Stargazing in Hamburg

Join us at Penn Dixie for an out-of-this-world experience! Our astronomers will map the night sky — including stars, planets, constellations, and deep space objects — for you using a variety of telescopes and specialized equipment. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, warm clothing, blankets, a flashlight, and food/beverages. We’ll have plenty of telescopes, but you can bring yours along, too, if you’d like some expert advice. All ages welcome. Registration is not required. Check our social media for weather-related updates.

2023 Dates:

  • Saturday, June 17th, 9 pm (Rain date: June 24th)
  • Saturday, July 15th, 9 pm (Rain date: Saturday July 22nd, 9 pm)
  • Saturday, August 19th, 8:30 pm (Rain date: August 26th, 8:30 pm)

Please plan to arrive a few minutes before the scheduled start time so that you have time to use the restroom and set up your lawn chairs / blankets. If you arrive after the start time, we ask that you dim your headlights when pulling into the parking lot.

Thanks to the generous support of Moog Inc. and the Town of Hamburg, there is no charge for our evening astronomy programs.

A solar eclipse viewed through Penn Dixie telescopes.

Thinking about purchasing a telescope? This telescope guide offers some great suggestions from Penn Dixie astronomer Ernie Jacobs. You can also download our Astronomy Night guide — also prepared by Ernie Jacobs — to learn more about our programs.

Looking Up! Virtual Stargazing

Saturday June 6 – 8:30 pm

The Buffalo Astronomical Association, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve, Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum, and Williamsville Space Lab Planetarium will be presenting another Virtual Stargazing Event on Saturday June 6th starting at 8:30 PM.

Kids: Want to participate? We’re inviting a few science enthusiasts under age 18 to join our program. To participate, email your questions in advance to astronomy@penndixie.org . We’ll select individuals to appear on the program and ask their question directly to our astronomers. A parent or guardian must be present at the time of the event and willing to provide consent for the child to appear on the program. You’ll need Zoom and access to a computer, smartphone, or tablet with camera and microphone. One participant will be randomly selected to win a Galileoscope Telescope kit (https://galileoscope.org). Please submit questions by 10 pm on Thursday June 4th.

Format: Join the Facebook livestream and pose questions in the comment section. Don’t have Facebook? Email phil@penndixie.org and we’ll share a link shortly before the start time.

Penn Dixie thanks Erie County, NY, Township of Hamburg, NY, & Southtowns Regional Chamber of Commerce for their support!