Summer in Starson begins Saturday, July 5 at 9 PM with Instruments and Methods of Visual Observation. Astronomy is a complex discipline that encompasses numerous specializations. The meeting on July 5 will be dedicated to visual observation, explored in depth from every aspect: from the choice of the most suitable equipment (telescopes, eyepieces, mounts, optical, mechanical, and electronic support accessories) to the planning of an observational session, including the correct methods of transport, maintenance, and preservation of scientific instruments, essential for exploring the visible universe. The meeting will be led by Dr. Zeno Vendrame, a member of the Feltrina Astronomical Association Rheticus, specializing in visual observation, in which he boasts over twenty-six years of experience with a wide range of instruments.
Continuing Saturday, July 12 at 9 PM with Finding the Way in the Sky (evening for children). The lesson will take place at the planetarium where the children, with the help of just two key constellations, using the method of stellar alignments, will be guided to progressively recognize first the most prominent stars and constellations, then gradually those that are fainter and more difficult. During the identification, the most captivating stories regarding the found constellations will be narrated. If the weather is nice, outdoors, the children will try to rediscover the constellations they discovered at the planetarium. There will also be just enough time to show some deep sky objects through the telescope before the spectacular lunar rise at 10:50 PM, which will conclude the evening. In case of bad weather, the evening will conclude at the planetarium, with a view of the southern hemisphere constellations, not visible at our latitudes. The evening will be conducted by Gabriele Vanin, from the Association Rheticus. A pass of the SSI will also be visible. Cute astronomical gadgets will be gifted to the little guests.
The program will continue Saturday, July 19 at 9 PM with Antimatter. Antimatter often appears in science fiction stories and books, so much so that the general public is often unaware that this is a subject of intense experimental research and great utility even for the average person. On this evening, we will retrace the steps that led to postulating its existence, its discovery, and the study of its properties. We will then discuss the role played by antimatter in the early moments of the Universe's existence and the questions that still await answers. The speaker will be Alessandro Gaz, associate professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Padua and a long-time member of the Association Rheticus. Two passes of the SSI and one of Tiangong, the Chinese space station, will also be visible.
We will conclude Saturday, July 26 at 9 PM with an evening dedicated to astronomy enthusiasts (free admission).
