Highlights in Landis' Dark Skies

The Landis Arboretum is pleased to host the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers’ Star Parties for 2015, where visitors may view planets and deep sky objects such as star clusters, galaxies, nebulae, and an occasional comet through a variety of telescopes. Star Parties are held month on Friday and Saturday according to the following schedule:

  • March 20 and 21 at 8:00 PM
  • April 10 and 11 at 8:30 PM
  • May 8 and 9 at 9:00 PM
  • June 19 and 20 at 9:30 PM
  • July 17 and 18 at 10:00 PM
  • August 7 and 8 at 9:30 PM
  • September 11 and 12 at 8:30 PM
  • October 9 and 10 at 8:00 PM
  • November 6 and 7 at 8:00 PM

Visitors are also invited to attend the annual club meeting on Thursday, August 20, which will be followed by a Star Party.

These notable celestial events will be highlighted:

  • On March 20th, Mars will be 1 degree north of the Moon. On April 10th and 11th, Venus will be 3 degrees to the left of the Pleiades star cluster.
  • On June 19th and 20th, there will be a close conjunction of the Moon, with Venus and Jupiter.
  • On July 18th and 19th, there will be another close conjunction of the crescent Moon with Jupiter and Venus.
  • On August 7th, Mercury will be less than a degree from the constellation Leo’s brightest star, Regulus.
  • On August 20th, Mars will be inside the Beehive star cluster.
  • On October 10th, Jupiter will be 3 degrees north of the Moon, and there will be meteor shower, the Southern Taurids.
  • On November 6th, the crescent Moon will be just 3 degrees to the right of Jupiter.

Also note:

  • A total eclipse of the Moon will occur on September 27th, beginning at 9:06 PM EDT.

Because Star Parties are cancelled if skies are overcast, it is a good idea to register with Alan French at (518) 374-8460 that you can be notified if there is a cancellation.


Spring 2015

Volume 33 , Number 2

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