Friday, September 18
Weather: Mostly clear, calm, 62°
Participants: Francine Jackson, Jim Hendrickson
Attendees: 25
Observed: Moon, ISS, Mizar & Alcor, Albireo, Coathanger
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD5xWs
Report by: Jim Hendrickson
Francine Jackson and Jim Hendrickson brought their telescopes to Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park (River Bend) in Uxbridge for the third consecutive monthly Night Sky event on Friday, September 18, under mostly clear skies and a first quarter Moon.
Jim brought an 80mm refractor, and Francine, the Astroscan reflector.
Paul, a local amateur from the Uxbridge area who was already there when we arrived, had a custom-built 6-inch f/8 refractor. He was quite knowledgeable with telescopes and equipment, asked about ours, and mentioned that he bought an optic from Dave Kelly at Stellafane, but did not know about Seagrave Observatory or Skyscrapers, so we invited him to AstroAssembly.
Massachusetts DCR park ranger Sherine Hamade was there with her partner Savannah Salonich, who set up a tabletop refractor to view the Moon.
We gazed at the first quarter Moon until the sky became dark enough to peer at some other objects, including Mizar & Alcor, Albireo, and the Coathanger. At 8:55pm, we watched the International Space Station make an appearance low across the northern horizon.
About 25 guests visited, including some families with young children.
The constant sound of more than a dozen katydids in the woods to the west of the field was a pleasant addition to the evening’s gathering, and towards the end of the session, a band of cloud obscured the Moon, creating a dramatic light and shadow show in the southwestern sky.
The next scheduled astronomy night at River Bend is on Friday, October 23.
