National Astronomy Day will be celebrated here in Pagosa on Saturday May 15 at the downtown Visitors Center on Hot Springs Blvd from 11am to 3pm. We will be offering age-appropriate activities for children and families to enjoy working on together. There will be educational programs for adults and other learning tools that can be used by everyone. Refreshments will be available for a donation. Perhaps most importantly there will be members available to talk with visitors about telescopes or whatever other questions they may have. This is your opportunity to ask any question you have about Astronomy. We either will have an answer or be able to locate the needed information. Clubs all over the US will be learning & celebrating on this day. Hope to see you for an “out-of-this-world” fun time!
Our first Public Night Sky Program will be Friday, May 21, at Chimney Rock National Monument. Gate opens at 7:15pm with the program starting in the Chimney Rock Amphitheater at 8pm. Reservations are always recommended, but we normally do not turn interested people away.
Our next Stargazer Club Meeting will be on Thursday, May 27, from 7 to 8:30pm at the Visitors’ Center on Hot Springs Blvd. & the San Juan River. Come early for coffee & tea. We will be sharing & critiquing all of the power point presentations that will be given at the Chimney Rock National Monument Night Sky programs. This can be especially valuable for the general public. There are people in Pagosa who work on Friday nights or are not healthy enough to spend time in the cool evenings outdoors in the gorgeous amphitheater. Plan a nice evening with your aging grandma or other relative. This will be inside, it is free and everyone is welcome. It is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who cannot normally attend our Night Sky Programs. We promise that you will learn ‘a whole lot’. We will host power point presentations on the Ancient People of Chimney Rock; Our Solar System; and Stars and Galaxies.
On Friday, May 28 will be our first members-only telescope viewing and training at the upper parking lot at Chimney Rock. The gate will open at 7pm so there will be plenty of time to get your telescope set-up. If you need help, it will be available. This will be our only opportunity to prepare for our important Training session to be given by Astronomer and Observatory owner Steve McAllister on Friday, June 4. He will provide the best training for telescope use. I guarantee that you will have the time-of-your-life with your telescope. Due to the continuation of the COVID Pandemic, this evening is for members only. There will be strict rules on very limited sharing of telescopes. If you have your COVID Immunization Card, please bring it. If you don’t have a telescope, we have several extra available requiring pre-arrangements.
At all our events we will follow the COVID regulations for Archuleta County for that date. Bring a mask and, of course, respect each individual’s decisions for their safety. Telescopes can pass the virus on the eyepiece. We are scientifically cautious people, not willing to take unnecessary risks.
If you would like to join the San Juan Stargazers we can still add your name to the list of people receiving Reflector Magazine which is the publication of the National Astronomical League of which you automatically become a member. To join both groups and get an excellent astronomy magazine, annual membership is only $25 per family.
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