Astronomy program Saturday at Hobbs State Park
Posted on Friday, March 7, 2008
The second of six astronomy programs scheduled for 2008 will be held Saturday at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. The 6: 30 p.m. program will take place at the park's Hidden Diversity, Multiuse Trail parking lot on Townsend Ridge Road.
The Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will present the program and provide several high-powered telescopes for the event. According to Jack McDaniels, president of the Sugar Creek group, March offers plenty to see in the night sky.
"In March, the views of the Orion Nebula are breathtaking," McDaniels said. "This is the location of the'Star Nursery, ' where stars are being formed out in an immense cloud of molecular gas. Also easy to see are The Pleiades (Seven Sisters ), which is a great sight even with binoculars. There are plenty of star clusters, double stars and two planets to boot: Mars and Saturn."
It is the goal of the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society to get beginning night viewers excited about what is in the heavens. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own telescopes.
Astronomical Society members will answer questions regarding night-viewing equipment. Binoculars are also excellent for amateur night-sky viewing.
The program is designed for beginning astronomers. Children / Scout groups, adults and families are welcome.
Those attending should bring warm clothes (although the forecast is for chilly weather, the sky should be clear ), hot chocolate or coffee, a flashlight with red material or a red balloon affixed over the globe, binoculars or a telescope, a folding chair (one per person ), a star chart and enthusiasm. A restroom is on-site.
The program will go on even if the sky is partially overcast. In the event of rain, the program will be canceled. Watch local TV stations for the latest weather updates.
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