Stargazers catch clear views from Roman Nose

WA TONGA—From a top a rocky, gypsum bluff, the moonlight was just enough to see where a prickly pear cactus grew.

The bluff at Roman Nose State Park was crowded near the ledges. Telescopes were aimed at the moon, Jupiter and Saturn. But it was important to look at the ground, not just the stars.

They brought walking sticks, bug spray and plenty of water. About 60 people, families, couples and other night sky enthusiasts, gathered for a star party hosted by the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Physics Department in Weatherford. Kyle Bernis, Roman Nose park manager, greeted visitors and gathered the crowd for a walk to higher ground to see the stars and planets.

A hike was about to take place to the top of a bluff that overlooks Watonga Lake and away from city lights, about 75 miles northwest of downtown Oklahoma City.

“We look at what's out, the constellations and the different stars,” Bernis said .“We try to catch what's out there, this is one of the areas of the state that has very low light pollution. When you get up on that bluff you can really see the stars and constellations and really anything you want, you can see the Milky Way at various times.”

An hour before the hike started, the sun began to set across west, central Oklahoma, the fading, glimmer of sunset on the cut and plowed wheat fields looked like clods of red dirt on fire. The temperature had exceeded 100 degrees on a Saturday, nightfall meant temperatures dropped, but not without some humidity from a welcomed morning rain around Roman Nose State Park.

The red dirt turned to eastern redwood cedar bluffs of Blaine County, cars parked in front of the par lodge for a brief bit of instruction for the stargazers. It was a good idea to keep eyes on the ground sometimes, not just the sky. A large western diamondback rattlesnake had been removed a few days ago from the camping area, said park ranger Sgt. Martin Ramos.

“Welcome to Roman Nose if you haven't been here already. It's great to see you folks out here tonight. We are going to have a good time,” Ramos said, a retired Midwest City police officer who spends his days and nights year-round at the park.

Park ranger Roy Espy remind stargazers to watch the ground. Espy used green and purple glow sticks to mark the trail up to the bluff.

“Now the only precaution, the only safety thing I want you guys to be aware of, is if you put something down on the ground, or you want to sit down on the ground take a look around first,” Espy said.

On top of the bluff, people took turns looking into the lenses of telescopes and marveling at the views at Roman Nose.

Wayne Trail, associate professor of physics at Southwestern State University, said the moon, Jupiter and Saturn were the featured attractions of the evening.

“Roman Nose is a jewel. I love this park. We live in Weatherford so we come up here fairly regularly,” Trail said.

Kimberly Matthews, of Hennessey, brought her family out Saturday night.

Kalystah York, 9, of Okeene, asked questions about the moon, and looked into the lens of the telescope to see it.

“It was super neat, and it was awesome to see how the moon really looks,” Kalystah said.

Ramos said people stayed until about midnight Saturday. Ramos said he enjoys watching people experience the night sky as seen just over an hour drive from Oklahoma City.

“What I think is so neat about it is not just the place, but how I see families coming out to make time, to make a special moments together, and seeing them doing something together like taking a little adventure making memories,” Ramos said. “And that is really what it is about, making memories.”

Bernis said another star party with the SWOSU physics club is being planned for the fall. And once a month, the park hosts a three-mile full moon hike. The next full moon hike starts at 7 p.m. Thursday.

For more information visit the Roman Nose Facebook page at www. facebook.com/roman. nose.