The James Webb Space Telescope’s recent discoveries will now be the main program topic for the San Juan Stargazers’ monthly meetings, except when we have guest speakers.
Tom Hanchet will speak in June.
For several years, the San Juan Stargazers have been using seven different Great Courses on various aspects of astronomy as a resource for our monthly educational meetings.
We recently completed a Great Course entitled “Experiencing Hubble—Exploring the Milky Way.” Ann Marie Kemp spent much time every month summarizing a 20-page published explanation in the Course Guidebook into a one- to twp-page summary given to each person at our programs. (Thank you, Ann Marie. You can see how much she learned doing this.) Many members had a notebook to keep and organize these sheets.
Our next meeting of the San Juan Stargazers will be at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis St. with the big parking lot and convenient side door into the kitchen. (The main doors to the sanctuary are locked.) The meeting will be on Thursday, April 2, and will begin at 6 p.m. with our social hour for visiting and snacks.
At 7 p.m. our program will begin. Great Courses does not have a published program yet on the James Webb. We believe they are working on one. Until then, Joan Mieritz will be creating the programs. Mieritz made the comment a few years ago that James Webb discoveries would be keeping her alive for many extra years to come.
Please do not think that she will be lecturing for 1.5 hours. She was never that kind of teacher. She is totally enjoying this project and will do the best job possible to have interactive teaching.
This month we will begin with a 40-minute space ride created by the European Space Agency as if we are passengers on the Webb Telescope. It is wonderful. We travel through deep space with all its wonder, but slowly so we don’t feel sick. We will flow from one amazing sight to the next.
When we’ve traveled enough and want a change, we will study together the various sights we have seen. We may compare the views from the Hubble with the views from the Webb. We will study what makes each location significant and unique. There will be time for questions, discussions, breaks and surprises.
The room is large, as is the big-screen TV. We will move from the tables to chairs in front of the screen and it will be as dark as possible. I’m hoping it will be exciting and, of course, educational, since it is some of the newest information available. It should be as great of an experience as possible being in a building in Pagosa Springs on planet Earth. You do have to contribute your imagination and enthusiasm.
If you would like to join the San Juan Stargazers, you will also receive a regular hard copy of Reflector Magazine, which is the publication of the National Astronomical League of which you automatically become a member. That makes it so you don’t belong to a small-town-sized club, but to a national club with thousands of members and wonderful active opportunities with competitions, awards and money rewards.
To join both groups and get an excellent astronomy magazine, annual membership is only $25 per family. Also ask about our new “Service” membership.
You can join the club at any of our meetings or on our website. Check out our continuously changing website, sanjuanstargazers.org, with new information and spectacular photos.
We hope to see you for this exciting and educational program. We can be your connection to our extraordinary universe, and we want to help you learn as much as possible so you are appropriately amazed.
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