Official UIS News
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WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Astronomy-Physics Program, Lincoln Memorial Garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society will host a special Star Party to view the annual Perseid meteor shower.
WHEN: 8-10 p.m. Saturday, August 12, 2023
WHERE: Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Drive, Springfield
Fall Star Parties
Friday Night Star Party Events in 2026
Friday night Star Parties are held at the Campus Observatory on the roof of Brookens Library on Friday nights in September and October. The dates for Friday night star parties in 2026 are September 4, 11, 18, and 25 and October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 8-10 p.m.
Note that these events are all weather dependent. See below for information about cloudy weather.
There are two specially themed star party events in Fall 2026
Official UIS News
UIS to co-host special Star Party viewing of the Perseid meteor shower
WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Astronomy-Physics Program, Lincoln Memorial Garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society will host a special Star Party to view the annual Perseid meteor shower.
WHEN: 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, August 12, 2022
WHERE: Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Drive, Springfield
Official UIS News
UIS to host three virtual star parties starting March 11
The University of Illinois Springfield Astronomy-Physics Program will host three virtual star parties via Zoom. The virtual star parties will be held at 8 p.m. on March 11, April 9 and May 13.
UIS Observatory Picture Gallery
UIS Observatory Picture Gallery
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Prof John Martin’s Article in June 2011 issue of Gemini Focus magazine
(June 2011)
The June 2011 issue of Gemini Focus magazine contains an article written by UIS Assistant Professor John Martin about his use of an infrared camera on the Gemini-South telescope to image the interior of the nebula cocooning the star Eta Carinae.
Prof John Martin Earns Grant From National Science Foundation
(July 2011)
On July 1 the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that a collaboration including UIS Assistant Professor John Martin earned a three-year grant for their proposal entitiled “On the Road to the Supernova: LBVs, Hypergiants, and SN Impostors.” The project will continue and expand on Martin’s collarboration with Kris Davison and Roberta Humphreys (both at the University of Minnesota) to study the end stages and instabilities in the most massive stars in the universe.
Prof John Martin Named University Scholar
(October 2011)
Assistant Professor of Astronomy-Physics John Martin has been named the 2011 University Scholar for the University of Illinois Springfield. The University Scholar program honors the top scholars at the University of Illinois and is the top award for scholarship on the Springfield Campus.
First Light on New CCD Camera
(March 2012)