Observe the Sky

Observe the Sky


At the Lafayette Science Museum, we encourage you to be an astronomer - right from your own backyard! Below you'll find information to help you continue to discover our universe, just by looking up!

Night Sky Events


There is always something interesting happening in the sky. The Moon cycles through its phases and occasionally passes near a bright planet. Sometimes the Moon eclipses the Sun. And sometimes the Moon itself is eclipsed as it passes through Earth's shadow. The planets move against the stars and are most prominent at opposition (Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) or at greatest elongation (Mercury and Venus). Earth makes its annual orbit around the Sun and passes through its four seasons. This handy guide lists notable sky events that will be visible from your own backyard!

*All PDF documents on page are formatted in legal size

Download sky events handout