March 12, 2026 – Observing Exoplanet Host Stars with NASA Exoplanet Watch
Exoplanets: There is lots to know.
The Sky At Night – March 2026
Upcoming Night Sky Maps & Events
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 2/20/2026
Friday’s impromptu star party was announced on a cloudy afternoon following a rainy morning, but the forecast for clear evening skies was accurate. Seven HAL members attended on a night that presented some challenges from fog and wind. Conditions were much better once the 3-day-old moon set just after 9:30, with the fog having cleared […]
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 2/13/2026
There was a good turnout of 14 HAL members for the impromptu star party at Alpha Ridge Park on February 13th. Skies were clear except for a wide band of clouds that moved through around 8:00 PM. The temperature started in the low 30s, decreasing to around 25 at 11:00 PM, and winds were calm. […]
February 12, 2026 – All Things HAL – a series of mini-presentations
All Things HAL
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 1/20/2026
In what was possibly the coldest star party ever run by HAL — thetemperature started the night at about 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-5C) andended at about 5 degrees (-15C); see the attached plot of temperature(red line) from a data logging device I use — seven intrepid HALmembers came to Alpha Ridge Park for last […]
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 1/07/2026
First of the Year Six HAL members attended the first impromptu star party of 2026 on the balmy (for January) evening of January 7th. The temperature was in the low 50s at sunset and down to 40 by 9:30 PM. Winds were calm and the sky was clear except for a large band of clouds […]
October 2025 Objects of The Month, “Teddy Bear Nebula and Question Mark Nebula”
This image of the “SH2-171 Teddy Bear Nebula
AT115EDT scope @ 805mm, ASI294MM, Astronomik filters. 75×300″ HA, 100×300″ OIII, 74×300″ SII, 10×180″ each RGB for stars. Total 22hrs. Taken across Sept 7, 8, and 18 from Severn (Bortle 7). Processed in PixInsight and combined with the “Foraxx” pallette and RGB stars. -Dave Hickey
and Question Mark Nebula -Jared Case
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 12/20/2025
A Singular Event I was the only attendee for an impromptu star party at Alpha Ridge on December 20. Temperatures were in the mid 30s, winds were calm and the sky was mostly clear, although some clouds moved through in the 7:00 hour. I set up my Vespera EAA scope to image the Flaming Star […]
Impromptu Star Party (Alpha Ridge) 12/12/2025
Three HAL members turned out on a chilly winter night for an impromptu star party at Alpha Ridge Park last night. The temperature was 26 degrees when I took my sky quality meter readings at 8:35 PM, but there wasn’t any wind to speak of, so it was pretty tolerable. Skies were clear for the […]