Star Party 7/11/09 Frisco Commons Park

Don D, our resident star gazing authority, has agreed to sponsor our group again this month at the Frisco Star Party.

Don says: The forecast as of 7/7/09 for 7/11 claims that the sky will be clear! Could this be the legendary "miracle of the clear second Saturday"? We can only hope so, since we don't have the ability to remove cloud cover.

The waning gibbous moon will not rise until a little after 11 PM and the sun sets about 8:40 PM. This means we will have dark skies from about 9:30 to 11, or as dark as the can be from the northern metro area. Please feel free to arrive at sunset or even a little earlier to socialize a bit and see some of the equipment in good light. Saturn is getting low in the west, so this will be the last Frisco Star Party to show it in 2009. The earlier you get there, the better the view of Saturn will be. As objects get closer to the horizon, their light goes through more atmosphere to get to your eyes, so they appear more distorted and less bright. Jupiter does not rise until after 11 PM also (about the same time as the moon). If people are still hanging around at this late time, I'll be glad to point the scope at it.

This is a good time of year to see many different globular clusters in the evening sky. Ask for the two major GCs in Hercules in particular: M13 and M92. There are four more bright GCs in or near the constellation of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer: M10, M12, M14, and M107. It's interesting to compare and contrast these "stellar cities" containing from tens of thousands of stars to about a half-million.

The summer triangle of Vega, Deneb, and Altair is rising in the east and with it some pretty neat deep-sky objects, like the Ring Nebula, M57, the Coathanger, the Blinking Planetary Nebula, NGC6826, and the Dumbbell Nebula, M27, to name a few.

As usual, I will try to find some double stars for your (and my) viewing pleasure. Let's hope the sky will stay clear!"

There are restrooms at this location.

If you have a scope bring it out.

If it's cold out be sure to dress warmly as it can get very cold when you are just standing around on cold pavement. Good shoes, a hat, ear coverings, and layers are your best bet. You can always take off what's not needed.

(BTW this is only a stargazing party - no food or drink required. :)

More details, including directions to the Park, are available at:
Frisco Star Party

The site gives directions from Preston, from the Tollway you turn right on Main (FM 720) and go for about 1.5 miles through Old Frisco, past the old watertower to Meadow Lane on the left. A median prevents you from turning left directly onto Meadow, so you can take the next left into the parking lot of Liberty Baptist Church and go back to Meadow.

On this map of the park we will be in the area at the bottom:
.Frisco Commons Park map

NOTE: If it is overcast or the weather is severe the event will be cancelled. I will post a notice and email the "Yes" and "Maybe" RSVPs. You can also check the TAS website.