The Supermoon

Kieran and Luke came home last week talking about looking at the moon and other solar system objects through a pair of binoculars or telescope (knowing we have both).  Saturday night, we all took a look at Mars, Venus and the almost full moon through a small pair of binoculars.

Then they asked about using a telescope.  I suggested we wait until Sunday night and go to Eagle Lake Observatory at Baylor Park where there would be a public star party to look at the full moon and other objects.  They thought that was a great idea!

The star party started at 5:00, just as the moon was rising.  We stayed for an hour or so, but the kids had a great time.  They looked through 6 or 7 different telescopes, looking at objects like Venus, Saturn, the moon, a double star and the volunteers even pointed out an iridium flare (the kids loved it)...

Here's Luke looking through a scope --- sorry its dark and grainy...

Everyone agreed we need to do that again....the MAS has star parties there twice a month, spring through fall.  Here's a couple of pictures I took after we returned home (I was using my iPhone and pointing it through a 20X80 pair of binoculars)...