Greetings, Fans of Taylor Observatory.
Our May Window to the Universe event is on Saturday, June 1. It’s the FOTO annual star party. Guests are invited to bring personal telescopes for observing and to obtain instruction from Taylor staff members. Under hopefully clear skies we’ll observe Jupiter and maybe the interesting changes in the famous red spot that are occuring currently. And with the beginning of summer skies multiple deep sky objects will come into view. The Ring nebula in constellation Lyra should be prominent in the Summer Triangle. Please remember not to use flash lights or cell phones in the observing area unless these are dimmed with red cellophane!
As summer progresses look for the following additional Friends of Taylor Public Events:
June 29, Saturday: Tim Gill speaking on “Celestial Navigation”. You may learn to use a sextant to determine postion, as was done on ships at sea for many years.
July 20, Saturday: “The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11”. Help us celebrate and landmark anniversary of, perhaps, the greatest exploration event of the past centrury — The Lunar Landing on July 20, 1969, only 16 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent on Mt. Everest. Just a few days later, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place.
August 24, Saturday: Clear Lake State Park — Campfire Program — Angelo Parisi and his Big Bang Band Travelling Star Show will be featured at our second appearance at the CLSP Campfire program. The public is invited to attend free of charge. We’ll have our telescopes there for observing later. Sadly, the Perseid Meteor shower will be less evident this year because the moon is nearly full — but it’s possible we’ll see some early “earth-grazer” meteors observable.
September and October Window programs are being planned — suggestions always welcomed.
We hope to see you at one or all of these Windows to the Universe presentations.
Sincerely,
Bill Haddon, President, Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium
Website: www.friendsoftaylor.org
FB: “Friends of Taylor Observatory” and “Dark Skies – Lake County, CA”