Adult Field Course: Grandfather’s Starry Skies
October is one of the best times of year to be stargazing at Grandfather Mountain. The air is cool and clear, and the summer constellations are still very prominent, with some early winter sights making their appearance later in the evening. This course also takes place during the time of the Orionid meteor shower, so hopefully some of these celestial fireworks will grace our skies during our nighttime observing.
Stephan Martin has been a stargazer since he was very young growing up under dark skies of South Florida. Steve is also an astronomer, educator and author who has taught astronomy and physics at colleges, universities and learning centers across the US and internationally for over thirty-five years. He has worked as an instrument specialist for the Hubble Space Telescope and as Observatory Supervisor at Williams College, where he participated in scientific research expeditions around the world to study the dynamics of the solar corona during solar eclipses.
Join Martin to create a familiarity with the night sky and learn the basics of stargazing that can be applied on your own on any clear night throughout the year. The course begins in the classroom and transitions to various viewing locations on the mountain, practicing stargazing skills while looking for meteors and learning about some of the most prominent stars, constellations and other objects visible this time of year. The moon will be near first-quarter which makes for a wonderful time to study its many craters, rays, seas and other features.
Program Itinerary
5 p.m. – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Classroom learning about the night sky and the use of astronomy resources
7 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Evening observing with the program concluding at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
Tickets
This event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax.
Registration opens on this page on August 17 at 10 a.m. Limited to 15 participants.
What’s included?
Your program cost includes admission into the park, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for this field course, as Mildred’s Grill will be closed to attendees.
Tips are not accepted for field courses. However, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program.
General Clothing List
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment and footwear are very important.
Equipment:
- Daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing, water, lunch, camera, etc.
- Water Bottle
- Layers of warm clothing including hats, gloves and shoes
- Binoculars
- Notebook and pencil
Equipment specific to this course:
- A planisphere, while not required, can be helpful in learning the night sky and how it moves throughout the year. There are many good options available on Amazon, but please be sure to purchase one appropriate for our latitude of 35 degrees north (planispheres for 30 or 40 degrees latitude will be fine).
- A Peterson Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (4th edition, updated) is not required, but an excellent guide to the night sky and its many features.
- A red flashlight for navigating paths at night and viewing star charts. These can be purchased through a local or online retailer or you can make your own by covering the lens of a standard flashlight with red cellophane or fingernail polish.
- Astronomy/Stargazing Apps
Refunds/Cancellations
Adult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, please call 828-833-6332 or email judi@grandfather.com.
We ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants, our staff, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
