KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — From April through October, visitors to the Kalamazoo Nature Center can join the local Kalamazoo Astronomical Society’s public observing sessions and learn more about the night sky.
“We’ve been at the nature center for probably over 30 years now,” Richard Bell, president of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, said. “Since before I’ve been in the club.”
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Families and amateur astronomers join Bell and his fellow society members at KNC’s “Owl Observatory,” a 12-foot by 12-foot building with a retractable roof.
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)“The observatory itself has a 16-inch telescope that we just put in September of 2019,” Bell said. “Riding on top is a 4-inch refracting telescope that we use for wider field views.”
These telescopes are capable of seeing astronomical objects some million or more light-years away and folks are encouraged to bring along their own telescopes for tips and advice from volunteers.
“There’s nothing better than one-on-one interaction out in the field,” Bell said. “Where you can learn how to set it up, properly align it and actually find stuff in the sky.”
On Saturday, the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society will be featuring “The Summer Triangle,” a special cluster of some of the brightest stars in the sky during this time of year.
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)
Amateur astronomers and families gather at the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Owl Observatory for a public observing session with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. (Courtesy Richard S. Bell)“The Summer Triangle is an ‘asterism,’ kind of like an unofficial group of stars,” Bell said. “It’s visible throughout the summer and well into the fall.”
Themes for public observing sessions depend on the season and circumstances of the Earth’s rotation. In the fall, astronomers can identify the Andromeda galaxy. In the spring, they can see the Virgo galaxy cluster.
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“I try to step aside and do a constellation tour for everyone,” Bell said. “Basically, a planetarium show but under the real sky so it’s much, much better.”
Public observing sessions at the Owl Observatory in Kalamazoo are free to the public. Two more will take place this summer on Aug. 16 and Aug. 30. For more information on stargazing in West Michigan, visit the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society website.
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