Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri

A Canon ATi picture (5 minute single exposure using an Olympus 50 mm lens mounted on a Losmandy GM8). Touched up by G. Ruppel in Photoshop

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Clouds were once again our nemesis during this most rainy year in many years. A little over 30 people showed up, including a troop of boy scouts, despite the overcast skies. Quite a few guests were there even before we showed up around 8pm.

Four telescopes and giant field binos were set up by John Furlong, Jim Roe, Marvin Stewart, Chuck Simms, and myself. Folks were shown our scope setups and how they worked, along with terrestial views until it got dark. As it got darker, the clouds seemed relentless, and many of our young guests departed. The stalwarts remained however, and were pleasantly rewarded.

At first we had only a few ’sucker holes’. We took advantage of them quickly, knowing that only a handful of people would see Saturn or the Moon before a cloud overtook it. Eventually bigger sections of the sky opened up, and those that remained saw views of Jupiter and its’ four Galilean moons, M57 (’the Ring’), M3 and M13 Globs, double stars Albireo & Mizar, and more.

When all guests left at around 11:15 we started packing it in. With a bright gibbous moon, there wasn’t much other deep sky stuff to look at other than globs and double stars.

It ended up being a productive evening. Our next public event with the county Parks department will be on Saturday August 2 at Broemmelsiek Park. We are overdue for some (early) clear skies at this great new site, and I have a feeling that we will get some.

Jim Twellman

Public Star Gazing Event at Broemmelsiek Park.  Bring telescopes, binoculars, etc and lawn chairs.  Share the night sky with the public.  Dusk to midnight.