Celebrate the 150th anniversary of SIU Carbondale by attending the Southern Illinois Star Party. Join SIU, the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois, and the Adler Planetarium of Chicago for a free, family friendly star party at the SIU Farms Astronomy Observation site on Friday, July 12. Astronomers will be onhand to explain the night sky and share views through several telescopes. Check out free guided views of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Juipter, and Saturn, as well as several deep sky objects visible later in the evening. Visit activity and vendor tents where you can participate in fun activities, learn about meteorites and the night sky, and check out state of the art observation equipment. Presentations throughout the evening from 8:30pm to 10:30pm.
Free event parking at SIUC Lot # 63 at the corner of Chautauqua and Oakland streets. Shuttles will depart lot 63 every 15 minutes taking patrons to and from the observation area, approximately 2 miles from the parking lot.
Although there will be plenty of telescope to check out, visitors are welcome to bring their own scopes and viewing equipment to the event as well as lawn chairs and blankets.
Food, drinks, and snow cone vending onsite by SEMO Kona Ice and Heartland Catering.
Schedule
7pm: Gates Open. Solar observations and activities. Shuttles running from public parking at SIU Lot 63.
8:20pm to midnight: Night time telescope observations and activities continue.
Jumbo Screen Outdoor Presentations
8:30pm: Remembering Apollo 11, 50 Years Later, Liliana Lefticaru, SIUC.
9:05pm: Look Up!, Michelle Nichols, Adler Planetarium of Chicago
9:30pm: Documentary: The Farthest, Voyager in Space.