UIS Observatory
@uisobservatory.bsky.social
This account does not express the opinions of the U of Illinois. It is the home of UIS Friday Night Star Parties ⭐️🎉 and other outreach and research by Prof Martin. Go.uis.edu/starparties
We’re back! The repaired imaging camera passed testing with flying colors. Just in time to salvage a bit of the observing season for galaxies M31 and M33
December 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We’re back! The repaired imaging camera passed testing with flying colors. Just in time to salvage a bit of the observing season for galaxies M31 and M33
This is a stack of images for the campus observatory global meteor network meteor camera from the night of December 13 when the Geminid meteor shower peaked.
The meteors all appear to radiate away from a point off the top of the strip.
Link to the camera on the GMN network: go.uis.edu/campusgmn
The meteors all appear to radiate away from a point off the top of the strip.
Link to the camera on the GMN network: go.uis.edu/campusgmn
December 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
This is a stack of images for the campus observatory global meteor network meteor camera from the night of December 13 when the Geminid meteor shower peaked.
The meteors all appear to radiate away from a point off the top of the strip.
Link to the camera on the GMN network: go.uis.edu/campusgmn
The meteors all appear to radiate away from a point off the top of the strip.
Link to the camera on the GMN network: go.uis.edu/campusgmn
Our first clear night in a while last night, and we used it to image fields in the Andromeda galaxy and the Triangulum galaxy four the luminous stars project. The updated camera worked great.
These are images taken with the wide field camera on the 20 inch telescope.
These are images taken with the wide field camera on the 20 inch telescope.
December 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Our first clear night in a while last night, and we used it to image fields in the Andromeda galaxy and the Triangulum galaxy four the luminous stars project. The updated camera worked great.
These are images taken with the wide field camera on the 20 inch telescope.
These are images taken with the wide field camera on the 20 inch telescope.
Just a few (hundred) meteors caught by the campus, observatory meteor camera during the peak of the Geminids last night.
globalmeteornetwork.org/weblog//US/U...
globalmeteornetwork.org/weblog//US/U...
December 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Just a few (hundred) meteors caught by the campus, observatory meteor camera during the peak of the Geminids last night.
globalmeteornetwork.org/weblog//US/U...
globalmeteornetwork.org/weblog//US/U...
We are getting ready for the maiden voyage tonight of our repaired CCD imaging camera. It’s the same E2V chip we had before and a brand new camera body from FLI. Wish us luck.
December 15, 2025 at 11:27 PM
We are getting ready for the maiden voyage tonight of our repaired CCD imaging camera. It’s the same E2V chip we had before and a brand new camera body from FLI. Wish us luck.
Best storm I ever saw was the Geminids falling at about 2 per minute. But these they notoriously defy prediction. Still worth just sticking your head out to check.
Just a reminder that this year's Geminids meteor shower peaks tomorrow night! Do you have a plan to try to catch the spectacle?
Dark Skies Should Make This Year’s Geminids Meteor Shower Spectacular. Here’s How to See Them
As far as annual meteor showers are concerned, 2025 has saved the best for last. This year’s Geminids are not to be missed
www.scientificamerican.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Best storm I ever saw was the Geminids falling at about 2 per minute. But these they notoriously defy prediction. Still worth just sticking your head out to check.
Reposted by UIS Observatory
Just a reminder that this year's Geminids meteor shower peaks tomorrow night! Do you have a plan to try to catch the spectacle?
Dark Skies Should Make This Year’s Geminids Meteor Shower Spectacular. Here’s How to See Them
As far as annual meteor showers are concerned, 2025 has saved the best for last. This year’s Geminids are not to be missed
www.scientificamerican.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Just a reminder that this year's Geminids meteor shower peaks tomorrow night! Do you have a plan to try to catch the spectacle?
The weather is atrocious. So we are canceling after work star party for tonight (Dec 10) and tucking the telescope in under its blankets for a long winter nap.
We’ll see you for more star parties in the new year. Stay warm and wishing you clear skies until then.
We’ll see you for more star parties in the new year. Stay warm and wishing you clear skies until then.
December 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The weather is atrocious. So we are canceling after work star party for tonight (Dec 10) and tucking the telescope in under its blankets for a long winter nap.
We’ll see you for more star parties in the new year. Stay warm and wishing you clear skies until then.
We’ll see you for more star parties in the new year. Stay warm and wishing you clear skies until then.
We caught some glimpses of Saturn tonight at after work star party through the clouds before it got thicker.
December 8, 2025 at 11:36 PM
We caught some glimpses of Saturn tonight at after work star party through the clouds before it got thicker.
The weather is not perfect for after work star party tonight (Monday, December 8) but we are gonna give it a try.
We will open at 5 PM and stay open until 6 PM or clouds over which ever happens first.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
We will open at 5 PM and stay open until 6 PM or clouds over which ever happens first.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
December 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The weather is not perfect for after work star party tonight (Monday, December 8) but we are gonna give it a try.
We will open at 5 PM and stay open until 6 PM or clouds over which ever happens first.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
We will open at 5 PM and stay open until 6 PM or clouds over which ever happens first.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
A pretty picture on a gray weekend. This is the double star cluster h & chi Persei. Look for it with binoculars under the W of Cassiopeia in the northeast this time of year.
Image taken with the UIS Research Observatory wide field camera.
Image taken with the UIS Research Observatory wide field camera.
December 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A pretty picture on a gray weekend. This is the double star cluster h & chi Persei. Look for it with binoculars under the W of Cassiopeia in the northeast this time of year.
Image taken with the UIS Research Observatory wide field camera.
Image taken with the UIS Research Observatory wide field camera.
We saw Saturn at after work star party tonight. Student, Xyn Niewohner captured this image of Saturn, and five of its moons through our 14 inch telescope at the campus observatory.
December 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We saw Saturn at after work star party tonight. Student, Xyn Niewohner captured this image of Saturn, and five of its moons through our 14 inch telescope at the campus observatory.
After Work Starts Party for tonight December 4 is on! The weather is looking good and we are hopeful that will be able to share views of the Moon and Saturn.
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
December 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
After Work Starts Party for tonight December 4 is on! The weather is looking good and we are hopeful that will be able to share views of the Moon and Saturn.
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
Be sure to bundle up it’s gonna be cold on the roof.
Go.uis.edu/stsrparties
December 2, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Pretty obviously not good weather. So the after work star party for December 1 is canceled due to clouds.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Pretty obviously not good weather. So the after work star party for December 1 is canceled due to clouds.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
We will try again on Tuesday (12/2) and then later in the week on Thursday (12/4).
As well as the 8th, 9th and 10th next week.
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
December 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
After work star parties at the UIS Campus Observatory this week are on Dec 1, 2, & 4 from 5-6 pm weather permitting.
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
Everyone welcome. Entry through Library 5th floor.
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Mon + Tues look bad but got a shot 12/4.
Next week we give try on 12/8, 12/9 & 12/10
The Moon 🌓 is near Saturn 🪐 tonight and tomorrow. Check out both with binoculars or a small telescope.
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The Moon 🌓 is near Saturn 🪐 tonight and tomorrow. Check out both with binoculars or a small telescope.
Reposted by UIS Observatory
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Our imaging camera has returned to us repaired! To prepare for putting it back into service I cleaned the filters in the filter wheel. The filters reflect the colors they don’t let through which is why the B filter looks gold and the R filter looks blue.
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Our imaging camera has returned to us repaired! To prepare for putting it back into service I cleaned the filters in the filter wheel. The filters reflect the colors they don’t let through which is why the B filter looks gold and the R filter looks blue.
Our paper on the distribution of the most luminous stars in the LMC is published!
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
On the Spatial Distribution of Luminous Blue Variables, B[e] Supergiants, and Wolf–Rayet Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud - IOPscience
On the Spatial Distribution of Luminous Blue Variables, B[e] Supergiants, and Wolf–Rayet Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, Martin, John C., Humphreys, Roberta M., Davidson, Kris
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Our paper on the distribution of the most luminous stars in the LMC is published!
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Older stars have longer to wander from where they form. So a more dispersed population is older and the dispersion of different classes of stars informs their relative ages.
doi.org/10.3847/1538...
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Join us the first two weeks in December for After Work Star Parties from 5-6 PM on the days listed weather permitting.
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Access to the campus Observatory during these events will be through the 5th floor of Brookens Library (not the usual start party entrance).
Go.uis.edu/starparties
Reposted by UIS Observatory
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Looks like we are in for some cloudy weather for at least a few days. Here are two shots we took last week of the Bow Tie nebula and the Orion Nebula.
November 19, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Looks like we are in for some cloudy weather for at least a few days. Here are two shots we took last week of the Bow Tie nebula and the Orion Nebula.
Thursday I visited Christine Flynn’s fifth grade classroom at Saint Patrick elementary school in Springfield to demonstrate and explore how craters are formed.
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
November 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Thursday I visited Christine Flynn’s fifth grade classroom at Saint Patrick elementary school in Springfield to demonstrate and explore how craters are formed.
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
People ask, “how can we get to you to visit?”. The answer is “invite me!”
We had a good week at the Research Observatory with two clear nights and spectra for Psi Perseus and Beta Pisces.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
November 15, 2025 at 3:55 AM
We had a good week at the Research Observatory with two clear nights and spectra for Psi Perseus and Beta Pisces.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.
Capped the week Friday by hosting the campus interest group for an evening of telescope viewing through the 20-inch telescope.