We will be taking a journey from The Bogs in Mattapoisett through our solar system. Our craft will be a Celestron 8-inch SCT telescope on an AVX equatorial mount. In lieu of an eyepiece, we will attach a camera and view the images on a computer screen, making this a safe and socially distanced exploration

The first stop will be our closest celestial neighbor, the Moon. We will see craters, mountains and will identify a couple of areas where man has visited. Our journey will then take us to the red planet, Mars. In addition to its stunning red color, we will be able to see surface features such as its polar ice caps.

Next stop will be the largest member of our local planet group, Jupiter. Its easily-visible cloud patterns and red spot are always a beautiful sight to behold. Also, visible will be its four largest moons: Europa, Ganymede, Callisto and Io. Onward to Saturn with its famous rings. Careful examination may reveal a few cloud patterns and some of its brighter moons. Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus, Phoebe, just to name a few.

Further out into our solar system lies Uranus. At this distance, the planet will appear as a tiny ball with maybe a hint of a pale blue color. The final stop is Neptune, the furthest known planet from the sun. At such a great distance, the planet will look like nothing more than a star with maybe a slight hint of a disk.

Please be sure to check this page before heading out for the event. In the case of cloudy skies, we will need to cancel/postpone the stargazing session.

Attendance is free, but space is limited due to the need for social distancing. Registration is required. And please remember to bring and wear a mask.

Category: Buzzards Bay Coalition
Hosted By: Buzzards Bay Coalition