On the evening of the Winter Solstice (Monday, December 21st), Jupiter and Saturn will appear to converge into a super bright star as the “greatest conjunction” from most of Earth since 1226!  Over the past year these planets have been paired In night sky, ever-so-slowly moving closer together.   In the coming days, head outside on a clear night just after sunset (but before they set around 6:00pm!) and look low in southwest sky to spot the pair of giant planets.  And, if we’re lucky enough to have clear night on December 21st, bring a pair of binoculars for a rare treat of viewing Jupiter, Saturn, as-well-as several of their moons, in one field of view!  Afterwards lower your binoculars to simply savor this natural “festival of lights” on the year’s the longest night. 
 
For a superb visual animation and explanation of this event, go to Space.com .
​

Photograph taken by Wylie Dulmage at Horizons Observatory: July 17, 2020

Ready to experience what is arguably the best look at a comet in the last 20 years?  If so, grab a pair of binoculars on any clear night between now and July 23rd, look to the northwestern sky between 9:30pm-midnight just below the Big Dipper (see below), and be prepare yourself for a spectacular view of Comet NEOWISE.  If you don’t spot the comet this time around, you won’t get another chance. It has a long, elliptical orbit, so it will be approximately 6,800 years before NEOWISE returns to the inner parts of the solar system.
 
Comet Neowise has a nucleus measuring roughly 5 kilometers (3 miles) in diameter, and its dust and ion tails stretch hundreds of thousands to millions of kilometers while pointing away from the Sun. The icy visitor was discovered on March 27, 2020, by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer(NEOWISE) spacecraft as the comet was headed toward the Sun.
 
Comets are made of frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system roughly 4.6 billion years ago. The masses of dust, rock, and ice heat up when approaching the Sun; as they get closer, they spew gases and dust into a glowing head and tail. Satellite data indicate the NEOWISE has a dust tail and two ionized gas tails. The comet is made visible by sunlight reflecting off of its gas emissions and dust tail.
(https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146996/comet-neowise-brightens-the-night)
​

Photograph taken by Horizons Observatory Docent Scott Griswold: July 17, 2020

On the evening of Friday, January 10th the Horizons Observatory will partner with the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park to offer a free night sky event.  Starting at 5:30 pm in the Park’s Forest Center, Rob Hanson (co-director of The Horizons Observatory) will present a simulation both describing and explaining the phases of our moon, a pattern that has occurred for more than four billion years.  After the presentation, we’ll step outside to witness the full moon rising over the fields of Billings Farm (weather permitting) and, for those interested, take a full moon walk in the Park.  A telescope and astronomical binoculars will be available for viewing.  Please note, the moon phase presentation at the Forest Center will begin at 5:30 regardless of the weather.
 
Dress appropriately for a winter evening outside.  We're looking forward to seeing you and your friends for a night beneath January’s “Full Wolf Moon”!
 

Greetings Horizons Observatory Supporters,
Please note we will be using a new notification service through Blogtrottr.  This replaces RSSFWD that is no longer supported. Since we are unable to move over email addresses into the new service, all those who wish to receive the Horizons Observatory blog post updates will need visit this new link and enter your email address.  We are currently planning public observing winter stargazing events this winter and spring, so you’ll want to submit your email soon.
Throughout the year, the Horizons Observatory hosts free public stargazing tours by knowledgeable docents using telescopes, binoculars, and naked eye observation.   To ensure clear skies for these events, a “short notice” (24-36 hours before the event) email is sent out to anyone signed up through Horizons Observatory notification service.   
We look forward to seeing you, your family, and friends at the next public stargazing event!
 Sincerely,

Rob Hanson and Scott Holson
Horizons Observatory Co-Directors
​
​​

Greetings Horizons Observatory Supporters,
Please note the observatory notification service will be using a new email update service called Feedburner. This replaces RSSFWD that is no longer supported. Since we are unable to move over email addresses into the new service, all those who wish to receive the Horizons Observatory blog post updates will need visit this new link and enter your email address. 
Throughout the year, the Horizons Observatory hosts free public stargazing tours by knowledgeable docents using telescopes, binoculars, and naked eye observation.   To ensure clear skies for these events, a “short notice” (24-36 hours before the event) an email is sent out to all those on the updated Horizons Observatory notification service.   
We look forward to seeing you, your family, and friends at the next public stargazing event!
Sincerely,
Rob Hanson and Scott Holson
Horizons Observatory Co-Directors
​

Hello Horizons Observatory Supporters!
A clear moonless sky is forecast for Saturday night (September 21st)  - so the Horizons Observatory will be open to the public for stargazing from 7:30-9:00 (weather permitting).  Among the celestial objects we’ll view using the observatory’s 14” Celestron telescope will be Saturn (a jewel!), Jupiter, the Hercules Star Cluster (M13), the Whirlpool Galaxy, and the Ring Nebula (M57). Dress warmly.  
The Horizons Observatory is located on the campus of The Prosper Valley School at 1071 Pomfret Road, Pomfret, VT.
Please do not bring flashlights since this will reduce our ability to view the sky.  We're looking forward to seeing you and your friends on what promises to be a beautiful late summer’s night full of stars!
The event will be canceled in the event of cloudy skies.
 
Throughout the year, the Horizons Observatory hosts free public stargazing tours by knowledgeable docents using telescopes, binoculars, and naked eye observation.   To ensure clear skies for these events, a “short notice” (24-36 hours before the event) email is sent out to all those on the Horizons Observatory notification service.  To be placed on the notification service, simply go to www.horizonsobservatory.org, click on “Blog”, type in your email address in the space provided, and click “Submit”.  It’s that easy!  The Horizons Observatory is located on the grounds of The Prosper Valley School in Pomfret, Vermont.  
 
Rob Hanson,  Scott Holson

• Horizons Observatory Co-Directors