Amateur Astronomy

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Local Astronomy Places

The best way to learn about astronomy is to learn with others. They've 'been there, done that' and can help answer your questions about the night sky and equipment. There are many resources available including clubs, planetariums and observatories. In the Baltimore-DC metro area, there are several of each!

• Clubs
  • MD
    • Astronomical Society of Greenbelt Greenbelt
    • Baltimore Astronomical Society Baltimore
    • Celestial Searchers Glenwood
    • Cumberland Astronomy Club Cumberland
    • Harford County Astronomical Society Bel Air
    • Howard Astronomical League Columbia
    • National Capital Astronomers College Park
    • Southern Maryland Astronomical Society Nanjemoy
    • Tri-State Astronomers Hagerstown
    • Westminster Astronomical Society Westminster
    • defunct????
      • Anne Arundel Association of Amateur Astronomers
      • The Patient Astronomer
      • White Oaks Astronomy Club
  • VA
    • Analemma Society Great Falls
    • Northern Virginia Astronomy Club Fairfax
    • Shenandoah Astronomical Society Middletown
    • Southampton Astronomers Franklin
    • Rappahannock Astronomy Club Fredericksburg
  • DE
    • Delmarva Stargazers Smyrna
• Observatories
  • UM Observatory College Park, MD
  • UMBC JCA Observatory Baltimore, MD
  • NEW: George Mason Observatory Fairfax, VA
  • Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory MD Sci Center, Baltimore, MD
  • Maryland Space Grant Observatory Baltimore, MD
  • Nanjemoy Creek EEC Observatory Nanjemoy, MD
  • US Naval Observatory Washington, DC
  • Morgan County Observatory Berkeley Springs, WV
• Planetaria
  • MD
    • The Howard B. Owens Science Center Planetarium
    • Davis Planetarium MD Sci Center, Baltimore
    • Banneker Planetarium (CCBC Catonsville, MD)
    • Montgomery College Planetarium
    • Harford County Planetaria
    • Kent County HS Planetarium Worton
    • Watson-King Planetarium Towson University
    • Arthur Storer Planetarium Prince Frederick
    • Frostburg State University Planetarium Frostburg
    • William M. Brish Planetarium Hagerstown
    • Bear Branch Nature Center Westminster
  • DC/VA
    • Albert Einstein Planetarium (at the National Air & Space Museum)
    • Rock Creek Park Planetarium
    • Fairfax County Public Schools Planetaria
• Museums/Science Centers
  • Maryland Science Center
  • US Naval Observatory
  • National Air and Space Museum
  • Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Goddard Space Flight Center Visitors' Center
  • The Howard B. Owens Science Center
  • Nanjemoy Creek EEC Nanjemoy, MD
  • Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Challenger Learning Center of Greater Washington
• Astronomy Stores
  • Company Seven, Montpelier, MD
  • Hands On Optics, Damascus, MD
  • The Sky Plus, Mt. Airy, MD
  • Chesapeake Optics, Havre de Grace, MD
• Educational Services
  • Jordan Hill, storyteller
  • Cosmic Academy
  • Cosmic Adventures
• Astronomy/Space Camps (for kids of ALL ages!)
  • UM Summer Programs
  • Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Summer Camps
  • Federation of Galaxy Explorers Summer Camps
  • Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center Summer Programs
  • Queen Anne School Summer Programs (often has a space themed component)
  • VA Space Flight Adventure Camp
  • Gettysburg College Astronomy Camp
  • Virginia Air & Space Center
  • Medomak Family Camp: Astronomy Week
  • Strategic Air & Space Museum Summer Camps (Nebraska)
  • The University of Arizona Alumni Association Astronomy Camp
  • International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC)
  • Wyoming Astro Camp
  • U. Wisconsin Summer Camps
  • Guided Discoveries Astro Camp CA
  • Summer Science Day Camps GA
  • Space Camp
    Space Camp Europe
  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
  • Cosmosphere Camps
  • Kennedy Space Center, FL
  • CCD Imaging Camp (Ron Wodaski)
• News
  • Greg Redfern, WTOP, What's Up? The Space Place
  • Blaine Friedlander, Washington Post, Skywatch (published usually last sunday of each month)

Please email Elizabeth if there is an astro place in the Baltimore-DC metro area that is not listed above.

To look up astro places in other states, check out

• Sky & Telescope's Clubs & Organizations directory
• or Astronomy's Organizations directory

Last Updated: Wednesday May 14, 2008 by Elizabeth Warner