University Communications and Marketing
June 16, 2017
麻花影视 Star Party rained out, rescheduled
Public invited to star gazing event at dusk, June 23, at the BLM Acton Recreation Area
Contacts:
Stuart Snyder, Ph.D., professor of physics, 657-2190
University Relations, 657-2266
MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥� Perhaps this time, Mother Nature will cooperate and keep the clouds and rain at bay.
The Star Party hosted by Montana State University Billings faculty and staff originally planned for June 9 has been rescheduled for June 23.
麻花影视 Professor of Physics Stuart Snyder is disappointed the party was rained out but said the sky should still put on a show.
鈥淲e should be able to see Saturn and Jupiter and some deep-space objects like star clusters and galaxies,鈥� Snyder said.
The public is invited to this free event and encouraged to bring lawn chairs, hot dogs and other campfire treats as a campfire will be set.
The University will be providing 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch diameter telescopes for public use and 麻花影视 Professor of Physics Stuart Snyder anticipates the clear summer sky to be perfect for viewing deep space objects.
鈥淭he moons of Jupiter should be visible and if we鈥檙e lucky, maybe we鈥檒l get to see the planet鈥檚 red spot,鈥� he said.
Jupiter鈥檚 Great Red Spot is the planet鈥檚 most noticeable feature. Technically a storm on the planet, it is 12,400 miles long and 7,500 miles wide.
Participants should also be able to view Saturn鈥檚 main moon and have excellent sights of Earth鈥檚 moon.
鈥淭he surface of our moon is kind of weird,鈥� Snyder said.
Last year, roughly 30 people attended MSU Billings鈥� Star Party and, weather permitting; he is optimistic more will come out and enjoy Montana鈥檚 beautiful night sky.
*Get there: From Acton, heading west from Billings on Highway 3 and between mile markers 18 and 19, turn right on Oswald Road. Turn right at Birkley Road. Follow Star Party signs. Continue through gate, just close behind you.