Friends of Browns Canyon to host free stargazing event on September 6 – by Carly Winchell

Friends of Browns Canyon is hosting a free stargazing and night sky event at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 6 at the Ruby Mountain parking lot for the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area trailhead in Browns Canyon National Monument. This event is part of the organization’s International Dark Sky Parks Certification Initiative.

Attendance is free and limited to fifteen people. Those interested in participating should email their name to [email protected]. After registering, more information will be sent, including additional event details and directions to the meeting location.

Several telescopes will be provided and astrophysicist Victor Aziz will present an overview of the Sky Map and how to use it.

Aziz will then lead a brief sky tour using a laser to point out celestial bodies that are visible to the naked eye and binoculars, followed by guided telescope observations of the September sky.

Saturn should rise and be visible at 9:30 p.m. and will remain visible all night as long as the sky is clear. September skies will be similar to August skies, but during this event, attention will be directed north. The double cluster and Andromeda should be high up for optimal early viewing.

To ensure everyone has the best experience, attendees should bring flashlights or red headlamps. Red light helps preserve night vision. For this reason, organizers request that no participant use white lights. Organizers also recommend that attendees bring camping chairs, snacks, and water.

A red light can be created by covering any flashlight with red cellophane. Flashlight lenses can also be painted red using nail polish or a red marker. Many headlamps come with a built-in red light setting, and astronomical flashlights can be purchased online.