2023 Spring Astronomy Day at Eagle Lake Observatory

​Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general population – “Bringing Astronomy to the People.” On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first-hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.

Astronomy Day was born in California in 1973. Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, decided that rather than try to entice people to travel long distances to visit observatory open houses, they would set up telescopes closer to where the people were – busy locations – urban locations like street corners, shopping malls, parks, etc.
His strategy paid off. Not only did Astronomy Day go over with a bang, not only did the public find out about the astronomy club, they found out about future observatory open houses. Since the public got a chance to look through a portable telescope, they were hooked. They wanted to see what went on at the bigger telescopes, so they turned out in droves at the next observatory open house.

For additional information, visit the Astronomical League’s website at https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts

Public star parties are open to all, but please review the Star Party Guidelines if you have not been to a public event before.

Additional information as well as directions can be found on the Eagle Lake Observatory web page.

Eagle Lake Observatory
44.8103 -93.9397

Merle Hiltner onaninfo@mnastro.org