Lecture Series Continues July 16, 2025

Stars come in all shapes and sizes: Big powerful blue stars, small yet feisty red stars, strange pulsating yellow stars, and more. How do we know so much about stars? How did we go from seeing tiny points of light in the sky to knowing about red giants and supernovae? In this talk, intended for a general audience, Dr. Alexandra Yep, a poet turned astronomer, will help us learn all about stars and the tools astronomers use to understand them. Click here for more info and Zoom link.

Special Talk in August for the Entire Family

Ja:no’s (Janine) Bowen, a member of the Beaver Clan of the Seneca Nation and an expert in Seneca language and culture revitalization, will present on the revered Seneca figure of benevolent Grandmother Moon on August 20, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Bowen holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and an M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. This special, family-friendly presentation offers a unique opportunity to learn about the myths and realities surrounding Grandmother Moon.

Open Observatory Every Wednesday Night

View our calendar for a complete list of events and times.
Sign-up here for group reservations.

Visit the Martz-Kohl Observatory Online Store!

click image for store webpage

The Martz-Kohl Observatory has partnered with Falconer Printing to provide merchandise with our logo.  Purchases can be shipped or picked-up locally. Some non-apparel items are for sale at the observatory. A portion of all proceeds is donated to the observatory.

Space STEM Camp 2025

Space STEM Camp is fueling up to blast off into a third year of academic, hands-on exploration of all things space, serving rising 7th – 9th grade students in the Western NY and Northwestern PA region. Camp runs daily July 14 – 18, 2025, and will be based at Jamestown Community College and the Martz-Kohl Observatory. Registration is now closed. Click here for more info.

International Observe the Moon Night 2025

This year’s International Observe the Moon Night will be October 4, 2025. More info is coming soon! Last year, we had a great turnout on September 14, 2024. Well over 100 people attended. We had a program that discussed real and apparent Moon size, Native American names and meanings of various months’ full moons, as well as other information about our Moon. People were treated to a great night of observing as well. Multiple telescopes were setup for viewing the Moon and the 24″ scope was used for viewing the Planet Saturn.

Check Out Our Lecture Series Video Library!

We currently have a video library of over 40 presentations on a variety of topics, including the James Webb Space Telescope, black holes, cosmic origins, climate change, Mars rovers, astrophotography, telescopes, and even a doctoral defense. Speakers include NASA scientists, university professors in physics and astronomy, amateur astronomers, and observatory members.

The sun has a 22-year cycle where approximately every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field flips and its activity waxes and wanes. We are currently in the rising phase, approaching the peak of activity which is expected in July 2025. Sunspot regions have intense magnetic fields that can contort, suddenly snap, and release tremendous energy. This energy manifests as a solar flare, blasting out intense radiation and charged particles. Often accompanying a solar flare, a Coronal Mass Ejection of solar material, including plasma and energetic particles is launched into space. When a CME interacts with our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere, it can cause a geomagnetic storm which can be manifested in an Aurora, usually near the north or south poles.

Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

Library Telescope Loan Program

The Martz-Kohl Observatory participates in the Library Telescope Program which places telescopes in local public libraries, allowing general access to portable telescopes that can be put into circulation just like a book. The goals of the program are to help foster scientific literacy, to stimulate interest in astronomy, enable people who have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery, and to provide a valuable asset for libraries.

Telescopes and accessories include an Orion Starblast 4.5″ telescope with zoom eyepiece, red flashlight, planisphere (night sky map), observers guide, moon map, and manuals. The telescopes are easy to use, robust, and are modified to make them more durable and patron friendly. MMMAA members have provided hands-on training for library staff to ensure they are comfortable with the telescope and are able to answer basic patron questions. Reminder: NEVER look at the sun with a telescope unless you have a special solar filter and have had instruction on its use.

Local libraries currently participating in the telescope loan program, or will be soon, are:

  • Anderson-Lee Library (Silver Creek, NY))
  • Ashville Free Library (Ashville, NY)
  • Bemus Point Public Library (Bemus Point, NY)
  • Cassadaga Library (Cassadaga, NY)
  • Falconer Public Library (Falconer, NY)
  • Hazeltine Public Library (Jamestown, NY)
  • Kennedy Free Library (Kennedy, NY)
  • Mary E. Seymour Memorial Free Library (Stockton, NY)
  • Myers Memorial Library (Frewsburg, NY)
  • Randolph Free Library (Randolph, NY)
  • Sinclairville Free Library (Slinclairville, NY)
  • Warren Public Library (Warren, PA)

Visitors Welcome!

The Martz-Kohl Observatory is happy to host groups, large or small! Scouts, school classes, civic organizations, clubs, and groups of family and friends are invited to experience the wonders of the night sky. Our mission is to inform, educate and inspire the general public and support teaching in the sciences of astronomy and physics. Groups can use our contact form to obtain more information. Use our event calendar to learn about lectures by educators, scientists, astronomy & space professionals, as well as observatory members — which are open to the public.

View more images in our galleries.

Check out the astronomy photo of the day.

 

The Martz-Kohl Observatory is run by the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association Inc. a not-for-profit voluntary group of people interested in astronomy. The observatory is located in Frewsburg, New York in Chautauqua County, not far from Jamestown and Chautauqua Lake.