As spring evenings grow longer, we invite you to experience the night sky from the beautifully darkened Gardens. With less light pollution than surrounding areas, our skies offer a stunning backdrop for an unforgettable evening of stargazing.
The Moon will be in its waning crescent phase and not visible—giving us darker skies for viewing. Just after sunset, Jupiter will shine nearly overhead, and several telescopes will be trained on the giant planet for a chance to spot its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
We’ll also look for brilliant seasonal stars and constellations, including Arcturus, Spica, Regulus, Denebola, Vega, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Capella, Castor, and Pollux. For those eager to explore deeper into space, we’ll hunt for distant deep-sky objects such as the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), elliptical galaxies M84 and M86, and in Orion, the Orion Nebula (M42) and M78. While these celestial wonders may appear small and faint through our telescopes, seeing them with your own eyes is a thrilling reminder of the vastness beyond our world.
Dr. Charles Merrill Jenkins, Dr. Romulus Godang and members of the University of South Alabama Department of Physics will begin the evening with a presentation from 7:00–7:30 PM. Following sunset at 7:20 PM, guests will be guided to the Great Lawn for telescope viewing, with astronomical twilight beginning at 8:44 PM.
Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars, lawn chairs, and a sense of curiosity. Free smartphone apps that identify stars and constellations can enhance your experience—simply point your phone toward the sky and explore.
You may also like the following events from Bellingrath Gardens & Home:
- This Friday, 27th February, 01:00 pm, NatureNauts Academy: Birds: Flap, Glide, Soar! in Theodore
- Next Wednesday, 4th March, 10:30 am, Plant Exploration with a Purpose in Theodore
- Next Thursday, 5th March, 05:00 pm, Spring Gift Shop Open House & Fashion Show in Theodore
