Free night sky event in Palm Desert

People who are curious about stargazing may have their chance to get into the hobby thanks to two free “Star Party” events at the Palm Desert Library in January.

The events are for people of all ages, including children and older adults, although the American Museum of Natural History has issued some guidelines for younger aspiring astronomers to stay safe.

First and foremost, children must never attempt stargazing out in the dark of night without adult supervision or a flashlight.

Once the children have made it to their destination, allowing 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust before starting can help them to see the stars more clearly. It is important to try and choose clear nights at locations without light pollution to see stars more clearly.

The Palm Desert Library has new telescopes attendees can use. These will help people see stars and planets more clearly. Once stars and other objects are located, they can be sketched onto the star map.

Stargazing parties like these may need printing services to create pre-made star maps for participants to fill in, or poster printing to spread the word to the community about the events.

The Palm Desert Library’s two “Star Party” events are happening on January 8 and January 22, both of which are Wednesdays, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.