Post Title : Next MAS Beginner Astronomy Observing Session — Sat. October 15th at 6:00pm — Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy
Content :
Hi everyone,
The next Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS) Beginners group observing session is scheduled for Saturday October 15th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton (weather permitting). It will start at 6:00pm (sunset is at 6:27pm that night). If it is cloudy on Saturday night, the backup night will be the previous night (Friday Oct. 14th) also at Metcalf Field.
There are no COVID restrictions for this outdoor activity. If you are planning to come please drop me an email at sureshks1@msn.com (with your name and the number of people in your group) so I can keep you informed of schedule changes due to weather.
Everyone is welcome at MAS Beginner events, and there is no charge to attend. So bring your friends and family!! The purpose of these events is to help beginners learn the night sky, and how to set up and use a telescope. Volunteers from the MAS will be on hand to answer your questions.
You do not need to bring any equipment to attend, but if you have a telescope… bring it!! If you are still learning how to set up and use it, we are happy to help. There is AC power available at 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 nearing 3rd Quarter (illuminated 65%), and will rise around 10:00pm. With Astronomical Dusk around 8:00pm, this gives us about three hours of darker sky till the Moon’s light starts to take effect. October is also a great time of year to be outside observing. The Summer Milky Way is still high overhead after dark and the Fall sky follows soon afterwards in the east. This gives us a myriad of nebulae, clusters and galaxies to choose from to view thru our telescopes. Some examples are the Great Hercules Cluster, Ring Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy and Double Cluster. As darkness falls, we will also have beautiful telescopic views of the planets Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter… followed a few hours later by Uranus and Mars!
If you’d like to join us, bring a lawn chair or ground blanket and a few extra clothing layers as temps can dip at night.
Directions to Metcalf Field: (see this Google Maps link): https://goo.gl/maps/UNkt67YPWg4qAjuP6
Metcalf Field GPS Coordinates: 44.93734 N / 92.82157 W
For more information on Metcalf Field, see here: http://www.mnastro.org/facilities/metcalf/
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. There will be a white “MAS” sign and 2 small reflectors on poles marking the entrance.
When you arrive, enter the dirt path and park on the left (south) side of the field. If you have a telescope with you, you can also park on the right (north side) of the field to get a better viewing angle over the trees towards the south. If we have a large crowd, we may have someone at the front entrance to direct you to a parking spot.
If you haven’t been to Metcalf Field, it can be a little difficult to locate the entrance… so please plan on arriving in daylight.
I will make the final Go/No Go call weather call on the evening of Thursday Oct. 13th and will send out an update. As mentioned, please e-mail me at sureshks1@msn.com so I can keep you informed.
Also, let me know if you’d like to volunteer to help out at future MAS Beginner group events!
We hope to see you there!!
Suresh Sreenivasan
MAS Beginner’s Group Coordinator
Member – Minnesota Rovers Outdoor Club
Cell: 612-910-0444
Created Date: October 14, 2022 at 9:13 PM
Update Date: October 14, 2022 at 9:45 PM