Let's check out the National Capital Astronomers (NCA) monthly event Exploring the Sky. On 11/18 we will be looking at Jupiter, M45, outer planets.
Let's meet at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium starting @ 6pm. I will bring hot cocoa. PLEASE BRING A MUG. There is free planetarium show starting @6pm and a star viewing @ Jupiter, M45, outer planets starting @7pm.
The Center can be accessed via:
- Car (If you plan to drive please email me and considering offering to carpool people from Metro. Thank you!)
- Bus (E4)
- Bicycle
- Metro (Georgia Ave/Petworth or Cleveland Park are 2-3 miles walking)
PLEASE RSVP HERE AND WE CAN TRY TO COORDINATE CARPOOLS FROM THE METRO STATIONS. IF INTERESTED WE WILL GO TO A BAR FOR DRINKS/FOOD AFTER IN PETWORTH.
From the website:
Exploring the Sky is a joint program between the National Capital Astronomers and the National Park Service Rock Creek Park Nature Center and has been run since 1948 at this location, the field at the corner of Glover and Military Roads in the District. There is an adjacent parking lot. It is free and all are welcome who have an interest in observing the heavens. It's not an ideal dark sky location but we can still see solar system objects (even the occasional comet), open and globular clusters and maybe a fuzzy galaxy or two.
This year, as an added feature, you can come one hour early and see a planetarium program in the Nature Center and then come to the field to observe. Also, if the sky is cloudy or it's raining there will be a planetarium program at that one hour earlier time so Exploring the Sky will no longer be canceled! Planetarium programs can be found at: www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm. You can also search "astronomy", "dark skies" or call the Nature Center at: (202)-8985-6070.
Questions? Call NCA at 202-635-1860 and leave a message.