By Joan Mieritz | San Juan Stargazers
The San Juan Stargazers have two more events in February.
On Friday, Feb. 17, starting at 6 p.m. at our Meadows West viewing house will be a deep sky event. To get directions, please call (720) 626-9304.
At all star parties you can bring your own telescope or use one of the club’s. When we are at someone’s house and it is really cold, we can spend more time inside the warm house and just go outside briefly to locate and view.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, we will be viewing and discussing the latest released photos from the James Webb Space Telescope at the Community United Methodist Church starting at 6 p.m. This is not just for club members, but we are inviting all of Pagosa Springs as a family activity with students and their parents. It will be amazing and fun. We will include information about the object and its significance.
The San Juan Stargazers Club monthly meeting will be March 2 in the Community United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 434 Lewis St. Please use the doorway right off the large parking lot to the east. (The front doors may be locked.) If you would like coffee/tea, snacks and some stimulating conversation, you can arrive shortly after 6 p.m. for our social hour. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. sharp is the program, the topic being the remarkable planet Uranus.
We will have two star parties in March. One is a deep sky viewing on March 17 starting at 6 p.m. at our Meadows East location. Call (720) 626-9304 for directions. Our moon viewing event will also be at Meadows East on March 28 beginning at 6 p.m.
In April, we will not have a club meeting because the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association will be offering a two-day training session; the dates will be announced later. We encourage our members to attend so we all know more about our fabulous location.
In April, there will be two deep sky viewing nights, on April 14 and April 21, both at our Meadows East location. Use the same number if you need directions.
In May, our monthly meeting will be on May 4, with our program topic being the planet Neptune.
On May 9, starting between 7 and 8 p.m., we will meet in the Chimney Rock upper parking lot. We will be testing all the telescopes and making sure everything is organized for all our summer activities including 10 star parties, Life at Chimney Rock, two nights watching the Perseid Meteor Shower and ending with a total solar eclipse on Oct. 14. It will be an exciting summer.
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 more than 250 clubs from all over the U.S. Our local group also has a website, www.sanjuanstargazers.org. Check it out.
We welcome everyone to learn more about our amazing universe. We hope to see you.
