Galilean Nights on
Saturday at visitor center

    GRANTS - Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei is famous for his planetary discoveries during the 17th century. Prior to Galileo's observations, Western hemisphere and Asian astronomers were charting the heavens for thousands of years. These cultures relied on the night skies for seasonal calendars, religious observances and record keeping.

    “Galilean Nights” is celebrated around the world Oct. 22-24 as International Year of Astronomy's Cornerstone Project. This global event highlights objects Galileo observed more than 400 years ago. If local weather conditions permit, participants can sight Jupiter and the moon in the same fashion as astronomers have for centuries.

    Telescopes are the tools of choice on Saturday, Oct. 24 for viewing Jupiter and it's moons, the Andromeda Galaxy and the summer triangle of the stars Altair-Denva-Vega at the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center. Other night-sky sights such as shooting stars from Halley's Comet are likely observations Saturday evening. The comet's debris, known as Orionids, are often visible as earth passes through the comet's trail at this time of the year. The event will be from 6-9 p.m.

    Rangers from the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management plus astronomer volunteers will guide participants in identifying celestial bodies using telescopes. All necessary equipment is provided and children are eligible for raffle prizes of books and telescopes.

    Throughout this year several Visitor Center program topics involved aspects of the earth's atmosphere. One event gave children the opportunity to build and fly kites. Another brought aviation experts together to explore aviational archeology issues. This program focused on recovering evidence from airplane crash sites in order to identify causes of the accidents.

    The Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, on Eury Lane at Exit 85 of I-40. For more information call 876-2783.