Give Us Space

Stargazers were scheduled to gather in late January for the Southern Cross Astros’ annual Tropical Star Party, but Mother Nature put the kibosh on that viewing. Luckily for you, this tenacious bunch has rescheduled, and the late winter sky is still providing a celestial storybook of dogs, hunters, and nymphs. With the assistance of friendly astronomers using fancy telescopes, you’ll be able to spot Pleiades (the Seven Sisters), the Gemini Twins, and Orion the hunter with his two faithful dogs, Canis Major and Minor. And you can impress them with your knowledge that Sirius, the Dog Star, marks the eye of Orion’s larger pup and is one of our closest stars at only 8.6 light years away. For extra credit you can point out that the silver ringed glowing orb next to the moon is Saturn. See stars tonight from 5:00 to 9:00 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, 1200 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. Don’t dally: The main gate closes at 8:15. Arrive early to picnic with the group near the lighthouse. Admission is $3 per car (the Rickenbacker Causeway toll will set you back $1.25). Call 305-661-1375, or visit www.scas.org.
Fri., March 10