Middle Georgia Astronomical Society will host evening of stargazing this weekend

CENTERVILLE – The Middle Georgia Astronomical Society will host a “Night Sky over Center Park” event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The event will be an evening full of stargazing and learning about astronomy. The society will bring their own equipment to Center Park. They will then do a presentation sharing what they will be looking at and what will be visible in the night sky. 

Attendees can view the sky through the society’s equipment and are not required to bring anything, just their eagerness to learn and listen. If someone does own a telescope or binoculars, they are encouraged to bring it to the event.

Centerville’s Special Events and Marketing Coordinator Tess Chambers said this event offers something different to the community. She also shared it is a way for people to find out about the society and possibly join.

“It’s just something different for the community and hopefully it’ll spark some interest in somebody that is attending or would like to attend to reach out to the Middle Georgia Astronomical Society and further their interest there,” she said.

Chambers believes it is a neat event that encourages people to put the phone away. She said the group provides their knowledge on the night sky.

“It kind of gets people away from the everyday and it provides something different. It’s good for all ages; kids and adults. Hopefully, it’ll peak some interest in someone and provide something different [and] something unique to do at night,” she said.

MGAS President Zachary DiBois shared the first time he looked through a good telescope was when he was in college. Seeing the planet Saturn was mindblowing and this is the feeling he tries to recreate at every event.

DiBois also shared members bring amazing telescopes. He said technology has come a long way which has made it possible for members to do Astrophotography.

“Let’s get some good telescopes out in the public and let people look through them and feel that feeling,” he said.

DiBois describes the event as a “two-point deal” which is showing people amazing views and help people that want to get into astronomy. He said the reason they host these events is to give exposure to astronomy and keep people encouraged to learn.

“We kind of want to just try to keep people from putting astronomy down because it’s so complicated and we’ll just help you and show you. Usually when you show somebody its like ‘oh, that was easy,’” he said.

DiBois shared many people get discouraged because of Astronomy’s difficulty, which is another reason why they host events like Night Sky over Center Park. He said a lot of parents want to get their children into it and it’s especially difficult.

“That’s another thing we want to do is kind of let the community know that we’re here. There’s a club in middle Georgia of people that are really knowledgeable about this and if you need help, we’ll show you,” he said.

Chambers also believes this is a great way to allow less light pollution since it is an issue. She hopes the open space in the park and the less light pollution will make a great event.

“I think it’s a really neat opportunity that aren’t visible by looking up at the night sky. They’re going to have equipment there that will make things visible and bring to light the stars and that sort of thing. It just allows you to see things you don’t get to see every night,” she said

DiBois encourages people to come to Center Park to learn about astronomy because it is a vast field. He said it is different because most people believe they do not need astronomy at all to go through their daily lives, which is why there isn’t a lot of interest. 

However, he said large advancements in the military, engineering, technology, physics and the development of the computer have all come from the pursuit of trying to go to space and understand what’s there.

“It’s really important to chase something that at least doesn’t seem like you need it in your life but if you do it’s going to enhance your life tremendously, so I kind of want to expose the public and everyone to that fact,” he said.

Around since the 1970’s and formally founded in 2000, the Middle Georgia Astronomical Society has over 60 members, 25 heavily active. They keep up through their newsletter and a recap meeting. 

DiBois presents at every monthly meeting while also coordinating the society’s website, social media and outreach. He said the society is made up of like-minded individuals who are intrigued in astronomy.

DiBois said astronomy is not a common hobby and it is hard to find people who enjoy it. The hobby’s uniqueness is why they do what they do: coming together, talking about astronomy, and exchanging gear, such as telescopes.

The society stargazes a lot together and invites the community along as well. DiBois shared there is a registered dark site in Perry close to the Georgia National Fairgrounds, a place that is proven to be dark enough to view the night sky. Members of the society have access to the site and that is where they will do a lot of their stargazing.

The club charges a yearly fee of $12, which goes towards an astronomical league membership which is a national conference of astronomy groups. DiBois encourages those interested in joining the society to visit their website.

Night Sky over Center Park will be on Saturday, Jan.18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Center Park, located at 103 Church Street.