On Saturday, Aug. 3, there will be a San Juan Stargazers Club Star Party at Cloman Park (near the airport, so no laser pointers) for people to bring their own telescopes, especially if they want to consult with others about a question or to share a new discovery.
This will be available also for the general public and anyone who has a telescope packed away in a closet or their basement and would like to have club members look at it, come at 8 p.m. (before dark).
Hopefully someone can figure out how it works and if it needs some kind of repair. This will be a “working star party,” but we may find some special deep-sky objects to share with the group.
If it is cloudy or rainy, of course, we need to keep our scopes dry.
August events
In August we have three regular events at Chimney Rock National Monument.
On Friday, Aug. 2 will be a joint Chimney Rock Interpretive Association/Stargazers night sky program called Stars and Galaxies, with the gate opening at 7:15 p.m. and program beginning at 8:15.
On Aug. 9 will be the night sky program called Our Solar System, when we focus our telescopes on the moon. The gate will open at 7 p.m., with the program starting at 8 p.m.
We will also have a third night sky program because of the change in the position of the moon called Stars and Galaxies on Aug. 30. The gate will open at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7:30.
We need volunteers for all of these programs, so if you can help, call Joan before she calls you. If you want to attend, come out without a reservation because there should be room.
The Perseid Meteor Shower Program this year will be on Aug. 12 and 13 which is peak viewing. The entrance fee is a donation. Both nights the gate will open at 7:30 p.m. and the program will start at 8 p.m. Sunset will be at 7:58 p.m., so people need to be settled in the upper parking lot before dark.
This is a special relaxed night for those loving to be at Chimney Rock to have the night sky entertain us, as it did for the ancient people for thousands of years.
Our August monthly meeting will be on Aug. 22, at the Methodist Church on Lewis Street. There will be social time at 6 p.m. The program at 7 p.m. will provide an opportunity for everyone to bring your eclipse pictures and stories to share with the club. If you are not a member, but went to some exotic location, please feel welcome to come and share your experience. We had members from Mexico to Maine and many places in between. This should be super fun sharing.
About the Stargazers
If you would like to join the San Juan Stargazers, you will also receive Reflector Magazine, which is the publication of the National Astronomical League of which you automatically become a member.
To join both groups and get an excellent astronomy magazine, annual membership is only $25 per family. You can join the club at any of our events or you can join using PayPal on our website, sanjuanstargazers.org.
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