THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Oak

EVENT / The Sky’s the Limit

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 Deep Space scopes to other objects like the Objects Globular Cluster in Hercules (referred to as M13). Some Each month, Astronomy in the Park will point their features a different Deep Space scope at the Object. The July 9 event will be Ring Nebula in M3, a Globular Cluster in Canes the constellation Venatici, just under Ursa Major's Lyra. Our tail. It is a Globular Cluster made up volunteers will of about 500,000 stars and is about tell you what you 32,600 light years distant. It is part are looking at and of our Milky Way Galaxy. Globular give you some Clusters are just what they look information on like—big balls of stars much older what it is.” than our Sun The additional 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.

Astronomy in the Park in Stockton

STOCKTON ASTRONOMICA SOCIETY