Observing

HOME
About Us
About Us
It takes a lot of people around the world to make Astronomers Without Borders a reality, from the staff and board to volunteers in many countries.

And it's all made possible by our donors and sponsors.
Programs
Programs
Participate in AWB's programs and share your passion for astronomy with amateur astronomers around the world.
- Community Based Programs
  Community programs bring people together through our common interest in astronomy. By actively engaged in activities together, differences between us become unimportant.
- Arts and Culture Programs
  Arts and Culture programs bridge the border between art and science, highlighting the many perspectives of astronomy found in every worldwide throughout time.
- Resource Sharing Programs
  Resource-sharing programs provide the opportunity to share knowledge as well as materials. Astronomers love to share their passion, and we all have something to share.
- Global Astronomy Month 2020
  Global Astronomy Month is the world’s largest annual celebration of astronomy. Whether local events or online, watching or sharing, science or art, there’s something for everyone.
Community
Community
The Astronomers Without Borders global community is at the heart of everything we do. Bringing the community together through astronomy fosters friendship, understanding, and good will. Programs and activities are made possible by the participation of AWB members.
News
News
Learn more about Astronomers Without Borders and what the world's largest astronomy community - home of the world's largest community-based astronomy programs - has to offer.
Shop
Join
Join
Whether you join as a member or an affiliate (for groups or clubs), we all share the same sky, and in Astronomers Without Borders we also share our activities with each other.
- Become a Member
- Get Involved
- For Clubs & Groups
  Affiliate Directory

Programs

Observing

Casual skywatchers since the time of the ancient Greeks have seen the rising moon as appearing much larger than after it has climbed higher in the sky. The moon is often portrayed in film and television as being very large and bright when it is near the horizon. All this flies in the face of the fact that the actual apparent size of the moon, whether it is rising or it is at its highest point in the sky is quite small. Extend your arm and outstretch your hand. The moon's apparent diameter is about 1/4 the width of your...

A binocular activity At the beginning of April, Ceres will appear starlike on the right side of the field of view. Unfortunately, the brightening moonlight interferes until April 4. After that, the moon rises well after evening twilight ends, allowing time for suitable observations. When Ceres moves above Rho Cancri near the end of the month, bright moonlight returns hampering meaningful observations. Eighteenth century astronomers felt there was something wrong with our solar system. They suspected that a missing planet existed, moving between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter at 2.8 Astronomical Units from the sun. A curious mathematical relationship,...

The search for change on the moon – a search in vain People have often fancied that the moon was an active world, even harboring life. Many observers, both professional and amateur, have believed that they stumbled onto visual evidence suggesting changes occurring on the moon, perhaps from vulcanism, perhaps due to life. 1. Between the craters Walther and Gauricus. Best seen: April 25 and 26 in the evening sky; and April 6 and 7 in the morning. 1671. Several times, Giovanni Domenico Cassini thought he saw a misty formation, perhaps a cloud. 2. Gassendi, crater. Best seen: April 9...

April 21, 2018 Event Organizers: REGISTER HERE FROM A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP. Astronomers Without Borders wants to show your Global Star Party event to the rest of our global community. That evening we'll take viewers on a live tour of GSP events. It's the biggest show on Earth - and beyond! You can make a video to be shared, or you can join us live! GAM's ultimate observing event is the Global Star Party. If you have a scope, it's B.Y.O.T. - Bring Your Own Telescope (or binoculars), or contact your local astronomy club. Don't have a scope, don't worry,...