St. Stephen’s to host “Austin Under the Stars” Fall Event

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and the Austin Astronomical Society are pleased to invite members of the greater Austin community to experience the marvels of the autumn night sky. This special fall version of “Austin Under the Stars” will be held on St. Stephen’s Phipps Field from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, October 20. The event is free and open to the public.

 

The Austin Astronomical Society and St. Stephen’s have cosponsored a night out under the stars every summer for the last two decades. During these events, 15 to 25 telescopes of various sizes and types are set up on St. Stephen’s Phipps Field for guests to view the moon, planets, star clusters, nebula and even a few galaxies far, far away…. Now a fall version of this fascinating event will be offered on Oct. 20. This date also happens to be International Observe the Moon Night, so lunar observations should be ideal.

 

“Viewing the Austin sky through a powerful telescope is a remarkable experience that can create memories to last a lifetime,” said Frank Mikan, St. Stephen’s science department chair. “‘Austin Under the Stars’ promises to be fun for all ages. The program could spark an interest in a young student that might lead them to a career in science or astronomy, or it could provide an adult with the opportunity to feel more in touch with the great universe around us.”

 

“Austin Under the Stars” fall event will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, located at 6500 St. Stephen’s Drive, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 20. There is no charge for this family-friendly activity. Service animals are welcome, but please leave other pets at home. Visitors may bring food and non-alcoholic beverages. Smoking is not permitted on the observing field.

 

For further information and maps, please visit the Austin Astronomical Society website or contact Frank Mikan or Jim Lynch, Austin Astronomical Society chair. In the event of bad weather, please visit the Austin Astronomical website for updates.

 

“We hope to see you all out under the stars soon!” Mikan added.