Join Robert Strong from the Smart Center in downtown Wheeling every second Saturday of every month at Grand Vue Park for a family-friendly telescopic StarWatch.
This Saturday, February 8th, 2025, the StarWatch will be held at the unique vantage point of Grand Vue Park’s Zip-line Adventure Area, high above the surrounding region at 39° 56’ 42” N and 80° 43’ 49” W from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. If the sky is clear, the Sun will have already set by 5:51 P.M., leaving a Moon-dark view on all horizon. By 8:00 P.M..
Using telescopes on-site, amateur astronomers will telescopically reveal to those in attendance the Earth’s Moon, the planet Saturn, her Ring and single planetary-sized moon, the Planet Jupiter and his four planetary-sized moons, The amber-colored planet Mars, numerous deep space objects within and beyond our Milky Way Galaxy to add “Wow” to the evening.
The first order of StarWatching business is to catch the planet Saturn, her ring system, and her largest moon – Titan a planetary-sized world larger than the planet Mercury, before the Saturnian system sets in the west and is lost to us for the next six months as an evening object.
After a hurried last look at Saturn, we will view Earth’s planetary-sized Moon (Luna) only 1.3 light seconds away. Luna will be majestically illuminating the high southeastern sky. Telescopically, the cratered and mountainous details of Luna appear truly stunning. Telescopes will be made available for viewing Earth’s Moon as a waxing gibbous – almost full. Nearly 86.7% of the Lun-ar nearside will be illuminated. Get your SMART Phones ready to take your very own eye-catching lunar image souvenir / Screen Savers through the telescope.
After observing the Earth’s Moon – Luna, we will turn our attention above and to the right of Luna to find the brilliant planet Jupiter. We will easily see his cloud bands and the four Galilean planetary-sized Moons, each will be described in detail at the StarWatch.
As an added treat, diminutive Mars (not “The Red-Planet” as you will clearly see) will be seen telescopically as a bright rusty globe just below and to the left of Luna. Look for surface markings and bright polar caps.
If the sky remains clear, we will search for several favorite bright Fall/Winter-time Deep Space Objects, bright stars, double stars, star clusters, nebulas, and Constellations.
Reminder, we will have telescopes for you to use … if you have a telescope, bring it along – more scopes, means more fun.
In case of clouds or light rain, amateur Astronomers will still be there to engage your astronomical questions and banter about the wonders of the Cosmos. In case of steady rain, snow, or ice – the Grand Vue Park StarWatch event will be cancelled.
