BY KAREN BOSSICK

EDITOR'S NOTE: The meeting was moved to Wednesday, Oct. 21, as of Tuesday morning since the weather forecast looks better on Wednesday.

The new Wood River Astronomy club will hold its last night watch party of the season at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The group will meet at the Croy Canyon Trailhead near Rotarun ski area five miles west of Hailey.

The highlight of the evening should be the Orionid Meteor Shower, which typically produces 10 to 20 meteors an hour but sometimes rivals August’s Perseid shower, which produces 50 to 75 meteors and hour.

The shooting star extravaganza, made up of bits of dust and debris left behind from Comet Halley, has already started but is expected to reach its peak Oct. 20 and 21.

“October is the beginning of the season for observing the most spectacular constellations. It may be chilly, but you won’t want to miss it,” said Kristin Fletcher.

Participants are asked to turn their headlights off, using their parking lights to drive in as they get close, to preserve people’s night vision. There are restrooms on site.

Participants are encouraged to bring warm clothes, a chair, flashlight, preferably with a red filter, telescope and binoculars.

Tim Frazier will have a telescope and astronomy binoculars for those who wish to see Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the waxing crescent moon up close and personal. Viewers should also be able to see the nebulae, globular clusters and the Andromeda Galaxy that night.

Kristin Fletcher will point out constellations with a laser.

The group plans to hold virtual talks via Zoom during winter, tying into presentations by the Twin Falls Astronomy Society and other groups.

For more information, contact Kristin Fletcher at naturewalker7@gmail.com.