This Saturday night brings the last sunset before the summer solstice arrives early Sunday, beginning the longest day of the year.
If the evening skies stay clear, it could be a great night for stargazing at the century-old Northmoor Observatory in Donovan Park.
The Peoria Astronomical Society is in its 71st season of hosting public viewings each Saturday, from mid-May into October.
“I always say to come slightly after sunset, because it doesn’t get dark for another half an hour,” said society president Dan Son.
“When the sun goes down, and you might say, ‘Oh, the sun’s already set,’ still come on out. If the sun set an hour ago, come on out. When it gets darker, it gets better.”
Son said the telescope inside the observatory was originally set up in 1912, then sold to Bradley University in 1933. It was given to the Peoria Astronomical Society and the Peoria Academy of Science for public stargazing in 1955, “when all that area was a cornfield.”
Program manager Chris Schmidt said the Saturday events can accommodate a fairly decent sized crowd, with viewing options that run the gamut.
“We do [viewings] inside the dome, and it’s a big telescope. So, the dome actually can handle a good number of people,” she said. “We’ve got the little building that the dome is in, and then we’ve got scopes outside. We also have a pair of binoculars, and you can do naked eye observings. So you’ve got all your varieties of observational astronomy. “
“We bring out a 12 1/2-inch scope on the grounds sometimes, or a 10-inch,” added Son. “We have a Seestar Smart Telescope. We sit on the grounds and let it photograph, and people can see what new technology does.
“I like being out there with my little green laser pointer, shining around at constellations and objects.”
Schmidt credits the society members and volunteers for making each viewing possible for the past seven decades.
“It’s really a labor of love, and they’re what makes it happen, really. And it’s low key, but it’s really enjoyable,” she said.
Son said the viewings are “kid-friendly” for first-graders, and an enjoyable activity on into adulthood as a “great first date” option. Depending on time of year and the conditions, people are able to see planets like Mercury, Jupiter and Venus, as well as stars, constellations and other celestial wonders.
“We usually show the brighter objects, planets, the moon,” said Son. “If we’re lucky enough to have Saturn and Jupiter, you'd see the rings of Saturn, you see the four moons of Jupiter. You see the dancing going on with the moons as they move.
“We’ll show them some stars with the naked eye, and then we put a telescope on and it's actually two [stars] with color, a double-double, which is breaking into two. Put a little more power on the eyepiece, and two become four. So we can do some stuff.”
Son said the observatory and public viewing opportunities remain a valuable asset for the community.
“Astronomy and the space, it’s like the oceans, the water, the grounds, the land, the air. It’s another thing that we can learn from. To be able to view it gives you a sense of awe,” he said. “It opens up a whole new world that they don’t see in their everyday life.”
The viewings typically last into the 11 p.m. hour, and the season continues through mid-October.
“We’re just really a resource. The people who come out, a lot of them say, ‘I never knew this was here,’” said Schmidt. “But I haven’t really seen anyone who’s been disappointed, or ‘Oh, this is not what I thought it would be.’ We stay as long as there’s something to look at, basically, and people really enjoy it, from what I can tell.”
