Beyond the Big Sky – Public Stargazing Nights in July

Spend an evening under the night sky at The Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake! The Montana Learning Center’s state-of-the-art astronomical park will be open to the public three weekends this summer. Each event will begin after sunset with a presentation and question and answer session with a guest expert, followed by a tour of the night sky using the Center’s world-class telescopes. Each presentation will be different and is sure to be educational!

July 12 and 13, 2024 will feature Peter Detterline who is an avid professional astronomer whose interests cover a wide range of the astronomical spectrum. As the Observatory Director for the Mars Society, Peter operates two telescopes, a solar observatory and a robotic observatory. For the 35 years before he joined the Mars Society, Peter was the Director of the Boyertown Planetarium, where he presented astronomical programs to over half a million people. He received the Thomas Brennan Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for exceptional achievement in teaching high school astronomy. He continues to teach astronomy at Montgomery County Community College and also teaches MLC’s online robotic telescope courses for teachers through Montana State University.

Attendance at each event is limited to 100 people and advance ticket purchase is required. Tickets are $25 per adult (age 18 and over) and $15 per child per event. Attendees must be 12 years old or older. Tickets are non-refundable and the events will be held rain or shine, with night-sky observing being weather-permitting. To register or for more information, please visit the event webpage, Beyond the Big Sky.

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake offers youth summer camps in a variety of STEM fields, live and online teacher learning opportunities and a range of astronomy programs for students, teachers and members of the public. The Center boasts a picturesque lakeside setting, which is ideal for exploring Montana’s night sky.