Central Arkansas Astronomical Society
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EVENT CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER. PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TO OUR EVENT NEWS (click the “newsletter” button top left of this page).
There are few natural spectacles more enthralling than laying under a dark temperate sky during a meteor shower. Few people have ever had the experience because so many things have to come together. First, there are only a few good showers during the year and these have to align with moonless nights. In many years that mean there are no good showers at all. Also, one needs dark cloud-free skies and a willingness to stay up late, which can be tough to do unless the shower peaks on the weekend during a temperate time of the year.
This year it is all lining up for the Orionids, which should peak during Saturday night Oct. 21st after the two-day-old crescent moon has set. October happens to be a time of year that frequently presents clear skies and crisp nights.
So, if the clouds behave, we have a good chance to enjoy the Orionids, from our club’s observing site which is about forty minutes north west of Little Rock near Little Italy north of lake Maumelle. The product of Halley’s comet, at its peak, the Orionids produce a minimum of 20 to 30 high-speed bright meteors each hour and sometimes much more.
This special event follows our montly club meeting, which is always open to the public (see next post), but if you want to join us for the shower, we ask that you register below. This is so we can limit attendance if need be. This will also allow us to send you some recommendations on how to prepare and what to bring and alas advise on the weather. If you do come, you should plan on staying at least till midnight. If you like we have some room to pitch some tents.
Thanks.
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This is a special event for Boy Scouts to be held at the CAAS River Ridge Observing site north of Lake Maumelle, near Little Italy AR, about 35 minutes west-northwest of Little Rock. The target date is the 17th but if necessary due to weather it may be bumped to the 18th, or even later. The event is free and open to Boy Scouts in middle school or older with an interest in astronomy or the night sky. The program will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Attendees should plan on arriving not later than 6:45. There will be an introduction to observing the night sky, a constellation tour and viewing through scopes and binoculars. The program will conclude by 9:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 36 scouts – parents and leaders welcome but there may not be room for everyone in the indoor program. You must register to attend. You register below by subscribing to the event newsletter. This make it possible for us to communicate with each attendee. The event is subject to being rescheduled due to weather conditions and we also send advice and preparation information. For all these reasons we ask that each Boy register separately and unsubscribe if there is a change in plans.
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