Deep Sky Observing & Astrophotography

The forecast for Friday night is excellent. The moon will only be at 5% illuminated, so viewing of deep sky objects should be excellent. We will try to go through a number of Messier objects during the viewing night. We will also have some astrophotography rigs setup to take advantage of the dark skies. If the weather and clouds cooperate, there is a once in every 15 years event happening in the early hours on Saturday morning. Saturn's largest moon will transit in front of Saturn and cast its shadow on the planet. With a little luck we will be able to see the shadow. It could be a late night so come prepared - dress warmly.

Always check before coming out in case the schedule changes. Because it will be very dark, if you have RED flashlight, bring it with you to help you from the parking lot to the observatory buildings. Avoid using WHITE flashlights because white light affects night vision and it can take up to 20 minutes for eyes to readjust.