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Best Places To Go Star And Moon Gazing Near Baltimore

Have you ever gone star or moon gazing? The scientific term for star and moon gazing is astronomy. Astronomy, one of the oldest sciences, is the study of celestial objects, such as stars, galaxies, moons, asteroids and comets. You can observe the stars and galaxies with the naked eye or by using a telescope. Several Baltimore locations offer stargazers the opportunity to use telescopes to observe the sky.

Crosby Ramsey Memorial Telescope
Maryland Science Center
601 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 685-5225
www.mdsci.org

The Maryland Science Center has everything for the science lover, young and old. Among the Maryland Science Center's exhibits is the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Telescope, which is perfect for star and moon gazing. The Crosby Ramsey Memorial Telescope, a "rooftop urban observatory," has a "computer controlled telescope that lets guests view planets and stars, along with other astronomical events." Open to the public on Friday nights, the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory is free. On Saturdays guests with paid admission can, weather permitting, look at the sun.

Anne Arundel Community College Astronomy Club
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 777-2260
www.aacc.edu

The Anne Arundel Community College Astronomy Club offers monthly meetings for the public interested in star and moon gazing. The once-a-month meetings of the Anne Arundel Community College Astronomy Club meets at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are held at the observatory located in the back of parking lots A and B. Everyone is welcome to attend, including families and children. The Anne Arundel Community College Astronomy Club is dedicated to bringing people "together to learn about the happenings in the astronomy community, to explore the many facets of the sky with our 14" radio telescopes, and to have fun together."

Bear Branch Nature Center
300 John Owings Road
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 386-3580
www.ccgovernment.carr.org

On the last Saturday of each month, visitors are welcome to attend the Planetarium Show at the Bear Branch Nature Center in Westminster, Maryland. The Planetarium Show at Bear Branch Nature Center begins at 7:30 p.m. The cost for admission is $5 per person. Seats can be reserved by calling in advance. Visitors interested in star and moon gazing can observe the night sky by telescope (weather permitting). Naturalists will entertain visitors with "exotic tales about astronomy" and tells stories about the "journey" through galaxies.

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University Of Maryland Observatory
3300 Metzerott Road
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 405-3001
www.astro.umd.edu

The University of Maryland Observatory hosts an Open House for the public on the 5th and 20th day of each month. At the Open House, a guest speaker gives a 25-to-30 minute talk about an astronomy topic of interest to those who enjoy star and moon gazing. Following the guest speaker, there is a viewing of celestial objects through the telescope. All telescope viewings are weather permitting. Each January, the University of Maryland Observatory hosts a New Telescope Owners Night for the "I got a telescope for Christmas but don't know how to use it!" crowd. A newly launched program is WOW! or Working Observatory Wednesdays. Every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. individuals ages 10 years and up are invited to help out with the administration and clean-up tasks.

Howard Astronomical League Of Central Maryland
Alpha Ridge Community Park
11685 Old Frederick Rd.
Marriottsville, MD 21104
www.howardastro.org

The Howard Astronomical League is "Central Maryland's premier astronomy club." Located in Howard County, Maryland, the Howard Astronomical League of Central Maryland holds monthly meetings at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, Maryland; conducts public star parties at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville, Maryland; and provides community outreach events in various locations throughout Howard County. Many of the community outreach events are held at locations convenient for those interested in star and moon gazing, such Howard County Library parking lots and local parks.

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Jill Berry @MusingsfromMe is a writer who stays at home or a SAHM who writesit depends on the day and her mood. While playing a writer on the internet, Jill has the gray hair AND blogposts from raising a kid, a preteen, and a teen. When not blogging at Musings from Me, Jill seizes family time whenever she candinner as a family, movie night, marathon family game sessions, travelingyou name it she wants to do it.

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