Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area and the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will host a free evening of night-sky viewing and astronomy education beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12.
The event will begin with an indoor program presented by Jack McDaniel on the origins of modern astronomy and how scientists came to understand the solar system. The presentation covers the evolution of knowledge about the movement and positions of planets, moons, comets and asteroids. It will briefly touch on how ancient cultures interpreted the movements of stars, planets, the moon and the sun without modern telescopes, satellites or spacecraft. The program then moves on to key discoveries by Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton, using simple physical relationships to explain the motion of celestial bodies in the night sky.
Weather permitting, outdoor viewing will begin about 7:30 p.m. Club members will bring high-quality amateur telescopes for public use. Suggested items to bring include a red light, binoculars and a lawn chair.
No reservations are required. Recommended for ages 8 and up. For more information, call the park at 479-789-5000.
