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The Stockton Astronomical Society has their eye on the curiosities and complexities of the cosmos and they want you to get in on the fun! Those interested in the night sky are invited to attend the Astronomy in the Park events hosted each month at Oak Grove Regional Park. Attendees will be able to look through telescopes and see stars and planets in view. “We always start the evening with our moon because it will be visible even before the sun sets,” says Douglas Christensen of the Stockton Astronomical Society. “As Earth rotates and the sun gets farther below our horizon, it will get darker and the brightest stars of our night sky will slowly emerge in vanishing twilight. Our astronomers will move their scopes to other objects like the Globular Cluster in Hercules (referred to as M13). Some will point their Each month, Astronomy in the Park scope at the features a different Deep Space Ring Nebula in Object. The July 9 event will be the constellation M3, a Globular Cluster in Canes Lyra. Our Venatici, just under Ursa Major's volunteers will tail. It is a Globular Cluster made up tell you what you of about 500,000 stars and is about are looking at and 32,600 light years distant. It is part give you some of our Milky Way Galaxy. Globular information on Clusters are just what they look what it is.” like—big balls of stars much older The additional than our Sun viewings happen after 9 PM, closer to 9:30 PM (if the skies are clear). “You will be able to talk to a volunteer from the Stockton Astronomical Society, ask them any questions about the subject of Astronomy, look in the telescope that one of our volunteers has provided, and see whatever celestial object the astronomer has pointed their scope at,” Doug says. When asked what Doug enjoys most about this event he shares, “Watching people see the moon, Jupiter, or Saturn in a good telescope for the first time and seeing their reaction, hearing their expressions and witnessing them gob smacked at what they are able to see.... that never gets old.” Enthusiasts looking for extra astrological action can join the Stockton Astronomical Society to learn even more about the mysteries and complexities of the universe.
Deep Space Objects
EVENT /
The Sky’s the Limit Astronomy in the Park in Stockton BY SARAH STEFFENS / D
DAN HOOD
STOCKTON ASTRONOMICA SOCIETY (209) 471-1674
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JULY 2022 | SJMAG.COM
