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Universe in
the Park* by
The Astronomy Department, University of Minnesota 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.,
060804, Dodge Nature Center**, West St. Paul --- Star Gazing
w/ a reflector telescope posted: 061102, modified: 061103, 061106
Work in Progress
This “Cool” star watch event began with nice presentations by Crystal and
Andrew, graduate students in the Astronomy Department, U of Minnesota, using
beautiful slides. Once the presentations were done, Crystal and Andrew began to
observe stars using two 8-inch reflector-telescopes w/Automated tracking
systems. They brought these huge telescopes to the park from the U of M. As soon
as they identified the stars through the reflector telescopes, they let the
event attendees observe the stars with their telescopes. The reflector
telescopes looked really cool! In addition, observing stars through the
telescope was REALLY AWESOME!
What we saw using the reflector telescopes in the event were*** the Moon,
Jupiter with its 4 moons, the double stars Miser (blue) and Alcor (white), the
double star Alberio (the red star and blue star), the Ring Nebula (which looks
very fuzzy), etc.
We also learned from Crystal how to use a star map. Around 30 to 40 people,
including many kids, attended the event. Maybe more women than men attended.
Note that one of the attendees used a green laser pointer to identify specific
stars in the night sky (this was cool). We learned that the pointer is a useful
tool for this purpose.
Crystal and Andrew also said to us, “Once the semester starts, on Fridays, our
Astronomy Department, U of M will offer our series of scheduled public viewings.+
” We’d love to check it out.
This event was awesome! Really appreciated the efforts of Crystal and Andrew
(grad students in the Astronomy Department, U of M), and Emily (naturalist at
Dodge Nature Center).
* Universe in the Park <
http://www.astro.umn.edu/outreach/uitp/schedule.html
>
** Dodge Nature Center <
http://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/default.asp
>
*** Our log describes what we saw in the event. We’re asking Crystal and
Andrew to check out what we observed. So please check back.
+ For info on Public Viewing, check <
http://www.astro.umn.edu/outreach/pubnight/
>
FYI: Mike Lynch - Star Watch Schedules <
http://www.lynchandthestars.com/sched.html
>
I (a Japanese) think Japanese universities should offer these kinds of fun
events.
Star
Watch Basics
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