The Imagine School of West Melbourne Star Party was excellent, It was nice driving up to the school and seeing the sign lit up saying , Star Gazing with the (BAS) Brevard Astronomical Society. It started with Bill Manley doing a presentation on what else, "Astronomy" for the students around 6:pm,... while he was doing that the other BAS members were setting up their Telescopes behind the brand new School. The weather was in the mid forties and getting colder, Miss Kimberly Gary point of contact for the school, had all the lights turned off, so we were able to do some nice observing, for (next year) we were talking about possibly moving the observation site to the front parking lot , which would block the only lights that were shining from the Wal-Mart dept store. Once the kids were done with the presentation, they came out and stood in line at each of the telescopes. We pointed the scopes at different Sky wonders like the Orion Nebula, M41 Open star Cluster In Canis Major, Mars, Sirius the brightest star in the night sky, M81 and M82 Galaxies , The Pleiades better known as the Seven Sisters, we took a quick look at Venus, and no matter how much atmospheric disturbance that was on Saturn (making it look shaky around the edges) the students still enjoyed seeing it and many others. You still got the hear the Wows, and oohs, and aahs. Students saying,"They look so bright and clear". One of the best tools used for observing the night sky during a Star Party is the Green Laser Pointer, The Kids & parents were amazed at how the green laser seams to touch the stars! We pointed at all the different constellations and stars in the area. The Students, teachers and parents had a wonderful time star gazing with the BAS and were very grateful, for putting on a fantastic Star Party. I only had time to take a hand full of pictures, It's hard to take any pictures once the Star Gazing gets under way. If any one else has any more pictures, please share them. I want to thank the following BAS and MAS members that came to support the Star Party Bill Manley , John Small, Gary Scott, Chris Amble, Oscar Sifuentes, and special quest from the (MAS) Melbourne Astronomical Society Phil Henderson. THANK_YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! Until we meet again! Oscar Sifuentes BAS Out Reach Coordinator
This 20 sec. photo was taken to the southwest of the Haleakala summit on Dec. 10, during dawn's deep twilight. The 3.5m Air Force telescope is at bottom center, with the telescope clearly visible. Sirius and Canis Major are at the top of the picture, left of center. M42 in Orion is visible at center right, and the two Univ. of Hawaii observatories are at lower left.
TSP2009
2010/3/11 23:49
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