Welcome to VBAS!
The Von Braun Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization of amateur and professional astronomers. We are sharing our love of space with the community through our planetarium and observatories located in Monte Sano State Park just east of Huntsville, Alabama.
Latest News
Celebrate the VBAS’ 70th Birthday!
Join us at Monte Sano Lodge in Monte Sano State Park on Friday, Sep 26th 5:30 – 9 pm for a social hour and silent auction followed by an elegant buffet with salad, entrees and dessert.
Astronomy 101
Our popular Fall course on techniques in observational astronomy is back! We’ll meet on Tuesdays, 10/14 through 11/18, 7:00pm – 8:30pm for six sessions in total. Price: $25 members, $30 nonmembers
- Astronomy Day 2025September 27th, 1-5; 7:30 – 9 pm Von Braun Astronomical Society will celebrate Astronomy Day on September 27th in person at Monte Sano State Park! Daytime events (between 1 – 5 pm) will include: mini-planetarium shows, Telescope tours, and Meteor radar demos. Evening events (between 7:30 – 9 pm) will include a keynote speech followed… Read more: Astronomy Day 2025
- Member Meeting – July 18Join us on Friday July 18, 2025 at 7:30 pm at the VBAS Planetarium for our monthly member meeting. Admission is open to the public. NASA Meteor Monitoring at VBAS Our topic will be: NASA Meteor Monitoring at VBAS with NASA specialist Dr. Bill Cooke. The Global Meteor Network is a Canada based project with… Read more: Member Meeting – July 18
- Moon tree video and height updatePlease enjoy the following video with details about our newly planted “moon tree” and updates on its growth. Produced by Greyden Kutner – our very own student director!
Donate to the VBAS Stars for All Endowment Fund
VBAS established an agency fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville in 2024. VBAS is the sole beneficiary of the distributions from this fund, which is used to provide long term financial stability for our organization. Your donation will help continue VBAS operations well into the future.
Upcoming Shows
- September 2025 Planetarium Shows
All planetarium shows begin at 7:30pm.
Admission opens at 7:00pm; $5/adult, $3/student, 6 and under free.
Telescope viewing afterwards on clear nights.
September 6th – Juno Mission to Jupiter
Launched in August 2011, The Juno spacecraft travelled for five years to reach the king of the planets, Juputer. Juno has been in Jupiter’s orbit for a little over nine years and has provided a wealth of information about Jupiter and its surroundings. Join us to learn about the discoveries made by Juno about Jupiter’s interior, atmosphere, auroras, Galilean moons, rings, radiation belts, other moons, and magnetosphere.
Presented by Naveen Vetcha
September 13th – Autumn Skies
The Summer Triangle hangs in the west and the less brilliant stars of fall are climbing high in the sky. The geometry of where the Earth is in its orbit around the Sun in the fall allows us a view out into the depths of the Universe. Come and learn what there is to see with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope.
Presented by Alex Hall
September 20th – History of Huntsville and VBAS
The histories of Huntsville and the Von Braun Astronomical Society are intertwined. Come along and let’s learn about this fascinating history.
Presented by Beth Bero
September 27th – Astronomy Day
The VBAS planetarium volunteers will be taking turns giving mini planetarium shows on topics of their choice while we are open for Astronomy Day.
