Dark Skies – Starry Nights
Star Party at Red Rock State Park, April 29, 2017
The Astronomers of Verde Valley presented the celestial happenings of the late April sky at Red Rock State Park on April 29.
J.D. Maddy, President of Astronomers of Verde Valley, gave an interesting presentation, followed by telescope viewing. A four-day-old Moon located in the constellation of Orion the Hunter did not interfere with the many clusters and galaxies in the skies overhead. The Ghost of Jupiter was due south with the planet Jupiter and its Galilean Moons not far away in the constellation of Virgo. Virgo was also host to galaxy clusters easily seen in the telescopes. Several little known constellations such as Lynx, the Cat; Hydra, the Water Snake; Corvus, the Crow; Crater, the Chalice; Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, and many more were visible under the dark skies.
Keep Sedona Beautiful sponsored this event. The Keep Sedona Beautiful Dark-Sky Committee and the Big Park/Village of Oak Creek Dark-Sky Committee participated in this event with an exhibit of dark-sky literature. Light refreshments were provided.