Welcome to the Howard Astronomical League. HAL is an
astronomy club located in Howard County, Maryland. We hold monthly meetings on the lower (mezzanine) level of the Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, MD, conduct public star parties at Alpha Ridge Park utilizing the "HALO" observatory, and provide community outreach events at various Howard County locations - often in public library parking lots.
We invite everyone to be a part of amateur astronomy with us. You will find information about our meeting dates on the Our Meetings page. Information on membership is located on the HAL Membership page.
Information to help plan your observing sessions is available on the
calendar page or the astrolinks page -- where you can check for moonrise
times, Iridium flares, International Space Station sightings, Jupiter's Great Red Spot transit and a lot more. And don't forget to check the weather before you venture out.
HAL's Observatory at Alpha Ridge Park (HALO) is open monthly (excepting Jan & Feb).
It houses HAL's 6 inch "Illig" Refracting telescope. Check these web pages for full details about the observatory. For a schedule of events at the observatory, check the HAL star parties page or the HAL calendar.
The Leona and David Illig Donation Plaque Mounted on the Telescope Pier 8/18/2018
HAL Makes David Assist with Plaque Installation as His "Just" Reward. Thanks Illig's!
