HASTINGS residents and visitors have been invited to come along and take part in a world-wide event to celebrate safe solar viewing.
The recently formed Mid North Coast Astronomy Group will be holding a special viewing session and large telescope display all day on Sunday 22 June on Port Macquarie’s Town Green beside the wharf area.
Group convenor Dave Reneke said it was all part of the international Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project it had been invited to take part in.
“Originating in the US, this inaugural event involves more than 20 countries and thousands of amateur astronomers around the world,” he said.
“Called International SUN-day it’s just what it says, a day to globally celebrate the sun and share your personal vision of what our life giving star means to all of us.”
His group will be doing safe solar viewing all day and showing people the various types of telescopes available from beginner to advanced.
Mr Reneke said it was a great family day out, especially for children.
He there was a coming period of intense sunspot and solar flare activity so it was the best time to come along and view the sun the safe way.
“We’ll show you sunspots three times bigger than the earth and solar flares thousands of kilometres long,” Mr Reneke promised.
Visitors will be able to ask questions about the Sun and and safely view its amazing surface from 8am.
The group is looking for new members and meets on the first Saturday night of each month at Sancrox reserve via Wauchope.
Mr Reneke is also happy to give talks to any service or community clubs as well.
Inquiries to Dave on 0400 636 363 or via his website www.davidreneke.com.
