By Coggin Heeringa, Program Director/Naturalist, Crossroads at Big Creek
Things are “looking up” for the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society, which has scheduled a Viewing Night on Saturday, August 7, at dusk (about 8:30 pm), an in-person meeting on Tuesday, August 10, at 7:00 pm at the Stonecipher Astronomy Center, and a Meteor Viewing Night for Friday, August 13, also beginning about 8:30 pm.
DPAS members are always looking up. That’s what amateur astronomers do. This past year, they’ve done it socially distanced, of course. In collaboration with Crossroads, and thanks to a grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, the Society present ed “Light Years at a Social Distance.” Our outreach programs during the past year have been so successful we have been invited to make a presentation at the Wisconsin Space Grant Conference in Milwaukee next weekend.
Among the most popular outdoor outreach programs are DPAS Viewing Nights which offer awe-inspiring introductions to the beautiful night sky of Door County. DPAS schedules monthly Viewing Nights, usually on the Saturday nearest the new moon. Unless clouds or smoke are obscuring the stars, DPAS members, using special green lasers, will offer “tours” of the summer sky, pointing out constellations and other celestial objects.
If conditions are good, the big 16-in. telescope in the Leif Everson Observatory will be aimed at M57, the Ring Nebula, and at M13, a Globular Cluster in Hercules.
Tuesday morning, the 10 am family program at Crossroads will be a Planet Walk. Learners of all ages are welcome to hike the Planet Walk Trail and to learn fascinating details out about our solar system.
Tuesday evening, the Society will hold its August meeting at the Stonecipher Astronomy Center. The public is invited to attend in person, but a Zoom option also will be available. DPAS President Dave Lenius will present the program “Arecibo Observatory.”
The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico was the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope until it collapsed last December.
“Radio telescope” is a strange term. The word “telescope” comes from the Greek meaning “far” and “seeing,” and when we think of a telescope, most of us think of a tube-shaped optical instrument with an eyepiece which, due to an arrangement of lenses and mirrors, magnifies the images of distant objects.
A radio telescope “sees” nothing, but rather, is a radio receiver and antenna system that detects radio emissions from extraterrestrial sources. Arecibo has a fascinating history and while its future may be unclear, for years it has helped us “hear” outer space.
Truth is, the telescope affectionately called The Beast at the LEO observatory isn’t a tube with an eyepiece, either. Were it a straight tube, it would not fit into the dome of the observatory building, but because of carefully positioned mirrors and lenses, it directs rays of visible light into a video camera. Then DPAS members can use the images for astrophotography (and post stunning images on the DPAS Facebook page), livestream them on NightSkiesNetwork.com, or project them onto a flatscreen inside the Stonecipher Astronomy Center so people attending the Viewing Nights can see the gorgeous images. Organizers plan to show images on the screen to small, distanced groups during the Viewing Night on Saturday.
But how about the traditional telescopes, the ones with an eyepiece through which you can explore the sky? Again, thanks to the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society, using that kind of telescope is an option available to anyone with a Door County Library Card. Over the years, including last year, the Society has donated some good quality, beginner telescopes to all of the Branch Libraries so patrons can check them out. Society members periodically service the scopes so they are in good working order.
Things are looking up for astronomy outreach at Crossroads. We and the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society invite the community to look up with us.
Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to offering education, conducting research and providing outdoor experiences to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages. We welcome your support! Become a member of Crossroads by mailing your support to P.O. Box 608, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, or donate online at www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org.
Tuesday, August 3 – 10 a.m. Family Nature Program Fossils from the Sea
Discover how plants and animals from an ancient sea transformed into the fossils we find at Crossroads. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday August 3, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Habitat Healers
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help with our land restoration efforts. Instruction will be given. Equipment and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade. Please wear clothing that can get dirty and wet and appropriate footwear. Meet at the Workshop/Nursery just beyond the Main Campus parking lot at 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Wednesday, August 4, 10:00 a.m. Family Nature Program Butterflies
Butterflies are masters of transformation. Seek our summer butterflies in Crossroads’ gardens, meadows and fields. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, August 5, 10:00 a.m. Family Nature Program Insects & Other Invertebrates
We’ll learn some effective collecting techniques using sweep nets, beating nets and pooters when we search for insects, arachnids and other animals without backbones. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 7, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Habitat Healers
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help with our land restoration efforts. Instruction will be given. Equipment and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade. Please wear clothing that can get dirty and wet and appropriate footwear. Meet at the Workshop/Nursery just beyond the Main Campus parking lot at 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Saturday, August 7, 7:00 pm DPAS VIEWING NIGHT
Visit the Astronomy Center (2200 Utah Street) for the DPAS August Viewing Night. Society members will have the usual laser pointer summer constellation tours and possibly a few telescopes. DPAS will have the big 16-inch telescope pointing around the sky. M57 Ring Nebula, M13 Globular Cluster in Hercules, and other summer object views will be shared. This is mainly an outdoor event and is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, August 10,10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Family Nature Program Planet Walk
Learners of all ages will learn about the planets of our solar system in this hike/activity. Appropriate for elementary grade youth, but learners of all ages are welcome Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning.
Tuesday, August 10 @ 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Habitat Healers
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help with our land restoration efforts. Instruction will be given. Equipment and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade. Please wear clothing that can get dirty and wet and appropriate footwear. Meet at the Workshop/Nursery just beyond the Main Campus parking lot at 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, August 10 7:00 pm Meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society
DPAS will hold their August meeting in the Stonecipher Astronomy Center on the Astronomy Campus, 2200 Utah St. DPAS President Dave Lenius will present the program “Arecibo Observatory.” A Zoom option will be available. Visitors encouraged. Free.
Wednesday, August 11, 1:00 Wildflowers of the Meadow Loop Trail
Learners of all ages will enjoy learning about how the wildflowers have adapted to attract pollinators. The program includes a short walk on the Meadow Loop Trail. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Free and open to the public.