Night Sky at River Bend Farm: October 2023
by Jim Hendrickson
Night Sky at River Bend Farm was held on Friday, October 27 for the first time in four clouded-out months. This month’s event took place one day before the full Hunter’s Moon, so it was planned to start early, in order to watch it rise.
Soon after we arrived, we met with Sherine Hamade, the new Visitor Services Supervisor at River Bend Farm. She wasn’t able to stay with us as we watched the Moon rise, but promised to be more available and involved during future sessions.
Francine Jackson, Jim Hendrickson, and Ron Zincone set up a variety of small telescopes on the grassy slope between the parking lot and canal pond, a departure from our usual spot up on the hill, in order to get a clear view as the Moon rose.
As is typical with nights at River Bend, a layer of clouds along the horizon obscured the view for a time, but before dark, we were able to begin viewing the Moon, which punctuated the autumn colors on the trees across the field with its pale orange glow.
In attendance were our regular friends and visitors Ruth and Marc, as well as two other guests. Mike, another regular participant who lives nearby, rode his bicycle into the park a bit later on.
As the sky darkened, we were able to view Saturn, which was now high in the southeast. Jupiter rose about an hour after the Moon. Also observed were the Andromeda Galaxy and the Coathanger asterism in Vulpecula.
Our next, and final, night for 2023 at River Bend is Friday, November 24.
