Saturday star party will be a real gas

As they said in the '60s, the party will be a gas!

But this time, the event Saturday night is a free public star party and the gas is in the gas giant planets Jupiter and Saturn, which will be visible through some of the largest telescopes in Utah.

Members of Salt Lake Astronomical Society will be staffing the telescopes at their Stansbury Park Observatory Complex (SPOC), located at Stansbury Park. Bill Kennedy, a member of the group, will begin the second of a two-part basic introduction to the telescope at 8:15 p.m.

"The night's presentation will focus on the basic types of telescope mounts, including examples of each type, and how they can track the stars," said Tom Sevcik, the society's vice president. Kennedy also will discuss finder scopes and other equipment that help in finding a telescope's targets.

At 9 p.m., Patrick Wiggins, also a member of the group, will use a star projector to preview the splendors of that evening's sky. He will project views onto the Refractor Building's inner dome, which was specially prepared for these demonstrations, and explain what they represent.

Then, starting at 9:15 p.m., Jupiter and Saturn will be on display, seen through the Harmon Observatory's big telescopes.

"There will be other delights, such as star clusters and galaxies galore, to be observed through the numerous telescopes set up by society members along the walkway leading to the observatory," Sevcik said.

The star party will end at 11:15 p.m. All events are dependent upon the weather.

To reach SPOC — which is based at 15 Plaza, Stansbury Park — drive west of Salt Lake City on I-15 and take the Stansbury/Tooele exit, Exit 99. Signs point the way to Stansbury Park and then the observatory.

A map directing visitors to the site is posted on the society's Web site at slas.us/images/MAPS/SPOC_Map.gif.