Starfest

Sat., Aug. 15, 4-11:30 p.m., free ($5 parking fee), Warwick County Park, 382 County Park Road, Pottstown, 610-469-1916, chesmontastro.org.

by Chelsea Calhoun

[ think tank ]

If you've ever tried to spot the Big Dipper with City Hall looming above, you've likely been the victim of a pesky thing called "light pollution."

"A lot of people live in areas where there's a lot of light, near grocery stores and strip malls," says Marty Howe, president of the Chesmont Astronomical Society. Thankfully, Warwick Park, where StarFest is being held, is far from the big city lights — it's "pretty rural, pretty dark," says Howe.

And unlike most astronomy events, the festival's focus is the public, rather than esoteric star-gazing clubs and societies like the one Howe heads. The crowd, which he says was largest in 2003 when 2,500 people watched Mars come as close to Earth as it's ever been, is diverse: "It's kids — and all ages, really," he says.

Events will include solar observing, educational activities for kids and a presentation by Kimberly Weaver, associate director for the astrophysics division of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who'll discuss the origins and effects of black holes. The night closes with the raffling of four top-notch telescopes and stargazing through 30 to 40 scopes.

One scope will be reserved just for eyeing Jupiter, since this year is the 400th anniversary of Galileo's discovery of its four moons. But attendees will have to be patient: Even without light pollution, Jupiter usually isn't visible until 10 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 15, 4-11:30 p.m., free ($5 parking fee), Warwick County Park, 382 County Park Road, Pottstown, 610-469-1916, chesmontastro.org.