August 2013 City Star Party a Success!

Conditions were excellent at Bayview Village Park last night for our August 2013 City Star Party.

The softball game ended just as the sun set and before Venus could slip behind the trees to the west. We started with Saturn and stayed with it as skies darkened and passers-by had their “Galileo moments” viewing the ringed planet and our very own moon through our telescopes. People’s reactions to seeing these two objects through a telescope for the first time is an element of our star parties that is always a joy to see.

As the night progressed we were able to identify some brighter Messier objects, including Andromeda Galaxy (M31), Ring Nebula (M57), Great Cluster in Hercules (M13), Wild Duck Cluster (M11), along with the Double Cluster (NGC884, 869) and I’m sure others that I missed. We also had quite a tour of double stars from visual doubles like Mizar and Alcor in the handle of the Big Dipper to the ever-popular Albireo in Cygnus, a couple in Delphinus (beta and gamma), Izar (in Bootes) was a treat, and Steve picked out a nice double in or near the head of Draco, that I missed the name of. Oh, and of course the Double-Double in Lyra.

We returned to the Moon though, as it was amazing to watch the shadows turn small crater walls from circles, to horseshoes and semi-circular shapes, then reveal bridges between craters in Clavius, near the terminator and the southern limb. We kicked the power as high as we could and were totally absorbed in these features. One that really amazed us was the floor of Plato, north of Mare Imbrium. Its walls were sparkling white, the flat floor charcoal in colour with long black dagger-like shadows extending the width of the crater, thrown by peaks on the rim. Very cool!

And we had a great turnout! 14 members along with some of their families and dozens of passers-by were all treated to the wonderful August show.

Lots of fun. Beautiful evening. We headed home around 11:30.

See you for the September 2013 City Star Party. The window for that opens September 9th. 

Stu McNair

Chair, Observational Activities Committee