Stargazer Series Tonight At Daytona Beach Library

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Daytona Beach, FL - If you'd like to learn more about astronomy and things you can see in the night sky, the Stargazer Series presented tonight at the Daytona Beach Regional Library, is the place to be. The program, presented by ERAU Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics Dr. Jason Aufdenberg, begins in the library auditorium.

Aufdenberg will begin the presentation with basic telescope instruction followed by a simulation of our night sky using what he calls "a really fantastic software" Starry Night. That will be followed by an explanation of the phases of our moon and what planets they can expect to see, using the library's SkyQuest telescope. At this time of year, you can see Saturn and Jupiter with the naked eye. With the telescope, Aufdenberg said that you should be able to see some of Saturn's rings, the four bright moons of Jupiter and possibly even the gaseous bands on Jupiter's surface.

Constellations featured in the summer sky should also be easily seen with the telescope, according to Aufdenberg. One of them is Antares, which is the heart of the scorpion in the Scorpio constellation. Another is a double star, which is the beak of Cygnus the Swan, called Alberio.

Aufdenberg said you'll learn a bit about the constellations, which ones can be seen at this time of year and what you can see in different parts of the sky. The Stargazer Series begins at 7 p.m. this evening at the Daytona Beach Regional Library and reservations are not needed. The free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library. If you'd like more information, contact the reference desk at 386-257-6036, option 4.