Where is the Blood Moon party happening on September 7?

Shining a light on two stargazing groups in Chennai that organise star parties regularly and their immediate plans for this Sunday when the moon would capture everyone’s imagination. On September 7, a klatch of stargazers from the Chennai Astronomical Club (CAC) who are on first-name terms with each other, would decamp telescopes in tow to a farm in Maduranthakam, a two-hour’s drive from Chennai, for a Blood Moon watch. No portal of entry offered to outsiders; it is going to be an in-group gathering. “This time, we had to keep it small and exclusive to our members,” says Siva, one of the founders of CAC, citing police permission issues. In characteristic CAC style, the Blood Moon watch would be preceded by a talk, tomes of theory packed into it. Following the watch, members would rest at the farm and turn back towards Chennai late Monday morning. Sky Secrets is hosting a Blood Moon Night at Choolaimedu from 10:30 pm (September 7) to 2:30 am (September 8). Six telescopes have already been assigned Blood Moon watch duties. The cupboard would be disturbed and more telescopes pulled out if registrations shoot up. “We want to ensure that everyone who signs up for the watch party gets to see the Blood Moon clearly,” says Sendhil Madhavan, founder of Sky Secrets. For those who prefer not to jostle for telescopes, Sky Secrets has a backup — its digital telescope will live-stream the eclipse onto a projector. The evening begins with a short briefing on the science of the Blood Moon before eyes turn skyward. Registration is ₹499 per head. The registration form will be open till 10 p.m. on September 7. Walk-ins are welcome, but prior registration is recommended. “It helps us plan better, especially in terms of equipment and safety,” explains Sendhil.

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