BRIDGEND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Stargazing In The American West – by Martin Griffiths BSc, MSc, FRAS
The 2024 total eclipse of the Sun was a remarkable event. One that we were fortunate to see given that the conditions were cloudy for days leading up to the event and not auspicious on the day.
Thankfully the weather cleared sufficiently at the last moment so that, despite the high haze, we saw one of Nature’s most astounding spectacles. I have put images of the Eclipse up on the Society’s Facebook page.
It was not just the eclipse however – the night skies above New Mexico were a draw for the New Scientist tour and leading a stargazing session at the incredible White Sands National Park was a dream come true. 32 excited people enjoyed the Bortle class 5-6 conditions in the park and for UK representatives, the sight of the constellations high in the sky, with Columba, Puppis, Vela and Centaurus also visible was a revelation.
A great night’s observing, storytelling and wonder was had by all. Shortly afterwards we moved on to Texas to view the Eclipse and then on our last night of the tour, more stargazing from a country camping park outside the city of San Marcos near Austin.
- The sky here did not disappoint. Canopus was visible in the south, the Moon was 2 days old, Jupiter was enjoyed as was a fainter Comet Pons Brook. Stars, stories, wonder and entertainment was the order of the day as the last New Scientist group held their breath in contemplation of the magical skies. The previous night we observed with Texas State University students and astronomical society but that was in a light polluted town. The skies from a country site were unforgettable. Safe to say we all had a good time.
Although I was using only a small 80mm refractor, the group enjoyed their first taste of telescopic observation and the Seestar 50 took some great images that we shared.
All in all, the American West was an amazing experience. I will detail it further at our July meeting when I tell the Society all about the trip.
