Martz-Kohl Observatory

1 week ago

Holy Smokes! A two-stage Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday (June 19) at 12:27am EDT carrying a communications satellite for the Louisiana-based company Globalstar to orbit. Member, Dave Wilkins, was in the right place and time (2:20am) to capture these images from the Martz-Kohl Observatory parking lot. These bright clouds are called noctilucent clouds. They are brighter than any surrounding clouds because they are significantly higher, 100,000s of feet up. At this height in the atmosphere, the contrail is made up of tiny ice crystals. ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

2 weeks ago

The five naked-eye viewable planets are hanging out together in the pre-dawn sky for the month of June. The alignment is very rare as the planets are lined up in order from distance from the sun. The alignment will be at its peak before sunrise on June 24. Look toward the east and south around 4:30-5:00 AM EDT to see our neighbors in the solar system put on a dazzling display. Mercury may be difficult to see as it is close to the sun and low in the sky but you should easily see Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Get up early and enjoy! Photo by observatory member, Dave Wilkins. ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

2 months ago

This Sunday night, May 15, 2022 - a total lunar eclipse! The "Blood Flower Moon” eclipse starts about 10:30pm with totality about 11:30pm fading to partial after about an hour. One of the longest eclipses until 2029. Members will be at the observatory to host visitors that wish to view the eclipse. Please call the observatory before coming as the weather forecast is not currently favorable: (716) 569-3689. Attached images are of a previous Blood Flower Moon taken by member, Tom Traub at the Martz-Kohl Observatory 👍 🔭 ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

2 months ago

"The most convincing evidence yet of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way?" - an actual image from the Event Horizon Telescope! ❤️ 🔭Behold! The first image of the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy!

This picture from the Event Horizon Telescope is the first direct visual evidence of the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, which is about 27,000 light-years from Earth. It took years of hard work by scientists around the world to create this image.

Can we get a round of emoji applause for the EHT team? Well done! 👏👏👏

You can learn more at: eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/astronomers-reveal-first-image-black-hole-heart-our-galaxy

(Image: EHT Collaboration) ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

2 months ago

When the planets align in the sky, as they will in the South-East for the next few mornings before sunrise, it is a time of wonder. Spacecraft have traveled the Solar System and have taken images and collected data - in our lifetime. We have learned so much... and still know so little. Visit the Martz-Kohl Observatory to view the planets through our large telescopes and learn-about and be amazed by Space. martzobservatory.org/ ... See MoreSee Less