BY KAREN BOSSICK
A star is born.
Well, a star-gazing chapter, at least.
A newly formed astronomy observing group will hold its first meeting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, to view Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the waning quarter noon. It will meet at the Croy Canyon Trailhead five miles west of the traffic light at the corner of Luke’s Pharmacy and LL Green in Hailey.
Just drive past Mountain Humane and Rotarun Ski Are to the BLM’s BMX track. A small green sign on the right says “Trailhead.” As you turn in, turn your headlights off and use your parking lights to drive to preserve the night vision.
There are restrooms at the trailhead. Bring warm clothes; perhaps a chair; flashlight, preferably with a red filter, and telescope, binoculars and eyeballs.
Bellevue resident Tim Frazier, who used to head up the Magic Valley Astronomy Society, will have a couple of telescopes and astronomy binoculars for people to borrow.
The new group plans to meet once a month. It also may tie in to the Twin Falls Astronomy Society’s talks via Zoom or some other method. Questions? Contact Kristin Fletcher at naturewalker7@gmail.com.
Frazier, by the way, was featured Sunday’s “CBS Sunday Morning” about the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which is one of just 16 such reserves around the world.
Frazier noted that the Sun Valley and Stanley area is particularly good for star gazing because of very clear and relatively stable air.
“Light pollution is very disruptive, and it’s disruptive for animals like us,” he said.
You can watch the show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clvPKORDGPM