Get Spaced Out at Monthly Star Party

Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope takes aim at Saturn and a supermoon at this month’s free public stargazing event on Friday, Oct. 18, beginning about 7 p.m. and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. The college hosts a monthly star party on the third Friday of each month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

The ringed gas giant Saturn will be in the southeastern sky which will be dominated by a full moon. “This month’s supermoon has been dubbed the Hunter’s moon,” says Jen Ito, Westmont assistant professor of physics. “While this is not a scientific term, it is still a neat way to distinguish between the supermoons we have each year. The supermoon is happening on Thursday so if the moon looks particularly larger that evening, you know why.”

Another exciting expected guest is the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which has started to become more visible this week. “If you look just south of west after the sun sets, you might be able to catch a glimpse of this long-period comet,” Ito says. “It’s predicted to come back around in 200 years or so, so seeing this comet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”