Star Gaze 1 & 2

May 10 and September 6

Each year, Kenton County Parks & Recreation, Cincinnati Observatory Center, and the Midwestern Astronomers present at least one "Star Gaze" for amateur and professional astronomers and all other interested participants at Banklick Woods Park. The programs are free. Come out and see the stars!

KCP&R will offer two Star Gazes this year, May 10 and September 6. Each is free to attend! Both Star Gazes will include a one-hour or so indoor presentation, followed by outdoor use of telescopes (weather-permitting).

A computer-generated astronomical lecture will be presented, rain or shine, indoors in the Kenton County Public Works Administration building, with starting time 8:30 pm and 8:00 pm, respectively. This portion of the program will determine the principal viewing targets for that night and explain what we can expect to see in the night sky.

And then, assuming clear skies, we'll move outdoors. No matter the principal targets, we will also be viewing constellations, stars, double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

Volunteers from Friends of the Observatory Center and the Midwestern Astronomers will provide telescopes and expertise in the field, describe observations, answer questions, and help open our eyes to the wonder of the universe. Who knows what the night sky will reveal?  We welcome you to bring your telescope and binoculars.

Come on out to Banklick Woods Park and discover another world of wonder!

Banklick Woods Park is easy to find. The address is 420 Independence Station Rd., Independence. From I-75, take the Florence/Union exit. Go east to the 2nd stop light at Industrial Road. Turn right and go to 1303/Turkeyfoot Road. Turn right and go one-half mile to Independence Station Road (just past the Sunoco Food Mart). Turn left and go two miles to the park. The park will be on your left. Turn left again as you enter the park and go to the first building. Or, from I-275, take the Turkeyfoot Road exit and go south about six miles to Independence Station Road. Turn left and go two miles to the park. Turn left again as you enter the park and go to the first building.

The Cincinnati Observatory Center is the birthplace of American Astronomy and has the honor of being the nation's first professional observatory. In 1843, President John Quincy Adams laid the Observatory's foundation stone. A national historic landmark, the Observatory Center is located at 3489 Observatory Place and houses a collection of artifacts illustrating the history of the science and applications of astronomy. For the Observatory program schedule, including Community Outreach, call (513) 321-5186 or visit their website at http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org.

For more information about this program, call (859) 525-PLAY (7529).

Call Kenton County Recreation at (859) 525-PLAY (7529) to ask how you can help – we are always in need of volunteers and funding sponsors for our programs!

For news of upcoming programs, activities, and events to be held in Kenton County's parks, call the Parks & Recreation office at (859) 525-PLAY (7529).