Heavy Hitters of the Night Sky: Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus

Empire Rd & Hwy 42,Louisville CO 80027

12 December, 2021

Description

Come see Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus as they brighten the night sky! Come see Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus as they brighten the night sky! Bring binoculars or a telescope, warm clothing, a red astronomy flashlight, and a folding chair. There is NO RESTROOM at the trailhead, so plan accordingly! Handicap parking is available. DIRECTIONS to Aquarius Open Space Trailhead in Louisville: FROM LOUISVILLE OR VIA 96th/COURTESY ROAD Take 96th St/Courtesy Road to Highway 42 and turn east. Head up the hill about 1/2 of a mile. The turn will be on your LEFT soon after you start to level off at the top of the hill. The turn can come up quickly, so signal early and start slowing down as soon as you crest the hill. FROM OTHER AREAS VIA HIGHWAY 287 Turn West onto Highway 42 at the HWY 42/Exempla Circle intersection and drive about 1.3 miles, continuing west through the stop light at the Hwy 42/Empire Road/S. 104th intersection. You will pass the Louisville Cemetery and then the Coal Creek Memorial Cemetery. The Aquarius trailhead will be the dirt parking lot on your RIGHT about 150 ft west of the Coal Creek Memorial Cemetery. If you have any problems finding the location, please call me at 303-974-0147. EVENT TIMELINE 4:30 PM: Arrive just before sunset to learn how to use a planisphere and hear about the planets and stars we will see over the course of the evening. 5:00 PM: It will be dark enough to view the planets and the brightest stars and the stargazing will begin in earnest. Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus will steal the show! Attendees who are already familiar with the planisphere should plan to arrive at this time. 6:15 PM: Night has truly come, and all stars and celestial objects will be visible. Look for the Pleiades and well-known constellations like Cassiopeia, Aries, and the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) 7:00 PM: The event comes to its official end. Time to pack up, head home, and dream of the stars! WHAT SHOULD I BRING? Bring a telescope if you have one, but even a good pair of binoculars will reveal beautiful details hidden to the naked eye. Definitely bring warm layers and suitable attire for being outdoors after dark in December! We strongly recommend a red astronomy flashlight. White light (like from a standard flashlight or cell phone) negatively affects your night vision and disrupts others. We’ll have a picnic shelter with some tables, but consider bringing a lightweight folding chair. Feel free to bring whatever star charts, planispheres, or other tools you might have! OPEN SPACE MISSION: To conserve and restore Open Space through land acquisition and management for the protection of natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for education, volunteering and appropriate passive recreation. OPEN SPACE VISION: An Open Space program funded for future generations that enriches the experience of living in Louisville by providing opportunities for citizens to reconnect with nature and their cultural heritage while also enhancing their mental and physical well-being. The City owns or has an interest in 2,000 acres of open lands that serve a wide variety of values, including recreation, biodiversity conservation, and agricultural production. These lands provide visual buffers between local municipalities and support many species of wildlife and diverse plant communities. The City's trail system meanders through some of these open space parcels, such as Davidson Mesa, Coyote Run, Lake Park, and the Leon A. Wurl Wildlife Sanctuary.