StarWatch & SunWatch Observing Sessions at Bays Mountain Park

Explore the sky with Bays Mountain’s StarWatch and SunWatch observing programs! Presented by The Bays Mountain Astronomy Club and Bays Mountain Planetarium, these annual programs return this month.

StarWatch and SunWatch are free, family friendly programs offered at Bays Mountain Park. During the viewing, Bays Mountain Astronomy Club members and BMP Planetarium staff will operate telescopes and provide a description of what that telescope is viewing.

StarWatch is a nighttime viewing of the evening sky using large telescopes for the entire family. The program is offered Saturday nights in March, April, October & November starting at dusk. Based on what is visible, typical celestial delights viewed include, the Moon, star clusters, galaxies, globular clusters, double stars, nebulae and much more.

The 2018 StarWatch dates are as follows.

• March 3^rd, 10^th – 7:00 p.m.
• March 17^th, 24^th, 31^st – 8:00 p.m.
• April 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th – 8:30 p.m.
• October 6^th, 13^th – 7:30 p.m.
• October 20^th, 27^th, November 3^rd – 7:00 p.m.
• November 10^th, 17^th, 24^th – 6:00 p.m.

During SunWatch, participants can view the Sun using special telescopes at the Bays Mountain dam. SunWatch observations are held on clear Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m., March through October.

For StarWatch, if the weather does not cooperate, an alternate live star tour will occur in the planetarium theater. The weather typically feels cooler on Bays Mountain than the measured temperature, so guests should dress accordingly.

To visit Bays Mountain there is $5 gate fee per car. For more information on Bays Mountain’s programs, please visit baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.