Stargazing Event at Airlie Gardens

Join Cape Fear Museum and other community partners for a fun-filled evening of stargazing and astronomy-themed activities on Friday, April 5th from 7-10 PM at Airlie Gardens (300 Airlie Road, Wilmington). The Statewide Star Party is the official kickoff event to the 2013 NC Science Festival happening throughout the month of April.  http://www.ncsciencefestival.org/

At this free event, visitors can:

  • Go on a laser-guided constellation tour
  • Get up close views of galaxies, nebulas, and more through telescopes
  • Bring your own viewing equipment and locate celestial objects
  • Meet local astronomers and educators and get celestial identification tips
  • Build your own planisphere and learn how to use it to locate stars and constellations
  • Step inside Starlab for a mini night-sky orientation
  • Listen to star-inspired stories at the Stellar Story Corner
  • Create your own constellation viewer
  • Meet star-themed ocean animals
  • Participate in GLOBE at night, a citizen-science project that encourages observation and recording of visible stars as a means of measuring light pollution
  • Enter the free raffle to win a stuffed robot, passes to local attractions including Cape Fear Museum, Airlie Gardens, and NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, plus other fun prizes

Star Party community partners include: Airlie Gardens, Cape Fear Astronomical Society, Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, National Weather Service - Wilmington Office, NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, NC Cooperative Extension New Hanover County Center, New Hanover County Library, UNCW Center For Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CESTEM) and WWAY

The Statewide Star Party is funded through NC Space Grant and organized by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.  Participating organizations and institutions across the state will be hosting sky-watching parties to help people discover the wonders of their night skies. 

For additional information about the Star Party at Airlie Gardens, contact event coordinator Jameson McDermott at the Cape Fear Museum at 910-798-4363.

In addition to this Star Party at Airlie Gardens, star gazing opportunities are available at Carolina Beach State Park. For information on their Star Party and activities, contact the park at 910-458-8206.