Latest Posts

  • Window to the Universe Series is Back

    September 13, 2022

    Our Window to the Universe Series is Back!

    We are excited to welcome you back to Taylor Observatory after two years of being closed to the general public. Our monthly public events have returned!
    Come and hear a talk on an astronomy, science or technology topic, followed by telescope viewing through our 18-inch computerized telescope and other scopes.
    Our planetarium is being upgraded and will be completed by year end.  It will have new software, new sound system, and a new FHD projector.

    On September 17th we will kick off our event with a presentation on Mars Rovers by Mackenzie Markham and please save the dates for …….

    October 22, 2022 – James Webb Space Telescope – presented by David Velasquez
    November 19, 2022 – Artemis 1 –     presented by Eduardo Alatorre

    Check out our Events page for more details. Events – Friends of Taylor Observatory

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  • Save The Date – Saturday, June 25, 2022

    May 11, 2022

    Due to Restrictions, June 25th Public Night is Cancelled.

    The Friends of Taylor Observatory, in partnership with Lake County Office of Education, are thrilled to announce the return of our Window to the Universe public nights, with the first night scheduled for Saturday, June 25, at 8:00 PM. Please save the date and stay tuned for more information regarding this and future public events at Taylor Observatory. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

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  • Taylor Observatory Events and Activities

    October 19, 2020

    Until Covid-19 Guidelines Allow, Any Future Events Will Be Remote

    Please Check Out Our October Zoom Event….
    Exploring the Jewel of the Solar System / Cassini: 20 Years of Exploration

    Please subscribe to our Newsletter, on the Home Page, to be invited to our Zoom Events!

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  • July / August 2019 Update

    August 13, 2019
    Our July was busy. The Apollo Palooza event on Saturday July 20 commemored the
    Lunar Landing’s 50th anniverary. In the afternoon, Angelo Parisi, working with Eduardo Alatorre
    and Paloma Rall (junior observatory assistant) opened Taylor to students and parents with
    exhibits, planetarium shows and short talks. Demonstrations included “weigh yourself in lunar
    gravity” and “how high could you jump on the moon?”. In the evening Friends of Taylor held the
    Windows to the Universe program with over 50 enthusiastic visitors, including children.
    Angelo delivered, with great enthusiasm, a historic look at the six Apollo missions involving
    humans landing on the moon and discussed the Saturn V rocket and Lunar Landing module in
    detail.  We placed Apollo 11 in context with the great explorations of the 20th century: North
    and South Poles, Mt Everest, and our Moon, noting that president Nixon, while greeting the
    Astronauts (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins) in person in the South Pacific Ocean, proclaimed it
    the greatest achievement in human history. After the lecture, I, Tom Schleif and Eduardo Alatorre
    shared telescopic views of Saturn and Jupiters with visitors and we observed an Int’l Space
    Station fyover at 9:42. Photos from the afternoon event appear below.
    Perseid Meteor time again . . . we’re seeing some already. Good to watch the Perseids in the
    early August days before moonlight obscures weak meteors. Just after sunset you may see some
    “earth grazers” looking NorthEast. Moon will be 3 days shy of full at meteor peak on night of
    August 12. Sadly, the Perseid Meteor shower will be less evident this year because the moon is
    nearly full — but it’s possible we’ll see some early “earth-grazer” meteors observable.
    August 12th is celebrated for more than the Perseids. The astronomer who taught us we are all
    made of stardust celebrates her 100th birthday on August 12, 2019. 
    Happy Birthday, Margaret Burbidge!  To learn more about this amazing women, check out Sky
    Don’t forget our upcoming  event on August 24, Saturday:  Clear Lake State Park — Campfire
    Program —
    Angelo Parisi and his Big Bang Band Travelling Star Show will be featured at our second
    appearance at the CLSP Campfire program.  The public is invited to attend free of charge. 
    We’ll have our telescopes there for observing later.

    We hope to see you at one or all of our Windows to the Universe presentations.

    Sincerely,

    Bill Haddon, President, Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium

    Website: www.friendsoftaylor.org

    FB:  “Friends of Taylor Observatory”  and “Dark Skies – Lake County, CA”

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