On Thursday, September 19, 2025, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Observatory welcomed students, faculty, and community members for its weekly Star Party event.

Since 1977, Star Parties have offered the public an opportunity to explore the night sky, transforming the UIS campus into a hub of astronomy education and outreach. The program was founded by Professor Charlie Schweighauswer, the university’s first astronomy faculty member and former director of the St. Louis Planetarium. His vision was simple: bring astronomy to the community.

“From the moment he was hired, he was very interested in having a public program for astronomy at UIS,” said Professor John Martin, a stellar astrophysicist at UIS and Director of the Henry R. Barber Research Observatory. Martin now serves as the host of the Star Parties. “The Campus Observatory was constructed on the roof of Brookens Library in 1977, and in December of that year he invited the public for the first UIS Star Party.”

Originally held year-round, the events were eventually shifted to the more temperate months of September and October, when Friday evenings on campus could be dedicated to stargazing and discovery.

For visitors, the journey begins with a climb up five flights of stairs inside Brookens Library. Along the way, guests encounter a collection of student-produced astrophotography and science displays that set the stage for what awaits above. Once at the observatory, patrons are invited to use a variety of telescopes, guided by staff and volunteers.

The experience, according to Martin, can be life changing.
“Astronomy is a unique subject that captures almost everyone’s curiosity,” he explained. “The experience of the night sky is one of the few experiences that is shared by nearly every human being who has ever lived. Astronomy embraces questions about our place in the universe, where we have been, and where we are going in grand sweeping terms.”

Beyond the Friday Star Parties, UIS also hosts the Space and Astronomy Group, which meets every Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Open to students, staff, and community members, the group fosters deeper engagement with astronomy. Those interested can find more information through “UIS Observatory” on UIS Connection.