Astro Fest: 12 hours of stargazing, games workshops and photo ops with Stormtroopers

If there’s such a thing as showcasing nearly everything under the sun, the organizers of this weekend’s Astro Fest at Lake Afton Public Observatory are going to try to include it a 12-hour event.

The all-volunteer nonprofit group that stepped in to reopen the public observatory in 2016, along with members of the Kansas Astronomical Observers, are putting on Astro Fest, which starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and runs through 1 a.m. Sunday.

The observatory is located in a rural area southwest of Wichita, near Lake Afton.

“It’s kind of an anniversary party and we want to commemorate that and let people see what we have,” said Fred Gassert, chair of the observatory board.

Event-goers will be able to size up the solar system both inside and outside the observatory building with presentations, workshops, games, hands-on activities and, of course, some sun, moon and planetary gazing.

Stormtroopers from the local Star Wars Imperial costuming group, the 501st Legion, also will be available for photo opportunities.

Lake Afton Public Observatory first opened in 1981 as a joint project of Wichita State University, Wichita public schools, Sedgwick County and the city. As partners withdrew and funding sources dwindled, WSU, which managed the facility, closed the observatory in 2015.

Community volunteers and celestial supporters stepped in to reopen the facility in September 2016. Programs are held nearly every weekend at the facility.

In the past two years, volunteers have modernized the technology that runs the observatory’s 16-inch telescope and created new interactive exhibits that include virtual reality tours of the universe, new computer stations for various educational and fun space games and activities, and a scale model of the universe, Gassert said.

During Astro Fest, event-goers can learn to use an astronomy app, how to shoot photographs of the night sky and even how to behave at a star-gazing party.

Here’s a top tip: Take a hands-off approach when looking through the telescopes since even lightly holding the eyepiece can knock it off target .

The games and activities for all ages include making origami stars and bracelets from beads that change color with ultraviolet light and playing solar system twister and asteroid toss.

The dome telescope and several telescopes set up on viewing pads around the facility will be available for gazing at certain objects during the 12-hour event, Gassert said. Depending on the time of day, the objects viewed will include the sun, Mercury, the moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars.

At 9 p.m., the oberservatory will host a special showing of the “Mercury 13” documentary, which tells the story of 13 women astronauts who were overlooked for America’s first spaceflights. A complete schedule is available at lakeafton.com/news.

Organizers plan to have a water station on site, and food trucks will be available from 3 to 7 p.m. Wristbands will be provided to allow free readmission to the event. Gassert suggested event-goers bring lawn chairs or blankets for presentation events outdoors. T-shirts and souvenirs, to help fundraise for the observatory nonprofit, will also be sold.

Astro Fest 2018

When: 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday

Where: Lake Afton Public Observatory, 25000 W. 39th St. South, Goddard

What: 12-hour event with presentations, workshops, observation opportunities and other solar system and space-related activities Admission: $8 adults. $7 seniors 65 and older, $4 children ages 5-12, free for kids under 5. Wristbands will be provided to allow free readmission during the 12-hour event.

More information: lakeafton.com/news or 316-559-2899