Public Viewing Nights

Every Wednesday, after 8 pm, when the skies are clear, the Westport Astronomical Society holds a public viewing night. We open up the Westport Observatory and pull out our telescopes for an evening of star gazing and learning. These public nights are open to everyone of all ages and experiences and are a great way to experience firsthand what we are all about.

While our public viewing nights are always free, a suggested donation of $5 helps us run our non-profit organization and maintain our telescopes and facilities for years to come. We rely on support from people like you and are always looking for new members to join our society.

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Star Trails over the Westport Observatory

A Note About the Weather

Astronomy is always at the mercy of nature. Clouds, fog, wildfire smoke, and long summer days all impact our ability to use our telescopes and observe the sky. Sometimes the weather conspires against us for weeks at a time, we feel as frustrated as everyone else, but until we figure out a way to control the weather, it is an unavoidable reality. A general guideline is that if you look up and can’t see any stars, then our telescopes can’t either, and we will cancel the public viewing night. The ClearSky Chart below, and our observatory All Sky Cam will give you a good sense of current conditions at the Westport Observatory. If you are unsure, check one of our many social media platforms for more information.