Biedenharn Gardens Moonlight Star Party - All 276 of Us!

Fountain Inside the Gardens

276 eager stargazers waited patiently in line to look through telescopes from OVAL members, Delta Community College, and Louisiana Tech University at the Biedenharn Gardens in Monroe.  Onlookers were able to view Messier 13 - globular cluster, Messier 57 - the Ring Nebula, Jupiter and its Galilean moons, and finally our own moon.  While waiting, an Iridium satellite passed overhead.  Two green lasers quickly converged onto the northeastward moving satellite quickly making it visible to viewers.  OVAL member Heather Miles pointed out the big dipper using a laser and how it "points" toward the north star.  One young man stated he had never seen the big dipper before.

The 276 participants topped last year's number which was 220.

Below are photos from the event.