Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh amateur astronomy club founded in 1929.
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) was founded on June 9, 1929, by Chester B. Roe and Leo J. Scanlon. The club now counts more than 500 members and runs two observatories in the Pittsburgh area: the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory. It also hosts numerous public star parties each year. The AAAP’s motto, “We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night,” comes from Sarah Williams’ poem “The Old Astronomer to his Pupil.”
For over 75 years, the AAAP has promoted popular astronomy across Western Pennsylvania and is one of the larger astronomy clubs in the country. Monthly meetings include announcements of upcoming celestial events—such as meteor showers, comets, occultations, and planetary alignments—along with shared observations and techniques. Each meeting features a speaker, who may be an AAAP member or an outside expert. Past talks have covered meteorite hunting in Antarctica, cosmological modeling with supercomputers, and astrophotography using specialized gear like dry-ice cameras.
**Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory** This observatory houses two permanent telescopes, including the Brashear 11-inch refractor. It sits on a hill in the northeast corner of Deer Lakes Park (40°37′34″N 79°48′44″W) at 1,340 feet elevation, one of the highest points in Allegheny County and one of the few such spots not occupied by a radio mast, microwave tower, or water tank. The hill was likely used as a lookout by local tribes, such as the Seneca, for watching game and neighboring tribes. The site offers nearly a full view of the sky and, thanks to its rural park setting, is shielded from most commercial or residential light pollution. Built in 1987 and expanded in 1995, the observatory is owned and operated by the AAAP. It is the first and only amateur astronomical observatory in Western Pennsylvania dedicated to public education and enjoyment of astronomy. Members use it for recreational and scientific observations, as well as for scheduled public star parties. During these events, visitors can view celestial objects through the two large permanent telescopes—the Brashear 11-inch refractor and the Wade D. Barbin 21.5-inch reflector (formerly the Manka Memorial Telescope), a 21-inch Newtonian reflector—or through portable telescopes set up by members.
- Founded
- June 9, 1929
- Founders
- Chester B. Roe and Leo J. Scanlon
- Membership
- over 500 members
- Observatories
- Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and Mingo Creek Park Observatory
- Motto
- We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
- Motto source
- Sarah Williams' poem 'The Old Astronomer to his Pupil'
Lore & Background
The AAAP was founded on June 9, 1929, by Chester B. Roe and Leo J. Scanlon. It has promoted popular astronomy in Western Pennsylvania for 75 years and is one of the larger astronomy clubs in the nation, with over 500 members. Monthly meetings announce upcoming celestial events such as meteor showers, comets, occultations, and planetary alignments, and feature a special speaker—sometimes an AAAP member or an outside expert. Past speakers have presented on meteorite hunting in Antarctica, cosmological modeling using supercomputers, and astrophotography with dry-ice cameras.
The Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory, built in 1987 and expanded in 1995, is located at 40°37′34″N 79°48′44″W at 1340 feet elevation in Deer Lakes Park. It is the first and only amateur astronomical observatory in Western Pennsylvania dedicated to public education. It houses two permanent telescopes: the Brashear 11-inch refractor and the Wade D. Barbin 21.5-inch reflector. The Mingo Creek Park Observatory, dedicated on August 27, 2005, is at 40°12′41″N 80°1′13″W, elevation 1150 feet, in Mingo Creek County Park. It is the largest amateur astronomical observatory in Southwestern Pennsylvania dedicated to public education, with a 24-inch RC reflector and a D&G 10-inch refractor, plus a planetarium projector and dome. The AAAP also uses a Greene County site on a privately owned cow pasture for portable telescope observations, as light pollution remains an issue at the Wagman observatory.
Reader's Guide
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh is significant as one of the larger astronomy clubs in the United States, with over 500 members and a history spanning 75 years of promoting popular astronomy in Western Pennsylvania. It operates two dedicated public observatories—the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory (the first amateur astronomical observatory in Western Pennsylvania for public education) and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory (the largest such facility in Southwestern Pennsylvania). Both facilities host regular public star parties, where visitors can view celestial objects through permanent telescopes such as the Brashear 11-inch refractor, the Wade D. Barbin 21.5-inch reflector, the 24-inch RC reflector, and the D&G 10-inch refractor, as well as portable telescopes set up by members. The Mingo Creek Park Observatory also features a planetarium projector and dome for educational programs. The club's legacy includes providing recreational and scientific observation opportunities for members, as well as serving scout groups, school science classes, and civic groups. The Greene County site offers a darker-sky alternative for members using portable equipment.
Did You Know?
- The Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory is located on a hill believed to have been used as a lookout by local Indian tribes such as the Seneca.
- The Mingo Creek Park Observatory was dedicated on August 27, 2005, and includes a planetarium projector and dome.
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