Library Telescope

Big week in the skies this week worldwide! The peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower will be this week as well as a solar eclipse visible mostly in Europe and Iceland but there are parts of the USA and Canada who will be able to see a partial solar eclipse tomorrow. Great video from Outside Magazine below summarizes the skies this week!

Reminder, never look at the sun through a telescope without a proper solar filter!

Why August 12 Will Be the Biggest Stargazing Night of 2026 If there’s one night of 2026 to watch the sky, it’s this one. This is the first time a total solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower peak have coincided in the 21st century.

Fireworks aren't allowed in Great Basin National Park, even on the Fourth of July, but the aurora borealis (nature's fireworks) clearly didn't get the memo...

A strong (G3) geomagnetic storm hit Earth on the eve of America's 250th birthday, bringing the northern lights far south enough to delight attendees of Great Basin's astronomy program. Because our night skies are so dark, the lights were easily visible to the naked eye, originally as green before changing to pink. Before the advent of widespread light pollution in the late19th century, this is the kind of view that Americans all over the country would have enjoyed -- no need to travel to Alaska or Iceland!

Fortunately, light pollution is one of the easiest forms of pollution to clear up - it just requires turning off the lights! Using warm colors (like the red lights in Great Basin's astronomy program areas), turning off lights whenever they aren't in use, and directing lights downward are all easy ways to improve the quality of your night skies. If we all do our part, then the next time universe's prettiest fireworks show decides to come our way, it might just be visible from your back yard.

Photo Credit: NPS/C. Murray

We had a great Library Telescope kick off night with the Mounds Public Library in Mounds, IL this week. Check out some of the pics the police and fire departments blocked off 1st street for us!

Programming IDEA - straight outta our June What's Up Newsletter (not getting the newsletter you say? Drop us a note and we'll add you to the list)

Here's a fun Library Telescope CHALLENGE - this June package together Carl Sagan's novel Contact and/or the 1997 film Contact starring Jodie Foster as a check out bundle with your telescope and challenge patrons to find VEGA in the summer sky! Details below.

It's a great way to get kids and adults alike off their screens and out under the stars this summer!

The Big Skies in Big Sky Country just got a whole lot closer!

✨🔭 UM has teamed up with NASA to bring telescopes to libraries across Montana. People across Big Sky Country will now be able to check out the telescopes to enjoy Montana’s amazing night skies.

Nick Wethington leads UM’s Big Sky, Bigger Dreams initiative. It was his dream to bring the joy of astronomy to rural areas of the state.

“Librarians believe that everyone should have free access to knowledge and resources,” he said. “A telescope that you can check out for free just like a book is a perfect crossover!”

Read the full story: bit.ly/UMteleNick

🔭 Have you looked up lately?

Even a few minutes under the night sky can reveal amazing things — bright planets, star clusters, satellites, and constellations.

You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy astronomy - you can Check Out the Universe at your local library. Visit https://librarytelescope.org/locations/world to find a location near you.

Tell a friend!

Check out this awesome permanent display idea from our friends at Springfield-Green County Public Library in Springfield MO. What a cool way to get some attention to their Library Telescopes!

Check them out at https://www.thelibrary.org/

Who's ready to go to space?!? Today is the day! Good luck to the Artemis II crew!

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/