Astronomy Night Part Deux

Here it is again, another invitation to come up to Fremont Peak on Saturday, May 19. This time, no moon, and - more importantly for some of you, I'm sure - the warmth of a summer evening! Fremont Peak State Park is near San Juan Bautista, about a 1 hour drive from San Jose to the south in all. San Juan Bautista is only about 40 minutes, but it takes 20 minutes to drive the 11 miles up to the peak from the valley floor. Last time was a little disorganized, but we saw a large number of objects anyhow. This time, I'm going to have an agenda with constellation learning, object classification, and a test. Well, maybe no test, but if you miss the prepared program, you'll be sorry :)

Please RSVP and let me know if you plan on coming - that way I can alert you in case of inclement weather.

Note: This is definitely not a rain or shine event - shine only ! Check back here for last minute cancellation notices!

We will once again be in the Southwest parking lot (the leftmost blue smudge on the map). As you enter the park at the end of the long, winding uphill road, you will see a sign for the observatory on your left - DON'T FOLLOW THAT SIGN! Instead, proceed ahead to the first parking lot where you can pay for your car. Pay the one dollar fee for day use; even though the park allegedly closes at sunset, it's open all night for stargazing. If you like, you can even leave your car here, a good idea if it's already dark, as your car won't disturb everybody already stargazing at the upper parking lot. To your left as you look at the payphone, park information sign, and pay station is an uphill road with an access gate (which may be closed). Follow that road up to the parking lot about 50 yards ahead. Remember to use parking lights only as you approach the parking lot if it's dark out (or walk as suggested).

On one map below, the upper parking lot is marked "SW Parking Lot" and is the left most observing area so designated.

In an emergency, call my cell phone at (408) 806-8935 and I'll come find you.

I plan to be there from 5:00 p.m. to midnight or so, but you can time your visit to more precisely match what you're interested in seeing. Coming earlier is best, since the spring sky sets rapidly , plus you get to see the sun. If you have very limited time, come around 8:30 and plan to stay until 11:00 or so - this will give you a solid 2 hours of viewing.

Things to Bring

Lots of warm clothing! It probably won't get that cold, but why risk it? Blankets are nice with folding chairs.
A red flashlight (a regular flashlight covered with red cellophane or a brown paper bag taped over the lens so that it emits a dim red glow will suffice) - once your eyes adapt to the darkness, you want to keep them that way (the moon will partially light up the area, but not too much). The sky and the objects in the telescope are much nicer once you're adapted this way (some things will not be visible until you are).
Folding chair - reclining ones are especially nice with the next item.
Binoculars (if you've got 'em - I'll bring mine)
Something to snack on
Thermos of coffee (if that's your thing - I bring chicken stock)
An appreciation for how far away some of these things are (you're not going to see pictures like you saw in National Geographic from the Hubble Space Telescope with full-blown color, but you will be receiving light from actual galaxies right on your eyeball!)
Maybe a notebook in case you want to write down what you saw for later reminiscence (I haven't done this, but it's a pretty popular thing with amateur astronomers)
There will be other people there stargazing, too, so be sure the read the guide on etiquette linked below. The one thing that people hate the most at these events is white light, so be sure to bring a red flashlight or arrive early so you don't disturb people!

The Sun (11 year sunspot cycle is peaking, great activity this year already - come early for this!)

Mercury: won't be visible

Venus won't be visible

Moon won't be visible (are you detecting a pattern?)

Mars: At last! Almost as big as it gets until 2003, but low in the sky (10:30?)

Jupiter, Saturn: Say goodbye! Visible just after sunset for perhaps an hour, but murky!

Neptune, Uranus: TBD (small and unspectacular in any case)

Pluto: are you kidding me? in the sky, but impossible to see in my scopes!

M81 & M82 (awesome - see first picture on the left above)

Whirpool Galaxy (M51)

"The Eyes" (M64/M65)

M104 (The Sombrero Galaxy)

M13 (Great Cluster in Hercules)

The Ghost of Jupiter

The Lagoon Nebula (late)

All the usual spring suspects, and some Winter and characters (Bootes, Corona Borealis, Coma Berenices, Canes Venatici, Canis Minor, Canis Major, Orion, Cancer, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Hercules, Lyra, Corvus, Hydra, Crater), and the circumpolar stuff (Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco)

Special bonus for night owls: Sagittarius (with various spectacular nebulae and clusters!)

Many, including the famous "double double", Epsilon Lyrae, Iota Cancri, Mizar, etc.

To my disappointment, they didn't put in an appearance last time (only their pals the foxes). Maybe this time will be different.