Library Telescope Program
Astronomy Resources and Events

 

COMING IN NOVEMBER: Host a watch party with Nicolos Wethington and the Montana state library, that will get patrons excited about your new telescope!

MLN Virtual Programming:  Telescopes in Libraries - November 18th. (Just in time for the Leonid Meteor showers) If weather allows, this is a perfect opportunity to host a night sky event to follow a watch party in your library. Contact the Lifelong Learning Librarian for marketing materials and more information. 

Recommended Resources

Use these resources to support both indoor and outdoor programming. Plan star parties, create displays, prepare handouts, or share information with patrons to take home and explore on their own. 

NASA — Skywatching & Night Sky Guides

https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/
Monthly guides, short videos, and clear explanations of celestial events.
Useful for: monthly planning, handouts, announcements, displays, staff preparation.

Sky & Telescope — Observing Guides

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/
Detailed observing guides, star charts, and event calendars.
Useful for: choosing observing nights, identifying planets, planning telescope targets, volunteer training.

Time and Date — Astronomy Calendar

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/
Easy-to-read calendars showing moon phases, eclipses, meteor showers, and planet visibility.
Useful for: quick event lookup, monthly displays, signage, scheduling, public calendars.

Stellarium Web — Interactive Sky Map

https://stellarium-web.org/
Interactive sky map for any date, time, and location.
Useful for: planning telescope targets, indoor sky demonstrations, volunteer training, custom sky charts, public programs.

Heavens-Above — Satellite & ISS Viewing

https://heavens-above.com/
Shows visible passes of the ISS, satellites, and other bright objects.
Useful for: special events, outreach nights, public demonstrations, patron engagement.

Light Pollution Map

https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/
Displays sky brightness and light pollution levels for any location.
Useful for: choosing observing locations, educational displays, dark sky programs, explaining light pollution, outreach presentations.

American Meteor Society — Meteor Shower Calendar

https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/
Reliable meteor shower information including peak dates and expected visibility.
Useful for: public programs, summer events, late-night observing, posters, displays, special promotions.

U.S. Naval Observatory — Moon Phase Calendar

https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/MoonPhases
Accurate moon phase information.
Useful for: avoiding full moon nights, planning moon-viewing programs, monthly displays, scheduling, educational signage.

 

Important night sky events can help you schedule local programs. 

Astronomy Day

April 25, 2026
May 8, 2027
April 29, 2028

International Observe the Moon Night

September 19, 2026
2027 TBD
2028 TBD

Eclipses

March 3, 2026 — Total lunar eclipse
August 12, 2026 — Partial solar eclipse
August 27, 2026 — Partial lunar eclipse
February 20, 2027 — Penumbral lunar eclipse
August 17, 2027 — Penumbral lunar eclipse
January 12, 2028 — Partial lunar eclipse
January 26, 2028 — Partial solar eclipse

Mars Opposition

February 19, 2027

Jupiter Oppositions

January 10, 2026
February 11, 2027
March 12, 2028

Saturn Oppositions

October 4, 2026
October 18, 2027
October 30, 2028

Supermoons

December 23, 2026
January 22, 2027
February 10, 2028
March 10, 2028

Meteor Showers (general peak dates)

January 3–4 — Quadrantids
April 21–22 — Lyrids
May 5–6 — Eta Aquariids
July 30–31 — Alpha Capricornids
August 12–13 — Perseids
October 21–22 — Orionids
November 4–5 — Southern Taurids
November 11–12 — Northern Taurids
November 17–18 — Leonids
December 13–14 — Geminids
December 21–22 — Ursids

Looking Ahead to 2029

January 14 — Solar eclipse
June 26 — Total lunar eclipse
December 20 — Total lunar eclipse