Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s festive annual Star Party will appeal to all ages, from children interested in STEM to adults fascinated by celestial wonders.
In cooperation with the Adler Planetarium and the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois, the free annual Southern Illinois Star Party will be from 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. It will include guided telescope observations and 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.
Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics, said the Star Party and other events help fulfil SIU’s community service and education missions. Several nighttime and solar telescopes operated by amateur astronomers and SIU faculty, staff and students will be available to the public.
“This event is the one time each year that we bring out all of our best telescopes to share with the public and provide activities and programming throughout the evening for visitors,” he said. “We have all seen impressive pictures of the moon, Saturn and deep sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy, but seeing them with your own eyes through a big telescope is a totally different experience. It’s something most people never forget and something that can really feed the curiosity of kids interested in space. I hope that people walk away from the evening with great memories and that we inspire some of the youth who visit to learn more about astronomy and space.”
Highlights for the 2025 event include Saturn and Neptune and the crescent moon.
“This year, Saturn and Neptune are at opposition, making them appear brighter and larger than any other time of the year,” Baer said. “This is a great time to see Saturn, its rings and its larger moons. Because of the distance Neptune is from us, it will appear as a tiny blue-grey dot. Viewing of the moon that evening will also be spectacular as shadows highlight the depth of craters on the lunar surface.”
The Star Party will also include educational presentations on an inflatable screen after sunset.
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 events@siu.edu or call SIU Events and Outreach at 618-453-7424 for a free onsite parking permit.
Other partners for the event include SolarSTEAM, Straight Up Solar and Lookin’ Up Optics.
For more information about the Star Party, visit eclipse.siu.edu/southern-illinois-star-party. People who can’t make it to the Star Party in person are welcome to attend online at solarsteam.siu.edu.
In addition to the Star Party, regular observations are held on the Astronomy Observation Deck 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:
- Saturday, Oct. 4, 8:30-10 p.m. – significant visible objects include Saturn, the moon, M57 (Ring Nebula) and M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster).
- Sunday, Nov. 16, 9-10:30 p.m. – significant visible objects include Saturn, Jupiter, M42 (Great Orion Nebula) and M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy).
All observation events are weather-permitting, with space limited. For details, go to eclipse.siu.edu/public-astronomy-observations or email physics@siu.edu.
