August Beginner Group Observing Session -- CANCELED

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Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

August Beginner Group Observing Session -- CANCELED

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

The next MAS Beginner group (B-SIG) observing session is scheduled for Saturday Aug. 6th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton (weather permitting). It will start at 8:00pm (sunset is at 8:33pm that night). If it is cloudy on Saturday night, the backup night will be the previous night (Friday Aug. 5th) also at Metcalf Field.

There are no COVID restrictions for this outdoor activity. If you are planning to attend please respond here (with your e-mail address) or drop me an e-mail at sureshks1@msn.com so I can keep you informed of changes due to weather.

There is no charge to attend a Beginner group event, and you do not need to be an MAS member to attend -- everyone is welcome!! 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 show objects thru their telescopes.

You do not need to bring any equipment to attend. But if you have a telescope, bring it!! If you need help with learning how to set up and use it, we are happy to help. There is AC power available on the east side of Metcalf Field, so if you need power to run your telescope or other equipment, just bring an extension cord so you can connect!!

The 67% illuminated gibbous Moon will be out that night, and will set just before 1:00am. August is a great time for astronomical viewing. The Summer Milky Way will be high up after dark, crossing the sky diagonally from the northeast to the southwest... and we can view a myriad of its deep sky objects, including nebulae, planetary nebulae, globular clusters and open star clusters. The Fall sky also is starting to rotate into view. Leading the way will be the Andromeda Galaxy, which should be visible in the northeast as it gets dark.

The planets return!! The showstopper of the night will be Saturn, which will rise before 9:00pm. It will clear the treetops and become visible to us by around 10pm in the southeastern sky. After looking at the Moon during twilight, Saturn will probably be everyone's next target as it gets dark. Neptune and Jupiter will both rise by 10:30pm and will be visible before midnight. Mars rises just after midnight in the northeast and will be visible by around 1am.

Also, the Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th. We may spot a few Perseids zipping by throughout the night, particularly after midnight as the Moon is setting.

If you'd like to join us, please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Also, bring a few extra clothing layers in case temps dip at night.

Directions to Metcalf Field: (see this Google Maps link): https://goo.gl/maps/UNkt67YPWg4qAjuP6

Metcalf Field GPS Coordinates: 44.93734 N / 92.82157 W

For more information on Metcalf Field, see here: http://www.mnastro.org/facilities/metcalf/

Directions:
Head east past Woodbury on I-94 to the Manning exit (exit 253). Turn south and then take the first left onto Hudson Road S. Continue east about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Indian Trail. Check your odometer here, and then travel 1.1 miles. You'll see an unmarked chain-link gate on the right side. This is the entrance to Metcalf field. Enter the dirt path and park on the left side. There are 2 small reflectors on poles marking the entrance. If you have a telescope with you, you can also park on the right (north side) of the field.

If you haven't been to Metcalf Field, it can be a little difficult to locate the entrance. So please arrive in daylight.

I will make the final Go/No Go call weather call on the evening of Thursday Aug. 4th. Please check this thread for updates, or e-mail me at sureshks1@msn.com to stay informed.

Also, if you'd like to volunteer to help out at this or any future Beginner group events, please let me know.

We hope to see you there!!

Suresh
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
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Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Re: August Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Aug. 6th -- 8:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, the weather forecasts have not improved for either tonight or Saturday night.

So we're going to cancel this month's MAS Beginner Group observing event. :cry:

While Saturday night looks like rain, tonight was more borderline. It looks like clouds will start to increase right around sunset, and that we may be clouded out completely by around 11pm. If sunset were two hours earlier, we likely could have held the event tonight.

The next MAS Beginner Group observing session is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 10th, back at Metcalf Field.

We look forward to seeing everybody then!

Best,

Suresh
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
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