SIU plans astronomical viewing events this fall, including Star Party

August 07, 2024

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a series of public astronomical viewings starting later this month and continuing through December.

Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics and a coordinator of the viewings, said it's important that SIU host these as a community service to share the knowledge and facilities at the university.

"It also helps us fulfil our community service and education missions," Baer said. "Visitors will get a deeper understanding of the night sky and be able to see in detail features on the sun, moon and planets, and possibly some deep-sky objects"

Highlights of the regular viewing season include a Sept. 17 partial lunar eclipse and a lunar occultation of Saturn on Nov. 10.

Star Party is Oct. 19

Officials also are planning the annual Southern Illinois Star Party for 4-10:30 p.m. Oct. 19. For that event, SIU will cooperate with Adler Planetarium and the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois.

The event includes a free evening of guided telescope observations and family-friendly astronomy and science activities at the SIU University Farms Astronomy Observation Area, 2 miles west of the main campus in a semi-dark area that offers good views of the night sky.

Several nighttime and solar telescopes operated by amateur astronomers and SIU School of Physics and Applied Physics faculty, staff and students will be available to the public. Visitors will be able to see the sun, moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and other celestial objects.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets as well as photography or telescope equipment to the Star Party. Free shuttles will run from SIU Parking Lot 63 at the corner of Oakland and Chautauqua streets throughout the evening. Parking at the observation site is very limited and available by permit only.

For disability accommodations, call 618-453-5738. Disabled visitors or those bringing telescope equipment that would be difficult to transport by shuttle may contact [email protected] or call SIU Events and Outreach at 618-453-7424 for a free onsite parking permit.

Other partners for the event include the DEB Initiative and SolarSTEAM - two research projects led by SIU faculty - as well as NASA EDGE and Johns Hopkins University.

Regular observations are held on the Astronomy Observation Deck, located on the roof of the A-wing at the Neckers building. Follow signs from Neckers 456 up the southwest stairs.

Here are this year's regular observation times:

Sunday, Aug. 18, 9-10:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8, 8-9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 9-10:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 10, 7-10 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 6-7:30 p.m.

All observation events are weather-permitting, with space limited. For details, go to physics.siu.edu/events/astronomy.php or email [email protected].

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