Observing the Night Sky from Riverwoods Field Lab

Friday, April 1, 2011 Riverwoods Field Lab of the Center for Environmental Studies of Florida Atlantic University
http://www.ces.fau.edu/education/riverwoods/ hosted students from the Field Biology class at Palm Beach Atlantic College. That night Chris Stephan, Education Specialist at Riverwoods (AAVSO observer) presented the night sky presentation. The sky was perfect, 6.0 naked eye. The Zodiacal light was very evident in the west. We spent the first part of the time using the green laser pointer to teach the constellations and bright star names that were visible. I spent a fair amount of time pointing out and talking about Eps Aurigae and the Citizen Sky program. I showed them the 2.6, 3.2, 3.8, and 4.3 comparison stars of Eps Aur, and showed them how to make a magnitude estimate.

We also had the opportunity to observe through Riverwoods 12 inch reflecting telescope. I showed them the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, Alcor/Mizar, M81 and 82, M35 and faint cluster next to it. Saturn was the hit of the evening. We saw 2 of its moon.

Now, I  know this was April Fools Day, but what happened next really happened, and can be seen on the attached photos. While I was pointing out something in the sky, and the telescope was pointed at Alcor/Mizar, there was a commotion behind me and I saw in the dark the students scattering! I turned around and saw a dark mass on the telescope and the telescope pointing horizontal. It was CeeCee, a wild Barred Owl that lives in the live oak trees at Riverwoods, and has found a mate recently. CeeCee wanted to join in the observing and was hooting up a storm that we did not invite him ( I think a him). CeeCee stayed around for a good 15 minutes and returned a bit later. What a once in a lifetime experience!

The attached photos show Heather Dame, student at PBAC, standing by CeeCee. Another photo shows Brandon Orr, student at PBAC, with CeeCee sitting on my truck. The third photo shows me at the telescope with CeeCee sitting on the telescope. I am the one with the glasses, not the feathers. Observing sure is fun!!!

Chris Stephan
Robert Clyde Observatory
Sebring, Florida  USA