Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) is a long-running astronomy group near Pittsburgh. It was founded on June 9, 1929, by Chester B. Roe and Leo J. Scanlon. Today it has more than 500 members and runs two observatories in the area: the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory. The AAAP also hosts many star parties that are open to the public each year. The club’s motto is “We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

Wagman Observatory
- Location: a hill in Deer Lakes Park, offering a nearly complete view of the sky.
- Telescopes: two permanent telescopes, including the Brashear 11-inch refractor and the Manka Memorial Telescope (a 21-inch Newtonian).
- About: the AAAP owns and operates the observatory. It was built in 1987 and expanded in 1995, and it is dedicated to public education and enjoyment of astronomy.
- Activities: public viewing evenings called Star Parties, plus recreational and scientific observing by members. The site is used by scout groups and local schools.

Mingo Creek Park Observatory
- Location: Mingo Creek County Park, Nottingham Township, south of Pittsburgh.
- Dedication: officially dedicated in August 2005 (built in 2004).
- Telescopes: two large permanent telescopes—the 24-inch RC reflector and the 10-inch refractor—along with portable telescopes set up by members.
- Features: a planetarium projector and dome for educational programs. Star Parties and member observations are held here, and the observatory also welcomes schools and community groups.
- Mission: to educate the public about astronomy and help preserve dark skies.

Other note
- The AAAP also uses the Greene County site, which is less affected by light pollution. It’s on private cow pasture where members can use portable telescopes and equipment.

Monthly meetings
- Members hear about upcoming celestial events (meteor showers, comets, occultations, planetary alignments) and share observing tips. Each meeting features a speaker, either a club member or an outside expert.