Greetings fellow astrophile!
The July 2011 newsletter has been posted in advance of the next Public Viewing Session and can be downloaded below:
Astronomical Chronicle for July 2011
If the weather holds, this should prove to be a busy Saturday at Darling Hill. The originally-scheduled lecture/demonstration on telescope collimation by Bob Piekiel is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. This lecture provides you an opportunity to learn about the most important post-purchase piece of telescope maintenance at the hands of the arguably the most knowledgeable telescope owner in Central New York. The 6:30 start provides plenty of daylight as well, meaning you can also see the Darling Hill Observatory grounds in the daytime for a change!
NOTE 1: If the weather is bad on SATURDAY we will be hosting Bob Piekiel on FRIDAY at 7:00 p.m. (a reverse rain date). Be sure to check the website at 5:00 p.m. on Friday for the final announcement.
To this evening activity we have added a special Solar Observing Session from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. lead by none other than Barlow Bob himself! The only thing more extensive than the collection of solar observing equipment that will be at DHO is Barlow Bob’s knowledge on the subject of solar observing. If you’ve never observed out closest star through proper equipment, I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this rare (for Darling Hill, that is) daytime observing session.
NOTE 2: The final announcement for this session (weather-pending) will be by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday on the website.
In the event you need it, copies of the sky chart for the afternoon will be available at the observatory, else feel free to print out the chart below:
Two great sessions on one (hopefully) clear day (and night) and the three hour buffer in between gives you a chance to cram all of your other Saturday activities in. Please join us for both!