05/12/2018Location:
The Horizons Observatory at Prosper Valley School 1071 Pomfret Rd Woodstock VT,
|
MapTime: 8:00 PMFee Information: FreeContact Phone Number: 802-4457-3368 x222
Find Your Park After Dark!
Join us at the Horizons Observatory, located two miles down the road from Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park at Prosper Valley School, for our first annual Spring Star Party!
Join Park Rangers and Stellafane, Springfield Telescope Makers, in viewing the night sky in Woodstock, VT. Astronomers will have a number of telescopes available for viewing in the surrounding field.
►At 8:30 pm Rob Hanson (co-director of the Horizons Observatory) will make a 30 minute presentation entitled A Cosmic Sense of Place.
►At 9:00 pm, members of the Springfield Telescope Makers will have a variety of telescopes, many of them handmade, set up on the grounds at the park and will be aiming them at a variety of deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and planets for visitors to explore and enjoy. Rangers will also have an activity booth for astronomy-based junior ranger activities.
Night sky viewing etiquette
Bright, white lights are discouraged at night sky viewing events; bright lights ruin your night vision and the night vision of those around you. Instead, opt for red-light flashlight. There will be a limited number of red glow sticks available for those without a red flashlight.
Even with red lenses, use your light sparingly; on a clear night, your eyes will adjust quickly to the dark conditions.
Telescopes are often expensive, hand-crafted, and difficult to replace. Please follow the instructions of the STM member staffing the scope you are looking through.
Ask lots of questions! The amateur astronomers who are bringing their telescopes to this event love the night sky and sharing it with others.
Presentations will occur rain or (hopefully!) shine.
