Free Beginner’s Astronomy Program at Hobbs
Free Beginner’s Astronomy Program at Hobbs
On Saturday March 5th the Sugar Creek Astronomy Society will present a beginner’s astronomy program at the Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area visitor center. According to the president of the organization, Jack McDaniel, “Jupiter will dominate our western sky as we begin our observing session. We will be able to observe the planet and its belts as well as four of its largest moons. If you observe the position of the moons over the next few days, you will see them change position and in fact disappear and reappear as they orbit the mighty planet. In 1610 Galileo was the first person to observe them, and his findings soon dealt a blow to the earth centered Ptolemaic view of the world. Galileo’s observations and the discoveries of his contemporaries are said to have launched the science of modern astronomy.”
McDaniel further added, “Galileo used a small two – inch aperture refracting telescope on a crude, shaky mount. The telescopes we will use are many times more powerful, stable, and optically clear. We can still observe the wonderful Orion Nebula (M42) known as the birthplace of stars. We will see the young stars forming the famous Trapezium through our larger telescopes, one of the most wonderful sights in the sky! There are numerous galaxies and open and globular star clusters, including the Pleiades and Hyades in the constellation Taurus, a great sight through binoculars.”
Time: Beginner’s Astronomy Class starts at 5:30 p.m. Night viewing using binoculars, telescopes, and the naked eye will begin around 6:34 p.m. Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Highway 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection. Cost: FREE The public is invited.
