Friends Enjoy Stargazing

by Joan Yanagihara

The next Friends of Hawaii Astronomy Stargazing event is scheduled for March. If you would like to participate, please contact Joan Yanagihara at 956-6712 or joany@ifa.hawaii.edu.

Members of the Friends of Hawaii Astronomy and their guests gathered for two Summer Stargazing events, once each in July and August. Good weather and the first quarter Moon made for pleasant viewing conditions on both nights.

Institute Director Rolf-Peter Kudritzki welcomed the stargazing participants, and Outreach Scientist Jim Heasley provided a brief introduction outlining the evening's highlights. Members and guests then took turns viewing the Moon; planets Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn; binary stars; and two nearby galaxies through portable telescopes (see related story on pg 5) attended by graduate students led by Mike Cushing.

Some participants identified planets and various constellations visible with the naked eye or binoculars, while others relaxed and enjoyed refreshments and each other's company between sessions at the telescopes. The monthly star charts, "Evening Skies Over Hawaii," produced by the Institute and mailed to the Friends, greatly assisted the stargazing activities.