CINCINNATI, Oh. – Fall weather means clearer skies and festival season at the Cincinnati Observatory! On Saturday, September 7th, the observatory will host its annual ScopeOut telescope festival, followed by a celebration of all things Saturn on Saturday, September 14th, or as we call it: “Saturnday”! This date also coincides with NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night, a worldwide viewing party of our nearest celestial neighbor.
ScopeOut will feature dozens of telescopes from astronomy enthusiasts throughout the region on display. Participants will be able to investigate different types of viewing equipment and ask questions of their owners. “This is a perfect opportunity for folks who might be interested in purchasing a telescope to get a close-up, hands-on experience with the wide variety of equipment that’s out there,” says Dr. Wes Ryle, astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory. “Even if you are not in the market for a telescope, you’ll get to see the passion and dedication of amateur astronomers in the region and hopefully, catch some incredible views.”
The observatory will be holding a raffle of a telescope for kids and another telescope for adults during the event. Staff from the observatory will provide informative talks on telescope design, navigating the night sky, and the basics of astrophotography. Representatives from local astronomy societies and clubs will be present, including the Cincinnati Astronomical Society, the Warren County Astronomical Society, the Miami Valley Astronomical Society, and the Morehead State University Astronomy Club.
ScopeOut runs from 6-10pm on Saturday, September 7th on the grounds of the observatory. Tickets for admission will be sold at the door, $12 for adults and $7 for children. Night sky views of Saturn and other targets will be available after dark, weather permitting.
The following Saturday, September 14th, will showcase Saturn and the Moon with “Saturnday” and International Observe the Moon Night. In addition to talks on the ringed planet and its moons, this evening will include a wide variety of family friendly activities. A hula-hoop dancer will help kids do their best imitation of Saturn’s rings, participants will be able to participate in a vote for coolest moon of Saturn, and observatory staff and volunteers will provide a variety of craft activities for kids. Weather permitting, views of Saturn and the Moon will be available through the observatory’s historic telescopes.
“Saturn is uniquely positioned at the moment, with its rings close to edge-on as seen from Earth,” explained Dr. Ryle. “This provides a different view compared to what you might have seen in images on the web or in a textbook.”
“Saturnday” will run from 7-10pm on Saturday, September 14th at the observatory. Tickets will be $10 for children and observatory members, $15 for non-members. Pre-registration is available at www.cincinnatiobservatory.org, but walk-ins are welcome.
ABOUT THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY
The Cincinnati Observatory is known as ‘The Birthplace of American Astronomy.’ It houses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world and was the first public observatory in the western hemisphere. Visit www.cincinnatiobservatory.org for more details.
