People interested in the night sky and how to observe it will have the opportunity to learn all about Novice Observing at the Okanagan College on March 30.
The regular meeting of the southern group of the Okanagan Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will feature OCRASC member Mark Force of Peachland who will give an indoor presentation which will be followed by a hands-on session with the real thing at Skaha Lake Park.
Okanagan Centre South vice-president Chris Purton has invited interested members of the public to join them at 7:15 p.m. in meeting Room C 02 of the Sunoka building for a brief gathering and Mark Force’s presentation about enjoying the night sky and finding your way around it. Following refreshments, the group will move to Skaha Lake Park for hands-on observing with binoculars.
Purton, who is a retired radio astronomer at DRAO near Okanagan Falls, said that the evening will be designed for everyone, no matter what their level of familiarity with the sky is.
Mark Force, who is an experienced astro observer, will begin the introduction to observing with views of the night sky and how to navigate it. Tools to assist with this will be demonstrated, and the star patterns or spring constellations will be outlined.
Following coffee and cookies, participants will dress up warmly before proceeding outdoors to Skaha Lake Park to practice what they have learned with their own binoculars and the assistance of OCRASC members.
OCRASC has over 125 members from Osoyoos to Salmon Arm who meet regularly in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. Full information on the club is available on their website at www.ocrasc.ca. Details on the observatory can be found at www.okanaganobservatory.ca as well as at http://rascoc.zenfolio.com/f305044172.