At the San Juan Stargazers’ Astronomy Club monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11, our speaker will be Barbara Sanborn.
She will be speaking on “Around the World Eclipse Chaser” and will share her three most-exciting eclipses.
The Stargazers will hold their monthly educational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis St. You can use the parking lot and enter at the side door right off the parking area. (We leave the front doors locked.)
There will be a social hour starting at 6 p.m. with coffee/tea and treats. You can bring something to share if you would like. We may have lots of Christmas fruitcake.
2024 Deep Space Mysteries Calendars, Tours of the Night Sky booklets and additional sheets for those already having the notebook will all be available.
There also will be a very important letter to the Dark Sky International Association supporting Chimney Rock to be designated an Official Dark Sky Area. Instead of just my signature, I would like every Stargazer to add their name showing their personal support.
Please get there early enough to gather all your goodies and sign your name so our program can start on time.
At 7 p.m. the meeting will begin. It will be available on Zoom for members and, soon, also for the public.
At 7:10 p.m., Sanborn, who is a club member, will give her exciting presentation, which includes many photos.
She noted that it is more like a travel log with scientific information about eclipses. She will talk about an eclipse she observed in Chile, South America; one that she saw from a ship on the Pacific Ocean; and the eclipse from 2006, seen in Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi added much political excitement and intrigue.
There will be an important eclipse this year on April 8. It will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S. it will be visible from Texas to Maine. The next total solar eclipse that will be visible over North America will not happen until 2045.
This year might be an important one for you to catch if you want to see totality.
In the interest of scientific accuracy and full disclosure, the eclipse will be visible in Pagosa as an approximate 64 percent partial eclipse, which should still be exciting and will require special glasses for you to safely view.
After Barbara’s presentation, Dena Lateraz will open the wrapped packages of needed telescope parts and accessories gifted by club members from her wish list.
Event planning
This January and February our club will spend time picking dates, times and activities for our Summer Night Sky programs at Chimney Rock and other astronomy events to be presented for the public right here in Pagosa Springs.
We would like all members to participate so that everyone will have at least one event that you helped plan and will take part in. Of course, you can help with more than one event. The reality is that we will not be able to hold events that we do not have enough volunteers to cover.
Make sure you add your name to the sign-up sheets before you leave. We need your commitment now to make better plans.
More about the Stargazers
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 or using PayPal on our website, sanjuanstargazers.org.
Check out our constantly improving website with new information and fabulous photos.
This month’s program should be worth attending. You are welcome to join us to learn more about the amazing universe that we all are part of.
