Turn Off Your TV and Go Stargazing!

Happy "Turn off Your TV Week"! To celebrate, we're going "Stargazing with Binoculars" at your library on Thursday, April 21st, starting at 7:15 PM. Kids, families and adults are welcome to join us for fun evening sharing stories and heading outside to discover stars and constellations that we can learn about and identify. In case of uncooperative weather, we have a backup indoor program planned as well!

The program will begin at the library at 7:15 PM with a storytime reading and activities for the littlest stargazers. At @ 7:40 guest speaker Jean Napp, President of the Starsplitters Astronomy Club at Wyalusing State Park will take us on a tour of the stars and explain astronomy basics and how to get started stargazing. (Learn more about the club and the Wyalusing Astronomy Center at http://www.wyalusing.org/starsplit.html.)

Afterwards, weather permitting, we'll gather up our supplies and head down to Saunder's Creek, next to the Community Garden on Bluff Street where we should have a clear view of the sky. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and binoculars and flashlights (for reading our star maps) if you have them. the library will also provide some binoculars and flashlights as well as star maps, activity sheets and of course, stargazing books.

Some of the books we'll be sharing include: Out of This World Astronomy by Joe Rhatigan, Binocular Highlights by Gary Seronik, Binocular Stargazing by Mike Reynolds, Stargazing Basics by Paul Kinzer, A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky by Michael Driscoll, Fancy Nancy Sees Stars! and DK Readers Starry Sky. These and other books will be available for checkout after the program.

Did you know that on average, people spend 35 hours per week parked in front of the TV? That's like having a second job as a couch potato! And it's time not spent getting physical activity, being outside in the fresh air or talking and playing face to face with your family. So turn off the tube and join us for a fun evening with friends in the great outdoors. The sky's the limit! (the library is looking for volunteers and others willing to loan binoculars or simple telescopes for this event. If you can help out, please give us a call. thank you!)