Post Title : Next MAS Beginner Astronomy Outdoor Observing Session — Saturday July 27th at 8:00pm — Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy
Content :
Hi everyone,
The next MAS Beginner group (B-SIG) observing session is coming up on Saturday July 27th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton. It will start at 8:00pm (sunset is at 8:45pm that night).
This event is weather dependent, so if you are planning to come please drop me an email at bsig@mnastro.org (with your name and the number of people in your group) so I can keep you updated.
There is no charge to attend a Beginner group event, and you do not need to be an MAS member to attend — everyone is welcome, including children!! The purpose is to help beginners learn the night sky, and to learn how to set up and use a telescope. Volunteers from the MAS will be on hand to answer your questions and show you objects thru their telescopes.
You do not need to bring any equipment to attend. But if you have a telescope, bring it!! If you need help with learning how to set up and use it, we are happy to help. There is AC power available on the east and north sides of Metcalf Field, so if you need power to run your telescope or other equipment, just bring an extension cord so you can connect.
The Moon will be at Third Quarter this night in Aries and will not rise until around midnight. This affords us several hours of Moonless sky during the evening to seek out deep sky objects!! As it is getting dark we will point our telescope towards some of the nice globular clusters that are visible this time of year, such as M3, M4, M5, M13, M15, M22 and M92. The Summer Milky Way will be well up in the eastern sky too as it gets dark, and we can view some of the fine open clusters and nebulae that lie within it, such as the Wild Duck Cluster (M11), North America (NGC 7000), Crescent (NGC 6888), Ring (M57), Veil (NGC 6960) and other targets…
Saturn now rises in the east around 10:30pm and it should clear the tree tops an hour or so later. The Ringed Planet is approaching an equinox next May, so its rings are now seen nearly edge-on. This reduces some of their brightness, making it slightly easier to seek out some of Saturn’s smaller moons, such as Dione, Tethys, Enceladus and Mimas that are sometimes lost in the bright glare of the rings.
We’ll have the goodie table once again!! Feel free to bring something to share, such as cookies or other treats. This is totally optional, and no one should feel obligated to do so.
If you’re coming out this night, please also bring a lawn chair or blanket, and maybe bring a few extra clothing layers as temps can dip at night.
Metcalf Field GPS Coordinates: 44.93734 N / 92.82157 W
Google Maps directions to Metcalf Field: https://goo.gl/maps/UNkt67YPWg4qAjuP6
Driving Directions:
Head east past Woodbury on I-94 to the Manning exit (exit 253). Turn south and then take the first left onto Hudson Road S. Continue east about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Indian Trail. Check your odometer here, and then travel 1.1 miles. You’ll see an unmarked chain-link gate on the right side.
This is the entrance to Metcalf field. Enter the dirt path and park on the left side. There will be a small reflector on a pole and a white MAS sign marking the entrance. If you have a telescope with you, you can also park on the right (north side) of the field.
If you haven’t been to Metcalf Field, it can be a little difficult to locate the entrance. So please arrive in daylight.
For more information on Metcalf Field, see here: http://www.mnastro.org/facilities/metcalf/
I will make the Go/No Go call weather on Thursday July 25th. Again, please let me know if you are planning to come so I can keep you updated.
Also, if you’d like to volunteer to help out at this or any future MAS Beginner group events, please let me know.
We hope to see you there!!
Suresh Sreenivasan
MAS Beginner Group Coordinator
Member – Minnesota Rovers Outdoor Club
Cell: 612-910-0444
Created Date: July 24, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Update Date: July 28, 2024 at 2:57 PM