Photo Credit: Phil Hart

SCAS CELEBRATES

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ASTRONOMY OUTREACH & PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA

1922 - 2022

WE ARE ASTRONOMERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The mission of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society is to improve the awareness, understanding, and enjoyment of astronomy.

We are dedicated to making astronomy available to the public by providing free telescope observing, educating through lecture presentations, encouraging research, and promoting a respectful attitude about light pollution, because a beautiful starlit sky belongs to everyone.

- Duke N. Dayton, Former SCAS President

Lined up waiting for us to open

Local Events

SCAS REOPENS THE D'AURIA OBSERVATORY EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT STARTING JULY 1OTH. THE OBSERVATORY HOURS ARE 6 PM TO 10 PM. BILL SADOWSKI PARK REOPENS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16th. MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE AS PER CDC RECOMMENDATIONS OTHERWISE IT IS AT YOUR DISCRETION WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

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Stargazer

Leo, the Lion, is almost directly overhead April evenings. With its distinctive sickle-shaped asterism, Leo contains the bright Regulus (Alpha Leonis). Ancient Greeks and Romans associated Leo with the Nemean lion, killed by Hercules as part of his 12 labors - with a hide impenetrable by iron, bronze, or stone, Hercules strangled the great beast after unsuccessfully trying to reason with it. Ancient Egyptians worshiped Leo as the place where the Sun rose after creation.

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Winter Star Party

The 42nd Annual Winter Star Party dates are set: Feb. 16th to Feb. 22nd, 2026 REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 1st The Winter Star Party "WSP" is a serious event designed for amateur astronomers. WSP is held annually, usually during the new moon in February. The event is unique in that it occurs mid-winter during the height of the Florida Keys tourist season. 2023 Winter Star Party Recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5eZfLi-esM

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