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Eclipse Party at Wagner Park on February 20
The Putnam Valley Parks and Recreation Department Sunset Series have announced that - weather permitting - they plan to hold a free "Eclipse Party" on Wednesday evening, February 20.
Theodora Moeller, Sunset Series Director, says: "We are inviting the general public to come to the Leonard Wagner Memorial Town Park (156 Lake Oscawanna Road), at 8:30pm. Joe Rao, who has hosted previous astronomy gatherings at the Park, will be on hand to describe just what is happening, using a laser pointer that will stab high into the sky to point out the various stars and constellations."
A similar Lunar Eclipse Party was held last March 3rd and attracted over 200 people of all ages.
According to Rao - who also writes a nationally syndicated on-line astronomy column for SPACE.com and is an Associate at New York's Hayden Planetarium - many of the fainter stars, as well as the winter Milky Way will likely be visible during the time the Moon is totally eclipsed. "As the Moon slowly emerges from the shadow, however, it will gradually light up the sky so that by the end of the eclipse only the brightest stars and planets will remain visible."
If participants own binoculars or a telescope, they are encouraged to bring them along. They will witness something that can be timed exactly, yet is timeless: the Earth's shadow darkening the Moon, as it did before Tut was Pharaoh, before there were eyes to look skyward.
The Putnam Valley Rotary Club has graciously offered to provide hot chocolate or coffee to participants
The session is scheduled to last until the Moon fully emerges into view just after midnight. For additional information or to make your free reservation, please call 526- 3292, or you can sign up in the contact us section of www.PVSunset.com
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