Star Parties
Observing >
One thing that separates us from the animals is our intense, innate curiosity. We look up into the night sky - and just keep staring! - wondering what it all is and what it all means.
We also have an inborn sense of beauty. We can look at a big blob of stars,
or an irregular cloud of dust and gas, or a planet with a ring around
it and, for some reason, simply be amazed at its aesthetic elegance.
Unfortunately, though, most of us can't see the rings of Saturn or the
globs of stars or even the moon's craters because we don't have the tools
to do so.
Fortunately, there are people who do have the tools and are willing to
share them to show you those objects of paradisiacal beauty.
Those people would be members of your local astronomy club. For the most
part, they consist of amateur astronomers equipped with very nice telescopes
and a very real desire to share their knowledge of the skies with you.
Do you have a group - school, church, or special interest - that might
enjoy an evening seeing the stars and planets up close and personal? Most
astronomy clubs would love to host a "star party" for you. But
before you call them up, do a little homework.
Have
two or three dates ready for them. Don't pick them randomly or even at
"the same time we had one last year." A few minutes of research
and some helpful hints can help you pin down an ideal date.
If you have an elementary school group, for example, you might not want
a star party in summer. It doesn't get dark enough for viewing until about
9 PM, at which time a lot of younger children start to get a wee tired.
On the other hand, the winter months offer much earlier viewing but the
chance of clouds increases, too.
One thing you want to avoid any month is the full moon. It is so bright
then that it bleaches the sky, eliminating a lot of "deep sky"
objects like galaxies and nebulae.
The best moon is First Quarter (called half-moon by some). Most home calendars
display it. This is the phase when the moon's mountains, craters, and
valleys come alive through a telescope. Moreover, this moon is always
above your head at sunset, sets hours later, and doesn't light up the
sky.
If possible, try and pick an evening that also includes planets - namely
Jupiter and Saturn. But know that these two, just like everything else
up there, don't show up on cue. Like Hollywood stars, they arrive when
they arrive.
Both
Jupiter and Saturn are in the night skies now, but don't rise high enough
above the horizon until late night.
But by November and December and into the new year, they rise around sunset,
so that by about 8 PM or so they are high enough in the sky for good viewing.
And what viewing!
On a good, clear night, a decent scope can show you Jupiter's Galilean
satellites, its lines of cloud patterns, and sometimes the Great Red Spot.
Near Jupiter you and your group can witness the golden orb of Saturn and
its magnificent rings in all their glorious splendor.
And along with the moon and planets are the countless deep sky objects
– double stars, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
Until next time, clear skies!
Posted by Administrator at 2000.09.17 09:10 AM | Comments (0)
