Library Friends Group Hosts Star Gazing Event Saturday

Star gazers, hobbyists, and lovers of space of all ages are invited to the Friends of the Ste. Genevieve County Library Star Gazing event on Saturday, May 25, at Hawn State Park’s Star Gazing Field, across from 19960 Highway 144.

The program starts at 9 p.m. but attendees are encouraged to arrive between 8 and 8:30 p.m. with chairs, drinks and snacks.

The Friends of the Library is partnering with the St. Louis Astronomical Society for an event that will be fun and informative for attendees of all ages.

“The best part of this event is it has gotten bigger as our planning has progressed,” Ste. Genevieve County Library director Shawn Long said. “The library has one telescope that was donated to us in memory of Ann Murray Schaefer by her family. And as we were planning this event, we received another donated telescope that we will be able to check out to patrons in the future. It really shows that there is interest for a program like this.”

In addition to library and astronomical society equipment, Southeast Missouri State will be bringing a portable observatory with additional telescopes.

The program will take place from 9 to 11 p.m., and volunteers will help participants identify constellations, identify moon phases and locate stars throughout the night sky.

For more information about this event or the Friends of the Library, contact Long at shawn.long@sgclib.org or 573-883-3358.

(Information in a release from the Ste. Genevieve County Library.)