at 8 PM, 10/1, for a star party under a gorgeous sky. 🌕 70% waxing gibbous Moon 🪐 Saturn & distant Neptune 🌌 Deep sky wonders Come see your Universe! was-ct.org/programs/... #WestportObservatory #StarParty #Astronomy #LookUp

🌧️☁️ Once again, the clouds win. The Westport Observatory will be closed tonight for public night. We’ll keep watching the skies — hopefully some clear skies NEXT Wednesday and we’ll open the dome for you. Stay tuned! https://was-ct.org/ #WestportObservatory #CloudySkies #LookUp