The San Juan Stargazers will have their July monthly meeting on Friday, July 26, at the Community United Methodist Church on Lewis Street.
The doors will open at 4 p.m. for food preparation, with dinner served at 5:30 p.m. and a program following.
This is a special “thank you” meeting and potluck dinner. Those being thanked do not need to bring food.
The “thank you” guests include those people who gave a Christmas gift to the San Juan Stargazers Astronomy Club and people who have participated in more than one night sky program at Chimney Rock this summer. And, it can also be for anyone else who wants a little thank you for the things they have done to keep a club like the San Juan Stargazers running. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work and dedication.
I have always wanted to attend a potluck that runs out of food. In the history of the universe, I don’t think that has ever happened.
This is how our dinner will work: You must RSVP so we know how many to expect. Just send a brief email with the name and number attending to rwoman2000@aol.com.
The club will purchase items for a delicious salad with lots of extras. People who have time will meet at 4 p.m. to make the salad.
The club will also purchase cakes (various kinds) and ice cream for dessert.
Those who want to bring food can make a main, vegetable or potato dish, or whatever is not a dessert. The program will be Anderson Cooper’s “The Whole Story” from CNN on the James Webb space telescope that aired in June. It was a great program that everyone should see.
We hope you will be there.
August events
In August we have three regular events at Chimney Rock National Monument.
On 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 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, sign up at the dinner or please call Joan.
The Perseid Meteor Shower Program this year will be on Aug. 12 and 13. 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. 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 need to have a volunteer to help set up a way for people to share their photos. If you can bring your own system for sharing photos, that will help. I hope we can find someone who has a system that others can use. Please let Joan know if you can help.
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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