"Star Watch" is a term amateur astronomers use for an evening get-together where we talk, look through telescopes, find new objects and enjoy each others company. Our public Star Watches are an opportunity for you to:

• Look through a variety of telescopes at planets, star clusters and galaxies and discuss what you are looking at with a knowledgeable person.

• Learn about the constellations - you don't need telescopes or binoculars for these.

• Ask questions about our solar system, cosmology, stars and many other subjects.

• Learn about telescopes, binoculars, books and software.

Our club members volunteer to hold eleven (11) scheduled Public Star Watches for 2025 (although others may be added later in the year and will then be added to the table below). They will be held in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest, at Batsto Village, where our telescopes will be set up on the field beside the visitors' center or the field at Atsion on the east side of Rt 206, and at Historic Smithville Park in Easthampton, NJ (near Mt Holly). Directions are linked at the bottom of this page. Attendees at Batsto should park in the paved parking lot at the front of the visitor's center. No-cost Reservations are needed for Smithville (see below).

These events are weather-permitting, so always check the WAS Home Page for the weather status (go/no-go) before heading out. This information will usually be posted by 1:00 pm on the day of the event.

Etiquette and safety - following a few simple rules will maintain an adequate level of safety and improve the general experience:

• Do not drive your vehicle near the telescopes. This area is dark and you might accidentally hit an attendee or astronomy equipment.

• Flashlights can be useful, but keep them pointed at the ground. Usually you'll see more by keeping the light off allowing your eyes to dark adapt, otherwise, you'll see well in a small illuminated circle and the rest of everything will be black. Ideally, a flashlight should have a red filter to preserve night vision. It takes time for your eyes to adapt to the dark so you can see the fainter objects in a telescope such as galaxies. Someone shining a flashlight in your eyes will reduce your dark adaptation for a while.

• Do not touch the telescopes. Not because you will necessarily damage them, but you may bump the telescope off the object it's aimed at and it will take time for the operator to reacquire it.

• Cameras - it's ok to bring cameras but don't use a flash. A flash won't help to record the sky and it will ruin the dark adaption of anybody who gets flashed. If you wish, bring a tripod and one of our club members will show you how to image the night sky.

For more information, contact our Star Watch Director, Suzanne Leap.

For directions, click on the respective location below.