SOCIAL/STAR PARTY: Geminids Meteor Shower and Constellation Tour

The best meteor shower of the year is happening right now, and is maximum on Sunday Dec 14! Let's get together and see this at our local Dark Sky park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

I propose in socializing first in Montrose say around 5:30. Ideas? I suggest The Association for drinks and/or food beforehand, 39 West Main. From there it's a 25 min drive to our viewing place near the Black Canyon entrance station. No fees after dark.

It will be cold so dress very warmly. If you bring flashlights or headlamps, use the RED setting to preserve your night vision. Bring a chair (recliners best) AND A SLEEPING BAG to stay warm and view these meteors! There may be more than 2 per minute (peaks at 2 am) Meteor showers just require your eyeballs, no special viewing equipment needed. If you bring binoculars or a spotting scope or telescope there will lots of other things to look at.

Using a laser pointer, I'll show what I know about constellations and will have tripod mounted binoculars and a spotting scope to look at some points of interest, including Jupiter, Saturn, the Pleades and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Learn more about the Geminid Meteor Shower HERE , HERE and HERE. Learn about how to take astronomical photos on your cellphone HERE .