HAL August Public Star Party this Saturday, August 2

[David Stein]

Hello everyone,

We’re excited to invite you to our August Public Star Party this Saturday, August 2, at Alpha Ridge Park! This free, family-friendly event is open to all ages—everyone is welcome.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, August 2
Time: Starting at sunset (8:18 PM)
Location: Alpha Ridge Park in Mariottsville
Hosts: Jose Urias and Ken Everhart

What to Expect:

If the skies are clear 😀:

• Enjoy stunning views of the waxing gibbous Moon, which will be 64% illuminated and 25 degrees above the southern horizon at sunset.
• Observe the sun rising over fascinating lunar features like Mare Imbrium and the crater Clavius.
• Once it gets fully dark (around 10:08 PM) enjoy deep sky wonders such as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (Messier 13), the Ring Nebula (Messier 57), and the Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27).
• 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