06/17/11 – Ephemeris – Viewing at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Friday, June 17th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:30.   The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:02 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.

Tomorrow, that’s Saturday night the 18th, Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will host the first of five viewing nights at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  This one will be held at Platte River Point, at the mouth of the Platte River.  We’ll be setting up telescopes around 8:30.  Sunset will be about 9:30 and we expect to see Saturn and the first stars about 10 to 10:15 p.m.  We’ll be there up to midnight depending on the crowds, and clear skies.  Our next viewing opportunity at the Dunes will be July 30th at the Dunes overlook, stop 3 on Pierce Stocking Drive.  We’ll also have evenings in August at the Port Oneida Fair, September, and October for the Lakeshore’s 41st Anniversary.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Note: Platte River Point can be googled for the location.