Mike Lynch Starwatch Party

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$575

Project of

Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative Legacy Grant SFY 2014 - SFY 2015

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

November 2014

End Date

November 2014

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Brown

Project Overview

Make the stars your old friends as we watch the great celestial show in the skies over your town. Get to know the constellations like The Big Bear, Cygnus the Swan, Pegasus the Winged Horse, and some of their great stories behind them. We’ll also use large reflecting telescopes, including two giant 20 inch reflectors that are among the biggest mobile telescopes in Minnesota. For some telescope targets it’s even possible to take photos with cell phone cameras. You’ll get a great handout package with user-friendly star maps and constellation charts, websites, a telescope-buying guide, and more! Mike came to Hanska and did a starwatch program in the City Park with 13 participants braving the cold temps. He showed users how to read star maps and where to find constellations in the night sky.

Project Details

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2013 Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$575

Other Funds Leveraged

$200

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Upon completion of the program surveys, patrons will indicate they have learned about the stars, how starts are formed, will know many of the constellations, will learn how to use a telescope, and will learn how stars and constellations got their names.

Measurable Outcome(s)

13 people attended the program on November 20th, 2014 in the City Park. 100% of participants indicated they enjoyed the program. Everyone learned how to use a telescope, and everyone was able to see stars and constellations in the sky that night. Some comments heard included:
‘Great! Loved it!’, ‘Great presentation; very interesting’, ‘FASCINATING! Great Speaker!’, ‘So knowledgeable and entertaining.’, ‘Now I have a new hobby!’, ‘ Absolutely awesome.’, ‘There are not words to adequately describe how very wonderful this was – beautiful sky full of stars.’, ‘Very good show. I loved seeing all the stars and things up in the sky. Totally awesome.’

Source of Additional Funds

Hanska Public Library, Mike Lynch – presenter, City of Hanska – use of city park for star gazing, Ameripride C Store and Hillbillies for use of restrooms during star watch at park.