What can you expect to see at the Community Observatory this weekend?

We will not be open this weekend due to a construction miscue where the power to the observatory was cut off. A solution is planned, but the weather has slowed progress. It is our hope to be open on the two days after Thanksgiving but there are no guarantees. Be sure to check our schedule on communityobservtory.com mid-week next week for our progress. We will also post updates on Facebook.
In the meantime, consider joining us at the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) between 10 AM and noon on Saturday for a chance to see the Sun through our dedicated solar scopes. MOSAC also has a planetarium where you can see a realistic looking night sky and learn about the cosmos. We will have white-light scopes there that show the sunspots and other features on the surface. We will also have H-Alpha scopes that allow you to see many more details including the prominences and flares. The image today is an H-Alpha image of the Sun.
The Sun is quite active right now. I would encourage you to look to the north on any clear night. We had a great auroral display a week ago and there is continued potential for additional views. You will normally not see color but using your cellphone camera will show it. Just put it on wide field, turn off your flash, and hold it steady. Most phones will automatically adjust for the low light. The solar cycle lasts eleven years and maximum solar activity is now. If you miss seeing the Northern Lights in the next few months, you may have to travel to the far north or wait eleven more years to see it.
So, stay tuned. The Winter sky with the Pleiades and Orion are here. We are working to be able to show it to you.

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