Update 4/26: we are a GO for tomorrow night’s observation. The conditions won’t be optimal, but with it being the last observation for the spring/summer at this locale we can play peekaboo through some clouds if need be. Hope to see you there.
Saturday April 27th the Forsyth Astronomical Society will host an observation at Stone Mountain State Park in the family camping area. This is primarily an event for the campers of the park but the public is welcome to attend. The sun will set at 8:05 pm, With Mars being the only planet visible early in the evening and the moon not rising until well after we stop observing the evenings targets should primarily deep sky treats. We will start showing objects as darkness allows. What we will be able show you? The Great Orion Nebula will be visible for the first hour or so after the sun goes down. Then it will be various star clusters, binary star systems, several different nebulae, galaxies and even multiple galaxies in the same field of view of the eyepiece.
This IS a weather dependent event. This post and the club’s Facebook page will be updated to reflect a final weather call on Friday April 26th. As of this posting the forecast is somewhat favorable calling for only partly cloudy skies and temps near 50° F. Let’s hope it stays at least that favorable. Check back later in the week for more updates.
This will be our last observation for this location until October 5th. With summer weather being so hit and and miss and darkness not falling until so late in the late spring/summer months, we have decided shift more of our Stone Mountain observation dates to the fall/winter months in efforts to have more actual observations and fewer cancelations.
Please note the observation site on the campsite map below. Access to the site can be gained via a grassy path marked by traffic cones between sites 33 and 34. If you are a non camping attendee, please park at the bathhouse near the observation site or along the grassy median away from campsites along the main road. Please refrain from using flashlights or cell phones in the observation area. If you feel you need a flashlight to get you to the observation site, please point them downward on your approach and turn them off when you reach the field. Your eyes will dark adapt in 10-15 minuets and I promise you, you will be able to see fine to navigate around. If you find you have need for lighting to find something, ask a member and they can provide a red light flashlight to help you. Please be respectful and do not walk through other’s campsites.
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