During months with a fifth Friday, the Charlottesville Astronomical Society (CAS) hosts Heidi’s Night at the Leander McCormick Observatory. These events honor the memory of Heidi Winter who passed away in 2012. Heidi was a member of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society, a founding Friend of McCormick Observatory, and a former executive secretary to the Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Heidi had a passion for getting children and families involved in astronomy and so this event is offered to families in the general public and for families that are members of CAS.

Please note that registration is required and limited to up to forty individuals for each event. To register, please send an email to outreach@cvilleastro.com. Note that each event may start at a different time depending on the season.

At each event, attendees will be able to learn about different aspects of astronomy and view multiple telescopes in up to five different stations. In a typical event, attendees will be able to see the 26″ telescope at the heart of the observatory, visit the “dog house”, have an educational lesson in the classroom and more.

For reference, the following dates are scheduled for 2025:

• January 31st
• May 30th
• August 29th
• October 31st

Heidi Winter was born in New York City in 1948, and spent her childhood in northern New Jersey. She lived in Montana, Florida, and eventually moved to Charlottesville in 1991. There, she worked as an executive secretary at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and joined the Charlottesville Astronomical Society. She also loved fine art and poetry and was an avid supporter of local artists and musicians. She passed away in 2012. She is remembered as a warm, caring, and enthusiastic supporter of astronomy and the arts in Charlottesville and beyond.