Have you submitted your Globe at Night observation, yet? The U.K.’s 21st Purley Beaver Colony has!
Last weekend, I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of speaking with a group of young skywatching scouts from the U.K. About 25 people – children and parents – crowded into Croydon’s Norman Fisher Observatory in London, England, while scout leader, Paul Harper, connected all of us via skype chat. We couldn’t see each other, but I could hear the delightful (and delighted) voices of all the children as they described their views of the night sky and gave me their Globe at Night sky report.
I shall never forget the sounds of those young voices shouting out their observations. First came their Globe at Night report – a clear 4th magnitude sky from atop the 500′ plateau that is home to England’s RAF Kenley airfield, where the Norman Fisher Observatory resides. Then came their excited recollections of the sky. Sam remembered “the Great Bear” of Ursa Major; Ashley recalled Orion’s “Big Belt”; little three-year-old Miles saw the stars of Cassiopeia; and (impressively) eleven-year-old Christy explored Orion’s bow! And, of course, they all remembered bright orange Mars.
