Although most libraries close when the sun goes down, Brookens Library at the University of Illinois Springfield was open late Oct. 3 – but not for books.

Under the amber glow of October’s only full harvest moon, the UIS library rooftop observatory was transformed to host the inaugural Tsukimi Harvest Moon Star Party. Around 70 people — professors, students, alumni and members of the public — gathered under the night sky to enjoy an evening of cultural exchange and reflection as seen through the ancient Japanese tradition of moon viewing.

According to Shohei Oikawa, associate professor of cultural history at Seijo University in Tokyo, Tsukimi’s origins trace back to Japan’s aristocratic Heian period. Over time, it blended with local harvest rituals, becoming both a noble pastime and a practical seasonal tradition for farmers.

“The waxing and waning of the moon played a crucial role in scheduling agricultural work,” Oikawa said. “Even in today’s urbanized Japan, some households still decorate with pampas grass and offer rice dumplings in recognition of the season.”

Thousands of miles away at UIS, the cycles of growth, rest and renewal are brought into sharper focus as ancient inspiration finds modern application. Through a telescope, the stresses of a fast-paced society are seen in a new light, prioritizing calm and presence over stress and productivity.

“Tsukimi encourages us to recognize the cycles beyond our control,” said Diana Liao, education and engagement specialist at Japan House at U of I Urbana-Champaign. “It’s a practice of slowing down, appreciating the present moment and acknowledging our connection to nature.”

The inaugural Tsukimi Harvest Moon Star Party at UIS recognized the generous support of alumna Marjorie Walle.

“Dr. Walle has a personal affinity for the moon,” said John Martin, associate professor of physics and astronomy at UIS and leader of Star Parties. “[And] when I told her about the Tsukimi tradition, we [planned] to do this for the star party nearest the harvest moon every year, in honor of her mother, Denyce Gammell.”

Star parties at UIS have a long tradition as flagship outreach events. The first public event was in 1977, when Professor Charles Schweighauser invited the community to the newly built observatory atop Brookens Library. Since 1980, these events have attracted thousands of visitors for Friday Night Star Parties and celestial phenomena like eclipses and comet viewings. UIS unveiled a new rooftop deck in 2022 and a renovated interior space in 2023.

Martin, who directs two custom-built telescopes devoted to spectroscopy and photometry at the Henry R. Barber Research Observatory in Pleasant Plains, about 25 miles west of the UIS campus, continues to lead informal star parties on campus, hoping to broaden the horizons of students who may not necessarily be science majors.

With his long, swaying gray ponytail, round glasses and red Chuck Taylors embroidered with stars, Martin carries an iPad under one arm and casually references Aristotle, noting the role astronomy played in ancient education and how simple optical telescopes work.

“Telescopes are named for the size of the opening of the front, the mirror or lens that’s doing the light gathering. This uses a 14-inch mirror,” said Martin about the iconically orange antique Celestron mounted inside the Brookens observatory dome. “Through the telescope, you can see the moon as a whole other world with its own mountains, plains and valleys.”

The UIS Tsukimi celebration brings Springfield residents a rare opportunity to step outside their routines and experience the moon over Illinois through an ancient tradition, far off in origin but as at home in the humanity of modern Springfield as in ancient Japan.

For Erika Suzuki, the coordinator for international student services at UIS, the emphasis on community is the focus.

“It’s more than moon gazing,” Suzuki said. “Tsukimi is about gathering with loved ones, honoring the past and sharing hopes for the future.”

For more information on future Star Parties, visit https://www.uis.edu/astronomy-physics/star-parties.