Mattatuck Astronomical Society

Welcome to the
Mattatuck Astronomical Society
Home Page at

Naugatuck Valley Community College

About the Observatory:

The Mattatuck Astronomical Society (M.A.S.) Observatory was dedicated in 1985 with funding and support from both SNET and NVCC. Over the years, the observatory, which houses a C-14, C-8 and 5" Meade Refractor, has been used:

to educate the public

as a focal point for the college's astronomy program

continuing education program classes

and free public observation evenings

Public observation sessions continue to be offered the Thursday and Friday closest to first quarter phase of the moon each month (September through May - weather permitting) as well as during special events such as Halley's comet, Comet Hale-Bopp, etc.;

In May of 1997, the society dedicated an additional observatory at a 'dark sky' site located at the White Memorial Conservation Center. This observatory provides very dark skies and a 17" reflector telescope. Later this summer, we hope to have a 'Cookbook' CCD camera available for society use. Several members have one of these and a few of their pictures appear below.

To visit the home site for the Mattatuck Astronomical Society,

click our link at www.mastransit.org

	This image of the Orion Nebula was made through a 4"f5 reflector. It is a tricolor image (i.e.: taken through three separate filters - blue, green, and red) made 11/15/96. Jim Edlin
	This mosaic was made with a 16" f4.5 Meade reflector at Jim Hannon's observatory. It is two images of M51 pasted together and was made 3/96. Jim Edlin.
	This image of M57 was taken on 9/1/96 through the C-14 at f7 and is a tricolor picture. Jim Edlin.
	This is an image of Jupiter taken through a C-14 at f22 - south is at the top. Jim Edlin.
	This is an image of Saturn. Jim Edlin.
	The Horsehead Nebula in Orion - taken through a C-14 telescope at f7. This image is a composite of two pictures - one made up of 30 images of 30 sec. each and the other made of 48 images of 30 sec. each. The image was created by Jim Edlin.
	The Barred Spiral Galaxy - M95. This image is a composite of 40 images of 30 sec. each. This image was created by Jim Hannon.
	The Spiral Galaxy - NGC-2903. This image is a composite of 30 images of 30 sec. each. This image was created by Jim Hannon.