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Star Viewing at Eagle Eye Observatory
February 17, 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 12:00 am
Escape to the stars with the help of Eagle Eye’s high-tech telescopes and knowledgeable astronomer. Our telescopes offer research quality views of the moon and distant stars, while offering a vibrant eye on the night sky.
SKY WATCHER EVENTS ~ FEBRUARY
The February winter sky has some spectacular objects for viewing during the convenient evening hours. The great Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in the constellation Andromeda is still high in the sky. It can even be glimpsed by the naked eye under dark skies (no Moon). Come out to the observatory and we will show you how to find it. Andromeda is the only galaxy visible without the aid of magnification. It is a colossal spiral galaxy 220 light years across and 2.65 million light years from our own Milkyway galaxy.
The winter circle of bright stars in six different constellations has also moved higher in the evening sky and contains the Great Orion Nebula (M42) in the constellation Orion. This enormous molecular hydrogen gas cloud in the hunters sword is a place where new stars are developing by gravity. This is a stellar nursery. The gravitational process concentrates the gasses so tightly that extreme pressures and temperatures are built up until thermal nuclear fusion reactions begin and a Star is born. This process has produced hundreds of stars in visible light and thousands more in infra-red light. At the center of the nebula are four extremely large stars (called the Trapezium) that are so massive that they will only live a few million years and end their lives in Supernova explosions making many heavy elements that make worlds and life possible.
These stars can be seen through Eagle Eye Observatory Telescopes on clear moonless nights.
Come on out to the Eagle Eye Observatory at Canyon of the Eagles and enjoy the show with us!