Telescopes in the Park

Join us for a captivating journey through the valleys, mountains, and craters of our beloved Moon from May to September during the enchanting First Quarter Phases! While our telescopes might not zoom in close enough for Lunar Landers and footprints, we promise to dazzle you with prominent craters near the landing sites and other lunar wonders.

Get ready for a surreal experience! We won’t just focus on the Moon – our club will also explore planets, the ISS, galaxies, nebulae, double stars, and anything else the vast expanse of space has to offer!

Just a heads up: Our plans are weather-dependent, but don’t worry, we’ll do our best to make it happen. If the skies turn against us, we’ll try to accommodate or cancel if the weather is a real party pooper. Keep an eye out for updates!

When the weather’s clear, you can find us hanging out by the Fisherman’s Memorial at Zuanich Point Park. A little tip: the park closes at 10 PM, but don’t stress about getting stuck – the gates open from inside, so you can still exit along Harbor View Dr. New friends, make sure to join us before closing time!

Oh, and in case nature calls, there are handy public bathrooms at the boathouse that you can access throughout the event.

Whether you’re bringing your telescope, binoculars, or just joining us with your eyes, here’s what you need to know:

Telescope Guidelines: Bring a portable telescope and any accessories you’d like to use. Our members are ready to assist with visual setups, and for those keen on astrophotography setups, we can schedule a personal session. All kinds of binoculars are welcome. Remember to keep all optics facing away from the sun, including your eyes. No one should view the sun or point their optics towards it without our guidance during the event. If our optics are aimed at the Sun, please ask for permission before looking.

Educational Opportunities: Prepare to deepen your understanding of lunar wonders! We’ll share insights into lunar formation, name prominent features, and provide basic facts accumulated over millennia. Have astronomical questions? We’re here to answer them or guide you to reliable sources for further information.

Refreshments: While we won’t have refreshments on site, we recommend bringing your water bottle to stay hydrated. If stomachs start to rumble, there are a few nearby restaurants.

Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Families and kids are more than welcome! We only ask that young astronomers be supervised around optical equipment. Our setups have tempting knobs, dials, and cords that could affect the views with just a little exploration.

Photo Sharing: Capture the magic and share your photos with us! The best ones will be featured on our social media pages. If you hold your cameras up to the telescope, it’s possible to capture stunning images of the Lunar Surface, and our members will gladly assist you in the process.

Event Timing: Events kick off around 6 pm, and we aim to stay until the park closes at 10 pm. Depending on the weather, there might be adjustments to these times.

Stay Connected: For more details about upcoming events, reach out to us directly. You can email us or send a message to one of our social media accounts.
Email: whatcomastro@gmail.com
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/WhatcomAstronomy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatcomastronomy/

We can’t wait to share the wonders of our cosmos with you!