Event

Pere Marquette State Park

I hope this message finds you well! My name is Menachem Smolianski, and I serve as the Natural Resource Coordinator at Pere Marquette State Park. We are currently seeking to host a Star Party event and would be honored to collaborate with an astronomer to make it a truly special evening for our visitors.

The proposed event would include:

  1. Astronomical Presentation – A talk on a topic of your choice, introducing attendees to the wonders of the night sky. This portion could take place in our Visitor Center or a designated meeting area.
  2. Telescope Observation Session – Following the presentation, we would move to our parking lot or another open area to provide guests with hands-on telescope viewing under the night sky.

Pere Marquette State Park is a perfect venue for stargazing, with its dark skies and ample space for participants. This event would appeal to visitors of all ages, fostering curiosity about astronomy while providing a unique educational experience in nature.

Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Central

Location: Pere Marquette State Park Visitor Center
13112 Visitors Center Ln
Grafton, IL 62037

Information for Visitors

Location Details

Event Report

Comments and anecdotes about the event:
This was a well-attended event at Pere Marquette state park. Visitors listened to an astronomy talk inside the visitor center before moving outside for telescope viewing. There were about 5-6 telescopes set up.

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