Highland Road Park Observatory

Latest News

EXPEDITION BREC PARKWIDE GAME NOW IN PROGRESS

The Expedition BREC game has started, and HRPO personnel encourage all HRPO patrons to participate. After filling out a registration form, the patron/family receive a green Passport, inside which stamps mark earned points for attending various functions in the park system through October. Based on the number of points received, the owner of the Passport gets in the running for a prize offered by BREC. The HRPO events which earn Expedition BREC points are as follows…
Triple Planetary Conjunction = 3 points Science Academy = 3 points
Perseid Meteor Shower = 3 points
Evening Sky Viewing = 1 point
Solar Viewing = 1 point
(non-program visit during office hours = 1 point)

STARGAZERS CAMP MEET AND GREET TO OCCUR ON 25 MAY

Much of the 2013 Stargazers Camp staff, as well as standard HRPO personnel, will host a Meet and Greet on Saturday, 25 May from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Parents of registrants will learn about many planned activities and presentations for all three levels. (Parents still considering Stargazers Camp are more than welcome to attend.)

COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORT DISPLAY COMING SOON

A new display created by HRPO Center Supervisor Tom Northrop will premiere during the Stargazers Camp Meet and Greet. It will highlight the usefulness of commercial space transport in low Earth orbit, while NASA hopefully pushes forward with not only a human return to the Moon, but also new human exploration of Mars and/or an asteroid.

SOME SKYWATCH ANNUAL VIEWING GUIDES REMAIN

The Skywatch guide for 2013 is now at HRPO. This annual guide is invaluable for basic skyviewing through the year. Any major eclipses, conjunctions, transits and meteor showers are listed. The eighty-two page book also includes tips on eradicating light pollution, skygazing under light-polluted skies in the meantime, a map for each month from December 2012 to December 2013, a lunar map with over 250 telescopic features marked, a four-page article on how best to see the planets, advice on looking at the Sun in a safe and fun manner, a eight-page section outlining the best deep-sky features for each season and more! Alan MacRobert, Fred Schaaf, Tony Flanders and J. Kelly Beaty are contributors. The book’s cost has been reduced from $10.00 to $7.00.

Last updated by Frederick J. Barnett on Friday, May 17, 2013 4:55:28 PM.