By Irene Little

Special to the Trail-Gazette

There are two new reasons to celebrate astronomy in Estes Park this year. The first is the Estes Park Memorial Observatory, which is sponsored by the Angels Above Foundation. The second is the founding of the Estes Valley Astronomical Society, an amateur group that wants to promote astronomical understanding in the community and in Estes Park schools. Supporters feel these two groups will add greatly to the community enjoyment of astronomy.

Construction plans for the Estes Park Memorial Observatory are in the final planning stage. A 12” fully automated telescope will be the initial occupant of the dome, and a 40’ by 40’ warm room adjacent to the dome will provide space where observers can gather for questions and answers and to warm up. The observatory is sponsored by the Angels Above Foundation (non-profit and 501C3.) This foundation was started by the Michael Connelly family to set up the observatory as a memorial to two of their children killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005. The location of the observatory will be north of the Estes Park High School on school property. The location was chosen to facilitate use of the observatory by students in the school system.

Many may not realize that an observatory can be used during the day? The sun is almost always visible and the moon and Venus can sometimes be observed as well. Organizers plan to have a solar telescope attached to the main telescope. This solar telescope has a tunable Hydrogen Alpha filter as part of its mechanism that will allow prominences (solar explosions) and turbulent markings around sunspots to be observed. The main telescope, equipped with a proper filter, can also be used to observe sunspots on the solar disc.

The school location will also allow parking for participants in community observing sessions.

Winter observing is more challenging because of the cold and windy weather but observing in a dome makes it much more pleasant since the dome shelters viewers from most of the wind. Supporters are hoping for completion of the project by the end of 2007.

As some may have noticed, there are two new white observatory domes in town. There are a number of people in town who are interested in astronomy. Because of this interest and also since the community will soon have an observatory, an astronomy club has been recently formed. The Estes Valley Astronomical Society (EVAS) has its meetings in the Wasson Room of the Estes Park Public Library on the last Thursday of every month. Meetings are at 7 p.m. and each meeting features a constellation of the month and a short report about an astronomical subject. In November the club will meet on Nov. 17 because of Thanksgiving. Meetings are open to all interested persons. Memberships to the society are $20 ($30 for a family) and include membership in the Astronomical League and their newsletter “The Reflector.” However, membership is not required for attending any of the meetings or star parties.

November is a relatively quiet month astronomically speaking. There is a chance that the Leonid meteor shower will be moderately active on Nov. 18. Look in the eastern part of the sky at about 11 p.m. These meteors can leave long trails behind them. Remember, meteors come sporadically, so you must allow at least 20-30 minutes of looking to see very many of them. Saturn rises about midnight and will be a great early morning object, even in a small telescope. The shadow of the planet on its rings will be quite evident as well. There will be a full moon on Nov. 5, called the “Hunter’s Moon” sometimes called the “Frosty Moon,” especially true here in the mountains.