Embrace The Deep (Moon Edition) @ McCormick Observatory – 11/19

OVERVIEW

Howdy Y’all,

If you don’t know me, I’m Templeton, ODCs resident astronomer. During the school year, I work up at the Observatory and one of the perks of the job is I get a key and can bring people up whenever I want. Last month I took a trip up to the observatory and we had a great time looking at Jupiter and Saturn, but unfortunately, the Moon wasn’t up, one of the best things to look at through the huge telescope up there. But at long last, the Moon has returned!

We’ll all gather by Echols and leave by 7:05 so if you’re going to be more than 5 minutes late send me a text at 202-916-0560 so we don’t leave you behind. Once at the top, we’ll spend around an hour depending on interest looking through the historic McCormick Telescope (which was one of the biggest in the world when it was built in 1883). In the sky that night we’ll have an excellent view of Saturn, Jupiter, and 39% of the Moon. Aside from the telescope, the observatory also has a museum with some cool space rocks and exhibits.

Once everyone’s ready to leave we’ll all walk back down O’hill together (though you’re welcome to leave earlier on your own) then disperse in groups to wherever everyone needs to be so hopefully no one has to walk home on their own, though if needed some of us can hang out at a bus stop or echols until a bus/safe ride comes and gets everyone home safe.

I look forward to seeing y’all there!

What I’ll bring:
– A key
– Knowledge of the abyss

What you should bring:
– Layers (it will be very cold)
– Water (optional but there is currently no water fountain up there thanks to indefinitely paused renovations)
– Snacks (optional but will make you popular)
– Flashlight (optional as long as you have a charged phone to use its flashlight)
– Star-stuff (required) (it is you)