HAL July Public Star Party this Saturday July 5!

[David Stein]

Hello everyone,

We’re excited to invite you to our July Public Star Party this Saturday, July 5, at Alpha Ridge Park! This free, family-friendly event is open to all ages—everyone is welcome.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 5
Time: Starting at sunset (8:36 PM)
Location: Alpha Ridge Park in Mariottsville
Hosts: David Stein and Krystal Rolon

What to Expect:

If the skies are clear 😀:

• Enjoy stunning views of the waxing gibbous Moon, which will be 79% illuminated and sitting 28 degrees above the southern horizon at sunset.
• Observe the sun rising over fascinating lunar features like Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows).
• Once it gets fully dark (around 10:30 PM) enjoy deep sky wonders such as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (Messier 13), the Ring Nebula (Messier 57), and the Whirlpool Galaxy (Messier 51).
• Our observatory will be open with live views on a large screen, plus telescopes set up outside for hands-on viewing.

If it’s cloudy ☹️:

• We’ll still host an open house at the observatory.
• See our telescopes, chat with us about astronomy, and learn more about the Howard Astronomical League (HAL).

We hope for clear skies and look forward to seeing many of you there for a night of stargazing and discovery!

Clear skies,

David

--

David Stein

HAL Events Coordinator

[David Stein]

Dear HAL members,

It looks like we might actually get clear skies for our public star party this Saturday, July 5!  So I would like to ask those of you with a telescope to please come out if you can and set up for public viewing.  The observatory is great and will be showing views on a big screen but there is nothing like putting your own eye up to the eyepiece and seeing the sky, and we'd really like to share that experience with as many people as possible.  So please come out and set up your telescope and enjoy the fun of sharing your views with the public! The Moon should be visible from sunset (8:36 PM) and if it really is clear we can add in some deep sky targets when it gets dark.

Thank you and clear skies,

David

--

David Stein

HAL Events Coordinator

[ma...@i2k.com]

My daughter and I plan to be there with our collapsible 6" dob.

Jason Brookbank

On 7/2/2025 7:38 AM, David Stein wrote:
> Dear HAL members,
>
> It looks like we might actually get clear skies for our public star party
> this Saturday, July 5! So I would like to ask those of you with a
> telescope to please come out if you can and set up for public viewing. The
> observatory is great and will be showing views on a big screen but there is
> nothing like putting your own eye up to the eyepiece and seeing the sky,
> and we'd really like to share that experience with as many people as
> possible. So please come out and set up your telescope and enjoy the fun
> of sharing your views with the public! The Moon should be visible from
> sunset (8:36 PM) and if it really is clear we can add in some deep sky
> targets when it gets dark.
>
> Thank you and clear skies,
> David
> --
> David Stein
> HAL Events Coordinator
>
> On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM David Stein <david....@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> We’re excited to invite you to our July Public Star Party this Saturday, July
>> 5, at Alpha Ridge Park! This free, family-friendly event is open to all
>> ages—everyone is welcome.
>>
>>

>> *Event Details:*
>> *Date*: Saturday, July 5
>> *Time*: Starting at sunset (8:36 PM)
>> *Location*: Alpha Ridge Park in Mariottsville
>> *Hosts*: David Stein and Krystal Rolon
>>
>>
>> *What to Expect:*

>> If the skies are clear 😀:
>>

>> - Enjoy stunning views of the waxing gibbous Moon, which will be 79%

>> illuminated and sitting 28 degrees above the southern horizon at sunset.

>> - Observe the sun rising over fascinating lunar features like Sinus
>> Iridum (Bay of Rainbows).
>> - Once it gets fully dark (around 10:30 PM) enjoy deep sky wonders

>> such as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (Messier 13), the Ring
>> Nebula (Messier 57), and the Whirlpool Galaxy (Messier 51).

>> - Our observatory will be open with live views on a large screen, plus

>> telescopes set up outside for hands-on viewing.
>>
>> If it’s cloudy ☹️:
>>

>> - We’ll still host an open house at the observatory.
>> - See our telescopes, chat with us about astronomy, and learn more

[David Stein]

Hello everyone,

Not to jinx it, but as we get closer to our public star party on Saturday, the forecast continues to improve.  Right now the forecast from the NWS is for 75% clear skies, and both Clear Outside and the individual models in Astrospheric Pro are actually predicting even less cloudiness.  So please plan to show up if you can!

Clear skies,

David

On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM David Stein <david....@gmail.com> wrote:

[Rich]

FYI,

There appears to be a discrepancy on the time for the public star party. Below it says it will start at 8:36, but on the website announcement it says 6-11pm, which is what I suspect the public sees. 

I plan to be there but would like to clarify what time you need us.

-Rich

On Jun 30, 2025, at 10:53 AM, David Stein <david....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[David Stein]

We'll start at sunset, which is 8:36.  I don't know why there is a different time on the website, but we're not doing a daytime event this time.  I'll get there a bit early to set up, but not that early!

Thanks,

David

[David Stein]

Just a reminder that our July public star party is tomorrow!  I hope to see many of you out there!

Clear skies,

David

On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM David Stein <david....@gmail.com> wrote: