Four Planets in the Night Sky

Free November Astronomy Program at Hobbs State Park Focuses on Four Planets in the Night Sky

On Saturday November 22nd, the powerful telescopes of the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will be focused on four of the planets in our solar system…Venus, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune.  The public is invited to join the group at Hobbs State Park just east of Rogers to view these celestial bodies.

Venus will be blazing in the west, and the summer triangle will be high in the northwestern sky as night observation begins. The Summer Triangle is an imaginary triangle drawn between the stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega, the brightest stars in the three constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra.

Mars will be in the southwestern sky, with Uranus and Neptune further east.  Uranus is the seventh farthest planet from our sun.  Uranus is almost 2 billion miles from us, and blue Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun, almost 3 billion miles away.

According to Jack McDaniel, president of the Sugar Creek group, “One of our targets on the night of November 22nd will be the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in the eastern sky. This is the only galaxy visible to the naked eye, and is very visible viewing with binoculars.  M31 is similar in structure to our own galaxy, the Milky Way.  In addition to M31, we will be able to see M31’s satellite galaxy M32.  Because of the vast distances involved, we will be observing these galaxies as they were over two million years ago!  In addition to M31 and M32, the Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) will be almost directly overhead in the constellation Triangulum.”

McDaniel further added, “Another wonderful sight in our telescopes will be the globular star cluster M15 in the constellation Hercules.  Just 30,000 light years away, M15 is a tightly packed mass of 100,000 stars that may have a black hole at its
center.  Bring the entire family.  Everyone will enjoy the wonders of the November night sky.”

Where:  Hobbs State Park visitor center on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection.
When:    Beginner class starts in the visitor center at 4:00 p.m., with night viewing commencing about 5:00 p.m.
Cost:      Free

What to Bring:  
• Flashlight (covered with a red cloth or red balloon)
• Binoculars and/or telescope (if you have)
• Folding chair – one per person
• Star chart (if you have one)

Great family fun!  Wonderful Girl and Boy Scout experience!   For more information call:  479-789-5000
To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to the web site: http://www.friendsofhobbs.com/