Starry Night Star Gazing August 18 a Huge Success

Nearly 125 local children and adults participated in the First Annual Starry Night Star Gazing event at Norridge Park on Thursday, August 18.

The event was planned by the local Norridge Harwood Heights Kiwanis Club in partnership with Norridge Park District, Harlem Irving Plaza, Cernan Space Center at Triton College and the Chicago Astronomical Society.

There were lines of kids excited to play the Planet Passport game. Each table hosted a different planet with challenging trivia questions like "What color is the sun?" A: It contains all colors but appears white or yellow to the eye.

Prizes included passes to the Cernan Space Center, pencils, and a map of the August sky. A raffle was held for a Telescope donated by Harlem Irving Plaza.

After the park's family entertainment, music and movie night, co-sponsored by Norridge Park District and the Harlem Irving Plaza, many people stayed to get a chance to look at the night sky through the high magnification telescopes from Cernan Space Center at Triton College and the Chicago Astronomical Society. Saturn with its identifiable ring and Jupiter with four moons made for a surprising and beautiful viewing.

Thank you to all who participated and coordinated an amazing event!