WNCCHS Under the Stars

WNCCHS's recent "well-being event" was a unique experience for staff: a stargazing outing at the Bare Dark Sky Observatory, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

The event, sponsored by WNCCHS, hosted a group of staff members on the evening of Dec. 14, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Attendees enjoyed a private two-hour session marveling at the celestial wonders through high-quality telescopes.

The observatory, surrounded by rugged mountain terrain and the Pisgah National Forest, is owned by Yancey County (NC) and managed by Mayland Community College. The public observatory features a roll-off roof at the site and a custom-built a 86-cm f/3.6 Newtonian telescope and a Meade 35-cm LX200 telescope for public viewing.

WNCCHS staff were treated to breathtaking views of Jupiter and Saturn, which appeared "unbelievably" close and crystal clear through the observatory's telescopes