September B-SIG - Sat. Sept. 22nd - 6:30pm - Metcalf Nature Center

[Sureshks]

Hi everyone,

The September B-SIG event will be this Saturday night September 22nd, at the Metcalf Nature Center. It will start at 6:30pm (sunset will be at 7:11pm).

There is no charge, and anyone is welcome to join us!! The purpose is to help beginners learn the night sky, and how to set up and use a telescope. Volunteers from the MAS will be on hand to answer your questions, and to show you celestial objects thru their telescopes.

B-SIG events typically draw 40-60 people... so come early! We'll have enough telescopes and observing gear on hand for everyone to look through. But if you have a telescope or binoculars -- bring them!! The more the merrier. And if you've got a telescope you need help with, bring it with you and we'd be happy to help you learn how to set it up and use it!

There is a lot to view right now... Saturn and Mars continue to dominate in the south after sunset, and the nearly Full Moon will be up soon after sunset. The summer Milky Way continues to pass overhead during the evening with it's wondrous assortment of nebulae and clusters. The Andromeda Galaxy will rise in the northeast after dark. And after midnight, Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner will be a beautiful sight with it's one degree tail.

If you'd like to join us, please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on while viewing the meteors. Also bring a snack or beverage to share. We usually have a yummy assortment of goodies for everyone to sample at BSIGs events -- it makes for a really fun night!

Directions to Metcalf: (see this Google Maps link for directions to Metcalf -- it's from the West metro but it works for the the East too): https://goo.gl/maps/hbw2dbQyUgq

Head east from St. Paul along Hwy. 94. About four miles east of the I-694 / I-494 crossing is Minnesota State Highway 95, also known as Manning Avenue (exit 253). Turn south (right turn) and then almost immediately turn left onto the frontage road (Hudson Road S). Continue east on the frontage road for about one and one-half miles. Turn right onto Indian Trail, checking the odometer as you turn. Follow Indian Trail south for just about one and one-tenth miles, where you’ll see an unmarked chain-link gate on the right (west side of the road), opening onto a dirt driveway with slight up-slope. This is the the entrance to Metcalf.

If you haven't been to Metcalf, it can be little difficult to find the entrance in the dark, so please try to arrive with some daylight left...

The Metcalf observing site is located 14 miles east of downtown St. Paul. If you've got a GPS unit, here are the precise coordinates: Latitude: 44.93734 (North) / Longitude: 92.82157 (West)

If you're planning to come, please e-mail me at sureshks1@msn.com so I can keep you updated on any weather-related changes.

The long range weather forecast calls for a a 60% chance of rain in the afternoon on Saturday, then clearing skies with temps in the lower 60s during the evening. We'll need to keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer. I will update this thread by Friday evening with the Go / No-Go decision for Saturday night...

We hope to see you there!!

Suresh Sreenivasan
Cell: 612-910-0444

[Sureshks]

Hi all,

The weather forecast looks good for Saturday night. The BSIG observing event at Metcalf is a GO!!

Bring some water proof shoes or boots, in case the field is damp from the recent rains...

Temps will drop into the lower 50s after sunset, so dress accordingly.

We'll see you there!

Suresh

[setnes]

The weather looks great for tonight.

There is an ISS pass over at about 9:10 pm that will reach about 40 degrees and then disappear into Earth's shadow. (magnitude -2.5)