Events Calendar
During the spring and summer months CWAS will organize public
telescope viewings. We have night sky observations as well as solar
observations. See the schedule below for dates and times as well
as locations.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC!!!

During our night sky observations we generally have 2 to 3 telescopes aimed at different objects. Some of
the objects we can see are Galaxies, Nebulae, Planets, Double Stars, Star Clusters, and many more.

We generally try to hold our events as close to the new moon as possible so the skies are nice and dark
but since we have 2 viewings a month and only 1 new moon, we try to schedule one near the new moon
and the other around 1st quarter. We generally do not view the moon while it is more then half or full unless
there is a special event. The reason of this is because the amount of light received from it is enough to
wash out the dimmer objects in the night sky.

Also during our observations, we give a brief sky walk. Using green lasers, we can point out different
constellations and the stars used in each of those to find the other constellations.
Our next scheduled meeting will be in September 2008.
Topic is TBA
Below is the map you should use to find our night observation site. This will be the
same location for all of our night observations unless otherwise noted. To simplify,
drive on highway 220 west bound until you see the Goose Egg Inn on the left side of
the highway. (Approximately 9-10 miles past the Walmart on the west end of the town)
When you see the Goose Egg Inn PAY ATTENTION, the turn off is easy to miss. The
turn off to Bessemer Bend will be the very next right turn, take this road and  follow it
down a big hill until you have to turn either right or left. Turn right, and drive a few more
miles approximately until you see a bridge crossing the river. Cross the bridge and
immediately look to the right, there is a small parking area with picnic shelters and rest
rooms. We are near the open picnic tables about 50 yards from the river. Don't forget
the bug spray.
If you have a telescope but not quite sure how to use it, or not sure
how to get the maximum potential out of it, you can bring it to one of
our monthly meetings or one of our public observations and we will
show you how to use it. Because we are a non-profit organization, our
services are always free. You can learn when our next meeting or
observation is at the top of this page.
We also have solar observations where we get to look at the sun through telescopes...with proper protection of
course. We have a telescope specially designed for use of solar observation and through this telescope we get to
see plages, filaments, surface granulation, as well as prominences.

We also put special filters on the normal telescopes which allow us to look at the sun as if it were behind a thick
layer of clouds. In this view we can see sun spots which appear as dark regions on the sun.

It cannot be stressed enough that you should NEVER look at the sun with anything besides the proper equipment.
Welding helmets are NOT proper equipment. Looking at the sun through a telescope or binoculars without the
proper equipment for even a second can cause serious damage or even blindness.
Schedule of events
The following events will be held on the yard of the Casper Planetarium
unless otherwise noted.
July 31, August 1 & 2 - Weekend Under the Stars. Fox Park near Laramie. Click on the link to learn more.
June 21, 2008----All day Solar Observation at Nic Fest. Located at the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Clink on
picture to learn more about Nic Fest '08
You can also use the chart below to judge if you want to make the drive out to our
location. This is a clear sky chart and tends to be very accurate when predicting cloud
cover and wind.
It can be confusing to read at first but just click anywhere on the chart and it will explain
in detail how to read it.
May 3, 2008----Solar Observation from 12-3 pm.
May 24, 2008----Solar Observation from 12-3 pm.
June 20, 2008----All day Solar Observation at Nic Fest. Located at the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Clink on
picture to learn more about Nic Fest '08
July 5, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11 pm.
Once again, the following events above will be held on the yard of the Casper Planetarium
unless otherwise noted.
Begin night sky observations.

These events shall be held at the CWAS observing site at the Bessemer Bend Historical Site. See
the map at the bottom of this page to find the location of CWAS.
All following dates will be held here unless otherwise noted.
July 26, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11pm. Moonless night.
August 9, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11 pm. Moon set @ 11:28 pm with a 59% illumination.
August 23, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11 pm. Moon rise @ 10:31 pm with a 64% illumination.
September 6, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11 pm. Moon set @ 10:00 pm with a 42% illumination.
September 27, 2008----Night sky observation from 9-11 pm. Moonless night.  TEMPERATURE PERMITTING.
End Summer Observing begin monthly meetings.

Again, all above dates will be held at Bessemer Bend Historic Site unless otherwise noted. See map below for
directions.
SOLAR OBSERVATION!!!!
July 19th and June 20st 2008
See our booth at the Beartrap Summer Festival. We will be having a 50/50
raffle as well as raffling off a pair of Nikon Binoculars donated by Rocky
Mountain Discount Sports.
July 19 & 20, 2008----All day solar observation at the Beartrap Summer Festival. Located at Beartrap
Meadow on top of Casper Mountain. Click on the link to learn more.
Night Sky Observation!!!
July 5th and July 26 2008
Located at the Bessemer Bend Historic Site
From 9pm-???
See Galaxies, planets, nebulae, star clusters and other celestial objects.
There will be a quick sky tour of the visible constellations using special lasers.
FREE TO THE PUBLIC!!!