Each month, from March thru October, weather permitting, our club members bring their telescopes and their knowledge of telescopes and Astronomy to the Lynnwood Loop Park in Richland.
The date is scheduled for a Friday and/or Saturday night adjacent to a First Quarter Moon, so that the shadows cast on the Moon's surface will give depth to what you're seeing and also not be too bright to block out other interesting objects in deep space. If the sky conditions are bad for Friday, we will still set up on the next night, Saturday. Some telescopes are set up prior to sunset to show sunspots (safely). We are there until the last spectator leaves (usually around 10:00 pm). The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are sometimes visible from the park, but usually don't appear until after 9:30.
Parking is available in a small parking lot adjacent to the tennis court/swimming pool complex. Please don't drive out onto the grass field as your lights will ruin everyone's night vision (and you might run over someone's telescope). Also, please do not bring white light flashlights, cover them with red cellophane if you must have a light. It doesn't get that dark in the park.
To reach the park, just take George Washington Way north toward Hanford until you reach Saint Street. Taking exit #5 on I-182 into Richland and George Washington Way it is 4.4 miles north. Taking exit #4 and the 240 Bypass Highway, it is 4.8 miles to Saint St. When reaching the merger of Stevens, Jadwin and 240, be prepared to make an almost immediate right turn onto Saint Street. Lynnwood is the first left turn and then the first right turn.
This event is sponsored by the Tri-City Astronomy Club and is FREE to the public. Schools are also invited to send their students & teachers (we'll give them extra credit, too). Anyone having problems with a new telescope, (or an old one, too) bring it along early and we'll try to help you with it.
Lynnwood Loop Park Map shown below...
(If the live Google Map is not visible a static map is available here.)
