From Sunlit Trails to Midnight Tales: My Spruce Woods Star Party Adventure

2/10/2024

This past August 30th to September 2nd, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Winnipeg branch's Spruce Woods Star Party (SWSP) at Spruce Woods Provincial Park. Nestled in the heart of South Central Manitoba's pristine wilderness, we transformed the Winter Recreation Area into a haven for amateur astronomers and stargazing enthusiasts.

Commemorative Pin

Friday Night: A Quiet and Rainy Start

Friday night was overcast with intermittent drizzle and rain showers. I ended up cozying up in my tent for a peaceful night of reading, using the time to relax and finish 'The Rithmatist' by Brandon Sanderson, September's book for my monthly book club. Though I couldn’t view the stars that night, the tranquility of the campground made for a soothing start to the weekend.

SWSP Campground - Friday, August 30th

Saturday Daytime: Adventures Under the Sun

With the clouds parting on Saturday, I took full advantage of the sunshine, though I may have overdone it as I earned myself a mild sunburn. I spent the day cycling laps around Kiche Manitou campground, soaking in the lush scenery and fresh air. Later, I ventured onto a segment of the Trans Canada Trail, enjoying the thrill of exploring unfamiliar paths while embracing some of the last days of summer.

Scenic Lookout - Trans Canada Trail - Saturday, August 31st

Saturday Night: The Sky Comes Alive

As dusk settled, anticipation grew for the evening’s highlight: Gerry Smerchanski’s renowned Bino Tour. Gerry’s passion is contagious, and his knowledge is vast. He doesn’t just point out celestial objects—he brings them to life. Using binoculars, he guided us on a tour of the night sky, giving us a deeper sense of our universe and our place within it:

Stellar Siblings: Gerry pointed out stars with both motion and chemical composition similar to our Sun, suggesting they might have originated from the same stellar nursery.
The Milky Way’s Bar: We traced the dense star clouds toward the galactic center in Sagittarius and Scutum. This helped us visualize the central bar structure of the Milky Way Galaxy, gaining a better understanding of the shape of our galaxy and the location of Earth within it.
Distant Galaxies: Although I've seen it before, spotting the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye never loses its magic. Knowing that its light has traveled 2.5 million years to reach us is surreal. For most people, the Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant object visible to the naked eye, making it a truly special sight in the night sky. Under exceptional viewing conditions, some observers can glimpse the slightly more distant Triangulum Galaxy (M33).
Cosmic Perspectives: Gerry shared insights on the Voyager 1 probe, emphasizing that even at over 62,000 km/h, it would take more than 73,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri if it were headed in that direction—a humbling reminder of the vastness of space.
Celestial Wonders: From constellations and nebulae to open clusters, globular clusters, and binary star systems, Gerry took us on a tour across the entire sky.

I occasionally stepped away from the tour to start some astrophotography with my SeeStar S50, capturing objects along the southern horizon before they disappeared. The rest of the night was spent in blissful observation with my constellation binoculars (Orion 2x54 Ultra Wide Angle), Celestron Regal M2 100 ED Spotting Scope, and SeeStar S50. The vibrancy and clarity of the sky was breathtaking—a dark sky site is a must-visit for anyone who wants to reconnect with the universe. It’s a reminder of the skies our ancestors gazed upon before human-caused light pollution began to dim the night.

Preparing For Observing - Saturday, August 31st

Captured Celestial Objects with the SeeStar S50

Here are the celestial objects I captured with my SeeStar S50 Saturday night (August 31st to September 1st):

M17 (Omega Nebula): A bright emission nebula in the constellation Sagittarius, famous for its swan-like appearance.
M16 (Eagle Nebula): Home to the iconic "Pillars of Creation," this stellar nursery in the constellation Serpens is an awe-inspiring sight.
M24 (Sagittarius Star Cloud): A dense star field in Sagittarius, packed with stars and a rich cosmic view.
M57 (Ring Nebula): A planetary nebula in Lyra, easily recognizable by its glowing ring-like structure of gas.
NGC 7023 (Iris Nebula): A reflection nebula in Cepheus, resembling a blooming flower.
NGC 884 (Double Cluster): One of two open clusters in Perseus, filled with bright young stars. NGC 869, the other cluster, can also be seen in the upper part of the image below.
M31 (Andromeda Galaxy): The largest and closest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way. Often called our sister galaxy in the local group.

Sunday Daytime: Witnessing Solar Spectacles

Sunday brought a different kind of astronomical delight. Fellow amateur astronomers set up solar telescopes equipped with hydrogen-alpha filters, and I had the chance to view solar prominences and flares in real time (with the Sun's 8-minute, 150-million-kilometer delay, naturally). Observing these fiery phenomena was awe-inspiring, reminding me of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our closest star. Later in the day, there was a telescope tour, where participants showcased their equipment, sharing stories and setups in a fun show-and-tell.

Solar Viewing With My SeeStar S50
Note: No Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Telescope Tour Photos (AKA Nerdy Awesome Show-And-Tell)

My Gear Setup For The Telescope Tour

Sunday Night: Peering Deeper Into Space

For our final night, I continued exploring the heavens with my equipment. The real treat, however, was visiting a neighbouring astronomer who owned a colossal 25-inch Dobsonian telescope—affectionately known as a "light bucket." Climbing a step ladder to reach the eyepiece, I was rewarded with views that took my breath away.

Using an Oxygen III (OIII) filter, the Veil Nebula in the constellation Cygnus stood out with astonishing detail. This supernova remnant, a cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust, appeared as intricate ethereal lacework against the dark backdrop of space.

Captured Celestial Objects with the SeeStar S50

Here are the celestial objects I captured with my SeeStar S50 Sunday night (September 1st to September 2nd):

M4 (Globular Cluster): A dense, spherical cluster of stars in the constellation Scorpius, one of the closest globular clusters to Earth.
M6 (Butterfly Cluster): An open cluster in Scorpius, known for its shape resembling a butterfly in flight.
M22 (Sagittarius Cluster): A bright globular cluster in Sagittarius, rich with stars and easily visible with binoculars.
M10 (Globular Cluster): Found in Ophiuchus, this cluster contains hundreds of thousands of stars tightly packed together.
M12 (Globular Cluster): Another cluster in Ophiuchus, slightly looser than M10, but no less impressive.
M71 (Globular Cluster): A compact globular cluster in the constellation Sagitta, sitting in a rich star field.
M27 (Dumbbell Nebula): A planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, resembling a dumbbell shape.
NGC 869 (Double Cluster): Part of the famous Double Cluster in Perseus, glowing brightly alongside NGC 884 (seen in the lower part of the image below).
M33 (Triangulum Galaxy): A spiral galaxy in the constellation Triangulum, the third-largest member of our local galaxy group.

Reflecting on the Experience

Attending the Spruce Woods Star Party was an excellent opportunity to deepen my engagement with astronomy and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Sharing observations and equipment added a collaborative aspect to my stargazing experience. From Gerry's informative Bino Tour to viewing celestial objects through various telescopes, each activity enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the night sky.

As I left Spruce Woods Provincial Park, I appreciated both the knowledge gained and the connections made within the astronomy community. I'm already looking forward to next year's event to further explore the cosmos alongside others who share this passion.

Until then, keep looking up!

RASC SWSP Group Photo - Monday, September 2nd - Photo By Bryan Stach

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