🌌 Night at the Observatory: Your Hands-On Stargazing Adventure
Take the controls of the historic Swanson 21″ telescope and capture stunning images of deep-sky objects using a modern digital camera. Guided by a VBAS expert, you'll explore the cosmos, learn the story of the Conrad Swanson Observatory, and take home the astrophotos you created.

No experience needed—just curiosity and a sense of wonder!

Up to 70 people can come to a private one hour planetarium show, scheduled at a mutually convenient date and time. Perfect for a birthday party, church outing, scout group and more!

Sleep under the Stars - regardless of the weather! Up to 15 people ( a mix of adults and children or all adults) can bring their sleeping bags and mats and sleep under the planetarium night sky. Experience includes a planetarium show and continental breakfast (muffins, OJ etc) in the morning. Ideal for a birthday group!

Beautiful tessellating quilt, 47"x38" with loops on the back, handmade by VBAS Past President, Educator and Via Stellaris Editor - Beth Bero.

Suitable for a student who is middle school up to college. UAH Math professor and the VBAS Education and Programs Director, Gena Crook, will provide up to four hours of tutoring.

Suitable for a student who is middle school up to senior year of college. VBAS Vice President, Maggie Johnson, is able to tutor math, physics, chemistry, engineering and more and be flexible with parent schedules.

Pick a full week of camp for next summer from 830am-4pm, Mon-Fri. Suitable for 4th grade and up. Many choices from coding to gaming and lasers! Located at Campus805. full details at RocketcityStem.com (value $450)
Donated by Rocket City STEM

This inviting house features 3 cozy bedrooms and a well-appointed bathroom, making it an ideal choice for families or groups of up to 6 guests.
Donated by Bob and Gena Crook.

Alabama's Oldest Community Theater. ($450 value)

Donated by Bob and Gena Crook

Private wine tasting/class conducted by Denise Louise Gunnels at The Wine Cellar for SIX. I'll provide the wine and some palate cleansing snacks. Learn the basics of wine, experience different types of wine, find out what you like and why. Two hours.
Value $400
Includes a bottle of Zero Gravity Cabernet - a wine developed in space. https://shop.michaeldavidwinery.com/product/2023-Zero-Gravity-Cabernet-Sauvignon

See Huntsville's newest and most fascinating museum. With a unique collection of vintage music and communications technology, and the latest augmented reality exhibits, this is a real family treat! ($60 value)
Donated by the Signals Museum.

Update - this item was damaged slightly in transit. See other photo. Existing bidders will be notified to see if they want to keep their bid. An Apollo 11 limited edition print (130/150) made in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. There were 150 printed and signed by the artist Jim Cooper. The 18×18 print shows both the insignia and the signatures of all the mission crew. The crew presented the signed painting to artist Jim Cooper after the successful mission in 1969. Donated by the US Space and Rocket Center.

Limited edition Apollo 50th anniversary Apollo 16 Challenge Coin made with flown lunar command module metal.

Donated by the US Space and Rocket Center.

Limited Edition leatherbound copy of The History of Rocketry and Space Travel (1966)

Donated to the VBAS and carefully cleaned and checked by our Observatory Director, this fabulous go-to portable telescope is 'as-new'. Comes with zoom or in person instruction for set up and use. (shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser if not local)

Note: Originally listed as a 6SE, it's actually an 8SE!

A top ticket item, this vintage scope has been cleaned and overhauled and is ready for observing - or for treasuring by a collector. Includes the rare observers stool and off axis focuser. (shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser if not local)

Why view the skies with one eye when you have two! This binoviewer inserts into a standard 1.25" focuser to make for easy observing with both eyes. Set includes:

• 1.25" Binoviewer with anti-marring compression rings
• 2x William Optics 20 mm WA 66 deg. eyepieces included.
• 1.6x Barlow nosepiece for easier focusing with most telescopes!

Distance between eyepieces is adjustable as is focus for each eyepiece. Eyepieces and Barlow can be used independently of the binoviewer.