Next San Juan Stargazers meeting set for June 24

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By Joan Mieritz
San Juan Stargazers

Our next San Juan Stargazers astronomy club meeting will be on Thursday, June 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pagosa Visitor Center on Hot Springs Boulevard along the San Juan River. If you would like to relax with a cold drink or cup of coffee or tea and some good conversation, you can be there around 6 p.m. for our social hour. 

Our program, at 7 p.m., will be in two parts. First, we will have a regular Great Courses presentation called “The Summer Night Sky” with a video and written lesson followed by questions and discussion. It should help everyone to become a better sky observer and telescope user. 

Then, depending on the unclassified information that is presented to the United States Senate by the Pentagon and Intelligence Committee scheduled to be released sometime in June, we may have an interesting discussion on UFOs which are now called UAPs — unidentified aerial phenomenons. 

The TV show “60 Minutes” aired in May said that the government is basically telling us that the UAPs our military is seeing on a daily basis are real. But, no one seems to know exactly what that means or what they are. I am sure we will have an incredible discussion, in speculation. 

On Friday, June 25, will be a members-only telescope viewing and training at Chimney Rock. The gate will open at 7 p.m. If you don’t have a telescope, we have several extra available requiring prearrangements. Check our 2021 Schedule of Events for a number to call. The club goal is to increase the number of deep sky objects our members can find. We are hoping to again have a highly skilled guest astronomer to help us. 

We also have Night Sky Programs at Chimney Rock two Friday nights each month. They will be on June 18, and July 9 and 16. Come even if you don’t have a reservation since we most likely won’t turn you away.

At all of our events, we will follow the COVID regulations for Archuleta County and Colorado for that date. Always bring a mask.

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. 

The San Juan Stargazers Club is part of the Astronomical League, which includes almost 300 clubs from all over the U.S. Our local group also has a website, www.sanjuanstargazers.org. 

We welcome everyone to come to learn more about our amazing universe. Hope to see you.