Tomorrow (Saturday) is one of Whiterock Conservancy’s most popular night adventures of the year with the annual Iowa Star Party in the non-profit land trust’s Star Field. People will begin gathering in one of the state’s darkest locations at 5:30 p.m. to join a group of amateur astronomers as they turn their telescopes to the sky. The Ames Area Amateur Astronomers and the Des Moines Astronomical Society set up shop in the Star Field for several days each year to gaze upon planets, galaxies, nebulae, and stars, some of them our neighbors in the solar system and others millions of light-years away from Earth. Astronomical twilight for Oct. 18 is 7:30 p.m., marking the start of optimal viewing conditions for the evening. Volunteers will briefly introduce participants to the equipment’s operation and explain some of what they will see through the telescopes. Once the short seminar is over, participants can look through various pre-positioned telescopes to see wonders not visible to the naked eye. All ages are welcome to Whiterock Conservancy’s Star Party, but organizers remind attendees to dress appropriately for the weather. They also recommend bringing a blanket to sit on during the event.
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