Calendar for The Villages Astronomy Club

May 2026

• 1st: Executive Directors' Meeting 11am.
  Fishhawk Recreation Center, 2318 Buttonwood Run.

  All members welcome! Join us as we plan future events for the club, including our 2027 speaker schedule, Solar Walk upgrades, and our summer outreach schedule.

4th: Space Academy 6:30pm
Truman Recreation Center Studebaker Room, 2705 Canal Street.

Learn the basics of astronomy and hear news about the latest research.

• 4th: Observers' Workshop, 8:30pm.
  Truman Recreation Center Picnic Pavilion, 2705 Canal Street.

  Learn how to choose and use a telescope or binoculars. Our astronomers answer your questions and provide tips on observing the sky. We provide views of the sky to interested onlookers as well. Bring your telescope or binoculars and join us!

• 16th: Fruitland Park Astronomy 5pm.
  Cales Memorial Soccer Field, 300 Shiloh Street, Fruitland Park, FL.

  See the sky with the Fruitland Park Astronomy Group. Gates open 5pm for solar observers, astro observing begins at dusk. Bring your telescope or come to look through others' scopes. Easy setup off your tailgate. Bring power if required. Public welcome! No Villages ID Required

• 19th: General Meeting: Can We Mine the Asteroids? by Jim Laurent 6:30pm.
  Seabreeze Recreation Center, 2384 Buena Vista Blvd.

  Note Location Change for May & June! Join us as Jim Laurent gives a presentation on "Can We Mine the Asteroids?" What is waiting for us in the asteroids, how could we get it, and is it worth it?

• Smart Scope Meeting Smart Scope meetings will resume in September.

June 2026

1st: Space Academy 6:30pm
Truman Recreation Center Studebaker Room, 2705 Canal Street.

Learn the basics of astronomy and hear news about the latest research.

• 1st: Observers' Workshop, 8:30pm.
  Truman Recreation Center Picnic Pavilion, 2705 Canal Street.

  Learn how to choose and use a telescope or binoculars. Our astronomers answer your questions and provide tips on observing the sky. We provide views of the sky to interested onlookers as well. Bring your telescope or binoculars and join us!

• 5th: Executive Directors' Meeting 11am.
  Fishhawk Recreation Center, 2318 Buttonwood Run.

  All members welcome! Join us as we plan future events for the club, including our 2027 speaker schedule, Solar Walk upgrades, and our summer outreach schedule.

• 6th: Camp Geneva Star Party Time TBA.
  Camp Geneva, Fruitland Park, FL.

  We are expecting to hold a public star party in conjunction with Camp Geneva. Details yet to be sorted out, but the plan is a general star party open to the public. Public welcome! No Villages ID Required

• 16th: General Meeting: The New Artemis Moon Program by Mark Graybill 6:30pm.
  Seabreeze Recreation Center, 2384 Buena Vista Blvd.

  Note Location Change for May & June! NASA Administrator Jared Isaaacman has released a range of statements outlining a bold acceleration of the U.S. Moon program, Artemis, including a permanent base on the Moon. Learn the details, challenges, and hopes for the new plan.

• 20th: Fruitland Park Astronomy 5pm.
  Cales Memorial Soccer Field, 300 Shiloh Street, Fruitland Park, FL.

  See the sky with the Fruitland Park Astronomy Group. Gates open 5pm for solar observers, astro observing begins at dusk. Bring your telescope or come to look through others' scopes. Easy setup off your tailgate. Bring power if required. Public welcome! No Villages ID Required

• Smart Scope Meeting Smart Scope meetings will resume in September.

July 2026

• 3rd: Executive Directors' Meeting 11am.
  Fishhawk Recreation Center, 2318 Buttonwood Run.

  All members welcome! Join us as we plan future events for the club, including our fall speaker schedule, presentation materials development, and our fall Astronomy Day and Starry Starry Night events.

6th: Space Academy 6:30pm
Truman Recreation Center Studebaker Room, 2705 Canal Street.

Learn the basics of astronomy and hear news about the latest research.

• 6th: Observers' Workshop, 8pm.
  Truman Recreation Center Picnic Pavilion, 2705 Canal Street.

  Learn how to choose and use a telescope or binoculars. Our astronomers answer your questions and provide tips on observing the sky. For summer, we will be meeting inside the Truman Rec Center after the Space Academy meeting.

• No Smart Scope Meeting in June, July, or August. Smart Scope Meetings Resume in September.

• 18th: Fruitland Park Astronomy 5pm.
  Cales Memorial Soccer Field, 300 Shiloh Street, Fruitland Park, FL.

  See the sky with the Fruitland Park Astronomy Group. Gates open 5pm for solar observers, astro observing begins at dusk. Bring your telescope or come to look through others' scopes. Easy setup off your tailgate. Bring power if required. Public welcome! No Villages ID Required

• 21st: General Meeting: Roundtable:Your Astronomy Interests 6:30pm.
  Laurel Manor Recreation Center, 1985 Laurel Manor Drive.

  Our general meetings return to Laurel Manor Recreation Center this month following its refurbishment. We will be discussing what got us interested in astronomy, our current pursuits, and look for connections and mentoring from other members.