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
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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 June meeting agenda is set! We look forward to a special presentation by one of our club members on The Age of the Universe. One of the most intriguing cosmological questions, this presenation will review the latest evidence regarding just how old our universe is.
We'll also cover the latest Club News, and an overview of what's in the night sky for the month. We will open up our meeting to a review of our plans for the summer months, and invite our member attendees to share their ideas for events and activities as we prepare to move the club into the second half of the year. And if the skies are clear, we'll invite you to bring your binoculars and telescopes outside to do some observing!
May we invite you to our May meeting? Join us on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:30 pm!
Meteor Shower Watch
June likely won't be a notable month for meteor showers, although there is a small chance for the Bootid meteor shower in late June to exceed expectations. Here are some details:
The June Bootid meteor shower will be active from June 22 to July 2, 2026, with its peak occurring on the night of June 27. While it typically produces only a few slow, bright meteors per hour, this unpredictable shower has occasional outbursts that can yield over 100 meteors per hour.
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Peak Activity: June 27
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Radiant: The constellation Boötes (visible in the northern sky)
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Best Viewing Time: Soon after dusk and into the early night, before the radiant sets
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Speed: Slow-moving and often long-lasting
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Moonlight Interference: Favorable; the Moon is in its First Quarter phase, meaning it will not heavily overpower the sky with bright light during prime viewing hours.
Good luck!
