Event

Summer Stars Party

Summer Stars Party three course dinner including wine pairings and a guided discussion with Astronomer Mark Rader followed by Star/Planet/Lunar/Constellation viewing.

Menu:

Baby Spinach Salad
Applewood-smoked bacon, hard cooked farm egg, shaved red onions
Paired with Apolloni 2016 Rosé

Porter-Braised Beef Short Rib
Nashs polenta, roasted carrots
Paired with Hedges 2013 Red Mountain Estate

Apple Tarte Tatin
Crème fraîche, caramel sauce
Paired with Kiona 2015 Late Harvest Riesling

This summer offers some exceptional opportunities to view celestial objects (the five major planets, several galaxies, several gaseous nebulae and a couple of globular star clusters). Additionally, we shall have opportunities to see both Mercury and Venus since each will be visible in the western sky around sunset. Because neither planet ever moves far from the Sun they set early and are perfect to view around sunset. On the other hand Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will provide some splendid views later in the evening. Both Mars and Jupiter are in opposition with the Earth, i.e, on the same side of the Sun as we are and thus are comparatively close to us. Saturn is too, but its orbital eccentricity does not provide for a close opposition. Nevertheless, these are all spectacular objects for observation especially Jupiter with its visible atmospheric banding and Saturn with its spectacular rings. -Mark Rader