Don't Miss 'Gateway To The Stars' At The Gateway Arch

ST. LOUIS, MO — The stars may be light-years away, but you can get a close-up peek at them this summer when Gateway Arch National Park hosts special stargazing experiences on June 23 and July 21. Each “Gateway to the Stars” program will feature a ranger-led interpretive talk, followed by a St. Louis Astronomical Society-led telescope viewing of craters on the Moon; the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn; and other celestial objects (weather permitting).

On June 23, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., “Sky Ranger” Rich Fefferman will provide tips on how to use telescopes and star maps to follow some of this summer’s exciting sky events. And on July 21, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., NASA fellow and Washington University scientist Michael Bouchard will present a talk about St. Louis’ role in the past, present and future Mars rovers and explorations. Outdoor telescope viewings will follow both events. For the July 21 telescope viewing, Mars will be making its closest approach to Earth since 2003, so it should be an impressive sight.

For each program, visitors should meet in the Education Classroom inside the Arch Visitor Center. The ranger-led, indoor talks will take place regardless of weather. The outdoor telescope viewing events may be cancelled if skies are cloudy and if there is heavy rain. Call 314-655-1708 the afternoon of the event for an update on the weather or if you have an especially large group.

Be sure to look out for more Gateway to the Stars events later in the summer and into the fall. Visit www.nps.gov/jeff or call 314-655-1780 for more details.

A list of downtown St. Louis parking locations within walking distance of Gateway Arch National Park is available at http://getaroundstl.com. Metered street parking is also available around the park.