You can catch the entire spectacle anywhere the moon is visible, but a number of local amateur astronomy groups and observatories are planning public events. They will offer opportunities to see the eclipse, plus a bonus look at Saturn and its rings, through a telescope.
"Saturn will be hovering just a few degrees from the moon, making it unusually easy to spot," Heyn said. "Viewed from Earth, the tilt of the rings varies. ... While their tilt is currently only one-third their maximum, they remain an exciting sight."
Saturn will be the "star" just below the moon, to the left. The true star above the moon is Regulus in the constellation Leo.
The science department at Howard Community College is teaming up with the Howard Astronomical League for a viewing between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Meet on the roof of the HCC parking garage, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. For weather updates, visit howardastro.org/eclipse/htm or call 410-772-4891.
A viewing in downtown Baltimore starts at 8 p.m. at the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory at the Maryland Science Center. Visitors can look through any of several telescopes and ask questions of staffers.
"It will be a nice opportunity to catch Saturn in the telescope," said Jim O'Leary, director of the science center's Davis Planetarium. "The rings always bring oohs and aahs from visitors."
"We'll make every effort to be here if there's any chance of a break in the clouds," he said. Call 410-545-2999 after 7 p.m. for weather updates.
The public also is invited to the Maryland Space Grant Observatory on the fourth floor of the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy at the Johns Hopkins University.
The observatory will be open at 8:30 p.m., if weather permits. Call 410-516-6525 after 5 p.m. for weather updates. For directions, visit www.pha.jhu.edu/~camer cha/openhouse.htm.
frank.roylance@baltsun.com
