Stars Alive! Viewing Features Beaver Moon, Owl Cluster

The November public stargazing event will feature a Beaver Moon, Owl Cluster and two gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter, on Friday, Nov. 15, beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. The college hosts a free, public viewing on the third Friday of every month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit whose members bring their telescopes to share with the public.

If the weather remains clear, Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope, a 24-inch reflector, may zoom in on the Beaver Moon, the last super moon of the year. “The story goes that beavers are particularly active this time of the year in preparing for winter so they work under the full moon,” says Jen Ito, assistant professor of physics and director of the observatory.

Later in the evening, she may turn the Keck Telescope toward one of her favorite star clusters, NGC 457, also known as the Dragonfly Cluster, E.T. Cluster or Owl Cluster. “If you haven't seen that one, I highly recommend,” she says.

Free parking is available near the observatory, which is between the baseball field and the track and field/soccer complex. To enter Westmont's campus, please use the Main Entrance off of La Paz Road. The lower entrance off of Cold Springs Road is closed to visitors after 7 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at (805) 565-6272 and check the observatory website to see if the viewing has been canceled.