Stargazing at Caratunk: December 2023
by Francine Jackson
After two postponements due to clouds, the annual Caratunk Star Party took place Thursday, December 7. Although located in Seekonk, Caratunk is a part of the Rhode Island Audubon.
Eight hardy souls came out to first hear a PowerPoint of December highlights by Francine, then trooped outside into the frigid and very windy night.
One family had brought a telescope that they were unsure of what to do with it, but Jim Hendrickson quickly showed them the problem: The finder was out of position. Once he showed them how to coordinate the finder with the telescope, they enjoyed seeing many of the night’s objects, along with the portable telescope Jim had brought.
Jupiter, Saturn, M42, M31, M5, M35 and more were available that night. One family braved the conditions for an hour, but left a bit early, as they had traveled from Newport. Both the couple from Fall River and the telescope family stayed till almost the program’s two-hour time frame, cold but happy.
