October is a great month for astronomy. Cooling temperatures, lower humidity, and earlier sunsets can lead to some fantastic observations of the night sky. It is also a great month to share the night sky with others. Skyscrapers has multiple opportunities for our members to engage in community outreach. This month alone, we have several events on-site and off-site.
On-site events include the annual AstroAssembly convention, where members and attendees are invited to bring telescopes for observation at the conclusion of our programs on Friday and Saturday night. Every clear Saturday night we have Open Nights at the observatory for member and public observing. Off-site events include the Bristol Land Trust in Bristol, Chase Farm in Lincoln, River Bend Farm in Uxbridge, Gaspee Point HOA in Warwick, and the Blackstone Park Conservancy in Providence.
If you have not participated in any of these types of events, or you are not sure about how they operate, I invite you to just tag along with our volunteers at one of these events. You will witness the gratification of sharing the night sky with a usually eager public. For example, there is nothing like seeing and hearing a person react the first time they observe Saturn’s rings through a telescope.
I have heard some members share concerns about their perceived lack of knowledge of astronomy. In most cases, you already know much more about astronomy than most of the participants at these events. Not knowing the answer to a question is not the end of the world and will not lead to the downfall of Skyscrapers! I have been studying and practicing astronomy for more than 40 years and at every event, I will usually get a question that I cannot answer. It is pretty easy to acknowledge a good question and simply say that you do not know the answer or perhaps you ask one of your colleagues. Most of the time you’re getting more oohs, aahs, and thanks, than questions when they’re looking through the telescope.
So, this month, take look at our calendar of events and if you’ve never participated in an outreach event, but think you might like to try, contact me and we can arrange for you to “observe” the event while we observe the night sky at one of these venues. Clear Skies!
