This is the page for Star Parties held off campus in the spring and summer with community partners. Lately, we have been holding these events on the Cawley Meadow at Lincoln Memorial Garden with the Sangamon Astronomical Society as co-hosts.
The dates and locations for the Summer Star parties in 2026 are:
Students who have an interest in astronomy are encouraged to take advanced course work in the math and the physical sciences and talk to Dr. John Martin about engaging in a research project. Generally students must demonstrate an academic strength in the physical sciences and a strong interest and commitment in order to participate in a research project at the Barber Research Observatory.
Star Parties are the flagship public outreach events of the UIS Observatory, serving the public affairs mission of the University of Illinois Springfield.
From here you can branch off to the three different types of Star Parties we host:
The University of Illinois at Springfield’s astronomy program developed the world’s first telescope designed for wheelchair access.
Read a copy of a Sky & Telescope article about our accessible telescope (pdf) from July 1998.
The Astronomy-Physics option provides courses and laboratory work in astronomy and physics, featuring an astronomical observatory with one eight-inch and one 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, an eight-inch Newtonian telescope, an eight-inch fixed focal point telescope for persons with disabilities, two spectrographs, a hydrogen-alpha filter, an objective prism, and two charge-coupled devices (CCD). A 20-inch telescope and a 16-inch telescope are installed under dark skies at a site remote from the campus.
Astronomy, the science of the stars, planets, galaxies, and black holes, fascinates people of all ages. It is the oldest science, yet it is also the most intriguing because the study of astronomy will help to answer the most important questions human beings can ask:
Do you wonder what other students think about the Astronomy Program?
Here are some students’ opinions of Prof John Martin, who teaches all of the Astronomy and Physics courses at UIS:
“I am convinced all of humanity is born with more gifts than we know. Most are born geniuses and just get de-geniused rapidly.”
For Star Party Information Call: (217) 206-8342
UIS Astronomy-Physics Program
Health & Science Building 314
University of Illinois Springfield
One University Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62703
Phone: (217) 206-6589
Office: HSB 314
The goal of Astronomy-Physics in the Chemistry Department is to enhance society’s ability to understand the Universe through the application of scientific problem solving.