Stargazing Evening Should Offer A Parade Of Planets

SOUTHBURY — On Friday, March 12, The Outing Club, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Connecticut Audubon will combine efforts with The Astronomical Society of New Haven to co-sponsor “A March Stargazing Evening — A Parade of Planets.”

During this time the planet Jupiter will be close to opposition and bright in the sky, so participants should be able to glimpse its four Galilean moons and perhaps see the great red spot. Venus will also be stunningly bright, Mars is still visible, but just a shadow of its opposition glory, and Saturn will still be easily viewed.

Join club members in their attempt to view five planets in one evening (counting Earth).

Participants will meet at the Bent Of The River Sanctuary parking lot, 185 East Flat Hill Road in Southbury, at 7 pm for carpooling to the nearby observation site. For more information, to register for the event, or to receive directions call Bent of the River at 264-5098.

An overcast/cloud date has been set for March 13. If skies are questionable, call Bent of the River to make sure the event is on. If both days are cloudy then there will be an alternate weekend date set.