What Can You Expect To See At The Community Observatory This Weekend



Wanted: More Visitors to our smart telescopes!

Shown: ZWO Seestar S50 on tripod and Seestar S30 Pro on table.

Perhaps you have seen me or one of my cousins out of the corner of your eye as you scurry to join the queue to get a peek through one of our large telescopes. We are small and unobtrusive, but can surprise you with the wonders we can show. So give us a chance and stop by where you see the glowing smartphones or tablets and see what deep space wonder or closeup of the Moon the docent is showing at the time. And you may also see it in color, unlike the white or gray you see in the big telescopes.

Over the past few years these Smart Scopes or CAA (Computer Aided Astronomy) devices have had explosive growth and popularity, bringing simple astrophotography to anyone who is interested, not just for the high-tech geeks. They are very affordable compared to the bigger imaging rigs, too. Unlike normal telescopes you don’t look through these devices, butshow what they are capturing on a smartphone or tablet display.

You heard it here first!! You may have seen or attended one of the recent classes on smart phone astronomy. The rumor has been floating around amongst the docents about coming up with a similar donation funded class on getting the most out of your Smart Scope!

If you happen to like the display on the docent’s device, you can also ask to have that image Air Dropped to your iPhone so you can show your friends just what you saw at the Observatory on your visit.

What Can You Expect To See At The Community Observatory This Weekend

Join us Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Placerville Community Observatory!

Autumn is well underway, bringing a changing cast of stars and celestial objects to our evening skies. As the Sun sets earlier and the nights grow longer, it’s a wonderful time to visit the observatory, explore the constellations, and take a closer look at planets and distant objects through our telescopes. Whether you’re an experienced stargazer or just beginning to explore the night sky, our volunteer docents will help you discover what’s overhead.

What’s in the Sky This Weekend?

Saturn: A Highlight of the Evening

Saturn is well placed for evening observing, rising in the eastern sky around sunset. Look for this bright, steady-looking planet as darkness settles in. Through one of our larger telescopes, Saturn offers one of the most memorable sights in astronomy: its beautiful ring system.

The Stars and Constellations of Autumn

As twilight fades, look overhead and toward the east for the constellations that signal the arrival of autumn.

• The Summer Triangle: Vega, Deneb, and Altair remain prominent in the western and overhead sky early in the evening. These three bright stars form a useful guide to the summer constellations.
• Pegasus: The Great Square of Pegasus is an easy-to-recognize landmark in the eastern sky and a gateway to exploring the autumn constellations.
• Andromeda: Near Pegasus, the constellation Andromeda points the way toward the Andromeda Galaxy, our large neighboring spiral galaxy. Under favorable conditions, it can appear as a faint, fuzzy patch to the unaided eye and is a rewarding target through binoculars or a telescope.
• Cassiopeia and Perseus: Look toward the northeast for these distinctive star patterns. They provide a starting point for exploring the rich star fields and clusters of the autumn and winter Milky Way.

As the evening progresses, the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, will climb higher in the eastern sky. This beautiful grouping of young stars is a favorite target for binoculars and telescopes.

The Moon: A Waxing Crescent

The Moon will be a waxing crescent this weekend, growing from approximately 35% illuminated on Friday to 44% on Saturday. It will be visible during the early evening and set at approximately 10:20 PM Friday and 11:20 PM Saturday.

The Moon’s changing appearance makes it a fascinating observing target. Even a relatively thin crescent reveals craters, mountains, and shadows along the boundary between lunar day and night.

Moonlight can make faint galaxies and nebulae more difficult to see, but there will still be plenty to explore. Our docents can help select targets that make the most of the available conditions.

What About the Weather?

October evenings in the Sierra Nevada foothills can bring pleasant afternoons followed by cooler nights. The extended outlook currently suggests warm daytime conditions for the weekend, but the cloud cover and transparency that matter most for astronomy can change as the dates approach.

Clear skies provide the best opportunity to see planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies. High clouds, haze, or smoke can reduce contrast, while extensive cloud cover may prevent observing altogether.

Please check the Community Observatory website before making the trip. If weather conditions require us to cancel an observing session, check for the latest announcement before heading up the hill.

Join Us Under the Stars!

The Placerville Community Observatory welcomes visitors of all ages to share the wonder of the night sky. Our volunteer docents will help you find celestial objects, explain what you’re seeing, and answer your astronomy questions. October brings cooler nights, so be sure to dress appropriately so you are comfortable during your visit.

Public viewing hours:

• Friday, October 16: 7:30–9:30 PM
• Saturday, October 17: 7:30–9:30 PM

Admission to the Observatory is free, but donations are always welcome. Be sure to stop at the kiosk in the parking area to get a $2.00 parking pass.

 

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