Mingle Around Singles (40s 50s 60s-Events & Adventures)
Category
Miscellaneous
**NEW JERSEY'S ULTIMATE SINGLE'S MEET-UP GROUP, WHERE THE FUN NEVER STOPS!**
Join us for a night at the **BUEHLER SCIENCE CENTER's OBSERVATORY** to check out the constellations of the stars and planets through provided telescopes.
Glance at a tiny sliver of the night sky, what you can cover with your finger, and you see a few stars. Yet there is more there than meets the eye. If we magnify the view, that sliver is loaded with galaxies. They tell the story of the universe and transform the cosmic wilderness into something we can understand. Telescopes help us see the big picture. Through the starry curtain of our own Milky Way Galaxy, we look out to the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies. It is the gateway to an expanding universe, full of galaxies as far as we can see.
The night sky is indeed a treasure trove of cosmic wonders. Telescopes, like the Buehler Space Telescope, have given us glimpses into the vastness of the universe, revealing countless galaxies, each with its own unique story. The Virgo Supercluster, which our Milky Way is a part of, is just one of many such clusters in the observable universe. It's fascinating to think about the sheer scale and complexity of the cosmos.
If you're interested in exploring more about the universe, we can dive into topics like the life cycle of stars, the mysteries of black holes, or the search for exoplanets. The universe is full of wonders waiting to be discovered!
## The Realm of Galaxies
When we look beyond the Milky Way, we see other galaxies. Our eyes are drawn to these collections of stars, gas, and dust. Their starlight shines across millions of light-years. As we gaze farther out in space, galaxies look different to us depending on their distance. We can observe definite shapes and structures in nearby galaxies. More distant ones look like undefined smudges of light.
The Emil Buehler Trust provided a grant to the Bergen Community College Foundation in the amount of $288,875 for the purpose of constructing and equipping two observatories. The equipment includes the following:
* Two five meter diameter observatory domes * Three 16″ telescopes * Eyepieces, lenses, and filters Spectroscopes and photometers * Cameras, CCDs and accessories * Solar equipment * Audio visual equipment * Computers and software * Books, manuals, and atlases.
The observatories serve particular needs of Bergen Community College students participating in the astronomy classes on campus and have enhanced student learning by providing both continuing opportunities for hands-on observation and immediate application of knowledge gained in the classroom.
## Emil Buehler Observatory Public Observing Nights – Winter 2024 – 2025
**Key:** M31 – The Andromeda Galaxy. M13 – A globular cluster in Hercules. M57 – Ring Nebula in Lyra. NGC 457 – An open cluster in Cassiopeia. NGC 869 & NGC 884 – Double cluster in Cassiopeia. M45 – The Pleiades is an open cluster in Taurus and the cluster most obvious to the naked eye. Mizar & Alcor – Visual binary in Ursa Major. Mizar is a quadruple star system and Alcor is a binary (A sextuple system). Arcturus – A bright, orange star. Vega – A bright, blue-white star. Sirius – A bright white star, the brightest in the sky at a distance of 8 light years. Almach – A quadruple star system including a bright, orange star and a dimmer, blue star (actually 3 stars). M42 – The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae and the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. Albireo – A triple star system including a bright, yellow (actually a close binary0 and a fainter blue companion.
**A question mark after a listed object means that it is becoming difficult to see because it is near the horizon and/or at the limit the telescope can resolve it (see it clearly). The list of objects mentioned for each date may be modified due to viewing conditions.**
**Just as our eyes cannot see through clouds, the optical telescope cannot either. The Buehler Observatory makes every effort to stay open, but nature sometimes has different plans for the night sky. Please check the sky conditions and wait for dark before you travel to visit.**
**DIRECTIONS:** ***FROM THE NORTH*** *(Via Garden State Parkway)-Take Exit 165, turn right (west) on Ridgewood Road, then right onto Ridgewood Avenue (crossing over Route 17) and continue to Paramus Road. Turn left onto Paramus Road and continue approximately 2 miles to college, proceed around jug handle to main entrance.* *(Via Route 17)-Turn right off Route 17 onto Ridgewood Avenue (west) to Paramus* Road. Turn left onto Paramus Road and continue as above. **FROM THE EAST** Take Route 4 (via George Washington Bridge from New York City) to Paramus Road, Paramus. (From the east, Paramus Road is approximately 3/4 miles past Route 17 intersection). Turn right onto Paramus Road and proceed north for approximately 2 miles to College entrance on right side of Paramus Road. **FROM THE SOUTH** (Via Garden State Parkway)-Take Exit 160 (Passaic Street). Turn left onto Passaic Street. Continue over Route 4 onto Paramus Road (Passaic Street becomes Paramus Road north of Route 4 overpass). Continue north about 2 miles on Paramus Road to college entrance on right. (Via Route 17)-Take Century Road, second exit to the right, proceed around clover leaf over Route 17 onto Century Road (west). Continue to Paramus Road and turn right onto Paramus Road to college entrance on right. **FROM THE WEST** Take Route 4 to Paramus Road, Paramus (exit under overpass). Turn right onto Paramus Road and proceed north for approximately 2 miles to college entrance on right side of Paramus Road. BY BUS
Regular bus service is provided to the Bergen Community College campus by two new Jersey Transit routes. The 756 Englewood BCC bus stops on campus at both the Megastructure and East Hall. The 756 schedule is coordinated with the college¹s schedule and provides direct service to the college across Bergen County. The 163 Ridgewood – New York bus stops on Paramus Road at the main entrance to the college and provides direct service from Southwest Bergen County. For schedules, contact the BCC Information Center at 447-7200 or the Bergen County Transit Information Center at 488-0840.
**BUEHLER OBSERVATORY LOCATION ON CAMPUS:** On campus, follow the perimeter drive to Please **enter the building via the east entrance (right-hand side of the building).** Follow the Signs inside the Technology Education Center to the **Buehler Observatory.**
So come on out. Let's enjoy a starry night of constellation and galaxy exploration, together. How much fun is that!
Arrive at 6:00 p.m. to find parking and meet with the group at the entrance before the 6:30 p.m. viewing. Viewing starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m.
**Park in Parking Lot B**. In Lot B, the Technology Education Center will be a **two story brick building on your left.** **Park in front of the building or just beyond it**.
After the event, we will go out somewhere local to mingle and socialize, dinner and/or dancing.
