Free Astronomy Program Slated for Hobbs
Free Astronomy Program Slated for Hobbs
For those of any age who want to learn about basic astronomy and see some of the stellar wonders of the September night sky, next Saturday night’s program at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area is for you.
According to Jack McDaniel, president of the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society and presenter of the program, “The Summer Triangle will be high overhead. It is formed by three bright stars; Deneb, Altair, and Vega. The Andromeda galaxy will be visible in the northeastern sky. The Milky Way, our own galaxy, will appear to the naked eye as a very luminous ribbon of light. Star clusters are one of the most interesting structures to observe. A Globular cluster is a spherical collection of stars that are very tightly bound by gravity. They can range from 10,000 stars to hundreds of thousands, and are thought to be older than our Milky Way.”
McDaniel further added, “Our featured cluster is M13 in the constellation Hercules, and is comprised of hundreds of thousands of stars, and is about 160 light years away. It can be viewed with the naked eye on a clear night, and is a beautiful sight in our high-powered telescopes which we bring to the program for all to use.”
A beginner’s astronomy class will start at 6:00 p.m. Observation using binoculars, telescopes, and the naked eye will begin shortly after sunset: about 7:30 p.m.
What to Bring:
Flashlight (covered with a red cloth or red balloon)
Binoculars and/or telescope
Folding chair – one per person`
Star chart
When: 6:00 p.m. Saturday September 17th
Where: Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area visitor center located on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection
Cost: FREE
Great family fun! For more information call: 479-789-5000
