Last Saturday night, in a field a few miles southwest of downtown Champaign, adults and children alike were welcomed in by the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society CUAS for a free sky watch.

As the sun set, the dome of the CUAS observatory opened up and guests were brought into a view of the moon, Venus, Saturn and Mars through a Cassegrain telescope. The CUAS, a group formed in 1986 as a partner with the Champaign Park District, was originally founded as a club that wanted to create a way for students and residents to view Halley’s Comet during its last appearance. Now the club, which is 24 years old, meets several times a month so the members and astronomy enthusiasts can take time to sit back and marvel at the sky.

The free sky watches have been a staple in the CUAS program, occurring once a month (weather permitting) since 1992.

David Leake, a physics and astronomy instructor at Parkland College and member of the CUAS, explained why the group decided to have the sky watches during the first quarter moon.

“In a first quarter moon the light is coming in from the side, which not only means that the moon is roughly half lit, but also the mountains cast shadows and the crater walls have shadows,” said Leake. “A full moon has a flat appearance, while a first quarter moon has a 3-D quality to it.”

As residents from the area entered the dome to take a look at the moon, Jake Englander, a graduate student in aerospace engineering, commented on the experience.

“I am an aerospace engineer and wanted to know more about space so when I’m out in the field I have some background on what the scientists are talking about, so this is fantastic,” said Englander. “I always wanted to go to the observatory on the university’s campus, but I was afraid of its location having light pollution. This observatory is in a place where it is dark enough to enjoy watching the night sky.” Leake commented on the darkness as well. “It is a great area because it is so dark. The telescopes aren’t affected by other lights and it allows for crisp images of the moon, planets, and stars.”

Whether young or old, the CUAS sky watch is a fun-filled activity for any group or family. Sherry Doyle, Champaign resident, said.

“This has been on my bucket list for three years,” said Doyle. “I always thought it would be fun for my kids to come out and have a fun experience. As a busy family it is tough to find time for the whole family to do something together, but tonight everything lined up and we were able to have a great time watching the sky.”

The next family sky watch is planned for June 19 at 8 p.m. For more information on the CUAS, events or how to become a member you can visit www.cuas.org.