A trip to the Nutwood Observatory and Dark Sky Preserve positioned on a 2,000-acre sanctuary near Bancroft was the destination of 21 members and friends of the Riverview Seniors Social Club. It is owned and operated by Dr. Brian McGaffney, who had been a guest speaker at the Westmeath Hall a few months earlier. His lecture on Astronomy, the mother of all science, had whetted our appetites.
Like many of us, I did a little preparation and learned that the earth is part of a galaxy, which is one of 200 billion galaxies that are in one universe. The solar system itself was complex enough for me. It has eight or nine planets, depending on whether Pluto is deemed a planet or a dwarf. They all revolve around the sun. There is even a new planet in our galaxy that is growing larger and the Nutwood Conservatory tracks its growth on behalf of the scientific community.
On the way, Gayle read to us information about the conservatory being designated a secure home for elk – not elk trees like someone thought. 25 years ago, 20 elk were transplanted from western Canada and have propagated to 80 at present. They are friendly animals, smaller than a moose, a little larger than a deer, and intermingle readily with guests. They always stay in a herd and have regular routines they follow. During their romancing time, which was apparently the night we were there, the males emit a sound resembling a bugle call to attract the females. One of our prominent members of the RSSC sighed, “I hope I get bugled one of these days.” Unfortunately, because of this ‘rutting’ period (baby-making for those who don’t know the term), they kept to business in the woods and didn’t show.
I had noticed the name ‘Tucker’ on e-mail correspondence. As I was a direct descendant of a Tucker family, I was curious. Once the bus was underway, I went to those I didn’t know, asking if he or she was a ‘Tucker’. One lady thought I was saying a bad word – she was hard of hearing. Anyway I found them – Mary Jane and Dwight – who had relocated to La Passe and yes, it was their e-mail. Asking which one might be related to me, Mary Jane said “Tucker is our dog.” Downheartedly, and as I was turning away, I said, “Tell your dog you just met his long-lost cousin.”
When we were nearing Wilno, the little town that used to have a nightclub that turned a blind eye when you smoked pot inside, it reminded me of a back road, more like a trail, that wound its way up this steep climb and is called ‘Buck Hill.’ It was an eerie meeting site for those interested in the paranormal. After dark and when quiet, sometimes looking into the valley you might spot a green light. As the story goes, many moons ago, a farmer’s daughter went missing after going out to feed the cattle. The distraught father, with his lantern, has been searching for her ever since. When we were there, Sheila definitely spotted a greenish light moving in a north-west direction. I didn’t see it that well but am fairly certain I saw a glimpse of it.
After leaving a main road leading from Bancroft, the bus tackled a narrow gravelled lane, one that became even narrower with going so far into the woods. When branches began scratching the side of the bus, someone shouted, “Maybe it’s elk horns?”
We got off the bus, practically thrust into total darkness and stumbled over beside the Observatory where we sat on our lawn chairs. One chair had two persons on it for a few seconds! No white light such as flashlights were permitted. Brian M. gave an overview, saying, “If those clouds clear to leave a dark sky, the big telescopes will reveal the wonders of the stars.” Unfortunately, the clouds never did, but we all got to see those telescopes in the Observatory at rest.
Later, Sheila asked if he had ever seen a UFO?” Brian said, “No, but it reminds me of a great event a few weeks ago. We saw an exploding meteorite. It gave off a burst of purple colours. It seemed so close that the next day I went looking for evidence of fragments but found none.”
The first part is a laser light tour of the night sky for that evening. Various planets, stars and specific objects of interest are pointed out.
We did have a laser light pointing out the various stars and planets, very few though because of the clouds. Two local enthusiasts were there with their modest telescopes compared to the digital imaging ones but more powerful than we had ever seen. They spotted things of interest and welcomed us to view them through their instruments.
When Brian pointed out a Hercules cluster towards the east, it was a nice experience but when he elaborated on the Higgins bosom atom and how it would proof or disproof further universes, it became pie in the sky.
I felt, as I’m sure the others did, what a great time we had, with or without the scopes.
