Our Mission
The Franklin Township Astronomy Club is your gateway to amateur astronomical exploration. Based in Franklin Township, NJ, we work to bring together a community of people who share a common interest in learning about the universe
Next Events
Celestial Events Calendar
Latest News
Telescope Workshop for New Telescope Owners
One of the biggest challenges new telescope owners often face is finding objects they want to view and navigating the sky — we’ve all been there. If you’d like some expert help in learning to get the most from your telescope, this workshop is for you! In a fun and relaxed setting, you’ll learn the basics of telescope optics, using digital planetariums, and finding and tracking celestial objects. You’ll come away with a clear understanding of how eyepieces affect your field of view and magnification, and how to select the right eyepiece for different objects.
This will be a hands-on workshop under the stars, where you’ll set up and learn on your own telescope, with guidance from our volunteers. Advanced registration is required at the link below, and registration is limited. We also have room for those without telescopes, so feel free to register if you’d like to learn without an instrument to work with.
Register here: https://forms.gle/2NwbgwPiTabUafgL9
Monthly Meeting
Don't forget our meetings are set for a new day, time and location for 2026!
Beginning in January, we are moving our monthly meetings to occur on the first Wednesday of each month, at 7:30 pm in the Franklin Township Community/Senior Center (505 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ)
Our October agenda is set, with Club News, "What's Up in the October Night Sky?", club member presentations, and an overview of navigating the “haunted” October night sky!
Join us on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30 pm in the Franklin Township Community/Senior Center -- all are welcome!
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Meteor Shower Watch
October brings a few smaller-scale showers that are still worth a look up into the night sky. The Club currently has no organized public events scheduled to view these showers.
The Draconid Meteor Shower
• Active Dates: October 6–10, 2026
• Peak Night: Evening of October 8 into the early hours of October 9, 2026
• Hourly Rate: ~5 to 10 meteors per hour under clear, dark skies
• Best Time to Watch: Unlike most showers, the Draconids are best viewed in the early evening right after nightfall rather than after midnight.
• Parent Object: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
• Moon Phase: Favorable conditions with a waning crescent / near-new moon that won't interfere significantly.
The Orionid Meteor Shower
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Active Dates: October 2 – November 7, 2026
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Peak Night: Predawn hours of October 21–22, 2026
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Hourly Rate: ~15 to 25 meteors per hour under a dark rural sky
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Best Time to Watch: The hours just before dawn (roughly 3:00 AM to dawn). A bright waxing gibbous moon will be up earlier in the night, but it sets a few hours before sunrise, leaving a dark viewing window.
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Parent Object: Halley's Comet (1P/Halley); known for fast, bright meteors that occasionally leave persistent trains or fireballs