Skye and Stars June 2017

On Saturday, June 3, more than 1500 people enjoyed a sunset picnic, music, views of the Spring Mountains and the second annual Skye & Stars event at Skye Canyon Park. After dark, volunteers from the Las Vegas Astronomical Society (LVAS) helped stargazers explore the Milky Way. LVAS provided 15 of high-tech (and in some cases gigantic) telescopes, including two Mallincams, powerful high-tech astronomy video cameras, and a futuristic laser that points directly at objects in the night sky. The lights at Skye Canyon Park were covered with a red tint to make viewing celestial objects easier and to add to the ambiance of the evening.

Early in the night, Jupiter was the galaxy’s showstopper followed by Saturn where guests had a clear view of its rings. Attendees also had views of the moon’s craters and mountain ridges, and Mars. More than 200 guests took part in a special laser tour of the Milky Way, while some got a lesson on how to determine north, south, east and west via the stars.

LVAS is a local non-profit organization made up of amateur astronomers. The group was formed to promote astronomy, educate the public, and provide educational outreach. For more information on their organization visit www.lvastronomy.com.