KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society has announced that their Public Observing Sessions at the Kalamazoo Nature Center will resume in June. The events had been on a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
They will have their high-powered telescopes on site for the first event on June 19th, weather permitting. Several other events are scheduled from July through October.
The KAS is also very pleased to announce that its brand-new Leonard James Ashby Telescope will make its public debut during the 2021 season. The telescope is named after the gentleman that founded the KAS in 1936. The Ashby Telescope is the result of a 4-year fundraising campaign that started with the sale of Eclipse Shades ahead of the 2017 total solar eclipse. Over $41,000 was raised. The main telescope and mount were installed in September 2019.
The group says the events give people an opportunity to observe the night sky near the Owl Observatory. Visitors can also bring their own telescopes and learn how to identify bright stars and major constellations. The events are free to the public.
Dates for the 2021 season are as follows:
- June 19th 9:30 pm – The Moon & Double Stars
- July 17th 9:30 pm – Venus & The First Quarter Moon
- July 31st 9:30 pm – Jupiter, Saturn & Summer Triangle
- August 14th 9:00 pm – The Moon, Jupiter & Saturn
- August 28th 9:00 pm – Jupiter, Saturn & Summer Nebulae
- September 11th 8:00 pm – Jupiter, Saturn & Summer Star Clusters
- September 25th 8:00 pm – Venus, Jupiter, Saturn & The Moon
- October 9th 7:00 pm – Galaxies of Autumn
Comments