Sky watchers can view the asteroid Vesta and other celestial bodies through high-powered telescopes during a “Vesta Fiesta” celebration hosted by the University of Denver and the Denver Astronomical Society Aug. 6 at DU’s Chamberlin Observatory.
Vesta, a large asteroid that orbits the sun somewhere between Mars and Jupiter, has been the target of the NASA spacecraft Dawn since its launch in 2007.
Dawn is expected to begin orbiting the “protoplanet” tonight after a journey of 2 billion miles and start gathering data scientists expect will yield clues to many questions, including how planets form.
The Vesta Fiesta will begin at 7 p.m. and allow the public to look at the moon and Saturn through DU’s 20-inch telescope and those of DAS members. The event also will feature talks about Vesta and hands-on exhibits of meteroites.
Once Vesta rises in the sky after 10 p.m., viewers may be able to see it through the telescopes, weather permitting.
The Chamberlin Observatory is located at 2930 E. Warren Ave., in Denver’s University Park neighborhood.
