Dr. Les King

February 9, 2021 Program

Les is a Navy Veteran and a member of the Topsail Kiwanis Club.   Les was planetarium director for 10 years in PA in his teaching role.

Les spoke about the night sky and what people have imagined in the past and what we can see today. Les pointed out our hectic pace and the lack of time taken to go outside and look up at the night sky. However, the recent interest in the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the evening sky and people staying home during the pandemic has opened up the ‘fun’ of star gazing for many new people. As Les noted, the conjunction on December 21st was thought by ancients to be the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Wise Men to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Les told us that we can see quite a bit just by using binoculars if we don’t have  a telescope. Les discussed the constellation of ‘Orion the Hunter and he told us where to find it in the sky  this time of year.’ Then he described the ancients belief that Orion fell in love with one of the maidens in the seven Maidens constellation and wanted her with him on Earth. Instead, the gods granted his wish by putting him in the heavens to be near her for eternity. Note: The Orion constellation appears to follow the Maidens constellation from east to west across the winter sky from dusk to dawn.