Future Galileos Program’ on Tuesday features reflector telescope

COVINGTON, Ky. – Interested in astronomy?

Covington Parks & Rec is holding a “Future Galileos” event at Devou Park on Tuesday evening (tomorrow, Aug. 9), having been gifted a sophisticated telescope and suddenly securing limited-time access to a “sun shield.”

At the event, Covington youth (and any adult who wants to come) will both learn the inner workings of a telescope – its parts and their functions – and have a chance to take a safe peek at both the sun and the Cincinnati skyline.

The free event, held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., is a precursor and complement to a night-time “Stargazer” program that Parks & Rec plans to hold on a regular basis starting later this fall.

“We’re really excited to be able to offer this,” Parks & Rec Manager Ben Oldiges said. “Summer is jammed full of action, with sports, games, and physical activities. This fall, it’s going to look a little more educational.”

Attendees should show up before 5:30 on Tuesday evening in the scenic overlook parking lot near the Drees Pavilion at the end of Park Lane, where they will be greeted by Parks & Rec staff.

Oldiges said the telescope – a SkyQuest XT8™ Dobsonian Reflector Telescope – was given to Covington by the Cincinnati Observatory. Parks & Rec staff participated in three training programs held by Observatory officials.

Reservations are not mandatory but are encouraged at the Parks & Rec RecDesk online registration system.

The future Stargazers program will be a more intensive program held after dark that will teach how to track stars, recognize constellations, understand star charts, and observe planets and planet satellites, including features like the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s “eye,” and the moon’s craters, Oldiges said.

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