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In the fading light of a clear evening, we
watch the stars appear. One by one they
fill the night sky. Before long, the
heavens are filled with innumerable points of ancient light. The
stars appear to be grouped into patterns;
the Big Dipper, Orion the Hunter, Cygnus the Swan, and more.
A telescope can take us further. Craters and mountains on the
Moon, Jupiter’s
Great Red Spot, and the rings of Saturn fill us with awe and
wonder. Much more distant are the deep sky objects;
star clusters, nebulae, and the galaxies.
They all await you at the Kalamazoo
Nature Center!
The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society (KAS) invites you to
witness nature’s grandest spectacle - the universe itself! From
April through October the KAS welcomes
the general public to join us under the stars for a night of
stargazing. Telescopes of all shapes and sizes will be
set up for your viewing pleasure near Owl Observatory, located on the
grounds
of the Nature Center. The observatory itself,
featuring our 12"
Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, will also be available for use.
Telescope Clinic
Do you have a telescope that you would like
to learn how to operate or get help with setting up? KAS members
will be on hand at the start of
each session to give you a one on one tutorial.
Learn how to properly assemble and balance your telescope, align the
finderscope and computer, and choose the appropriate eyepieces.
We can even help you learn how to find objects
in the sky!
Please
arrive as soon as the gates open, so we can help you set up and use
your
telescope before it gets too dark. Consult the schedule
for start
times.
Constellation
Workshop
Would
you like to learn how to identify bright stars and major
constellations? During each observing session, one of our
veteran stargazers will teach participants to find those elusive
patterns in
the sky with a simple monthly star map, which will be provided by the
KAS. A green laser pointer that projects a visible
beam into the sky will be used to trace out the constellations and
asterisms. Just like at a planetarium - only under the real night
sky!
Red Lights at
Night
 Visitors
should bring a flashlight with RED light to
use for the walk from the
parking lot to the observatory and for reading star maps. This
can be as simple as covering the front
of a regular flashlight with several layers of red plastic. No
white lights or automobile lights are
allowed near the observing area after dusk. Use RED
flashlights to preserve night
vision and please keep them pointed downward!
Directions
to Kalamazoo Nature Center
From US 131:
Exit at D Avenue (Exit 44)
and travel approximately 4 miles east on D Avenue to N. Westnedge. Turn
right on N.
Westnedge and go approximately one mile and turn left at the
Kalamazoo Nature Center sign.
From Interstate 94:
Exit at US 131 North (Exit 74)
and follow the above directions.
From downtown Kalamazoo:
Follow Park Street
north through downtown Kalamazoo. Park Street will turn into Business
Loop 131. Follow sign to the right directing you to N. Westnedge Avenue
and the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Follow N.
Westnedge approximately 3 miles and turn right at the Kalamazoo Nature
Center
sign, just past E Avenue.
For further directions and a map
visit MapQuest.
Rules
of Conduct
Public Observing Sessions are held to promote astronomy
and for your enjoyment of the sky. In order to insure safety, protect
equipment, and to enhance everyone's enjoyment, we ask that you follow
the Code
of Conduct:
- Pets are
not permitted on the Nature Center grounds.
- Smoking and alcoholic beverages are
never permitted within the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
- Minors under the age of 16 must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- Aerosol bug spray repellent may only
be applied away from the telescopes. (Sprays produce a fine mist which
can
settle on optical surfaces and is very difficult to clean.)
- Remove
any trash and keep the premises clean.
Observing
Field
Once you reach the Nature Center you'll
drive
past the main gate to the parking lot at the end of
the long driveway. (Look for
our signs to guide your way - see below.) Only members or
visitors with heavy equipment and
handicap individuals are allowed to drive down the dirt
service road leading to the observing field and observatory.
All others must park in the main lot and walk down (north)
the service road towards the observatory. This rule will be
strictly enforced as space around the observing area is limited.
Admission
The KAS does not charge for its public observing
sessions. However, the Kalamazoo Nature Center does reserve the
right to collect an admission
fee. (KAS and KNC members admitted free with membership cards.)
| 2008 Public
Observing Session
Schedule |
| Date |
Moon Phase |
Sunset |
---------------
|
--------------- |
--------------- |
| April 5
|
New Moon
|
8:13 pm EDT
|
| ***
Ringed Planet Saturn & The Great Nebula in Orion *** |
| April 19
|
Waxing Gibbous
(99%) |
8:29 pm EDT
|
| ***
Astronomy Day
*** |
| May 3
|
Waning Crescent (5%)
|
8:45 pm EDT
|
| *** Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster *** |
May 24
|
Waning Gibbous (82%)
|
9:06 pm EDT
|
*** Moon, Jupiter, & Saturn ***
|
| June 7
|
Waning Crescent
(20%) |
9:17 pm EDT
|
|
*** Grand Globular
Clusters ***
|
| June 28
|
Waning Crescent
(27%) |
9:23 pm EDT
|
|
*** Jupiter & the
Galilean Moons ***
|
| July 12
|
Waxing
Gibbous (73%) |
9:19 pm EDT
|
| ***
Delightful Double
Stars *** |
| July 26
|
Waning Crescent
(40%) |
9:08 pm EDT
|
| ***
Super
Summer Nebulae *** |
| August 9
|
Waxing
Gibbous (58%)
|
8:51 pm EDT
|
| ***
Moon, Jupiter,
& Perseid Meteors *** |
| August 23
|
Last Quarter Moon
|
8:30 pm EDT
|
| ***
The Summer Triangle *** |
| September 6
|
Waxing Crescent
(41%) |
8:07 pm EDT
|
|
*** Uranus &
Neptune ***
|
| September 27
|
Waning Crescent
(3%) |
7:30 pm EDT
|
|
*** Galaxies of
Autumn
***
|
| October 4
|
Waxing Crescent
(25%) |
7:18 pm EDT
|
|
*** Overwhelming Open
Clusters ***
|
| October 25
|
Waning Crescent
(11%) |
6:45 pm EDT
|
|
*** The Great Square ***
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![[Observing Sessions]](Images/observing.jpg)
