What a superb weekend for cloud watching! In response, the star party scheduled for tomorrow—Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 9:00pm—has necessarily been postponed, but the rain date has been enhanced with an additional activity.
BROWER OBSERVATORY WORKDAY AND STAR PARTY
Saturday, June 24, 2017
5:00pm — Workday; 9:00pm — Star Party
Brower Observatory
341 Route 126, Whitefield, ME 04353
Join us at Brower Observatory on Saturday, June 24. Workday begins at 5:00pm. Wield a paint brush or a hammer, or aid in reorganizing the stored equipment. Workday would be cancelled only for rain; it will occur as scheduled, even if it is likely to be too cloudy for observing afterward.
If the weather allows, observing will begin at 9:00pm, or perhaps earlier, since we will be there anyway, and bright Jupiter and Saturn will be visible. Although participation in workday is encouraged, we understand that not everyone will be able to climb ladders, pound nails, or lift and move telescopes, so even those who can not so assist are welcome to join us for observing.
Saturn is a real treat now, with its rings about as wide open as we shall ever see them, and with all the special effects that are visible only at opposition. Even by Workday, the views should be more than satisfactory; but, if you have a telescope at home, be sure to observe Saturn at the first break in the clouds.
Determination and patience are the necessary hallmarks of anyone sailing Maine’s skies through the eyepieces of telescopes. Until we meet again, happy cloud watching to all the honored, honorary inductees of the Central Maine Cloud Watching Society. Altostratus, Stratocumulus; Cumulonimbus, Nimbostratus!
