Across the universe

The clocks have sprung forward, and the days are starting to get longer. With the impending change of seasons, new sights in the night sky will start to emerge.

Spring and summer bring with them changes in the skies above, said Lynne Olson, a member of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society.

With over 700 members, TAAS is one of the largest astronomy clubs in the United States. The group hosts educational events, star viewing parties and maintains its own observatory, the General Nathan Twining Observatory, south of Belen. 

TAAS will usher in spring on Saturday, March 21, at the Open Space Visitor Center, with a Star Party. 

“The timing of observing is going to be different,” Olson said, “because sunset will be around seven o’clock.”

As the sun sets later, night sky viewers will have to adjust.

“Twilight doesn’t end until around eight o’clock, so you must stay up later to get to the smaller objects,” Olson said. Celestial bodies further from Earth are often dimmer, making more complete darkness key to spotting them.

“But solar viewing is great to begin with.”

Olson said at a TAAS Star Party, eventgoers can use telescopes with filters that make observing the sun safe. She said it is important to remember to cover the finders on top of the telescopes to avoid damage from the sun.

“People love to look at the sun when it’s safe,” she said.

Olson said that TAAS will teach about spring and summer viewing during upcoming star parties, but between events, sky spotters can use skymaps.com for a star chart of the month or use their phone.

“You can use your cellphone apps with the star charts and just start checking everything out,” Olson said. “Learn the stars (and) learn the planets.”

She said TAAS offers a variety of programming for both members and nonmembers. TAAS’s Fabulous 50 program is designed to introduce those new to astronomy to the layout of the night sky. Featured constellations for spring include Virgo, Ursa Major and Leo.

“If you’re a (TAAS)member, we have about 30 scopes of all types and sizes that will go on loan to members to take home for a month or more,” Olson said.

If someone is unable to attend a star party, TAAS supports the University of New Mexico Campus Observatory’s Friday open houses.

“You have to check it out online,” Olson said. “The UNM observatory website, it’ll say whether it’s open that night or not, depending on the weather.”

Olson said she prefers summer viewing to winter and has begun to see some of her favorite stars when she wakes up early in the morning.

“I greeted one of my favorite things of the summer, which is Scorpius,” Olson said.

Scorpius, she said, involves a lot of deep-sky objects and star clusters. Antares, a red supergiant, is the constellation’s brightest star. According to space.com, the best time to see the “scorpion” in the sky is July and August.  

Soon, a “candy store” of star clusters will be viewable, including Sagittarius and The Pleiades, a star cluster in Taurus. Jupiter will be viewable above for a long time, Olson said.

Another bonus of the upcoming season’s night viewing is being able to shed extra layers and just enjoy the sky. Summer viewing has a wonderful plethora of fantastic things to look at and a lot of deep-sky objects, Olson said, and you are not as dependent on temperature. 

“You have milder evenings, and you can stay out later and enjoy it.”

Those willing to explore and travel a bit farther can visit the nine International DarkSky Places around New Mexico, she said. DarkSky International designated the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge an Urban Night Sky Place in 2019. TAAS will host a Star Party at the refuge on May 23. 

Olson said she loves seeing people’s reactions to the skies and finds motivation in educating people about the universe.

“It’s what we all live for.”