Guided Astronomy Hike 2025 - April

Join us for a night of celestial exploration at Eagle Bluff! This unique event begins indoors in our StarLab, where we’ll project the night sky onto an inflatable dome for a clear, up-close look at the stars. A knowledgeable guide will share constellation stories from different cultures, bringing the night sky to life with projected imagery.

Then, weather permitting, we’ll head outside to our prairie for a guided night hike. With the help of a high-powered laser, we’ll identify the constellations and planets we explored in the StarLab, now shining in the open sky. If there are clear skies, we can expect to see the following:

• Jupiter
• Mars
• Ursa Major + Ursa Minor
• Orion
• Gemini
• Cancer

What to Expect:

• The event begins in the Discovery Center at 7:30 PM.
• The first hour is spent in the StarLab, where we’ll explore the night sky in a controlled environment.
• The StarLab allows us to superimpose constellation shapes and cultural interpretations onto the stars.
• At 8:30 PM, we’ll hike to the prairie to observe the real night sky, using a laser pointer to highlight celestial features.
• The hike will take place in our prairie. The length of the hike can vary, but expect there to be up to a mile of walking in the dark. Headlamps will be provided.
• The StarLab experience will take place regardless of weather; the outdoor hike depends on conditions.
• The event will officially end at 10:00 pm. There will be a staff member available to assist if you would like to leave the event earlier than 10.

Dress for the weather, bring your curiosity, and prepare for an unforgettable night under the stars!